Regarding the ban, you actually got flagged for using two different accounts on the same thread, not for spamming or advertising, which would have been a different violation altogether.👍
I’ve seriously never used more than one account... I guess I got banned for something else entirely, then. Whatever. Case closed. It’s a shame, honestly. And look, I’m trying not to make this personal, but if I did, I’d take it to a national level—I'll just say it plain and simple: this is a perfect reflection of what's happening in this country. The little guy gets squeezed dry while everyone else just sits back and enjoys the ride.🤷
Hold on a second, you’re constantly popping up here in the appeals section and over on the subforums too... Every single day on the main board, people are posting ads for books, phones, branded gear—who's actually monitoring all that? And am I going to get my ad banned there too along with my entire profile getting nuked?? Honestly, does anyone have anything better to do than go looking for problems where they don't exist? There’s a massive difference between moderating a subforum to stop arguments and keeping the peace, versus banning people who are just doing exactly what every other user does. It’s like some people get a little taste of "authority" and suddenly lose all their empathy and social awareness. To me, it just feels totally pointless. 🙂
Alright, all things considered, we're moving on... rules are rules and everything has to be done by the book. So, I've got a follow-up question for you: Will I be allowed to post an "ad" stating that I have a study guide containing specific questions? I’ll just explain the details via DM to anyone who shows interest... basically, I won't explicitly say I have a copy, just that I have the study guide. That should be perfectly fine, right!?!? Or am I going to have the FBI breathing down my neck again trying to figure out what I'm up to!?!?
Is it possible to get a second opinion from another admin? No offense intended, Brian Edwards6, but you’ve been digging your heels in on this one for a while now. You kept telling us to just file an official appeal, but now that we’re actually here, it feels like you’re still the only one with a microphone. If the dollar amount doesn't matter, then what exactly does? Because here’s the thing: during the appeal process, the moderator told me my ad was perfectly fine. But then, right after someone pushed back—I think it was just suntze if I recall correctly—you went right back to deleting my posts! It makes it feel like the formal appeal process doesn't even matter; it all comes down to whatever the users on this forum think. And yet, when the community tells you that you're being way too harsh on low-budget ads, suddenly our opinions don't count either! 🤷 So, look: you sent me to the appeals process, they ruled that my ad was allowed in that specific format, and then you turned around and deleted it anyway. Now, months later, I’m asking again: what gives? It seems like there aren't any hard-and-fast rules here, so I don't see why there can't be some flexibility. A little bit of social awareness and a more conciliatory tone should be the norm when editing posts, rather than making everything about personal feelings or making sure someone's post stays up based entirely on whether a moderator is having a good day or not.😕
melloworca6 said:Maybe if textbook prices weren't so insane, more people would actually buy them instead of just making copies—especially when it comes to college books. Half those textbooks are barely worth the paper they're printed on; I mean, why drop $17 on copying something that’s basically junk?
Besides, piracy is banned everywhere on this forum, so I don't see why selling book copies should be any different. How is that any different from, say, selling a pirated video game? If it's against the rules, it should be against the rules for everyone.
I want to thank Morgan Booth70 for the support. And yeah, it's true—Brian Edwards6 was definitely staying on top of things and doing his job, while I was just being naive and too quick to let slip that we were talking about a copy of a book... if I hadn't said that, I probably would have gone through much more trouble just to figure out if a product was an original or a knockoff. Honestly, I highly doubt anyone here hasn't downloaded a movie or an album at some point, or that everyone is running strictly licensed software on their PCs. So why the massive crackdown on someone selling copies right here on the forum? It makes me wonder: have the moderators sworn an oath to the Constitution, or do they follow some special code or vow that turns them into those super-law-abiding drones from *Minority Report*?! IF they truly swore an oath on the Bible or the Constitution, then I totally get why they're so dedicated to banning me... but otherwise, so much stuff is allowed here that there's really no reason to turn a blind eye (to put it mildly) to the point where Daniel Ward87 is practically preaching at me while Brian Edwards6 keeps deleting my posts and blocking me.
