tPF authenticator discussion

[whateve]

My responses in blue:

Question 1. When you say "report it" do you mean with the Report button at the bottom of a post? Because that feature says something like "only use this for spammers or advertising" - are you saying we should be using it for ANY post that we want to get to the attention of the mods? If so then I think that language should be clarified.

Yes, report a post. I believe the wording for the report button says spammers, advertising, or people breaking the rules. This would constitute breaking the rules. Please use the report button to alert us to a post that needs mods/admin attention with the report button. You can also PM me if needed.

Question 2: I admit that I've been one who - not as an authenticator, just as a regular member - has requested that a new member not issue authentication opinions when they pretty clearly didn't know what they were doing (and I also got slammed immediately back from this person so I can appreciate how much the actual authenticators must have to deal with!). This was on the AT Shoes thread.

I see now that the preferred action is to behind the scenes report the poster - but the problem that I have (besides the fact of presumably a delay - which means that the original requester is likely to go off on their merry way with BAD INFO about their item) is that how will we educate others on the thread? If someone is actually bothering to read the history of posts and they see one person offering opinions based on wrong methods, who gets corrected in-thread, then doesn't that help the whole community and (hopefully) help prevent it from happening again? Or at least reduce the chances. Obviously it does nothing for the gazillions of people who don't bother reading anything. But if the standard response is to just delete posts with bad opinions then it seems like a forever game instead of an opportunity to progress the community.

So the long-winded question is, How do we help new people understand the standards or expectations for who is qualified to be an authenticator (even if it's a self-selecting model) if there is no feedback in-thread when people are clearly NOT qualified?


I get it, that you don't want members policing the place, but sometimes it seems like NO ONE is policing the place... and you know how nature feels about a vacuum. Possibly all this stuff happening invisibly behind the scenes could be perpetuating the problems more than necessary? Dunno, just thinking out loud here.

I would suggest you immediately report the false authentication. Saying to someone, 'hey, I don't think your authentication is right and you should make sure you are 100% sure before you authenticate" isn't breaking our rules.

You could then say, here are the authenticators many people really trust here in this thread or something along that line. I've seen people do this and that is fine.

Sometimes people get more aggressive and the call out of the person is much different than saying "hey, be very careful I'm not sure you are right". If that poster is giving improper authentications, we will remove their posts, issue an infraction, and message them.

Hope this helps answer your questions.

I just want to clarify: if someone who isn't a regular authenticator comes in and gives a false authentication, I understand I should report them. But my concern is that the person asking for the authentication will act on that false authentication before it gets removed. Should I quote both of them and say I have a difference of opinion? How can I tell the person who asked for the authentication that they should ignore the false authentication without offending anyone?

 

[littlerock]

You can absolutely quote both the OP and the wrong AT post, and advise the OP to wait for more opinions before moving forward on the purchase. You are allowed to disagree with a member's AT post. Just to it respectfully and without getting personal. You can report as well, and we'll handle it. This happens in Balenciaga all the time. We often have newbies come in and try to "help".

I am sensitive to authenticator's needs because it's a thankless job. I know this because I used to do a bit of authenticating, as well, before I got super busy as a new mom. I plan to jump back in and helped out very soon.

I'm following and hope we can do our best to make everyone happy while valuing our long time members and steering our newbies in the right direction of the flow of the forums and threads.

 

[Megs]

I just want to clarify: if someone who isn't a regular authenticator comes in and gives a false authentication, I understand I should report them. But my concern is that the person asking for the authentication will act on that false authentication before it gets removed. Should I quote both of them and say I have a difference of opinion? How can I tell the person who asked for the authentication that they should ignore the false authentication without offending anyone?

Yes, always report them so we can keep track of this on our end. And you can post in the thread to say "hey, I have a different option - this looks good/bad to me" and quote the person who asked for the authentication.

We don't have a problem with someone speak up, we just want it done respectfully. And then if we need to ask this person not to authenticate, let that be something we as mods do versus having it play out on the thread itself, KWIM?

You can absolutely quote both the OP and the wrong AT post, and advise the OP to wait for more opinions before moving forward on the purchase. You are allowed to disagree with a member's AT post. Just to it respectfully and without getting personal. You can report as well, and we'll handle it. This happens in Balenciaga all the time. We often have newbies come in and try to "help".

I am sensitive to authenticator's needs because it's a thankless job. I know this because I used to do a bit of authenticating, as well, before I got super busy as a new mom. I plan to jump back in and helped out very soon.

I'm following and hope we can do our best to make everyone happy while valuing our long time members and steering our newbies in the right direction of the flow of the forums and threads.

Yep to the bolded!

 

[missbanff]

Here's an opportunity for walking the walk and talking the talk. Since the entirely TOO long Prada AT thread has finally been closed and we're starting fresh on a new thread, I'm going test the waters and step back into authenticating Prada.

I'm willing accept the good faith that's been discussed and offered in this thread, but in all fairness, I would expect to be fully supported by the Admins/Mods who have expressed the desire to support us.

I'll do the same, when I am able. Some things have come up and I (temporarily) don't have the time I did before.

 

[whateve]

You can absolutely quote both the OP and the wrong AT post, and advise the OP to wait for more opinions before moving forward on the purchase. You are allowed to disagree with a member's AT post. Just to it respectfully and without getting personal. You can report as well, and we'll handle it. This happens in Balenciaga all the time. We often have newbies come in and try to "help".

