Open Post: There's Been A New Round of Mutings

Consider this an open post to talk about recent new mutings or anything else Etsy related. I've approved all the comments that were waiting for approval, please accept my apologies for the backlog.

A muting, a booting, and threats of legal action

The Muting: seller MIZombie has been silenced for a month. We didn't see this when it happened, but you can read his rant about it on his blog. From this example we learn yet another unwritten rule of the Etsy forums: Yes, it's okay to say that someone hates America, but no, it's not okay to tell that person to STFU.

The Booting: seller Rivkasmom/Sweet15 has had her account permanently deleted from Etsy. On October 30th she reported to us that she received an email from Emily at support@Etsy informing her that her accounts would be permanently terminated on Nov 7th, and until that time she would have access to her accounts to collect her business history and pay her Etsy bill. No specific reason was given, only a mention of "previous transgressions" and "a history of disruptive behaviour". However, since Rivkasmom had been permanently forum-muted earlier this year, we have to wonder just why Etsy decided to up the penalty 10 months later without explanation. Making vampire cupcakes and ignoring the Bugs forum must have gotten a little boring, we guess.

But as it turned out, she was unable to log into her account as of October 30th, receiving only an error message informing her that her account had been suspended. That's a fucking brilliant way to help someone pay their Etsy bill, admin. We bet you broke a sweat thinking up that piece of genius.

The Legal Threats: Rivkasmom received yet another message later that day in which Etsy informed her they were logging all of her IP information, and saying that this information plus her personal information was being sent to the Etsy legal team, who would take action against her if she chose to use Etsy.com again. She was also told to expect a phone call from their attorneys by the end of the next day.

On November 4th, Rivkasmom received a registered letter from the Etsy legal team, reiterating the TOS and demanding that she shut down all Etsy accounts and cease all further actions and communications. Apparently they forgot they had already shut down her accounts 5 days previously. Admin, might we recommend a day planner or other record-keeping device to help you avoid embarrassing yourself in the communications department once again?


So, dear EB readers, this is the warm, fuzzy, community-minded "human" face of Etsy. Sure is ugly, isn't it? Once again the kangaroo court is in full swing, accusing and trying and convicting all without ever actually stating what the guilty person is supposedly guilty of. And pardon us if we just say that the legal threats seem completely fucking unnecessary. Don't you have bigger fish to fry, like pornographically-minded sockpuppets constantly running amok in the forums, a never-ending barrage of resellers, and new handmade venues popping up all over the internet preparing to give you some real competition? Once again it looks like you've grossly overreacted to one minor issue while a hundred other important ones go completely ignored. If your legal team is that bored - handing out cease-and-desist letters to Etsy teams trying to use the Etsy name at their events can't be all that exciting, we know - then find a better use for them. Icing cupcakes, perhaps.

More from the Muted

We got this today from Quirke and since we were given permission and the story is so fucking insane, we present it in its entirety.

If you ever doubted the running theory you can say anything on the Etsy Forums as long as you don't question admin's intelligence, motivations or "ah-thoritay"... this letter is for you. You have to supply your own cupcakes to maintain your sugar induced blissfull ignorance. We'd ask Etsy to respond but fuck them. We're not that kind of blog and their actions speak louder than words so who gives a crap what they say anyway.

Hello Bitches

I am writing to you to let you and your readers know what can happen to them if they openly criticize the failures of Etsy admin.

I have been muted for 7 days for this thread.

Three different admins – Rob W, Lauren, and Mary – weighed in on that thread but did not close it. In the end it was closed due to an argument between two people that had nothing to do with either myself or the issue at hand.

While that thread was still open, I received a convo from Stellaloella/Lauren. She told me she participated in the review process for featured items and had let the Content Team know about the item I saw that prompted me to start the thread. She also asked for other examples of rule-breaking that had been promoted. I sent her five examples.

On Friday I became aware that admin had featured both treasuries of a double-dipping curator on the very same day. I started a thread about it here, which was swiftly locked.

The next day I received the notification that I was muted for 7 days. They felt the need to hammer this home so much that they sent it to five different email addresses of mine, including one that is not attached to any Etsy account.

The given reason was "calling out". If it was calling out, why did that thread stay open, with three different admin posting in response, and only closed when two people became disrespectful to each other?

I was calling out admin. Sellers and buyers call each other out every day on the forums without being muted in response. People are abusive to each other every day without being punished. Apparently you can even get away with calling Matt a c*nt without repercussion. But point out admin is either willfully ignoring their own rules or too blind to notice when they're being broken, and you will get a week's detention. Reply to an admin who disingenuously asks for "examples", and get gagged.

Rule-breakers don't get punished, but people who point out rule-breakers do.

Incidentally, the item which prompted me to start that thread is still there, still breaking the rules.

