I kinda remeber a guy crying about a boat purchased from Shogren a few years ago. He was pissed after the sale about some trailer issue I think. He came on here bashing away....and it seemed like the guy was a pain in the a@@...and didn't seem to be reasonable...If there is something that goes wrong with a trailer after the sale...I don't think raking a dealer over hot coals is the answer...but this situation was much different...and I think both stories were legitimately debated and opinions were made based on them...right or wrong it's public info and in the end it all comes out in the wash... a long history of screwing people will put you out of business...a few missed opportunities will come and go...seems shogren has a following and the past buyers will not leave,,,and the future will probably just ask a few more questions before purchase...and then make purchase if the price is right...in the end it is the price to most buyers anyway...especially on a used boat.

It's my understanding that the whole purpose of websites like this is for communication, socialization, and exchange of information on a given topic. Within that outline is broad range of potential pitfalls. One of them is human nature and the tendency to either exagerate, or in some cases out right lie. On the other hand there are real and legitimate issues, problems and concerns that would never see the light of day in commercial print or broadcast media.

Today there is a school of thought that believes, naively perhaps, that all conversation must be "positive". This discredits legitimate criticism and paints it under the broad brush of "bashing". Certainly there are unnecesarily negative posts (see "human nature" above) that have no place on the board and it sounds like a few vendors have unfairly suffered from this. On the other hand there have been a number of nefarious vendors exposed on this same site and certainly saved unsuspecting buyers from falling into their clutches. The trick is in finding a balance that works.

I suggest that there is just as much harm in unfairly negative bias as there is in only allowing "positive" clap trap. The key is to be discriminating and logical and check your ego at the door. As far as those "professionals" who don't post on here are concerned. Many can't engage for pure corporate marketing and political reasons, others have nothing to add, and there are even a few who can't write well enough to make any sense.

T2x

When you do some research on this particular boat..it has a SC..alot of boat for the coin..but we all know what that means.. when the SC fails or any of the boat faulters...is it worth that now Shogren has a bad taste in his mouth about this guy..that another thread would appear on how he sold him a POS..Just my take on it..I'd let it go.. to much damage has been done.

Awesome post T2x.

Absolutely independent of this case I would like to mention:
When you dont want any false-negative posting you expect a Mission Impossible from the internet as i.e. one honest member formerly using this boatpage mentioned that he is bipolar (manic/depressive) and that he got the impression that a minor number of boaters is bipolar too which means not mentally healthy. You have to live with that also outside of the internet and must find a reasonable reaction without bashing and more pouring of oil in the fire - you will have to find a superior behaviour as an answer of inferior behaviour and a reaction on people who cant help it that they have a disorder (perhaps results of head injuries...).

T2x,
I agree with your thinking.

For me, I have been OSO since the beginning and I like to be informed, about the good/new products/services, but also about what went wrong, what doesn't work and what works regarding performance gains and the interesting experiences members have had. The more information the better, I like to be informed when I can.

If there is an accident, product failure, ripped-off situation, that is not bashing at all, if the facts are accurate and honest, that is called a negative review and is common to all business. That is the internet, good reviews and bad reviews, all business are not immune to bad reviews. You can't please all the people all the time, so a negative comment or bad review is inevitable. Get used to it, it is the day and age we live in, I just don't like when someone posts his or her opinion and the bashing on that individual takes place, and the name calling starts, and the character assassination takes places because someone posts an opinion on whatever topic that the in-crowd disagrees with starts blasting that person. Treat people the way you would like to be treated.

I really liked the post (#38) in this thread about the big room, and would the person posting say the same words to another person face to face? If yes, then it is OK. If no then the litmus test is, "would you get your ass kicked if you said the words (he or she posted) in a face to face situation why then is it suddenly appropriate to hide behind a keyboard?" If someone would would want to kick your ass in person because of what you said you would think twice about saying it, and the same should apply, again with, treat people the way you would want to be treated.

I really don't like all the negativity, but I have a choice, I can read the thread, or ignore it and usually I ignore it as you see by me posting only 941 times in almost ten years. But JC is right, I hate to see a business smeared when there are two sides to the story, fair balance (both sides) to an issue is necessary for an for honest opinion (by me the reader), and with all the facts we the readers can make an intelligent and informed decision on whether a person has a legitimate gripe or is being over-top/complainer.

Stephen

I don't think anyone suggests only positive opinions should be allowed. Take a close look at customer reviews on thousands of things on Amazon. The difference with OSO, in my opinion, is everyone wants to chime in and turn it emotional. Amazon product comments are much more objective, less emotional, and therefore can be of some value to other customers.

Jassby - get back to work so you can afford a boat! :party-smiley-004::lolhit:

BASHING, you should read the beware/stolen on the 24 Adrenaline (TSPM) the boat is adding to its history and a OSO advertiser is in the middle, If you read the history on this boat including DELETED threads BASHING IS acceptable. I am sure it will be deleted shortly, like all the other posts on that boat.

So physical violence is being used in the room to determine what you should say or not?

You are kidding me, right? No, there has not been physical violence on OSO that I am aware of, is that the violence "in the room" that you mention? I do not condone physical violence; HOWEVER, if I got in someone's face, in person, not on the internet and started spewing BS impolitely I might expect to be punched in the face, so therefore I will think twice about what I say and how I say it in order to avoid taking a beating. Nor would allow someone to talk sh*t to my face, I have a choice, I can walk away (ignore it) or give that person whom is offending me some corrective action. On the internet there seems to be alot of tough guys who aren't as tough in person, that is what I meant in the phrase "hiding behind a keyboard." As I posted earlier, treat people the way you want to be treated, it is a simple as that---the Golden Rule, and there will be no physical violence. I am a peaceful person. Have a good day.