Posted by Les_CO on 5/20/08 9:46am
Msg #247936

My take on anonymous posters..Again / rant



Yup, I’ve said it before, and it IS Harry’s board…BUT …I pay to advertise on this site. I want people to find me. I think this is one of the most informative places ANYWHERE to find out information about this (Notary, Signing Agent, Title, LO, etc.) and related professions. Some say “I don’t want spam, or I don’t want weirdo’s calling me, or there could be a stalker out there, so I must remain anonymous.” If you have a computer you WILL get spam. To be safe from weirdo’s, I was going to say join a convent, but you can’t ever be totally safe from anything (except form getting business….by remaining anonymous).
The only legitimate reason to remain anonymous on any of these boards is because you are ashamed of what you post, and know you can’t back up what you say, or you are just plain stupid.
To all anonymous posters that say: “is it slow?, or I have no business!” There are Title Company and SS people that read these boards every day. If they don’t know your name, or your zip code, how do you expect them to find you?
My view: Anyone should be able to read this board, but to post you need to join, and to be visible.

Reply by Loretta on 5/20/08 9:49am
Msg #247937

That seems fair to me. I have a hard time putting my feelings into words sometimes.

Reply by Eugene Tripp on 5/20/08 10:56am
Msg #247949

You said, "The only legitimate reason to remain anonymous on any of these boards is because you are ashamed of what you post, and know you can’t back up what you say, or you are just plain stupid."

I respectfully disagree with your philosophy. What you say may have merit in some situations. However, there are times when an autonomous post is in the best interest of the poster as well as the other professionals who frequent this board. There are times when an anonymous post has an legitimate and acceptable purpose.

For example, as professionals we may want to share a particular experience with our cohorts without disclosing the principals involved. As you say professionals read our posts here and many may be our clients who may not see our constructive criticism as a positive. In order to be successful in business matters we must be able to wear many hats to express our views that may not be popular with our clients or others.

Therefore it seems prudent that we consider our audience, in this case this board. Although many who read our messages here are highly experienced professionals, in fact many are not, and therefore lack the ability to fully grasp our point of view.

Reply by Les_CO on 5/20/08 11:08am
Msg #247954

Re: My take on anonymous posters..Eugene

I believe that I can keep confidential anyone that I may have to mention in the context of what I post.

To paraphrase your post, it is necessary for you to lie to your clients in order to stay in business (whatever that is) No wonder you need to remain anonymous!

Reply by Eugene Tripp on 5/20/08 11:21am
Msg #247959

Re: My take on anonymous posters..Eugene

Les,

I do not lie to anyone,

I do not post anonymously, and

I always show respect

Reply by Les_CO on 5/20/08 12:28pm
Msg #247974

Re: My take on anonymous posters..Eugene n/m

Reply by Les_CO on 5/20/08 12:31pm
Msg #247975

Re: My take on anonymous posters/sorry about last.

Perhaps I didn't quite understand the meaning of your post. If so, my mistake. and I apologise!

If it is your belief that one must remain anonymous in order to protect ones clients (or perhaps oneself?) from some sort of disparage, you and I disagree. I feel that I can and should keep my clients, or customer’s information confidential. However keeping MY name and information hidden, does nothing, in my opinion, to protect them at all. It simply means that I am not willing to back up my opinions.

I have clients that are Title Companies, Signing Services; Loan Officers; Lenders; Insurance Companies; Banks; Savings and Loan’s; Investment Brokerages; Realtors; Recovery Services, Medical Records Companies. And not the least; Individuals! I personally like working with some more than others, for a number of reasons. Which does NOT mean I refuse to work with, or degrade one over the other.

Perhaps you can tell me HOW my posting my opinions on a chat board anonymously protects them? And by posting NOT anonymously HARMS them? Or not. You still have the right to do or post what you want (within the guidelines) how you want.

Reply by Les_CO on 5/20/08 12:57pm
Msg #247982

Re: My take on anonymous posters..Again / rant/to clarify

Anonymous posts, Example:

From Mr. Big Bucks:
About SOX. i just did 23 closings for them and they sent the money to me by certified check!! They are the Best!

Mr. Volume Guy:
i have a direct contact with fass, and lfc, and landam. i always get $300 per signing from them. i love working with them, they are the best!

Mr newbie:
I just here in usa. i know it not nessessery to be citizen to by notary (my sisere is) i speek many language so I can do lots of big money notars stuff for people not born here. i like money, and have taken (my sisters old stuff) cors. I need to know how to make the big $? i thimk I start a signing company? Please sign up with me.

Mr. Knowledge:
take the signing at any price, then keep the papers and call the lender and tell them to send you a chshers check for $500.00 and you will then send the papers back. I do it all the time and it works.

Do we really NEED this kind of stuff? Do we WANT it here?

Reply by ZeeCA on 5/20/08 2:25pm
Msg #248004

RE: Les: i would rather have someone post on the board

annonymously than like you do... you send NASTY pms to everyone which to me is a form of ANNOYnimity (sic) so you can hide behind it.

