Guidelines

1. Don't be afraid to ask for escrow, even if the buyer/seller has a trusted reputation. Any reputable trader will agree to this request, it should raise red flags if they are hesitant. Remember that there is no rush when trading, it is better to take a few extra hours or pay 1% more for the item you are buying if it means lowering your risk of being scammed. A good list of active forum escrows can be found here.

6. Be wary of self-moderated threads. These are generally only used to curate feedback and delete negative posts. The same is true of locked threads, if there is no obvious reason the thread is locked, assume it is to avoid negative reviews.

I've noticed "self-escrowing" & escrows not keeping up/being able to keep up with their deals. I've noticed an escrow telling the victim terms for release, then when met, going back on them & not releasing, leaving it up to the perpetrator to authorize release.

I can't remember ever using a bitcoin escrow (and can't find it in my oldest ratings), not even when I was a noob, and I think I had enough foresight of how escrow could go bad back then, that my opposition to escrow has been consistent. I've missed out on deals recently because people still want me to go through an escrow or send first (if not use a fucking exchange that "loses" deposits, balances, withdrawals) in spite of all my ratings, length of ratings, and all my cryptographic links to those ratings (including enough meatspace info to get me murdered), when they have none or almost none.

Receiving positive trust ratings only seems to be an asset to those who don't/can't keep their word.

I hate debt.
If "I" ever ask for/offer a loan, assume my account is compromised. If "I" ever accept or offer escrow services, assume my account is compromised. If "I" ever recommend or say one positive word about an exchange, assume my account is compromised. If "I" ever get into campaign managing, assume my account is compromised.