Good grief. You leave town for a couple of weeks and look what happens.
Is it all the comment areas or just SREP? It may not be a policy from the SREP people, because if it is they didn't discuss it with me and I would not support it. If it's the entire PI then I don't think it is anything personal. Have you tried making a comment anywhere else on the PI site other than our section?
I am okay with individual writers closing comments but banning posters because you don't like what they have to say is a no-no in my book and if they are doing that I'm going to complain about it. In fact I'll probably do more than complain about it. I'm not sure it will matter though. I am also less than happy with the rah-rah tone over there and the general lack of respect for differing opinions.
Oh, and for the record, the anonymity issue is just stupid. I don't care who you are or where you're from, I can judge the validity of your opinions and the depth of your thought process based on your writing. I don't need to see a resume.
I'm going to make a guess that they saw a bunch of comments coming from a single IP address and were not sophisticated enough to realize that it might be many people from a single private network instead of a single person spamming their comments.
Good for you, Sandy. Let us know what you find out.
I think I'm finally over that blog anyway. I try and formulate thoughtful posts that I think agents would be respectfully interested in, given my perspective as buyer and seller, and I get little love. It ain't worth the head-banging when it's clear that a good portion just want to chat with other, like-minded agents, and view the client riff-raff as children who's opinion is tolerated on the surface, but not respected.
There are some good contributors over there, but they are increasingly drowned out by the insecure agents with monstrous chips on their shoulders.
It's a shame, because it's occasionally been a good resource in the past. For both the client and the agent, I like to think.
It's too bad because I had really hoped for that blog to be a good resource. I think it still could be but I don't know what to do about the general tone of the discussions over there.
Good grief. You leave town for a couple of weeks and look what happens.
Is it all the comment areas or just SREP? It may not be a policy from the SREP people, because if it is they didn't discuss it with me and I would not support it. If it's the entire PI then I don't think it is anything personal. Have you tried making a comment anywhere else on the PI site other than our section?
I am okay with individual writers closing comments but banning posters because you don't like what they have to say is a no-no in my book and if they are doing that I'm going to complain about it. In fact I'll probably do more than complain about it. I'm not sure it will matter though. I am also less than happy with the rah-rah tone over there and the general lack of respect for differing opinions.
It looks like its all the blogs, not just SREP. I read Aubry's blog and that's where I saw it.
I never post at the PI - anon or otherwise - but I know it must be the MS IP because I was at work when I grabbed that screenshot
FWIW, I was out of town as well (not with Sandy!!! I don't want any rumors here!)
I'm a contributing poster at SREP, as well and won't participate in posts there that deliberately try to pick fights and demean another's thoughts.
I welcome debate and will discuss any topic that's specific and has reasonable conversation, however, I don't have the time or patience for circle arguments that revolve around generalities.
We don't have to always agree to have meaningful conversation.
Also, FWIW, I enjoy The Tim's (and others here) passion for trying to figure out the market. Frankly, he's better at it than many agents. I don't really enjoy the childish behavior....on either side.
Checked in with Marlow and she doesn't think she, or any of us who contribute there, has/have the ability to ban IP addresses. If the IP address of Microsoft is being banned, it's probably either a glitch (that seems most likely to me) or something that the PI has decided to do probably unrelated to the SREP blog.
I was wondering earlier whether Microsoft themselves could have requested that the PI ban their IP address in a misguided effort to get their workers to work harder, but then I figured why would they need to do that when undoubtedly they've got Net Nanny or some such.
Thanks for posting Greg and I do appreciate you sharing your market insights and analysis, both over there and here. You represent your profession very well.
I also have largely given up on the SREP blog as well, as it seems like it's only purpose lately is for fellow agent back-slapping and general demeaning of anonymous non-professionals. I think that if only a few of the regular posters (three names come to mind immediately, I bet most of us can guess who they are) at SREP were to find better blogging opportunities elsewhere, so to speak, then the signal-to-noise ratio of the content and comments there would rise considerably.
Having a reasoned, data-supported vigorous exchange of ideas and viewpoints free from straw-man arguments, ridiculous sidetracks (trademark violations, sheesh! :roll: ) and personal attacks makes for an excellent blog, regardless of what 'side' of the argument one is on.
I don't know what the prospective buyer thinks of them, which is really the most important thing.
If only you hadn't chased all the prospective buyers away...
Well, FWIW - Microsoft's IP Address appears to be unbanned today.
