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Forums » Off-Topic » What part of you do you feed with all the negative commentary?

What part of you do you feed with all the negative commentary? Subscribe to What part of you do you feed with all the negative commentary? 26 posts by 13 users

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Jim S.

Real Estate Investor Colorado Springs, Colorado
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102 Posts

I watched another board I was a member of turn completely negative. It drove long time members away. In fact, it got so bad they wiped it and started over, of course without a few clever folks who were asked not to come back. That site still hasn't recovered.

This site has begun to shift, and I find myself leaving quickly.

JMO

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Tim W.

Real Estate Investor Indiana, Indiana
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Ummm...ok. i just had lunch with another forumite today that I haven't always agreed with and we had a blast.

We even missed Flipper there who I know I vehemently disagree with but frankly have a lot of fun with too. It wouldn't be the first peace smokin' hippie burnout that this gun totin' whackjob redneck has made friends with. ;-)

The choice is yours but this is a thick skin business and our egos our way too big to settle for vanilla posts.

Tim

Jim S.

Real Estate Investor Colorado Springs, Colorado
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102 Posts

Your absolutely correct, it is my choice. I felt compelled to create this vanilla post before I made a decision to find another forum. My feelings are there are going to be a lot of others like myself that won't want to partake in an increasingly negative environment.

Joshua D.

BiggerPockets Founder Denver, Colorado
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Jim -
I feel your pain, and have taken steps to cease the absolute negativity on the site. The problem stemmed from lax moderation on my part, and for that, I apologize.

We simply gave people too many chances, instead of upholding the rules established to keep our forum from getting out of control.

Well, we're taking the forum back! Please give us one more chance.

Mach

Boonies, Pennsylvania
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325 Posts

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I stopped using this forum for a good bit because of the drama. With my intense schedule I don't have time to sift though the drama post. I only wish to help when I can and learn when I can. This is still one of the better forums. Most moderators on other forums will delete the post not the thread and give a reason why they delete it. Mostly "Off Topic".

I guess you have to have the mentality to know that someone doesn't see things as you do. If you put your hand out to someone palm facing them they will tell you it's a hand but give you a complete different description of the hand than you see. The moderators just have to jump in a little sooner for off topic threads.

Jim S.

Real Estate Investor Colorado Springs, Colorado
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102 Posts

Originally posted by Tim Wieneke
Ummm...ok. i just had lunch with another forumite today that I haven't always agreed with and we had a blast.

We even missed Flipper there who I know I vehemently disagree with but frankly have a lot of fun with too. It wouldn't be the first peace smokin' hippie burnout that this gun totin' whackjob redneck has made friends with. ;-)

The choice is yours but this is a thick skin business and our egos our way too big to settle for vanilla posts.

Tim


Instead of JMO - I'd like to say STC (Something To Consider) A lot of new people into REI are considering making a whole lot of money. With money comes lot's of personal people issues... one can be what are you trying to feed with money. Their greedy side? If one considers your response that you must be thick skinned and its necessary to have "ego" then will that influence others that you can't buy and sell houses without feeding and growing ego?

In my experience depositing big checks, I've built and understand the "ego" that developed in myself. I don't know if its the same as yours, but for me, it turned me into something that was feeding the wrong parts of me.

I see the people on here that are posting those vanilla posts. They seem to be excluded from further dialogue, because the other comments are more exciting. I'm not saying one is wrong and one is right, but to consider why we need the "drama" might help us understand what we're feeding within ourselves.

Matthew G.

Real Estate Investor Berwyn, Illinois
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260 Posts

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There were heated debates going on during the election process which is necessary for the "great experiment". However, I just assumed a lot of this nonsense was going to go away after the elections, when passions waned, but it did not.

I am glad to see that Josh is now cleaning up shop. It is good for the board.

Now, let's get back to talking about what we originally came here for and that is creating a financial freedom lifestyle.

Tim W.

Real Estate Investor Indiana, Indiana
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In light of some recent information, perhaps you're right Jim. Passions did get higher than I thought they were and someone even looked up where I lived and made note to inform me of that. I don't have cause for great concern as yet since as a practice I live in Jeff Cooper's Condition Yellow. But it has left an impression upon me.

I am the type to joke quite a bit and those who know me know the "ego" is in fact combined with appropriate self-depricating humor. I apologize if I failed to communicate that.

Joshua D.

BiggerPockets Founder Denver, Colorado
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That's what I'm all about, Matthew!

Tim W.

Real Estate Investor Indiana, Indiana
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Originally posted by Matthew Gil
Now, let's get back to talking about what we originally came here for and that is creating a financial freedom lifestyle.


Agreed. After all no matter who wins any election, financial intelligence rules your success.

Aaron N.

Real Estate Coach Riverside, California
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Hi Joshua,

I just wanted to congratulate you on the success of this site. I know it will continue to grow because it brings so many functionalities that other sites don’t have. I love the layout and you’ve been so smart in the way you have rolled things out and improved functionality.

One of the many reasons people don’t create blogs and forums is because of the massive undertaking it takes to monitor. Most don’t realize how much work this all is and take it for granted. I don’t know how you do everything you do but I’m completely impressed. I’ve occasionally seen obnoxious banter but nowhere near as ridiculous as I’ve seen in other forums I rarely or no longer frequent.

Joshua, please let us know how we can help you monitor or report bad behavior. I’m sure you fans can help you any way we can.

Hey folks…this resource is FREE and in my opinion much needed and very cool!!! Don’t ruin it.

Joshua D.

BiggerPockets Founder Denver, Colorado
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Aaron -
I really appreciate the message and your willingness to help out.

Sure . . . if you ever see something that looks wrong, spammy, etc., let us (me or one of the moderators) know. That would be very helpful!

