Stolen Bikes - Sticky ??

Oldlegs

Just noticing a flow of "stolen bike" posts.

Might it make sense to have a Sticky thread - where people could post an entry if their bike is stolen. Means that there is a single thread where anyone could get a list (and pictures) of boardsie bikes gone missing.

Helps if you just want to do a quick check before buying something.

Structured entry could help such as

Title "Stolen - FELT FXX - Colour - Size"

Picture followed by more details of the bike, groupset, wheels etc.

Just a thought ...

meercat

good idea .surprised no one agreed with you yet

Oldlegs

Mebbe it is a bit like insurance - waste of time/money until you need it !

Lumen

I think the idea of a "stolen bikes" sticky makes no sense in a forum serving around four million people but used by only a tiny fraction of them.

You have something nicked, you're angry, you post about it. Doesn't make it useful.

Stolen bike threads just form part of the grieving process.

Traumadoc

I do not agree.
It also would alert us to how and where bikes are robbed.

Beasty

Traumadoc wrote: »

I do not agree.
It also would alert us to how and where bikes are robbed.

But you can get this by reading the individual threads.

The problem is we have limited space for stickies. There's nothing to stop someone starting a "mega stolen bike" thread - posters can still find the credit card and jersey sightings threads without them being stickied.

Just as a matter of interest, is anyone aware of a bike being recovered, or action taken against bike-thieves as a result of someone posting details here?

Hermy

A stickied stolen bike thread has been mentioned before.

And here's a stolen bike thread with a good ending.

Planet X

Might as well have a thread about Cable Locks. I've been bitten.

Oldlegs

The idea was to have a location where people could double-check high-end bikes before buying them 2nd hand. Some of the recent "Stolen" posting mention the increase in theft of higher=-spec "steal-to-order"

If people who are interested in buying higher-spec bikes 2nd hand knew they could double check it would help the resale process, hinder the resale of stolen bikes (even if only in Ireland) and as Hermy highlighted, this is more than just venting your anger - It can work.

Lumen

Beasty wrote: »

The problem is we have limited space for stickies.

Cycling Adverts doesn't have many stickies, that would be the best place for it. Not that I support the idea of course.

Beasty

Lumen wrote: »

Cycling Adverts doesn't have many stickies, that would be the best place for it. Not that I support the idea of course.

Was thinking that myself. A couple of drawbacks though:

1. The subforum gets less viewers, and hence the chance of anyone recovering anything is significantly reduced (from an already miniscule percentage)
2. Posters will continue atarting threads in the main forum, either because of ignorance of the existence of one in the ads section, or because they realise there will be less exposure there

We are going to ask for some feedback on the sticky situation generally, and we'll start a (stickied) thread shortly about this. However I would add that when we asked for moderation feedback, there were a number of posters who were asking for us to reduce the number of stickies (and IIRC no-one was in favour of increasing them)

gsxr1

i fell out with a mod on the motorcycle forum over this subject.

I got infracted by k***c for posting my stole motorcycle in its own thread and not the poxy sticky. (which in turn was linked to many other major non boards forums, with his disgraceful actions )

The stickys get very little views and a nicked bike needs to be seen by everyone as soon as possible if there is any chance of recovery.

-Chris-

gsxr1 wrote: »

i fell out with a mod on the motorcycle forum over this subject.

I got infracted by k***c for posting my stole motorcycle in its own thread and not the poxy sticky. (which in turn was linked to many other major non boards forums, with his disgraceful actions )

The stickys get very little views and a nicked bike needs to be seen by everyone as soon as possible if there is any chance of recovery.

There's a logic to that too, though:
If you start a new thread, you're relying on people coming across it organically and viewing or replying to it.
If you post in an existing thread which already has replies/posts from 100 other posters, then as soon as you post your details in that existing thread an email is sent to 100 people (who are either interested in helping people or who have experienced the same thing) automatically.

gsxr1

-Chris- wrote: »

There's a logic to that too, though:
If you start a new thread, you're relying on people coming across it organically and viewing or replying to it.
If you post in an existing thread which already has replies/posts from 100 other posters, then as soon as you post your details in that existing thread an email is sent to 100 people (who are either interested in helping people or who have experienced the same thing) automatically.

yeah I do get you point.
but take this sticky for instance.


http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055799795

It has 2000 views from the start of the year. the whole thread.

My separate thread had over 500 views in the first 2 days..

Another aspect which should also be considered is a posters state of mind while writing about a nicked bike.
They have no cares about forum rules as they just had there pride and joy taken from them. A state of frantic despair would be an accurate description of the feeling.


I think maybe a poster should have the opportunity to post how they would think it be best received. Imposing strict sticky posting rules leads to stress the victim does not really want or need.
losing something to crime, especially your hobbie and bike you poor all your money into, is quite heart breaking to some.



was a kick in the nuts when i got banned for posting incorrectly from a person who should have your back.

droidus

gsxr1 wrote: »

A state of frantic despair would be an accurate description of the feeling.

Thats pretty much how I feel all the time - does this mean I can break the rules?

gsxr1

droidus wrote: »

Thats pretty much how I feel all the time - does this mean I can break the rules?

yes. you should post up some porno

-Chris-

gsxr1 wrote: »

yeah I do get you point.
but take this sticky for instance.

...

was a kick in the nuts when i got banned for posting incorrectly from a person who should have your back.

Those are fair points too, there may have been a better way of that being handled.

Oldlegs

Just to get back to the original idea ...

The concept was to have something like a photo-lineup of stolen bikes in a sticky thread to make it easy to check bikes that a potential buyer is interested in.

Simple rule could be "One post for each stolen bike". No need for discussions about the event. If information is relevant should be in the single post. Otherwise, too much discussion making the "database" unusable.

Key words would also make it easy to search through the X entries.

Agree that the best place could be within the cycling>adverts forum

This would not prevent people posting a "rant" or "anger vent" message/ thread in the main forum where a discussion could still take place as per the current approach.