Hi all,

This is Vicky from Trulia.

First of all I’d like to thank you for reporting those incidents to us. We have already taken action to remove users who have claimed inappropriate names and posted inappropriate content and we are continuing this effort as I am writing this answer.

Our system does not permit the creation of such IDs, but it seems there was an error (and of course it happened over a vacation weekend)

Thank you very much for your suggestions (Michael, Deborah, J.D., Pam, Ute, Elvis, Marian, Jim, ALL of you)on how we can better moderate the community. There will soon be some updates on the site that will address some of them. We do require name and email address for everyone to sign up, but unfortunately identity check is online is very challenging and we are still working through some issues.

Keep the good ideas coming. We are here to ensure that Trulia is a pleasant and safe environment and we are committed in providing the best user experiences. Please send us your feedback, suggestions, ideas and keep reporting any bad activities. We hear you and we act on it!

Vicky

Hi Michael,

Yes, the posts have been particularly vulgar. While I often ignore ranters and bashers, they seem to be recruiting their friends. Hopefully, Trulia realizes that this poison will contaminate their site and step up to the plate, soon.

TU to you for the thread, Michael. Too bad it was necessary.

Happy Easter...or Happy Spring....Everyone.

Deborah

I have to agree. I'm appalled a the Zillow-esque quality of the posts I've seen on today's threads.

Hi Michael. Hi understand your sentiments. I am sure Trulia will remove the culprit. I am sure the answers have been reported repeatedly (yes, I did report, too). The best thing is to report and ignore them as that's the worst punishment for those who can't get noticed in a more positive way.

Happy Easter.
Ute

Ref: Below

Again, just another example of why the Agent2Agent section should be closed off to only professionals who fit that criteria of actually being an Real Estate Agent...what a novel idea!!!

Michael,

Hmm, for someone that so shocked, appalled and you find your mouth agape because of vile remarks ... .... isn't this your statement below..?

>>> "Courtney,
Can we all just agree that the TU feature sucks!! I really don't even look at it anymore. I really don't care. I write my reponses as I see fit and if some schmuck out their gives me a TU or a TD who really gives a rat's Ass! - Tue Mar 18 2008, 12:35 .." >>>>


http://www.trulia.com/voices/Agent2Agent/Why_all_the_Thumbs_…


Yes Michael ... where has the moderation gone.?

:^)

Hi Linda,

Thank you very much for posting this idea! Currently we don’t require license number for real estate professionals when they subscribe. The thinking behind this decision was to make the sign up process as easy and as lightweight as possible, so members don’t need to take many steps to start benefiting from a trulia account.

I agree with you, requiring a real estate license can be a good solution and it is something we are considering adding in the sign up process

vicky

I agree. Every participant whose status is "real estate pro" should be required to post their name, address, and brokerage. If that was the case with the poster who goes by the moniker "theman", then I would have already called and reported his comments to the broker of record.

I do not believe anonymity is necessary or conducive to rational or productive posts in a forum where professionals interact with the public.

-Marc

Mike, Deborah, Dan, Ute, Elvis, Marian and Jim.....you are all a class act and true professionals.

Happy Easter to you all! ;)

Mike.....

You are so right. I just got home and check in and found some very crude postings and they are calling themselves professionals. This is so tackey. We usually get hit withe the TD on weekends. I am hoping Trulia will step in and delete this vile behavior.

Michael,
Also my website is: http://www.marianschafferrealty.com

Dear Michael,
Unfortunately the internet is nothing more than a cross section of this crazy world. If you leave, and if you believe in the purpose of this site, then you can look past the few bad apple's.
Hang in there.
The Schaffer Realty Group
Marian Schaffer
marian@marianschaffer.com

That usually happens on a holiday weekend.

I agree, that tman's general take on the RE industry and Realtors in general seems to be pretty negative, but I'd still rather have his participation... there are others, I agree, that go too far, and should be, and have been removed