Did you note the love-fest for the post by "alwaysanopinion"? Oh, great post. Yes. Terrific. Thanks for stopping by. And Mack, be nice. We really love our readers. Truly. Hello? Anyone there? Bueller?
Did you note the love-fest for the post by "alwaysanopinion"? Oh, great post. Yes. Terrific. Thanks for stopping by. And Mack, be nice. We really love our readers. Truly. Hello? Anyone there? Bueller?
I like how they openly solicit reader opinions in the bland posts, but when it is a post of the "10 reasons why today (and not yesterday, two years ago, or three years in the future) is a great time to buy!" there is a chorus of "you anonymous readers aren't experts, leave this to the adults."
That's a funny thread even without their comments. To summarize: "if you aren't serious about dropping your price, you are just adding to inventory and harming my bottom line, stop doing that," the author.
Seems like a natural fit though...since both are parasitical jobs that produce nothing of actual value.
To be fair, being a real estate agent is actually a "market maker" job, kind of like retail stores and whole salers. The problem in real estate isn't that it's parasitic, it's that it's anti-competitive and centrally controlled. Of course, Redfin and their ilk are helping.
Law is also not implicitly parasitic. A fair justice system is fundamental to our way of life. It is certainly more valuable than say professional sports. What's wrong with law is the system has become too puntative and is mired in a model designed for the 1800s. A number of domains (copyright/patent/divorce/class action/etc) need to be reformed, but lawyers on their own aren't particularly more parasitic than advertising depts, accountants, or other similar "support" positions.
Anyone who makes their living quoting/looking up information in bookshelves full of old leather bound books is most likely in an occupation ripe for computerization/digitization. Symptoms of dead end jobs include repetitious paperwork, repetitive access to large pools of information, and a tendency to rely on historical precedents (again repetition....).
Law requires a layer of "priests" between the law and the population because the laws have become so complex and because priesthoods by nature become self-protecting entities. This is especially true of a priesthood actually "in" the business of law. And seeing that a large number of politicians come from the "law" field.....
http://USLaw.com/WA will one day be a site where the laws on any topic will be available to any and all for a small flat fee. Each law will be plainly stated in English and accompanied by easy to understand examples and references. And hence, interpreters of the law will no longer be needed. It will take a large programming effort to make the switch, but the payoff will be huge....unless you are in one of the obsolete jobs.
Same could be said for RE agents, mortgage agents, brokers of all kinds, etc. The era of having human intermediaries between someone seeking a service and the actual service rendered, will continue to wind down. Computerization is inevitable as industries are "leaned down" and made more efficient.
Those in dead end and obsolete jobs/industries will simply be re-trained.
You have heard the expression "Dead Cat Bounce". This market is far from bottoming out. People still don't have jobs and banks are still afraid to lend. The backlog of foreclosures is till huge and empty houses are increasing. Rest assured the Wall Street Crooks are not through cleaning out the suckers.
#664506 - Posted by Kary L. Krismer at 2/6/2011 8:36 a.m.
I'll still advocate buying or selling for reasons other than what you think the market will do over the next X years.
BTW, I think there may be a link to the radio broadcast over at Seattle Bubble in his weekly (twitter???) news recap piece. I haven't listened to it (yet).
Pretty sure neither of those guys are real estate professionals, so there's obviously no way they know what the heck they're talking about.
#664646 - Posted by Kary L. Krismer at 2/6/2011 1:57 p.m.
LOL. Actually it raises another point that I failed to make. I'm not going to change the advice I give to clients based on anyone's predictions of the future.
Comments
Is it all the comment areas or just SREP? It may not be a policy from the SREP people, because if it is they didn't discuss it with me and I would not support it. If it's the entire PI then I don't think it is anything personal. Have you tried making a comment anywhere else on the PI site other than our section?
I am okay with individual writers closing comments but banning posters because you don't like what they have to say is a no-no in my book and if they are doing that I'm going to complain about it. In fact I'll probably do more than complain about it. I'm not sure it will matter though. I am also less than happy with the rah-rah tone over there and the general lack of respect for differing opinions.
I think I'm finally over that blog anyway. I try and formulate thoughtful posts that I think agents would be respectfully interested in, given my perspective as buyer and seller, and I get little love. It ain't worth the head-banging when it's clear that a good portion just want to chat with other, like-minded agents, and view the client riff-raff as children who's opinion is tolerated on the surface, but not respected.
