Traders - Your thoughts on forums

[Filterlab]

...As soon as either myself or Rob get a chance we'll move your comments from here and transfer them to a new thread
...

I've done that bit, this is the new thread. LOL!

[Steve Toy]

I agree with all Rob's sentiments above.

[Mr. C]

I feel it is down to the particular forum on weather they wish to impose a levy or not.
Some participants feel it makes 'their' forum too much like a shop, while other like the idea.
A balance is necessary, how you achieve this is down to the forum organisers themselves.
Though do becareful not to show you are actually putting effort into your business project, as it seems to cause issues with members who have this age old British ability to attack people actually prepared to get off their proverbial and make it work!
Still its a funny old world!

[Filterlab]

...Still its a funny old world!

There's no doubting that!

[Steve Toy]

The biggest problem with charging trade members for the privilege of posting replies to queries or suggestions to hi-fi issues that may result in them making a sale, are that they may then decide to hit the place with their sales pitch more indiscriminately just to get their money's worth.

[Filterlab]

I agree with all Rob's sentiments above.

This is why I like Steve so much; He's a man of few words, but he knows where he stands.

[Wolffy]

Would like to throw my two pounds of flesh into the skillet on this subject.
It certainly is just delightful to see a different approach and attitude which is being promoted by the administrators toward trade people.
Over in the states, most manufacturers are terrified to go into forums since most are controlled by administrators and users which have their personal agendas as to which trade members are promoted. This usually is exclusive to trade members that are willing to sink thousands of dollars into buying their way into acceptance.
The end result is of no benefit to the general population of the forum. Many manufacturer’s making stellar products and have a working knowledge of things that work well and things that do not are destined to remain silent.

Just mention the name of your company or product and immediately the moderators come in and erase the post. Not even mentioning healthy debating by a manufacturer. Most trade people that have spent years in design and build processes are very honest about their product and I believe that many of them can share their experiences and concepts with others. Whether or not their design philosophies are accepted is beside the point. The objective is to throw concepts and ideas on the table to provide consideration.

A good example is about five years ago when after pondering the problems that RFI can cause in a sound reproduction system, I hypothesized the use of carbon to control some of the downsides. I was told I was an idiot, and that I was an absolute idiot for using carbon in power cords. My reply at the time was that the word “can’t” was not in my vocabulary and that I was very grateful that the “engineer” that was challenging my direction had not worked with the Wright Brothers. . To sum it up. Even though this was forum is outside of the states, I for one and very grateful to see this posture of openness by everyone.
Regards,
Michael

[WikiBoy]

Would like to throw my two pounds of flesh into the skillet on this subject.
It certainly is just delightful to see a different approach and attitude which is being promoted by the administrators toward trade people.
Over in the states, most manufacturers are terrified to go into forums since most are controlled by administrators and users which have their personal agendas as to which trade members are promoted. This usually is exclusive to trade members that are willing to sink thousands of dollars into buying their way into acceptance.
The end result is of no benefit to the general population of the forum. Many manufacturer’s making stellar products and have a working knowledge of things that work well and things that do not are destined to remain silent.

Just mention the name of your company or product and immediately the moderators come in and erase the post. Not even mentioning healthy debating by a manufacturer. Most trade people that have spent years in design and build processes are very honest about their product and I believe that many of them can share their experiences and concepts with others. Whether or not their design philosophies are accepted is beside the point. The objective is to throw concepts and ideas on the table to provide consideration.

A good example is about five years ago when after pondering the problems that RFI can cause in a sound reproduction system, I hypothesized the use of carbon to control some of the downsides. I was told I was an idiot, and that I was an absolute idiot for using carbon in power cords. My reply at the time was that the word “can’t” was not in my vocabulary and that I was very grateful that the “engineer” that was challenging my direction had not worked with the Wright Brothers. . To sum it up. Even though this was forum is outside of the states, I for one and very grateful to see this posture of openness by everyone.
Regards,
Michael

You see this all the time, as cartels and cliques are created throughout the industry, and have been since the "everything can be measured so there is no need to listen" brigade dominated the industry in the early 1970's. This was just so obviously a load of old trollop that when the opposing clique and ultimately cartel of Linn and Naim (and their approved products) took hold it was far from a surprise. That has held sway for a long time and has only been seriously challenged recently. It even had the ability to "allow" to exist or destroy the credibilty and the ability to make a living of many long missed and excellent British cottage industry products in the late 80's and early 90's. This was caused by the tied up dealership cartel based on artificial (and arguably illegal) dealer contracts. Look at the interest and the prices on ebay of these products now, as a new generation discovers our lost Hi-Fi industry.

Do we learn from this Nah!! as soon as someone has an idea or success then in come the clique and cartel mentality again. Be it forums as discussed in this thread, manufacturers and retailers as with for example the ever emerging valve and horn market. Or even again now with the hard drive and computer based exponents. Will we ever learn? or are the poor enthusiasts destined to be just patsies for our egos and desires for fast cars and big homes.

Well how about this - I propose starting a clique (which obviously then eventually will become a cartel) of the open minded. You will only be allowed to post or manufacture or sell if you accept the possibilty that spreading marmalade on a printed circuit board might just improve its musical ability and sound. There is a very good possibilty that it wont, but who am I stop crazy loveable people enjoying themselves

[Mr. C]

Some very fair observations here guys, and yes Forum owners and moderators have a job to do, not an easy one I can vouch for that!
However, there are seriously bigoted, bias and plain paranoid people on these places, as there are fair minded and reasoned folks too.
Agenda's yes, that seems to crops up from time to time too, were people are accused of having one, or even being subversive in orchestrating one.
The internet is both a wondrous and dangerous place to be, common sense should prevail, however this is not always the case!
Richard, the properties of marmalade are well documented and give rise to a nth degree of proportionate rise in system musicality, therefore I second your proposal sir!

[Filterlab]

Well how about this - I propose starting a clique (which obviously then eventually will become a cartel) of the open minded.

Sounds like an excellent idea Richard, that's one clique I could happily be a part of, however...

You will only be allowed to post or manufacture or sell if you accept the possibilty that spreading marmalade on a printed circuit board might just improve its musical ability and sound...

But I'm sorry, you're wrong about the marmalade, VERY wrong. You know there's only on thing spread on a circuit board that could possibly improve the sound...
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