Why this site was worth so much.

jim_walton

When this site was sold by Martin Lewis some of it’s value was based on the thickish people like me who seek advice on the forums.  Today I have encountered some friendly well meaning people I’ve also encountered some rude people who use their expert knowledge to try and  belittle other users. These experts have put me off coming here for advice.  

Mnoee

Show me any forum with 100% friendly helpful users. I'll wait. And feel I may be waiting forever.

The mods do a fair job at keeping the worst of the spam at bay and stopping anything too nasty, but they can't read every single post as soon as its written and assess it for 'niceness' - that'd be a full time job for multiple people in different time zones! 

KatrinaWaves

jim_walton said:

When this site was sold by Martin Lewis some of it’s value was based on the thickish people like me who seek advice on the forums.  Today I have encountered some friendly well meaning people I’ve also encountered some rude people who use their expert knowledge to try and  belittle other users. These experts have put me off coming here for advice.  

I’ve had a little look and you have received a lot of great information today from knowledgeable users.

You also posted some completely incorrect information on someone else’s thread and these same knowledgeable posters corrected you, you posted the same incorrect info again, and they corrected you again more bluntly. People can only get good advice here if those with ‘more knowledge’ correct those who are posting incorrect information which is helpful to nobody.

If being corrected when you post false information puts you off posting here then that’s just one of those things. I get things wrong too, we all do, but I am happy to be corrected when I am wrong and don’t throw my toys out of the pram. 

jim_walton

This site makes it money from visits by people like me. I very rarely come here so I’m unfamiliar with the rules. 

KatrinaWaves

jim_walton said:

This site makes it money from visits by people like me. I very rarely come here so I’m unfamiliar with the rules. 

There are no ‘rules’ for this. You posted incorrect info, like many people do, and were corrected. It was only the second identical correction that came more curtly.

The value of the forum is in adverts and partnerships. I’m not trying to be rude but MSE isn’t making any money from ‘people like you’ in particular. No more than any other member. 

MalMonroe

jim_walton said:

This site makes it money from visits by people like me. I very rarely come here so I’m unfamiliar with the rules. 

At the top right hand side of the leader page is a box which says 'forum rules', next to a box that says 'help'. Rules were updated on 4 November and do say that they don't pre-moderate and it's up to users to report misuse/abuse. 

It's good to read those rules, they're not strict, just common sense - and some good advice, such as "Bear in mind that anyone can say anything on the forum. Just because someone says they're an independent financial adviser, broker, electrician etc, doesn't mean they ARE one."

Also, if someone is rude to you or makes inappropriate comments, you can report them and if the forum team agrees that comments are inappropriate, they remove them. And if someone in particular offends you, then you can 'ignore' them and you don't have to bother with them again.

Pollycat

MalMonroe said:

At the top right hand side of the leader page is a box which says 'forum rules', next to a box that says 'help'. Rules were updated on 4 November and do say that they don't pre-moderate and it's up to users to report misuse/abuse. 

It's good to read those rules, they're not strict, just common sense - and some good advice, such as "Bear in mind that anyone can say anything on the forum. Just because someone says they're an independent financial adviser, broker, electrician etc, doesn't mean they ARE one."

Also, if someone is rude to you or makes inappropriate comments, you can report them and if the forum team agrees that comments are inappropriate, they remove them. And if someone in particular offends you, then you can 'ignore' them and you don't have to bother with them again.

Not only there.

At the top of this board is a header that says:

Important update! We have recently reviewed and updated our Forum Rules and FAQs. Please take the time to familiarise yourself with the latest version.

It also appears at the top of every thread.

As far as I'm aware it's the same on every board.

I've not read your other posts but I agree with Katrina about posting incorrect information.

Whoever does so should be prepared to be corrected.

And accept it gracefully.

The forum rules clearly spell out the information MalMonroe gives in the final paragraph of his/her post.

Takmon

jim_walton said:

When this site was sold by Martin Lewis some of it’s value was based on the thickish people like me who seek advice on the forums.  Today I have encountered some friendly well meaning people I’ve also encountered some rude people who use their expert knowledge to try and  belittle other users. These experts have put me off coming here for advice.  

They make their money by people who visit the main site and click on the links where they get commission and switch energy suppliers through them etc. They don't make money by people who just visit the forums and this is just to get people to use the main site more. 

When it comes to money saving tips and advice people need factual and too the point advice and need to be told if they are doing something wrong. I would expect to be called out if i posted things that were incorrect and i much prefer people tell me bluntly and not beat around the bush trying to be nice and friendly. 

DCFC79

jim_walton said:

When this site was sold by Martin Lewis some of it’s value was based on the thickish people like me who seek advice on the forums.  Today I have encountered some friendly well meaning people I’ve also encountered some rude people who use their expert knowledge to try and  belittle other users. These experts have put me off coming here for advice.  

Which replies are these then ?

I don't see any replies that were rude.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

I suspect the op is possibly referring to one of these threads.  But doubt many would see either as rude.
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https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6220188/self-assessment-advise

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6220827/2nd-tax-return-payment-on-account

KatrinaWaves

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

I suspect the op is possibly referring to one of these threads.  But doubt many would see either as rude.
❄️❄️❄️

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6220188/self-assessment-advise

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6220827/2nd-tax-return-payment-on-account

I figured it was the responses to his advice on page two https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6221064/capital-gains-tax-query-on-rental-property/p2