Nobody is banned based on assumptions alone and there is always a need for proof in banning someone, usually in the form of chat logs and trading screenshots.

I can also ask a question for you. What value does Outpost have in openly allowing sharks to use the website?

The majority of traders hold the same opinion as the Outpost staff does in that sharking is wrong. It is in our best interest to reflect that and ban sharks when possible.

What benefits could be received from allowing sharks that outweighs our image as a safe trading site being jeopardized and losing users who do not wish to use a site that doesn't ban for sharking?

And that's why sharking is hard to attach labels to, and like I said, there are exceptions to the rule.

But I'm willing to wager that someone with that much experience as you put in your example doesn't just somehow slip up and trade a new player weapons for an unusual without any kind of ill will.

It does take a judgement call on most examples of sharking, and I cannot be sure that someone who was innocent has ever been punished for it. But when two people who fit the common shark attempt scenario (one experienced trader and one new one) in a very lop-sided (90%+) trade towards the experienced player with high value items involved, It can reasonably be said that it was a shark trade the vast majority of the time.

Originally posted by Te3-BloodyIron (farewell jade):

lol, nothing we can do. wow, way to just roll over and die already. please post constructively next time instead of just shitting all over this thread.

Originally posted by Select:

Ok, Obama boy if you convince them to do something I'll give you my house and my car keys and not on the thread on you ;)

While having an opinion is fine, do not start anything up on the forums.

Are you using the "New" button at the top of the screen?

The offers button is only meant to list trades made by others that you yourself have posted (offered) on. Also there is no limit to how much you can offer and premium is not required to use the site in any way, the only limit one has is the number of open trades they have at one moment.

I think the question here has been lacking one thing. It is not only the action that takes place, but also the intention that those actions were taken in. Sharking can be odd to attach a label to because many exceptions to the rule can be found.

If two people with no trading experience make a trade that would be lop-sided for one person, nobody would be surprised.

It's in instances that someone with that type of knowledge typically goes out to find the typical target (low hours, no trade experience, few high value items amid various low ones) with the intent to trade them near worthless items for something they know that the other person could get more out of. I don't mean some small range like someone finding someone with a two key item and offering one, I mean someone looking for that new player with an unusual and offering 30 weapons for it because they know that many new weapons to a new player would seem like a lot.

Both people initially walking away happy is a nice concept, but in sharking situations one of the two knows they took advantage of the other, and it's that type of person we do not want on the site.

And I personally believe that's a perfectly fine stance to take. However the staff and general population of Outpost does not want those type of traders, therefore they will be banned.

By not banning people who shark, we'd basically be throwing up the signal that sharking is perfectly fine and indirectly promote the practice. I know I'd personally rather have Outpost be a safe place for "idiots" than sharks.

Originally posted by Sir Skad:

Also Norby89, as | S.S. | creamy said, sharking is not at all stealing, both parties in the trade must agree and accept what the other party is offering for their items, as I said before, people who suffer from sharking are stupid.

That way of thinking isn't going to get you many people agreeing with you. Not everyone is an experienced trader and could have easily have just opened an unusual with their first key they ever bought for the game they started playing and enjoy greatly.

It isn't right to say that someone coming by to prey of their lack of trading knowledge is just the same as someone scoring a good deal on Outpost.

It isn't the actual sharking only that gets them banned, it's the question of do we want the type of people who willingly go out of their way to shark others in our community?

This type of conversation has happened before.

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/groups/tf2outpost/discussions/0/864980278135195804/

Sharking may be an ethical thing that people have different opinions on, but they are not welcome on Outpost.

After looking at your trade, it seems you tried to sell an expired item.

Those disappear after the expiration date (in this case after the 2012 Halloween event) when you open your game. Many people will keep these items on alternate accounts that do not ever open the game in order to freely trade them after the expiration date.

As for the basics to Outpost, you seem to know how to make trades so you've passed the most basic part.

The quick rundown of the tabs on the page:

Backpack- Takes you to a view of your inventory. Please keep this public at all times.
Trades- Takes you to a list of all your posted trades.
Offers- Makes a list of all trades that you have posted on.
Bookmarks- Takes you to a list of trades that you have bookmarked for future viewing.
Matches- Makes a list of trades that match your own trades wishlist.
Search- Search page for items. Please note clicking on an item once put in the searched owned section/wishlist, a drop down menu appears with more detailed search parameters.

And I believe you're familiar with the New tab at this point.

I'd also heavily recommend making sure to read through the rules page (especially the very bottom of the page) and making sure to read the notes posted on trades to ensure a better experience. The setting page may also provide a few settings that will make browsing trades easier.

Because there is an SR scam report made, there is no need to make one on Outpost. There are two SR admins on the Outpost staff and therefore multiple reports are unnecessary.

Thank you for your concern however.