Reply by Les_CO on 5/20/08 2:42pm
Msg #248008

Re: RE: Les: i would rather have someone post on the board

Sorry Zee, I just don't understand. You'll just have to run that by me again.

If you disagree with what I've posted, I welcome any critique. If what I post, or my opinions just annoy you to the point of speechlessness, please feel free to disregard anything I may have said, or will say in future.

Reply by Eugene Tripp on 5/20/08 2:57pm
Msg #248018

Re: RE: Les: i would rather have someone post on the board

Les,

You seem to have taken my post personally, and that was not my intent. Simply stated, I believe that it is the right of the person posting to do so anonymously if they so choose regardless of their motives and whether those motives are valid or not.

As a title officer I learned many many years ago that assumptions about others actions, particularly in the real estate professions, often lead to false and often malicious conclusions and should be strictly avoided.

I could narrate perpetually offering scenarios where anonymity should be a consideration particularly in a public forum. However time is the essence so let us agree to disagree and move on.

Reply by Les_CO on 5/20/08 4:02pm
Msg #248037

Re: RE: Les: i would rather have someone post on the board

I take nothing on a chat board personally. I may have quickly read (between doing other things) and misunderstood your ‘answer’ to my post., if so I apologise. We all have a right to our opinion, and as long as our posts meet with the guidelines of the board…so be it. As I said in my original post “rant” . I come here as a long time professional in this business, to learn, and to sometimes contribute. If a “contributor” to this board has something to offer anonymous or not, I listen, and thank them for their input.
May I say that I have read this board for years, and I can recall many anonymous postings that were pure fiction, or downright incorrect. I can’t recall a non-anonymous posting that I felt the same about.

Reply by Pat/IL on 5/20/08 3:00pm
Msg #248020

Re: How does linking add credibility?

Many of the best posts I've seen on this site have not been linked to a profile. I don't think anyone should rely solely on message boards for any important information. While there is good information given on this board, there is also plenty of bad information. It is wise to verify through other (local, official) sources.

For me, following a link to the (sometimes dubious) information shown in a profile does little to add credibility to the poster. It has more to do with the quality of information the poster has offered in the past. Even then, I can't think of anyone on this board, even the most brilliant (you know who you are) whom I have not thought to be wrong on occasion. I am no exception.

There are plenty of valid reasons not to link. In my case, it is to avoid backlash against the company of my employ in the event that my personal opinions should set off a fire storm on this board. I mostly just read here, but I appreciate the opportunity to offer an opinion when I think I have something to add to the conversation. I might be right, I might be wrong. Chances are, I'll be misunderstood by some.

I like to think I can weed out the bull without the benefit of viewing one's profile. Bottom line for me is that the benefit of the posts by those who otherwise might refrain, if linking were a precondition, outweighs the annoyances caused by the occasional anonymous clown.

Reply by Les_CO on 5/20/08 4:17pm
Msg #248049

Re: How does linking add credibility?

Okay! That makes sense! I was looking from my perspective of someone self-employed. I forgot that some that contribute here are employed in related professions, and perhaps could encounter some backlash if their opinions, or contributions were brought to the attention of their employers. Some of those (employed-by-others) posting here have been very informative and helpful, and I would miss their posts. I guess I was tripped up by “the occasional anomyous clown”

Reply by JanetK_CA on 5/21/08 2:32am
Msg #248149

Re: How does linking add credibility?

I, too, have a different view on the subject - and I'm also self-employed. For several years, I didn't link my profile and the number of views was useful information to me, reflecting the amount of business I received from this site. Then, because of all the chatter about "anonymity" - which has never been the issue for me - I decided to go ahead and link to my profile. I don't recall how long I had it linked, but the number of views nearly doubled. And the amount of business I received from here dropped off the cliff.

If any vendor or hiring entity (or anyone else for that matter) is that interested in figuring out who I am, it isn't hard to figure out. There are even a few people left who post on here whom I've met personally at networking events, so it's not about trying to hide, or being ashamed or unwilling to stand by what I've posted. (BTW, I'm not taking this personally, just using myself as an example that probably represents many others here.)

I don't feel I need to link to my profile just to fulfill the idle curiosity of someone else on this board - and put my personal contact information out there any more than it already is. I've been posting on this board for at least four years, I think, always under the same moniker. During all that time, I'm sure I've said at least one bonehead comment or another somewhere in there, and it probably won't have been the last time! But I get the impression that people have been able to get something of an idea about who I am, as I feel I have been able to do about others. So I think the conclusions about non-linking are a bit judgmental.

Anyway, now that I've once again gotten carried away, I'm glad you realize you might just have been <<tripped up by “the occasional anomyous clown">>. I hope you feel better about the whole issue -- at least about linking to profiles. I think that's a bit different than completely anonymous posting, which is what seemed to be the real issue... Interestingly, before reading this thread, I read another one earlier this evening about a complaint from someone who had their website copied. For those of us who put a lot of time and effort into our profiles, that's another potential reason to not link, imho...