The etiquette varies from tag thread to tag thread. That part of the rules is usually at the begining tag thread. Of course, if it's a tag game where someone is supposed to contact you but doesn't after several days, I would say send a message. The threads have been moving slowly, but when they go fast it's easy to miss a tag.

As an aside, I tagged you but have your address since you're in a swap I'm hosting. I'll be off to the post office a little later today and will post in the Sent & Received thread when I return.

Wow, you're quick! I just wanted to make sure I was doing it right. I've done most of my swapping in the postcrossing forum so I've been lurking here for a few weeks trying to get the hang of things and then generally using the etiquette I learned in the other forum.

I would also like to say that if people are following the rules listed in the first post of the thread that people shouldn't skip them. Skipping someone means that they are either getting something without having to send out something, or not getting something when they have sent out something. Skipping someone is just as bad as flaking because either way someone isn't getting what they deserve or owe.

Lucky12324: I'm sorry, but I disagree that it is never appropriate to skip someone on a tag game. I think that sometimes someone has to be skipped to avoid tying up the game. If being skipped is a concern, perhaps people playing tag games should wait until they are tagged themselves before sending out, to make sure it is fair.

I agree DreamHope. It is insanely annoying to have all of the games tied up for days at at time. I think 24 hours is more than enough time for your offers to go un-updated. It would be polite to PM the person getting skipped, but don't know if even that is necessary.

Personally it is nothing like flaking to me.

I agree with you both. The forums are going sooooo slowly lately. I think that people that post need to be considerate of others:

In the words of the mighty Rachel "BE COOL NOT LAME."

just my opinion....

I agree with DreamHope, RoseHips and rainydaygirl. If someone is tying up the game for days on end because they're asking for unreasonably expensive or hard to find items, or if they're a known flaker, it's not fair to the other taggers. If the person doesn't like being skipped, they should play the tag games more fairly.

Skipping is nothing like flaking.

It is generally agreed that all tag games should be updated if they have not been tagged within 24 hours, whether each game actually states this in the beginning post is irrelevant.

It's also not fair to tag for expensive and/or handmade nice items and then only offer a postcard.

I think it would solve all swap problems if taggers follow the golden rule:

Swap unto others as you would have others swap unto you.

:D

hear hear, Buttergramma!

I also agree with Dreamhope - my Color Pay it back game has this rule and it's working pretty well so far. I think people knowing they might be skipped makes them come back and update regularly.

I agree as well. Also, I think it's nice to post on the Sent and Received thread. I don't think a lot of people know that, either.

"I think people knowing they might be skipped makes them come back and update regularly." Some people are getting skipped even though they do update regularly, because some posts do have rules saying that you must add 2 items to your list if you're not tagged in so many hours and such, and people are being skipped even though they do update their offers, and I think that's wrong. Especially if there is a rule in the first post telling them to update at a specific time, because then someone is getting skipped for following the rules.

hmmm...

I agree with both sides of this issue. The bad part is that some tags like the higher stakes US tag tend to move slowly no matter what. Also, with the holidays approaching I'm sure a lot of people are going to slow down on tagging simply to save money for gifts and everyone should anticipate that the tags will move slower. However, it is only fair to continually update your offer/request list if you haven't been tagged, and like Butterfly said, it is not fair to offer a postcard or a sheet of stickers if you tagged for a DVD or other very expensive item.

Well, I think that it would not be just polite to PM person who will be skipped but it should be a must in these cases where you first promise to send and ask for things yourself, else it is really like flaking - person skipped will maybe send out and get nothing. If it is the other way around (take and offer), one should definitely PM person who was about to send to the person getting skipped and hope she hasn't sent yet.

To make it short, if somebody is skipped it should be made certain that she is left out altogether - not sending and not getting. Like she hadn't posted at all or like dropping out of swap before partners are assigned.

Thank you for pointing out how I was trying to explain that it's similar to flaking. Perhaps you have explained it better than I and people will realize what I was trying to say now.

"To make it short, if somebody is skipped it should be made certain that she is left out altogether - not sending and not getting."

I completely agree. That's why I never send until I've been tagged back, unless I am prepared to take the risk of not receiving. Usually I'm tagged within a day, or two at the most, so it doesn't hold up my partner's package a noticeable amount. I definitely suggest this policy to all forum swappers, for their own protection. We have to look after ourselves as well as each other.

We need the flexibility in the rule to skip swappers if necessary. I know that if I get tagged by a known "problem swapper" again (I'm still waiting for something from FG), I will refuse her offer to send and the game will skip her.

I would also like to suggest that we let the games slow down a little over the holidays, when fewer people will probably be tagging. Maybe we could let games go 48 hours without an update, just during this slow season, so there's less need to be constantly adding and less risk of having to skip someone just because the game isn't moving as fast as it usually does (still allowing for skipping if the person's requests are considered out of line with the game or if it is a known problem swapper).