I’m basically asking the higher-ups for permission to make a post about a specific book I own regarding OPM recruitment exams. To be honest, Brian Edwards6 already told me to back off and stop mentioning anything related to this topic, otherwise, I'm looking at being penalized, having my posts wiped, getting blocked—the whole nine yards... Even though the exam period is winding down and the book is relevant right now, I didn't want to cause any trouble until now. That said, I'm certain there are people here who would find this resource incredibly helpful. I’m hoping to get some guidance on how to phrase a statement that won't get me in trouble. Something like: "I have a copy of 'The Ultimate OPM Test Book 2012' available; if anyone needs it, please shoot me a DM so we can work out the details..." because if I just post that out of the blue, I know Brian Edwards6 is going to come after me again. Thanks in advance for your thoughts, advice, or even just a quick rating on this.
Fair enough. I still think the way I phrased things: "if anyone wants better prep for the exam, DM me because I have a book of practice tests available" (and just to be crystal clear, I explicitly mentioned it was a copy, since there's zero point in lying and I don't need people coming after me like that other user did) isn't actually a violation of the rules. Just because you and I both know it’s a copy—and even if some deeper analysis might suggest it touches on certain moral gray areas—I don't think it's our job to play judge and jury on that. So, I’m asking if we can just "strike the mention of it being a copy from the record." Let me just state that I'm offering help with a book of practice tests, and leave it at that... I feel like that's a fair middle ground. I accept the penalty, but I’m asking that you consider my suggestion. This isn't about making a quick buck, advertising, getting rich, or any of that predatory stuff. I'm happy to have my future posts on this thread monitored to prove I'm not being aggressive or problematic. Thanks.
Am I following this thread? I don't get it... I mean, I definitely am... why do you ask? ps. thanks for pointing me toward another perspective.. I really appreciate that.
Wait, my thread is locked?? What on earth does that mean??
In the 'Jobs and Career' thread titled "OPM - Jobs within the European Union," I mentioned that I have a book covering the whole subject... essentially, we're talking about getting hired by EU institutions, and I was offering to help people get their hands on this study guide via a simple post. My pitch was basically: if anyone wants to be better prepared for the entrance exams, just shoot me a DM because I can help you get the book with all the practice tests. Is this actually allowed? The moderator, Brian Edwards6, told me that the administration's decision is final, so I’m really looking for some honest opinions on the matter. Also, I could use some help figuring out how to word a potential follow-up post so that other forum members don't feel insulted or start attacking me—which is why Brian Edwards6 had to step in to begin with. Thanks in advance
graniteviper2 said:Honestly, this is easily the best thread on the whole forum. I really appreciate everyone sharing their insights and takes. Just wanted to share some good news—woke up this morning with $2833 in the green! Even though 14 of my parlays 😁
Here you go, guys. That one red card absolutely killed my payout.
NBA.com reports: Get your popcorn ready, because the whole Dwight Howard saga is reaching a fever pitch, and honestly, nobody has any idea how this is going to end. Just an hour ago, rumors were flying that Howard held a meeting with his teammates where he supposedly told them he’s staying in Orlando for both this season and next. But then, out of nowhere, news broke that some players in the Orlando locker room haven't heard anything about such a meeting, while others are saying he only mentioned staying for this year, not necessarily the next. Who knows what’s actually going to happen next, but one thing is certain: the next 24 hours are going to be wild (or maybe even less, since the trade deadline hits tomorrow at 8 PM).
Will Howard put on a massive performance today and give the fans a proper farewell, or is he just pacing himself for a new team? Either way, I'm taking the over.
Honestly, I actually preferred it when the threads were organized by date... it just felt cleaner. But then again, looking at it now, the NBA section isn't even that overwhelming since we don't have a massive crowd jumping in there constantly. On any given day, an NBA thread might hit four pages tops, whereas those daily general discussion threads can easily balloon to ten pages deep. Because of that, separating things by day actually makes sense. Besides, if those daily threads are taxing the servers, they could just auto-delete after ten days. Or better yet, just give us back what we’re used to: daily threads first, and everything else follows.☕ Freedom for the people!
I don't know, feels kind of pointless to me, but hey, who am I to say? My opinion doesn't carry much weight when I haven't even put up a couple thousand posts yet ;/