You have my permission to publish this in its entirety.

God knows Quirke is no virgin to mystery Etsy mutings, but regardless - this is a completely insane banning.

For shame Esty, you should be embracing those who point out your mistakes, not punish them like petulant children when it's your site they are trying to improve. Maybe if you did your jobs you'd have less to panic about covering them up.

Quotables: Muted But Not Silent

Truths hurts, suck it up Etsy

I wish that the window that Etsy shows to the outside world was screened as carefully as most of us screen our own work, and the look of our own shops.
It defeats our purposes when staffers make excuses for "mistakes". It's sloppy.

Just what are you getting paid to do, Etsy?

....quality control is not OUR job. Why doesn't Etsy have someone on staff whose job it is to review everything on the public face of Etsy? Of course people will make mistakes but there should be someone other than your CUSTOMERS catching these mistakes.

I know Etsy would like us to contact them "privately" about such items so that you can fix them "discretely". We have done that. The problem persists. The time for discretion is over, since it isn't getting anything accomplished.

If you were quoted, congratulations and thanks! You can find your
celebratory "I've been Quoted" (and other EB avatars) by clicking here.

Mute Salute Treasury

We got wind of this great treasury put together by kcroteau, featuring sellers who have been muted or banned.

Check it out and give 'em some love, cause Etsy sure doesn't.

And if you ever do any treasuries that are bitch-worthy, send 'em our way.

A Mute Salute: Goodbye VeryBigJen

VeryBigJen, an EtsyBitch commenter and a very nice gal, has just informed us that she has been "indefinitely" muted on the forums because of these remarks:

Etsy's lack of tools for sellers sneakily makes them into tools for etsy.

Or maybe that it means Etsy staff are tools.

I'd prefer etsy design something right than having yet another goddamned work around.

I refuse to reset my printer and mess up my custom settings, ruin future print projects when I forget to change it back na dhaving to reprint it again, and waste even more materials and ink, all to cover their failure get off their lazy asses and do some QA work.

If they could just once design something right the first time I'd have a farking heart attack.

stellaloella says:
We hear your concerns on this matter, and it's sparked some good internal discussions.
-----
Do any of them resemble a unflattering puppet show where you call us whiny poopyheads? Cause that's the "in house discussion" I see in my head.

VBJ, as with WindysDesigns, you were a voice of persistence. You will be missed in the forums, if for nothing else the lulz and your take-no-prisoners way of saying it how it is.

Etsy's put itself in the position to have some much worse things said about them, and there are others on the forums who say much, much worse than anything that VeryBigJen has ever said, yet they are still allowed to post.

Way to go Etsy, quiet those who call you out on the carpet for being less than your potential. How very professional.

A new award for Valor

VeryBigJen, you have fought a hard battle. Etsy Admin seem to have it out for you. Apparently it is okay to accuse someone of being an EB and going batshit crazy on them, but not to call the accuser a lame ass for using the word "buck" instead of fuck.

I thought calling out and bringing non-Etsy business into the forums was a no-no. Oh, and notice this: the e-mail was sent to VBJ on 06/28 at 330pm. It took Etsy a full 3 days to act on muting VeryBigJen. Yeah, consistency is a load of bullshit.

VeryBigJen, since you are not an actual EB, you can be an honorary one. As is anyone who posts for the greater good. But you took a direct attack for us, and that is admirable and valorous.

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5680423&page=32
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5680423&page=35

For that she was muted for 7 days.

Rob, sir, you are a douchebag for this action. VeryBigJen was attacked, provoked and yet you punish the innocent. What a reactionary response, and very immature to boot.

VeryBigJen, feel free to use any of our valor awards in your banner.

Quotable Quotes: Cupcakes are the new Koolaid

How do I keep from feeling the wrath of Etsy Admin?

"just be sweet and kind all the time. Just imagine you're a giant cupcake and post accordingly."

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, that's cute!

Quotable Quotes: Suck My Dork

[sniff] Farewell RB:

"...she was banned for saying posting "suck my dick" when they
slapped her wrists like a naughty child for posting about the slowness.

They say, give someone an inch and they take a mile.

I say, give a few teenagers a bit of power and they think they're
fucking jesus."

RecoveryBabe has been muted!

Indefinately is the word for annoying Revolving Dork and being surly. We like surly. No. We LOVE surly.

So. This is for Recoverybabe, and the other walking wounded like Emckinstry, Quirke, Eclipse, Blondezillabeads4fun, Verybigjen, Halflyng and the myriads of others ever muted on Etsy.

Remember, we here at EtsyBitch respect you for pushing the boundaries in the name of making things better, and in your honour I shall fart Taps.

(If you are one of the many muted and want a smaller version of this noble badge for your own blog, it is down on the left side.)