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"Predator vs. REALTOR®" - Community Guidelines ReVisited

By
Real Estate Agent with Fathom Realty West Sound WA State 52404

This post is the latest in a series of articles aimed at re-hashing the ActiveRain Community Guidelines. With so many new real estate professionals joining the fold, it's a good idea to review these guidelines regularly, and to ensure that there is a clear understanding on what the expectations are for members who participate in this great network.

The next guideline is pretty straight forward, and reads as follows:

"There is zero tolerance for predatory behavior, stalking, threats, harassment, invading privacy, or the revealing of other members' personal information. Anyone caught doing these things may be permanently banned from ActiveRain."

Here in the Pacific Northwest, we're blessed with an abundance of all things green - varieties of pines, cedars, and native ferns. Washington is known as the 'Evergreen' State. Our climate and physical geography provide an environment that is conducive to and promotes such rich growth.

One of the keys to the successful growth of ActiveRain has been providing a safe and encouraging environment for our members. Many of the people who join ActiveRain have never had a blog or written a post. Jumping in and getting your blogging feet wet can be a fairly daunting endeavor for most. Fortunately, we have a very substantial core of veteran members who consistently make a point of providing helpful advice and encouragement to newer members. It's this constant cycle of 'Paying it Forward' that makes ActiveRain such an enjoyable and valued experience for its members.

Every once in a great while though, a bad apple comes along who attempts to threaten or diminish that experience. Our members need to know that ActiveRain Management takes such matters very seriously, and will act swiftly/decisively towards anyone who would jeopardize/violate the safety or privacy of one of our members.

If any of our members ever feels threatened or victimized, contact any of the ActiveRain Staff immediately. Bob Stewart, Brad Andersohn, and myself all have our cell phone numbers published on our profile pages. You can also contact us through the ActiveRain E-mail System, or by submitting a 'Contact ActiveRain' form, located at the bottom right of your screen.

We want to thank all of you who make it a point to reach out and help our newer members find their way around in the Rain. You are the ones who prove daily that "the true value of our network community rests within its members!"

Posted by

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Rich Jacobson is a REALTOR® and licensed Broker with Fathom Realty. He's a Crab Hunter, Clam Digger, and Oyster Shucker, skilffuly vanquishing anything in a shell! He is the Social Media Evangelist for Life on the Kitsap Peninsula & The Western Puget Sound in scenic WA State.

Rich Jacobson
Fathom Realty West Sound - Poulsbo, WA
Your Kitsap County WA Real Estate Broker

Brother George! You're sworn to secrecy, buddy!

 

 

Aug 30, 2008 06:44 PM
Courtney Cooper
Cooper Jacobs - Seattle, WA
206-850-8841

Seems pretty basic - too bad it has to be a post.  Thanks for taking care of us:)

Aug 30, 2008 06:45 PM
Rich Jacobson
Fathom Realty West Sound - Poulsbo, WA
Your Kitsap County WA Real Estate Broker

Colleen:  It just happened to be the next one in order....

Aug 30, 2008 06:47 PM
Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
Las Vegas, NV

Rich - I agree with you on this post 100% and think it is very important for safety within the AR community. There are so many predators within the Internet, etc. It would be almost impossible for someone to get through my wall barriers protecting my assets, etc. But the word (almost) is in that sentence. There are other members that may not be so lucky in protecting there assets and personal information. I really would like to thank you for posting the concerns that the AR network has. If anyone of these predators would like to pay me a visit in Las Vegas, I have a permit to carry and I never leave home without it.

Aug 30, 2008 09:42 PM
Mary Pope-Handy
Christie's International Real Estate Sereno - Los Gatos, CA
CRS, CIPS, ABR, SRES, Silicon Valley

Thanks Rich. I have never felt harassed here, but have heard weird stories along those lines from time to time with others. Thanks for the community reminder!

Aug 31, 2008 02:50 AM
Fred Chamberlin
Guild Mortgage Co - Oak Harbor WA - Oak Harbor, WA
Oak Harbor/Whidbeynulls, #1 Experienced FHA Mortgage Consultant

Good information, too bad you have to wear a police hat also.

Aug 31, 2008 03:29 AM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

I really appreciate the general attitude of generosity and positive feelings on Active Rain.

Aug 31, 2008 05:58 PM
Melissa Grant
A Serendipity World - Greenbackville, VA
The Law of Attraction In Life & Business

I have said it before and I will say it again, NO-ONE cares about it's members more than Active Rain ! Other websites with this many members considers us just another "number", Active Rain, considers us part of it's family ! That in itself is priceless !

Sep 01, 2008 12:33 AM
Tom Burris
NMLS# 335055 - Baton Rouge, LA
Texas/Louisiana Mortgage Pro - 13 YRS Experience

One of the greatest things about his place is the willingness of the founders to take decisive action. Political correctness need not apply.!! I love it!!!

 

Sep 01, 2008 03:17 AM
Benjamin Clark
Homebuyer Representation, Inc. - Salt Lake City, UT
Buyer's Agent - Certified Negotiation Expert

Stay in the trenches! I find it amazing how just a handful of you keep this wild thing under control. Thanks and Good Job!

Sep 01, 2008 11:05 AM
Anonymous
Tom Braatz

Rich

How true. One bad apple can spoil it for many.

Sincerely

Tom Braatz

Sep 01, 2008 02:28 PM
#52
Esko Kiuru
Bethesda, MD

Rich,

AR is a highly professional network and enforcing rules like this will keep it so. We shouldn't allow a few who stray from the straight to ruin the great experience for the rest of us. Enforcement is the key.

Sep 01, 2008 03:43 PM
Gary Bolen
McCall Realty - South Lake Tahoe, CA
CRS - Lake Tahoe Real Estate Information

like this stuff. and do like it when antagonists get tossed. almost want things like that to be made public, not to embarass, but to assure the fold that it does happen.

got a fun little ditty for you tomorrow. staring the other manager, that like you, used to be one of us too.

you should'a been there...

Sep 01, 2008 04:14 PM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Wow Rich,

I had no clue that anything like that ever happens here. Wow.

Sep 01, 2008 05:45 PM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Rich,

I had no clue on earth that this kind of thing happens here. Wow.

Sep 01, 2008 05:48 PM
William Collins
ERA Queen City Realty - Scotch Plains, NJ
Property and Asset Management

Rich,

Thanks for the post. Not a very pleasant subject for the Rain, but very essential as there will always be those who test the limits.

Sep 02, 2008 12:30 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Rich, I really like that photo of the "bad apple". Did you take it. Can I steal it? JK

Thanks for pointing out that this is what we are about:

"We want to thank all of you who make it a point to reach out and help our newer members find their way around in the Rain. You are the ones who prove daily that "the true value of our network community rests within its members!"

 

Sep 03, 2008 02:22 AM
Chuck Willman
Chuck Willman - Alpine, UT
NewHouseUtah.com

This is a good update.... I've been very fortunate that I haven't had the experience of someone being less than cordial with me. I have, however, seen the rare case in which someone flies off the handle for little reason. I'm glad to see that there is a way to address this.

Sep 03, 2008 06:40 AM
Team Honeycutt
Allen Tate - Concord, NC

I have just started blogging and found your guidelines informative.

Sep 03, 2008 08:15 AM
Liz Moras Migic
Chilliwack, BC
Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

Hmmm I missed this post - and to think it was written on the 30th.....wow - life sure is strange - with its twists and turns......timing........etc. It was good to read the guidelines........thank you ...:-)

Sep 05, 2008 05:10 AM