> Google wont let me spruce up RFDT with imbedded HTML like IMG and
> QUOTE because there is the USENET Newsreader legacy. *The best I can
> do is HTTP links. *
That's my point, it has its limitations.

>Ive been putzing around on Sanzui. *You need an
> Account. *The Forum makes you pigeon hole your thread in six
> categories. *I didnt see any appropriate place for a question on Nano
> tea technology. *It seems more like a social network site based on
> tea. *Lots of bells and whistles with glitz and glamor. *

That's right, you actually have to sign up for an account before you
can post a thread or post a reply. But here's the catch: if you're a
newbie posting isn't allowed initially. And believe me, all that glitz
and glamor is useful on Sanzui.


> biggest quarrel is the 'new' posts. *Theyre are only good for 24
> hours. *So if there is a break in the activity the thread rolls off.

Well, a lot of people post or reply to a thread, so that's why things
get switched around. Depends on number of new posts and new replies
to older threads. And also the forum. The Chamagudao forum for Puer is
by far the most active. Other categories post less, but still there is
heavy traffic. Depends on the type of post. Someone posted a series of
pics of a pretty woman brewing tea in a kitchen. That post got a lot
of attention and replies to be sure.

> Besides the artificial categories, vendor salespitches and threads
> that are more than a day old it is a tea posters dream. *

I don't really see any sales pitches on there. People are pretty good
about that. China is a big contry anyway, there are plenty of
customers. No need to go to a forum like Sanzui and make sales
pitches. Lots of banner ads though to bring in revenue on the main
page. Mostly people are there to share their experiences in quality
differences and demonstrate why. That's why imbedded photos are so
useful. And it's what makes the site so useful. People can share their
experiences with their own photos. Or ask for expert opinion.

There was a question asking "If you tea experts have such a low
opinion of Dayi and Xiaguan puer teas as demonstrated in so many
posts, then please point out to us exactly which puer brands/companies
are better. I'm always drinking Dayi and Xiaguan; that means I'm
drinking garbage tea!" No concrete response though. People just said
Dayi and Xiaguan are ok.

> PS *One last picadillo. *There is a search function in the lower right
> by subject,content,author. *No matter what I put in using Chinese
> characters it essentially says 'not found'. *

Yeah, the search function is disabled for newbies. Sanzui is a site
based on hierarchy. The lower you are, the less options you can do.
And the way to increase your rank on the tea totem pole, so to speak,
is to post a lot and post often. Or at least reply to other posts. But
putting in just a smiley or 1 word won't do. You get punished for that
by the Sanzui cops; take away some of your points. That's just their
etiquette on there.

So basically, the people that have been on the longest and posted the
most get all the bells and whistles.