I am sensitive to authenticator's needs because it's a thankless job. I know this because I used to do a bit of authenticating, as well, before I got super busy as a new mom. I plan to jump back in and helped out very soon.

I'm following and hope we can do our best to make everyone happy while valuing our long time members and steering our newbies in the right direction of the flow of the forums and threads.

Yes, always report them so we can keep track of this on our end. And you can post in the thread to say "hey, I have a different option - this looks good/bad to me" and quote the person who asked for the authentication.

We don't have a problem with someone speak up, we just want it done respectfully. And then if we need to ask this person not to authenticate, let that be something we as mods do versus having it play out on the thread itself, KWIM?



Yep to the bolded!

Thank you! I think the last time it happened, all three of us sort of jumped all over the newbie! She still posts in the forum though so we didn't scare her away completely. I don't know if anyone reported her post. It didn't occur to me to do so.

 

[BeenBurned]

Thank you! I think the last time it happened, all three of us sort of jumped all over the newbie! She still posts in the forum though so we didn't scare her away completely. I don't know if anyone reported her post. It didn't occur to me to do so.

I recall that but I don't recall that we were disrespectful about it. We just stressed the damage it does to a seller's account when an authentic item is removed and to be careful if you aren't sure of authenticity.

 

[whateve]

I recall that but I don't recall that we were disrespectful about it. We just stressed the damage it does to a seller's account when an authentic item is removed and to be careful if you aren't sure of authenticity.

No, I don't think we were disrespectful at all. We never are. I think it was just that we all commented that might have been a little intimidating.

ETA: I think a few others chimed in as well.

 

[Megs]

I'll do the same, when I am able. Some things have come up and I (temporarily) don't have the time I did before.

Happy to hear that! I'm sure you are missed!

 

[missbanff]

Happy to hear that! I'm sure you are missed!

Thank you, for all your involvement and willingness to hear and listen to all the comments here.

 

[Megs]

No, I don't think we were disrespectful at all. We never are. I think it was just that we all commented that might have been a little intimidating.

ETA: I think a few others chimed in as well.

Ya it's totally ok to say to someone hey, I don't agree, be careful because this can really lead someone wrong or ruin a reputation. I'm sure you guys were ok! But if after you say that the poster gets combative, let us handle it - that's when we need to step in ya know? And always PM us if someone is starting to authenticate wrong, we will look into it!

Thank you, for all your involvement and willingness to hear and listen to all the comments here.

Of course! I think it's been really helpful for people to share their gripes, issues, and frustrations - I learned a lot of what the issues are and have some ideas to try to make it all better.

Some of the ideas can't be enacted right now as we are switching platforms, but I am working with our entire team on some of the other ideas! Plus me just being here, hearing the issues, and being on top of these threads more to help will be good too

 

[Runnurse]

I'll do the same, when I am able. Some things have come up and I (temporarily) don't have the time I did before.

Whenever the timing is right for you, there will be many, many people happy to have you back!!

 

[shibumiflowers]

Late to the party here but would like to add a big thank you to the authenticators who donate their time. Were it not for the authenticators, I don't think I would have found tpf in the first place!

I would like to know what the long-time and active members as well as authenticators would consider "contributions" to tpf, specifically what kind of posts? or contents of posts are considered contributory and what's just "filler"?

Thank you.

 

[jellyv]

I would like to know what the long-time and active members as well as authenticators would consider "contributions" to tpf, specifically what kind of posts? or contents of posts are considered contributory and what's just "filler"?

Whatever area of the forum that interests you, post in it. The point of the request for contributing to the forum is to demonstrate that your sole interest in TPF isn't in getting authentications. This matters because it's assumed (I think) that those who only post auth requests are probably resellers, and resellers should be shouldering the expense of paid authentication as their business cost. Sure, some individuals come to TPF only to authenticate their personal stuff, but a large proportion of that kind of posting can indicate reseller behavior.

So, post on what topics are your thing...I am sure there's no specific idea about content, except that "ooh, congrats" over and over won't seem like genuine participation.

 

[poopsie]

Here's an opportunity for walking the walk and talking the talk. Since the entirely TOO long Prada AT thread has finally been closed and we're starting fresh on a new thread, I'm going test the waters and step back into authenticating Prada.

I'm willing accept the good faith that's been discussed and offered in this thread, but in all fairness, I would expect to be fully supported by the Admins/Mods who have expressed the desire to support us.

So glad to hear this. I hope Miss Figgy will rejoin the fold as well.

 

[gail13]

Hello,

I've been a member of TPF for about 4 years and I have been trying to help out on the Chanel AT thread in light of CB taking a break. I am not an authenticator and have not commented on any bags with the exception of one bag with a fake serial number etc which I did say was not authentic. In that case, I did say I was not an authenticator. Yes, I agree it is harmful to comment on anything you are not certain of for many reasons.

It is amazing to me the amount of people who just post very incomplete info and are waiting for some magic to happen.....I have been responding to many of the posts with a simple two line response telling them which outside authenticators may be able to help them. Many times, I mention they also need better pics or more info so they aren't wasting their time. Most of the requests in fact, are like this.

It seems to me that on the AT threads if there was a support person to weed thru these- (at least on the busier forums) until there is a way for a better system, that it would free up the authenticators time, and they could move more quickly. Most of the people I have messaged are just glad for a response and it moves them along.

It would be great if there were a way to be a authenticator in training or something where one could mentor under someone, and help monitor the incomplete info requests. Over the few years that I've been a member, I've tried to educate myself but know I have lots to learn.

Just a thought....