And Elvis, in this day in 1958 you enlisted! Aren't you AWOL!!
~~~~~~~~~
Ooops... forgot... I'd better suit up...

My denigrating the "Rodent's Derriere Protective Society" is a far cry from the denigration of other Realtors and clients sometimes on this site. As I stated, in the past I have NOT been shy with my posts and have been chastised in the past for using "insensitive" language and comments. I was called immoral by someone named "ruthless!". I don't blush easily Elvis, and don't suffer fools, but out right spamming under a totally inappropiate name while saying they are a "Real Estate Pro" lowers the bar for this site many of us enjoy using. Mr. Tman has measured ,thoughtful answers though his overall take on Realtors is to refer to us as "Billy-Bob"? (must be that southern thing) in search of easy money and lax ethics. Though his comments don't drip with the vile of some posts he finds it convenient to NOT understand us but to give a sweeping generalization of our industry. And Elvis, in this day in 1958 you enlisted! Aren't you AWOL!! @^_^@

Michael -

Just this morning I noticed several posts that were off the typical allowed. Normally Trulia is pretty quick. I guess everyone went easter egg hunting! I agree that the validity of the forum is dependent on the constant scrutiny from Trulia team and believe that all and all they do a good job. Hopefully, they get on top of these recent posts.

CJ

Vicky,
Am I mistaken but don't you have to register with your real estate license when signing up as a Real Estate Pro? I only signed up this last week but I already forgot! :)

If this is not a prerequisite...it really should be. Trulia can then match that info up with the DRE database to confirm. Hopefully by implementing that or a similar technique, we can bypass and weed out all these BOGUS "Pros"

Michael, yes - it is very odd. Many blogs often talk about how strict the Trulia Voices profanity rules are, but we are still sticking to it...so it was a terrible incident that this error occurred...

thanks again to all for reporting it so quickly to us
vicky

Vickey.....thank you so much.

Hi Michael,

I am a recent addition to Truila but I have noticed some rough answers, not just from some of the folks you mention but others as well, some really off the wall stuff that I found shocking! I was shocked because I felt it was bad advice coming from a pro.

I looked back to the beginning of time and noticed the agent2agent section was just that. Now I see all kinds of folks throwing in their two cents worth - some is ok and some is terrible.

I would have suggestion to Trulia. That each of us that signs on as real estate pros be required to complete our profiles including email addresses, and websites and phone numbers. Then when we see an off the wall person showing up and it's from our own brokerage or city we can at least verify that it's the real person and not an impersonator. We would have to do a little self-policing but I think it would worth the effort to protect our integrity as professionals. I have seen another agent from my company and like me signs off after giving great answers with all of the company info. Actually, here in Florida, even in a public forum like this state real estate law requires the name of the brokerage. Access right now is too easy for a 12 year old to enter in fact, it’s so easy a caveman can do it!

I believe Trulia to be an excellent forum for the general public to have semi-anonymous access to us in the profession and I hope it can be cleaned up a little so they get answers from professionals and not B.S. from imposters

My 2 cents worth

JD "Dan" Weisenburger, GRI
Broker-Associate, REALTOR(r)
Vanguard Realty, Inc., GMAC Real Estate

Hey look the TD guy is hitting us all for telling the truth!

I agree with you 100%! I'm quickly growing tired of the cat fights taking place on some of the threads, see Zack homebuyer in NY and F***ME and his predatory remedies are unwelcome. I find myself visiting here less and less and will remove all links if this continues. Trulia - keep the professionalism alive!

Darren, Actually a lender's forum would be an interesting forum as we have such an unsettled financing marketplace these days. I'm constantly checking on new programs or WHAT programs are still standing.

Carrie, Yes! A sure sign of mental imbalance! What blew me away was the guy was pitching folks for this foreclosure savior web site and actually had THAT word followed by ME as his name!! Always instills confidence in me to see a guy THAT first name!!

How about making a "lender" or some other form of tag so that the lenders are not classified as Realtors?

Well, rats! I always miss the good stuff. Of course, you probably know that constant profanity is a sign of mental illness.

Elvis, I'm just a hunk,a-hunk of burning love for Realtors and those who serve our country!! Geez, I feel my temperature rising!!

Hello Michael, Elvis and Linda. It was my understanding that the Agent2Agent section was created for real estate professionals only. Perhaps Trulia should clarify that if I am mistaken. While the section is obviously open for others to read, I think posting should be limited to those for whom it was intented. I personally do not need posters like Tman to keep me on my toes. I don't come here to be kept on my toes. If I answer questions in the public section, I expect to have to tolerate posters like him, but here I find no value to his posts and I typically don't read them or respond to them.

I used to contribute a lot more to Trulia last year but reduced my involvment drastically when Trulia was for the most part a battleground and there were too many nasty exchanges. I just recently came back because I felt that Trulia had been cleaned up. I enjoy the Agent2Agent section because it's more on point and on a professional level and I don't see much need for moderation in this section, except when we have an imposter who is doing nothing but disrupt the forum. I see the Agent2Agent section as the deep end of the pool and those who can't swim should stay out of it. Unless someone has walked in our shoes and done our job, they really don't know what it's like to be a real estate agent and should not render generalized judgments. There are always the good and the bad and it seems to be much more popular to rant about the bad experience than brag about how wonderful your real estate agent was.

For those who can't help themselves, they can still go to the general Trulia Voices section and seek an audience there (even there it appears to be more of the exception than the rule).

Have a great week.

You are correct. Please join me in informing Trulia Administration of these abuses and problems.
It is ruining the site.

I don't know, Linda. While I often disagree with tman's tone, ... it's folks like him that keep us on our toes. You have to admit, his comment, in this case is relevant, if embarrassing.

I don't have a problem with him, and others, reading, or commenting in the agents2agents section. Disrupting is a different story, but that applies on public & agent sides.

Vicky, I'm glad you responded, even on a "vacation weekend"! But I think the rapid replies which followed my question to our community speaks volumes! How can the same moderation engine which won't allow me to post a response because it detected "No Profanity" could allow an alledged "Real Estate Pro" to use an obvious vulgar play on words. The ironic thing is the guy then goes on to pitch his foreclosure remedy!! That anyone would take a guy seriously after he posted a name which indicates what he will most likely DO TO THE CONSUMER--Is beyond me!!