What is going on here? - Page 2

Mkelly · 09-16-2003, 09:56 AM

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm Never mind. Thanks for the answer

Thought I do have a question. Do avatars which plug websites that are commerical count, what about signatures? Do they all have to be changed? Is it allowed from sponsors only?

Some one was bound ask, and I've taken enough heat in my life where I have a nice tan and can weather this kinda thing

gregt · 09-16-2003, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Easy enough, although I did recently post an ad for a tank I had for sale, was that improper?...If so I apologies.

This type of post is not considered commercial and is allowed. As long is it is used equipment or if it's new equipment you intended to use but did not, it is not commercial.

gregt · 09-16-2003, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Do avatars which plug websites that are commerical count, what about signatures? Do they all have to be changed? Is it allowed from sponsors only?

Currently, the policy allows commercial links in signatures. That policy is currently under review, but at this time remains in effect.

ReefDave · 09-16-2003, 03:02 PM

Greg or anyone else in the know...I was abit curious as to what Jay had posted..... Last night I logged on to find a very informative discussion about the battery powered air pumps, since I will be moving to the northeast in the next few months I thought after thier power outage, this might be a good idea to look at for the move, and for after the move.

However when I logged on today the thread was gone. I spent an hour searching through all the threads, going back a page on all of them. I searched every single thread thinking maybe I had forgotten the name of the post. I looked on different forums thinking it might have been moved. And only by loggin in here do I find that it has be DELETED?

Now, I don't know if our sponsors sell battery powered air pumps, and if they did Im sure Jay of all people would have directed them towards that. I guess my concern is two fold.

1. If I want to ask a question about purchasing a part for my aquarium, that our spongsors don't carry, say, weldon, or rubbermaid, or acrylic or acrylic blades, etc etc etc. All very relevant to reefkeeping, but not carried by our sponsors. Will someone be deleted for posting "Sure dave just go to www.walmart.com for that rubbermaid....." Surely you understand my point.

I don't want to sound harsh, but it would almost seem like you can post about business (walmart, HD, Weldon, etc) as long as they don't conflict with a specific sponsor? Just asking.

Lastly, why has Jay's question never really been addressed. Instead of explaining what was wrong about that thread, he got a "read the rules" answer. I believe a behaviorist would call this technique "extinction" ignore the behavior and hope it will go away. Well, the problem with extinction is sometimes the problem doesn't go away, sometimes the persons with the problem do. I think we are seeing that already with a 6000+ post member.

Sorry if I am upset, I don't have a fraction of the time that these folks have invested in this forum, but I am feeling a little out in the cold right now myself, so I can only imagine what people who have spent hours and days on this forum contributing making it what it is (they have made it what it is not the sponsors) to be treated in this manner is hurtful.

Thanks for your time, and please answer these questions the folks that plan to stick around!

Dave

rogerthmyers · 09-16-2003, 03:24 PM

I agree it seems this forum should be for anything and everything under the sun, I mean anything I or anyone else needs info on, wether it be with another company or not, we all have the choice of where we buy our products for our tanks. Just because it may benefit someone else then the thread is removed, this site isn't so much for info anymore it's for personal gains behind the seens by those who own it or run it. I think I will sit and watch this site for awhile and decide wether I'll be back, hell we should start our own site.

gregt · 09-16-2003, 03:34 PM

I'm sorry Dave, I wasn't ignoring anyone intentionally. The question was asked in several different medias and I neglected to answer it on this one. My apologies for the neglect.

Both threads had problems due to glitches with the software. I made it worse when I tried to fix the problem and my "fix" resulted in deleting one thread and putting the other in a strange "semi-closed" state. I believe there are probably more threads that were effected, but I have no way of determining what they were.

The thread was restarted by the original poster and can be found here:
http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/sh...threadid=24725

ReefDave · 09-16-2003, 03:37 PM

Thanks Greg,
I didn't see the new thread. Must have been restarted after I searched the general forums this morning.

Dave

gregt · 09-16-2003, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rogerthmyers
I agree it seems this forum should be for anything and everything under the sun, I mean anything I or anyone else needs info on, wether it be with another company or not, we all have the choice of where we buy our products for our tanks. Just because it may benefit someone else then the thread is removed, this site isn't so much for info anymore it's for personal gains behind the seens by those who own it or run it. I think I will sit and watch this site for awhile and decide wether I'll be back, hell we should start our own site.

