[Suggestion] Stricter ruling for Trading forum

Disclaimer: weekend, orange juice and I so much love the Empire. I don't do these posts to wreck havoc, I so to hope and help improvement if needed. Is it needed? I think it is but yah, who knows.

Alas, down to business...

Many trades are made in the business forum. For example here you have a guy who promised 40 diamonds for one iron voucher. Seems legit because it's a trading forum.

The only problem though... Who is going to step in if I back down?

Trust me: I won't. Never. But last I checked me giving my word wasn't good enough for the auctions, so what gives? Aren't the rules meant to protect players first and foremost? Not much going on here.

Suggestion: Make it mandatory that when a person agrees to a deal in the Trades forum then they are bound by it. Translation: I promised Slimewarrior that I would sell him an Iron voucher for 40 diamonds but only within the next 2 weeks: make me accountable if I break my promise.

You do so for auctions, why the heck not for trading?

When someone agrees to a trade: hold them accountable!

This covers most things:
5. Do Not Scam Other Players

• This includes the abuse of mistakes on shop signs, trying to cheat players out of their items, failing to deliver paid-for items, etc. If you have a question about what might constitute a scam, contact the Staff.
• Lotteries are disallowed on the Empire due to their high involvement in previous scams.
• Do not create games or events that are not possible. This is defined by the Staff as a type of scam.

However it appears you also want people to never be able to back out of a deal even if they can't physically do it or can't get in game for some reason or really, just don't want to do it anymore. Sure it would be nice if they tell you but as long as nothing has already exchanged hands then I don't see this as an issue, it's a minor inconvenience.

If anything you should pm the player and ask if they wish to continue the deal or if you are unsatisfied with the time it is taking then cancel the deal yourself and move on. Find out what the hold-up is because even if we make a rule we will ask you the players to make contact first.

If you can show a player is doing this regularly and with ill-intent then we can talk to the player and take action if necessary.

The current rules are more than adequate for the scamming side of it. For the rest, players should use those communication skills.

Gotta agree completely with Baradar67. Unless money or items have been sent, this is so minor to worry about. This is not the same as holding an auction. This is just words on a screen until something changes hands.

Good point indeed!

Well, the idea is mostly to apply consistency. Based on the explicit mentioning of this aspect within the auctions section.

Thanks for your comments!

Suggestion closed at request of OP.