"lost or found"
my, my my ok you guys; you sound like the dwarfs; grumpy - stoopid - rick - peakbagger - neil & hikingmom!
so i'm going to be snow white! (this is my fantasy so i get to be who i want)
1st: in regards to the lost/found issue; i'll give you the "rules" point. However, it seems the intention of stating it in the rules was to try to set up some "peramiters" to try to keep the site manageble. i don't think anyone can argue that point.
2nd: however, i've been on this site now for a year or so & there have only been a very few lost/found postings. AND, they don't turn into discussions (the recent camera one being an exception - but that discussion could have become a post anyway since folks seemed like they were looking for an opportunity to get together). usually they are very brief;stating what was found/lost - the location - and how to contact if you found or you are the "loser". no reason at all for discussion; end of post.
3rd: so, in reality that 1 post to state an item lost/found takes up less space & requires less management than THIS post to argue about the matter.
4th: almost everyone on this site has been in favor of supporting the site by purchasing car stickers, patches and hopefully t-shirts. so it's not like "most" of us are here taking advantage of darren's good graces. we want to help him out. if we are willing to help out financially then it's only fair we have some say in what the site is used for. it seems that most will agree the "lost/found" issue, to date has not been abused and should not be a topic for argument. don't you think it would be better to wait & see if it did get out of hand & if so, then say - enough!
5th:
"You're welcome to post On Topic here or you can sample other places that have rules more to your liking"
yes, adk may have an area to post lost/found. but that's like sending your customers away & making them shop elsewhere. i like this site. i don't have the time or inclination to be active on 2 sites. i choose to support vftt. if issues like this come up & participants are told - " go over to the adk site"; then ok they go over there, then they start reading the post, becoming active and maybe they don't come here anymore.
6th: hiking gear is not cheap & for crying out loud; if one person can help another eleviate the financial burden of having to go out & replace gear - or return something of value; personal or financial; isn't that the kind of people you want supporting your site?
i feel as long as the post is brief & the "posting person" has all other contact DONE VIA PERSONAL EMAIL (maybe you could add this to the rules, that way they aren't even using the sites "pm" space). than this type of post should not be a problem.
Now I want all my little dwarfs to kiss & make up!
please....