There are some good contributors over there, but they are increasingly drowned out by the insecure agents with monstrous chips on their shoulders.
It's a shame, because it's occasionally been a good resource in the past. For both the client and the agent, I like to think.
It looks like its all the blogs, not just SREP. I read Aubry's blog and that's where I saw it.
I never post at the PI - anon or otherwise - but I know it must be the MS IP because I was at work when I grabbed that screenshot
I'm a contributing poster at SREP, as well and won't participate in posts there that deliberately try to pick fights and demean another's thoughts.
I welcome debate and will discuss any topic that's specific and has reasonable conversation, however, I don't have the time or patience for circle arguments that revolve around generalities.
We don't have to always agree to have meaningful conversation.
Also, FWIW, I enjoy The Tim's (and others here) passion for trying to figure out the market. Frankly, he's better at it than many agents. I don't really enjoy the childish behavior....on either side.
I was wondering earlier whether Microsoft themselves could have requested that the PI ban their IP address in a misguided effort to get their workers to work harder, but then I figured why would they need to do that when undoubtedly they've got Net Nanny or some such.
I also have largely given up on the SREP blog as well, as it seems like it's only purpose lately is for fellow agent back-slapping and general demeaning of anonymous non-professionals. I think that if only a few of the regular posters (three names come to mind immediately, I bet most of us can guess who they are) at SREP were to find better blogging opportunities elsewhere, so to speak, then the signal-to-noise ratio of the content and comments there would rise considerably.
Having a reasoned, data-supported vigorous exchange of ideas and viewpoints free from straw-man arguments, ridiculous sidetracks (trademark violations, sheesh! :roll: ) and personal attacks makes for an excellent blog, regardless of what 'side' of the argument one is on.
A comment on the latest SREP post: Arrow, Price Reduced, and New Price Real Estate Signs, -Good or Bad? If only you hadn't chased all the prospective buyers away...
Well, FWIW - Microsoft's IP Address appears to be unbanned today.
Did you note the love-fest for the post by "alwaysanopinion"? Oh, great post. Yes. Terrific. Thanks for stopping by. And Mack, be nice. We really love our readers. Truly. Hello? Anyone there? Bueller?
I like how they openly solicit reader opinions in the bland posts, but when it is a post of the "10 reasons why today (and not yesterday, two years ago, or three years in the future) is a great time to buy!" there is a chorus of "you anonymous readers aren't experts, leave this to the adults."
I guess Eleua and Synthetik haven't paid their club dues lately (and they ruined the party for everybody else too, SO third grade)!
Is Leanne claiming a Seattle PI blog TOS violation by Synthetik and Eleua, or has she just started to arbitrarily ban people she doesn't like?
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/realestate/archives/148204.asp
It looks like they've pulled it down now. What was the post about?
Seems like a natural fit though...since both are parasitical jobs that produce nothing of actual value.
To be fair, being a real estate agent is actually a "market maker" job, kind of like retail stores and whole salers. The problem in real estate isn't that it's parasitic, it's that it's anti-competitive and centrally controlled. Of course, Redfin and their ilk are helping.
Law is also not implicitly parasitic. A fair justice system is fundamental to our way of life. It is certainly more valuable than say professional sports. What's wrong with law is the system has become too puntative and is mired in a model designed for the 1800s. A number of domains (copyright/patent/divorce/class action/etc) need to be reformed, but lawyers on their own aren't particularly more parasitic than advertising depts, accountants, or other similar "support" positions.
Law requires a layer of "priests" between the law and the population because the laws have become so complex and because priesthoods by nature become self-protecting entities. This is especially true of a priesthood actually "in" the business of law. And seeing that a large number of politicians come from the "law" field.....
http://USLaw.com/WA will one day be a site where the laws on any topic will be available to any and all for a small flat fee. Each law will be plainly stated in English and accompanied by easy to understand examples and references. And hence, interpreters of the law will no longer be needed. It will take a large programming effort to make the switch, but the payoff will be huge....unless you are in one of the obsolete jobs.
Same could be said for RE agents, mortgage agents, brokers of all kinds, etc. The era of having human intermediaries between someone seeking a service and the actual service rendered, will continue to wind down. Computerization is inevitable as industries are "leaned down" and made more efficient.
Those in dead end and obsolete jobs/industries will simply be re-trained.
"Retrained for what?" is the question. McDonalds?