So, we all love the PIF thread - Heatnbeat started it years ago, and since then, it has helped numerous people finish their builds. Lately however, it seems as though there's been a lot of acrimony on the thread. There have never been any rules - and for good reason. We are all adults here, most of us are friends, and the day when this thread requires rules is the day it should be deleted. Just imagine that for a minute - the retro forum with no PIF thread...

For this reason, I've decided to outline the rules as we have all understood them until lately, when people keep talking about 'the rules'.

First (and only) Rule: THERE ARE NO RULES. When you are feeling generous, put something up on the thread for someone to claim. It is generally understood that the first person to claim it, gets it. There have been times when someone really needed a part to finish a build, but missed it, and was bummed because they really, really needed that part. Most retro members will then 'step aside' so that member can claim the part instead. I've done that myself. This is commonly known as 'kindness' or alternatively, 'cooperation'. We are self-governing. BTW - you do NOT need to post in the thread to offer someone something you see that they need for a build. IM them. I've given most of what I've given away this way.

I mention this because there are a number of misconceptions about this thread. First of all, you can claim something and not put anything up...or not for awhile. It is generally thought that if you claim something, you have to immediately put something else up. This is NOT a one-for-one trade thread. Please don't put up something to assuage your guilt. Put up something nice you want to PAY FORWARD. When you receive something, keep it in mind, and when you come across something nice you got in a deal on the EE but don't need, put it up. Help a brother out.

Here are the general guidelines (not rules - guidelines) as I see them:

1. Don't take anything you really don't need. leave it for the next guy. Hell, I could probably have used every damn part given away here over the last 8 or 9 years, but I've taken relatively little.

2. Don't put anything up that you are not willing to part with, or follow through on. I have seen more than one member back out for one reason or another - one guy decided he needed it after all, for his son's build, and I think that's pretty piss-poor form if you ask me. If you commit, follow through. I just sent a member here a hammer he needed for a build that someone never sent him. That's BS you ask me. If you can't follow through, don't bother. In fact, find another sandbox to piss in. People get real angry when you promise them something and don't follow through.

3. Don't be greedy. There is a member whom we don't see much of anymore, who shall remain nameless, and who was a pretty good guy, but I noticed that he claimed an inordinate number of things off this thread. This is NOT the EE, this is NOT a place to score free parts...well, it is, but you know what I'm saying. I recently got a 601 grip screw off the PIF thread, but left the A1 grip offered there for someone else. Could I have used another A1 grip? Of course...but I have 3 or 4 and I know there are folks out there who need just one.

4. Don't fill up the thread with pissing and moaning. If you do not get a part offered, then you are out a free part. Once you bitch about it, then their bad form becomes partly yours. Contact them by IM or email nicely, and if it doesn't work out, then piss and moan privately via IM. (I am usually willing to listen, but so are other older members.Better yet, just suck it up.) Give the guy a chance to make it right first. Maybe his wife has cancer, his dog just got hit by a car, or maybe he's just busy earning a living, or like me, has CRS. Don't flip out. It's a free part. You aren't out anything.

I've heard people say that they put up a lot of parts but never get anything. Well, THAT is what the PIF thread is ABOUT. Putting up stuff and expecting nada in return. If you can't do that, then don't offer anything. Augee just sent me an M14 TM that I claimed quite awhile back - I wasn't worried about it - I knew he was deployed, and would get around to it when he got home (as he told me he would and did) but if he hadn't, it wouldn't have bothered me. Don't expect to get a free part right away. I've given away FAR more than I've claimed. I've also gotten some really nice surprises outside the PIF thread - like the Vietnam double CD Hal sent me years ago when I couldn't find it here at my Walmart, he bought several copies and sent them out to guys like me. THAT is cool!
Thanks again Hal!

5. Which brings up - Be nice to each other. That's the entire spirit of this forum, and the PIF thread is the 'flagship thread' so to speak. It's as close as this forum comes to having a real 'Mission Statement', and it speaks for itself. Talk of banning someone, putting them on a list, saying we need rules on this thread, pointing fingers because they didn't immediately put anything up...that's all the same horseshit you ask me. Cut it out. Play nice. There are no rules for a reason - that's because the original members understand these guidelines. We don't need to be told it's uncool to offer something and not follow through, nor do we need to be told to keep complaints about a member off the thread. You know who the long-time members are - if you have an issue with another member, contact one or more of us. There is no reason for rules, contacting the mods (they have enough stuff on their plates) or public calling out. You want to do that, Arfcom has plenty of places for it. The PIF thread is NOT the place, okay? Let's keep it clean and clear for giving away parts only.

I hope these guidelines help explain the PIF thread to newer members who may find the lack of rules confusing. I suggest renting the movie 'Pay It Forward' as a great way to come to a greater understanding of what Heatnbeat was trying to consolidate in one place. He did this because a guy would ask where he could find a (fill in the blank) and almost immediately at least one, usually 2 or 3 members would offer him the part so he could finish his build. THAT is the spirit of retro. THAT is the spirit of the PIF thread. NO OTHER RULES APPLY. Nuff'said - B

Sticky this.....

2nd

3rd

There should be NO reason to "sticky" this,,as Morg says>> "We are all adults here, most of us are friends".

Well, a sticky will put it at the top won't it? Thus people will see it, read it, understand it.

There's too many stickies as it is, but Morg nailed it..... bravo buddy.

The new guys never read the tacked threads first.

Well said, Sir.

There is still shit going on in the PIF thread, so I'm going to bump this. Really, let's keep dialogue and general horseshit OUT of the PIF thread. Period.

its so tempting to claim stuff on the pif sometimes, i think there to much talking in the pif thread, i think every one that is going to claim something should run to the spare parts bin and find a good item to offer up and then post it. if you miss it then thats just your bad, i am guilty of stating i will post some thing tonight and then life happens and im too tired to go find something.i love the retro section good people and friends here.

With everything that's been going on in the PIF thread lately, I thought maybe a re-post of this is in order.

Oh jeeze, thanks, Morg - call me out as a slow shipper.  I said "I'm sorry!"  




~Augee

Hey - I was trying to make a point. You were off defending democracy an' shit... Now I REALLY want an M1A1, damn you. I really like that it's pocket sized - wasn't expecting that.

Hahaha, well - I don't know about defending democracy - just two and a half weeks at training, making PowerPoint slides for democracy maybe, but I did warn you and other potential claimants that I was liable to forget by the time I came back - which I did for another couple of weeks.  

It's all in good fun - and I second the PIF guidelines.  

~Augee