Etsy closing down discussions on the Ideas Forum

In the past, one of the ways the community has achieved change at Etsy was by continually posting important requests in the Ideas section of the Etsy Forums. The prices of sold items used to be visible after the sale. Concerted protest on the part of Etsians got this changed. And for months and months there was a forum protest over the fact that the currency used on the site (US dollars) wasn't stated clearly anywhere near our prices, a huge problem for an international site. That protest finally got the mingy result Etsy currently uses: a teeny little USD graphic under the item price on an item's page. But at least something was done.

There's a change afoot, though. Etsy Admin have been closing down more and more discussions lately in Ideas, claiming that this is just a way of keeping Ideas clear for New Ideas. Apparently they hear us, and have noted down everything we've asked for over the past three years so we can just stop asking, thank you very much, and simply wait patiently for changes to be made. Or not. Since they won't actually communicate any list of what they're working on. They did this to the Stats threads recently.

Here's another case in point. There are many Etsy artists who don't have a category for their work. Among their number are a sizable group looking for a category for Art Dolls and Miniatures that is not under Toys. For two and a half years they have been asking (very politely) for a top level category for this popular and specialized art. Etsians may have noticed some of these artists with "DAM" across their avatars. This is their low-key way of keeping the issue in the community's view.

(To give you a sense of the support that this request has, a member started a petition on June 24, 2008 which now has 704 signatures.)

On June 21, 2008, frustrated by Etsy's statement that DAM wouldn't be getting a top level category Etsy miniaturist mikrow started a thread in Ideas asking for a sub category under Everything Else and/or Art.

On September 3, at 2:51 pm, asiancrafts posted a thread in Ideas asking for a Polymer Bead subcategory under beads. At 8:07 pm, Hey Michelle posted "Great suggestion, I just added it under Supplies > bead. Thanks!" It took just over five hours from suggestion to implementation of this particular subcategory.

dangerousmezzo posted a link to this Polymer Clay thread in mikrow's thread, telling the DAMned that Hey Michelle had just added a sub-category for Polymer Beads and suggesting that HeyMichelle might be able to add a subcategory for DAM, too.

Less than half an hour later, HeyMichelle closed mikrow's thread. Here's her closing post:

Hi there you guys,

I am very sorry to close this thread, as it has useful info (such as the subcategory breakdown, which I've saved). However, I am going to have to since I feel that it's counter-productive.

As I've said before, it's our intention to create a top-level category for these items. This is what we are working on. It seems that the "forum march" is just getting the doll/miniature artists upset, and people are continually posting off-topic about this in other threads. I understand the frustration, but it would be unfortunate if we all have to be miserable until a category is made.

Also, I have said that it is quite a simple process to create *subcategories*, and we do this all the time. In fact, we've made several subcategories for dolls & miniatures in various top-level categories.

So, I am going to have to ask that you all just trust me that we're working on it, and that we've heard all of your ideas and suggestions. Also, I ask that we not continue to discuss this in the Ideas section of the forums, as the idea has been heard and is being worked on. Also, I ask that people not post about this off-topic in other threads (not pointing out anyone in particular, I've seen it a-plenty though!)

I'm very sorry if this is coming across as harsh- definitely not my intention! I am mainly hoping that everyone can just relax and enjoy themselves until the glorious day which will hopefully be coming soon. Please feel free to convo me if you disagree, or if you have any questions about this.

Your friend,
Michelle

I have it on good authority from some of the DAMned that they haven't had those subcategories created for DAM. They're not sure what the hell HeyMichelle is talking about, actually. They've waited and waited and been very patient and relatively quiet and they've just been ignored.

This is one of the parts of Michelle's post that I find most headdesking and condescending:

As I've said before, it's our intention to create a top-level category for these items. This is what we are working on. It seems that the "forum march" is just getting the doll/miniature artists upset, and people are continually posting off-topic about this in other threads. I understand the frustration, but it would be unfortunate if we all have to be miserable until a category is made.

This is the kind of thing a kindergarten teacher might say to her class. "You all seem to be getting awfully worked up about this, so I'm going to put you in the corner on your mat until you calm down. We can't have you getting all upset, now, can we?"

So telling people to shut the hell up is going to make them less miserable? It's the discussion of an important issue that makes people miserable? If you stop talking about a problem it will make you feel better? It might make Etsy Admin feel better if Etsians just shut the hell up, of course.

Hey Michelle graciously allowed the DAM Street Team thread to remain open, posting this there:

Hey there you guys...feel free to keep discussing this in these threads. As we had discussed earlier, we want to reserve the Ideas section for new ideas, and since we are very aware of this idea, we feel it's best to not have it in the Ideas section.

As many of you know as well, we are working on forming a category for these items, which will hopefully be soon. There is much more involved, though, in forming a top-level category than in subcategories- there's never been a new top-level since I've been at Etsy (almost two years now since I've joined!).

I'm hoping that everyone can not post off-topic in threads that are about other sub-categories.

Are we ok here? I think you all are amazing, and you've done an amazing amount of work putting together your category proposal. I'm hoping this process can be as smooth as possible...

Right, HeyMichelle. Only NEW ideas can go in the Ideas section of the Forums. Too bad we don't have a list of the ones that have already been suggested, so we know which ones not to ask for again. But, hey, we know communication is hard. And you're all hard at work on that top-level category for DAM and on giving us stats. Keep saluting (is that a mute salute we see there?) and smiling and calling yourself our friend and we may believe you.

APPENDIX

MAY 22, 2008
Collectibles category: going live on Thursday, May 29

MAY 28, 2008
Uh, no it isn't

JUNE 20, 2008
My frustration with the lack of an Art Doll Category

JULY 7, 2008
DAM we will take a sub category under Art please

JULY 26, 2008
Doll and Miniatures Team (this is the one that Admin has left open)

SEPTEMBER 3, 2008
Dolls and Miniatures Team -- Meet the DAMs (the most current DAM Team thread)