You completely misundertand the purpose for not allowing commercial posting. It is exactly for the reasons you mention that it is not allowed. If we allowed it the site would quickly become mired in self-promoting posts and real information by hobbyists without an agenda would be lost quickly. The bulk of the posts would be tainted by the fact that someone is trying to sell you something.

Do stick around and watch. The proof will be in the pudding.

Spanky · 09-16-2003, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rogerthmyers
I agree it seems this forum should be for anything and everything under the sun, I mean anything I or anyone else needs info on, wether it be with another company or not, we all have the choice of where we buy our products for our tanks. Just because it may benefit someone else then the thread is removed, this site isn't so much for info anymore it's for personal gains behind the seens by those who own it or run it. I think I will sit and watch this site for awhile and decide wether I'll be back, hell we should start our own site.

Roger,

I've been either a member or admin of this board almost since the beginning and I've noticed no changes in either the Mission Statement or the Users Agreement, nor have I noticed any changes in the enforcement of those two.
The rules have not changed. The enforcement of those rules has not changed.

The only thing I've seen change over the years is the particular names of the people that have tried to break those rules. But the end result has and will always be the same.

I just wonder if certain people weren't trying so hard to stir the pot right now, if there would be any conspiracy theory reaction to this at all. Wouldn't your first instinct as a sensible, intelligent person be to ask someone what happened. As you can see, Greg totally botched up the board, lost a few threads, had no idea what those threads were or where to find them. They were gone and lost forever. And anyone that contacted any of us was told what happened and to please repost their threads again and woops! No big deal......

that is unless someone is making it their business to make a big deal out of it.

Toadfish · 09-16-2003, 05:13 PM

I don't think there is any "conspiracy theory" as you state. It was an extreme coincidence that a member predicted a post would be deleted and it was. That is how it is viewed and that is why people are upset. We have to be able to have a free exchange of ideas to protect one another from predatory, disreputable vendors. As soon as the educated discourse regarding vendors or products is taken away, so to are many of the benefits of this board.

Spanky · 09-16-2003, 05:34 PM

and that's my definition of a conspiracy theory.

You asked, you were told what happened, begged for forgiveness, and told to please post it again. And you did. It's there now, same thread, same post, same subject - nothing has changed.

There's plenty of room for "educated discourse regarding vendors or products" there always has been, there always will be, there is now, there was yesterday, the year before, there will be tomorrow and next week too. Nothing was taken away yesterday, nothing changed. (well, except Greg's ops learning curve)

Nothing has changed. Including the enforcement of the Mission Statement and Users Agreement. It also will be enforced the same now, yesterday, tomorrow, and next week. Like everything else, that hasn't changed either.

It's really a very simple agreement and it's served us well over the years. It's just common sense to most people.

Jimmer · 09-16-2003, 05:55 PM

OK, ok, ok.....This seems like it may be much-a-do-about-nothing here folks. We PRIDE ourselves in having a friendly flame free environment. Lets try to keep it that way. I was shocked as much as anyone when I saw the board had been sold to Greg. HOWEVER I don't see a great deal of change other than the fact that Johnny got upset about presumably a thread being deleted. Now I agree with the fact that posts should NOT be made to endorse or sell any products. Perhaps if one desires to post in regards to a product for sale they should do so in the correct forum. I don't see the big deal here guys.

Johnny, if your still out there please reconsider. Jay, please don't leave. Jerel, please have some patience for those of us that love this place and feel a bit uneasy cause theres a new owner.

foobuddha · 09-16-2003, 06:13 PM

I'm just curious, doesn't the 'sponsors forum' directly contridict the mission statement? Please don't get me wrong, I fully appreciate all the time and energy the admins _volunteer_ towards keeping this wonderful resource available.

Toadfish · 09-16-2003, 06:13 PM

This was the first time that I had chimed in on this issue. If you look at my previous post with objectivity rather than your defensive nature, you would find that I am merely offering up a reason for the unhappiness by some. I kept the issue on the downlow, and you perpetuated it with a defensive posture...because things were explained to me on the side doesn't mean others have a full understanding. "Begged for forgiveness", again an example of your extremely defensive posture, and a hyperbole of the situation. You completely missed the point of my post.

Spanky · 09-16-2003, 06:19 PM

LOL I haven't changed either!

Thanks Jim

You know there's really nothing to feel uneasy about. Brooke and Jon are still here and always will be. Greg's a great guy and old friend of most of us here, including Jon and Brooke.