Etsy’s forums are an interesting place, but the ‘kumbaya police' can get out of hand - and it’s pretty easy to get permanently banned, or what is commonly known as “perma-muted”. Calling out (criticizing a seller, buyer or shop), snark, negative comments, or simple orneriness can get you booted permanently.
Needless to say, I was one of these poor souls with no where to get up-to-date information, ask questions or participate in the forum community. It’s a permanent situation, so I decided to start my own team a few months ago -“
Banned From the Forums”.
I thought I’d be lucky to get a dozen members, but it’s slowly catching on, and the team currently has 80+ members.
The one observation I can make as a result of this experience is that people are afraid to be honest and to tell Etsy what they really think of the ongoing changes to the site for fear they will be locked out of the forums - and quite honestly, it’s a real concern.
My team has few rules - members do not report other members to the administration, and free speech is welcome - if you’re thin-skinned and believe you have an inalienable right NOT to have your feelings hurt, this team is probably not for you.
Of course, it’s not limited to banned persons, but anyone who feels a need to vent, or to ask questions. So, join us!