Curious - New Testing

[Zydeceltico]

I am wondering:
.....since we are all on this server (a given) and are all exposed to the various vendors here and ...... there are a lot of users on this server.......and it appears to be a pain to put a test group together on the fly when a vendor has a big sale..............

Is it appropriate it or not to post here saying something like: Looking at buying some bulk T from Vendor X and wanted to see if anyone else is thinking the same and would you like to throw in together for a test group?

I know there are several reputable test groups on Discord and TG and I am only throwing this out here because the viewing population of this forum is SO much bigger than even the biggest testing server.

I wouldn't dream of running a testing group here - - just fishing for interest. Then moving to an established test group.

Please forgive me if I am out of bounds! Just curious.

Thanks

 

[Retazempic]

As someone running a test group elsewhere, it definitely would be helpful for me from a recruitment standpoint.

More important, I truly believe it would increase newbie participation in testing, which meaningfully promotes the safety goals of this forum.

There are several friction points to testing, some of which could be easily overcome here. Many newbies don’t test bc they’re impatient. They wait 2-3 weeks for their first kits and figure: “there’s enough testing generally to keep the vendors honest so I’m fine,” and they get straight to pinning. Not the right mindset from a risk management perspective. They don’t think to ask for batch or cap color when they buy, so they’re not pre-seeking test groups. If they finally do consider testing once their kit arrives, they then have to go out and do a whole new set of research to find a test group they trust. And that just means more delay to the impatient. Yes, we are looking to help ppl slow their roll, but we need them to do that BEFORE they pin.

Also, making it easier for ppl to coordinate the timing of independent purchasing- again, everyone doing their own research - with an eye toward testing will encourage newbies to do even more targeted learning at a time when they are especially primed to do so. Instead of spending 2 weeks compulsively tracking a FedEx package that still hasn’t left Wuhan, they can channel all that nervous/impatient energy into getting involved in testing, so that when their package finally arrives, they know exactly how to label their vial and can send it out right away. That time between purchase and delivery is a unique time when it comes to getting ppl to learn. Ppl are even more invested and curious during that wait period, and they are more likely to pay closer attention to the information available to them.

I get that we want ppl to do their own research as a gate-keeping-to-grey, and to make sure they ppl continue to take responsibility for doing their own research thereafter. I see the value in that and I act accordingly when I get hit with lazy questions.

But once ppl are here, I think the approach should be 180 degrees opposite when it comes to testing. I think we should do whatever we can to create a culture of testing.

The biggest value-add in this forum is that we are blessed veterans who won’t hesitate to call out lazy/incompetent/inadvertently predatory test groups. I’m fortunate enough to be in a test server where the mods are clear about not taking $ and watch all their test leads and channels like hawks. They’re constantly popping in and making sure sh*t is done right, which includes answering random questions from complete newbies that the test lead might not be able to answer - an important skill set that keeps newbies feeling confident in their test group. I don’t know if all test groups are run that responsibly.

I have more I could say, but I’m going to brunch with the fam. Looking for hearing to hearing what others have to say.