As for other ways to help - spread the word! Let all of your friends and colleagues know about our site, and invite them to join up!

Thanks again . . . your comments really do mean a lot to me.

Matty M.

Real Estate Investor Encino, California
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I shared Tim's sentiment:

"Ummm...ok. i just had lunch with another forumite today that I haven't always agreed with and we had a blast. "

I had a blast.

Anyone who gets too negative with an opposing view needs to look inward. Myself included. There is no ideology without flaws, They all have them. Opposing views are great. The only perfection is how perfectly imperfect every ideology is.

I forgot that one quote, it's a good one, and feels like it almost applies here:

"If I have a partner that I always agree with then I don't need a partner" Something along those lines.

As far as election drama. That's just fun. I am glad flipper got it going. I probably wouldn't have had lunch with Tim (with the opposing view) if flipper didn't start the fun. And I look forward to having lunch again.

Yes, now that the election is over it's back to crunching numbers and getting an acquisition rush instead of a drama rush.

But either way, self awareness is beneficial to practice for all.

Harrison P.

Real Estate Investor Indianapolis, Indiana
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While I am not sure if hugging, kissing and agree like children with self-esteem problems is the way to improve the chances of generating more wealth through real estate...........I am positive that passionate debate, with well thought out and respectful arguments, are the seed to new ideas that we can all learn and profit from.

*If you ever experience what I call "forum frustration", simply keep in mind that there is nothing that takes place in a forum as tough as a bad tenant issue or a poor investment choice!

Stay strong, stay positive and keep working hard!

Good Luck!

nationwidepi

Real Estate Investor Santa Clarita, California
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I'm on board with Jim. There has been too much negative behavior and personal attacks, not just recently, and it has become overwhelming. I certainly hope that something permanant is done about it to prevent further occurances as the majority of people here are interested in giving/receiving positive and beneficial information without a few bad seeds interfering.
I am not sure this has happened yet, but will keep a positive hopefullness that it does.

Mr_Investor

Real Estate Investor Altus, Oklahoma
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1147 Posts

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I haven't been on here long enough but the time I've been here I've been hooked on this site.

I've been on other sites before non REI related though but the sites I've been on make 4chan look like saints. I don't take everything said with a grain of salt. I've been flamed,yelled at and double crossed but yet I'm still on those sites why because I don't let any drama get to me.

My point is this. Don't let a bunch of internet no names get you down. This site is still a great site for REI info and networking. I wouldn't abandoned it just because a bunch of immature hot heads spat off at the mouth.

Don't take things so seriously,

MikeOH

Real Estate Investor Ohio
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3620 Posts

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While I am not sure if hugging, kissing and agree like children with self-esteem problems is the way to improve the chances of generating more wealth through real estate...........I am positive that passionate debate, with well thought out and respectful arguments, are the seed to new ideas that we can all learn and profit from.

WELL SAID!!! When you have passionate debate, sometimes things get a little heated. However, there is something that is INFINITELY WORSE that the occassional heated argument, and that is unbridled optimism and positive feedback. I have seem many real estate sites where a newbie would post a deal that was clearly a loser and then every poster would come on and congratulate then for "taking action" or "taking the first step" or some other equally irrelevant motivational nonsense.

Unfortunately, in the real world, having a bunch of people on the internet blow smoke up your skirt won't do one thing about the reality of the deal. You may feel warm and cuddled, but when the reality of huge financial losses becomes apparent, your feelings might change.

The truth is that the vast majority of newbies fail in any business. In addition, business is HARD and you won't be cuddled in the real world. I don't know about you, but instead of being patronized, I'd like to hear the truth even if it isn't always pleasant.

So, while it would be nice if everyone could join hands and sing happy songs, nothing could be worse for the new investor who truly wants to succeed. They need to see every side of the argument and without the sugar coating. To give them anything else is doing them a great disservice.

*If you ever experience what I call "forum frustration", simply keep in mind that there is nothing that takes place in a forum as tough as a bad tenant issue or a poor investment choice!

Again EXACTLY RIGHT! If you can't take a little conflict on the internet, there is absolutely no way that you can make it in business.

Finally, it always astounds me when people complain about something that they don't have to participate in. For example, people complained about the political threads, when the solution was to simply not read the political thread! Did you really think that there wouldn't be any conflict in a political thread???

Mike

Tom C.

Real Estate Investor OH
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959 Posts

287 Influence

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Just to chime in here. I love this site and have learned and grown a great deal from everyone's advice. With that said, it is a internet site, that I personally do not have a stake in. Josh has done a great job at growing this site to what it has become and I am sure he cares about this just as if it was one of his own kids, but anyone who takes things personally over a post on a web site really has far too much time on their hands. If you can not tell the difference between the real world and the online world, then you need to unplug your PC and do not play with video games.

I have been a member of a body building forum for many years. At times things get extremely heated and it has even gone as far as members showing up at each others competitions and getting into fights. I understand how this can happen among that crowd, they are a tight community and tend to know each other in the outside world.

I cannot understand someone on this site taking someone's political view or moral stance personally. As far as you know, MikeOH could be a transsexual prostitute living in New York City or I could be a 10 year old little girl.

I am here to learn, get advice, give advice and enjoy the different personalities that come out through online chat, nothing more.

Pick and choose your threats and lighten up..

MikeOH

Real Estate Investor Ohio
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3620 Posts

1878 Influence

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As far as you know, MikeOH could be a transsexual prostitute living in New York City

Or not.

Mike

Tom C.

Real Estate Investor OH
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959 Posts

287 Influence

2 awards

OK.. Maybe a bad analogy, sorry Mike.. lol

   

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