I don't know why... but I somehow had the impression that this board was all about helping each other, everyone and their friends (right?)

I know this is totally unrelated to anything (well almost), this is why I am posting it here.

I know I personally have not been perfect, and that I had my own problems at first... but now I would like to quote a few example on why I don't think this board is doing what it should do.

- I keep seeing opinion request about a host, wich is always followed by certain individuals that basically says: "those and those are good, but take a look at us". This was NOT the question asked by the guy at first... he simply wanted to know if his host was good, not if the host guy looking around could offer it as well. If someone ask for advices, then go ahead, advertise your brain out :)

- I personally asked for IDEAS about a control panel. I stated clearly that I am NOT interestined in ripping anyone, that I am NOT asking for sample code... just ideas. Of course, someone assumed I somehow intended to take over their ideas and do a program with them. Now, if I really wanted to do so, would I post my ideas all over the board?

- I sometime feel that hosts that ask questions are much less answered since they are not a potential client, thus one can't hope to secretly attrack him into his client pool.

I am sorry, I rreally thought this place was about web hosting, talking about anything, helping each others, having fun. What I see is potential client's questions answered to the minute and interesting questions left because they present no immediate business opportunity.

I don't think anyone will build himself a company out of helping *cough* potential customers when thinking it is so sweetly done that no-one would notice.

In my opinion, such behavior is totally... hmmmm childish.

If I understand well and want to 'merge' in the crowd, I will simply come here, scan the board for new customers and forget about everyone else...

Yah right.

Now, I'll go help my own customers, forget about everyone else and just be happy with it.

*sigh*

I hope certain individuals felt targetted here, because it was meant to be that way.

COME ON PEOPLE!!! Stop thinking money money money money money... The life is not about it at all!!! You got it ALL WRONG! Once you are rich, what will you do? Work for more!

ahhhh... I am not sure I always appreciate the behavior of those around me, one thing that I am sure, is that I will NOT follow them. I DO LIKE to have a life, be friendly to anyone, don't care about competition. There is room for everyone right now... why be so excited about getting that one more customer?

Anyway. This is hopeless. I've seen a lot of good intention, but no action.

And that is the increasing number of hosts (no names obviously, but you know who you are) that are quietly suggesting to take a look at them - after saying something like 'Never heard of them' or something similar.

Now, last week I quite clearly stated to Jaguar that I was starting to get sick of the ads and asked for ads to go into the Advertising forum. Jaguar complied and has kept his word (as has many other hosts like Felix, MikeA, etc.). These hosts deserve congratulations and I'm sure they'll succeed greatly in the future. However, a few others are not toeing the line by following the spirit of the board.

From now on (and you all can hold me to my word), any time I see something even barely resembling an ad (unless it's in a sig) or something faintly like 'Come check out what we've got' I will be doing my *cough**hack*Advertising forum please!*hack**cough* And if anyone complains, the appropriate person/host will be directed to this thread.

Before any hosts complain about 'users' getting all edgy and bossy, I must remind you of what Matt (Sysadmin) states on the front of WebHostingTalk, particularly for the Dedicated Hosting and General Web Hosting boards :

'No ads will be allowed in this forum.'

Dead clear, specific, and there's a forum for it.

I would also hope that Matt also tightens the grip on ads in the future so that all the helpers and learners of the board will get the help they require without even the sniff of an ad. That's my vision.

So far, we've done great at WHL without the ads. Now let's keep it up! :)

(end rant) - you may now return to your normal station

Right on. I remember BC saying something about that in another post. Well, I have put posts up for a host for which i truly know to be great. But not like every day, or week for that matter. I don't make any offers here either. I try to help others, while i get help myself. Lately i have been getting a lot of help. But I mean Money does not mean u have everything. So I guess it is up to the gods/Gurus/evanglists to try to make sure everyone is kewl, along with Matt doing the same.

Chris

you get'em BC :) I've appreciated that hacking cough of yours more than once and I hope it gets better with the lack of needing to use it. Thankfully there IS an advertising section and it's great most people use it. Like any great idea (this forum), popularity attracts losers - it's a percentage thing - and I'm sad to say over the past few years I've seen plenty of forums, webchats and newsgroups go under due to ads and people with no social skills. I'm more than happy to see banners everywhere on sites I go to as it means I get to use a service for free, while the person running it gets an income (in theory), from advertisers. Advertising is not ALL bad, and truth be told, if this forum had banners on it, it wouldn't lessen my opinion of it (conflict of interest is another thing however) *lol*. What I don't like to see is the same thing this thread is aiming at, and that's unsolicited advertising. Yeah that's right - spam... pure and simple.

I have a hotmail email account for the simple purpose of collecting possible spam. If I need to enter an email address anytime (before downloading etc), I use that one. It has the bulk filter turned on and is suprisingly effective. After the years I've had it, now I average about 50 emails a day selling me everything from webdesign *yeah right*, to viagra, to university diplomas, to young nubile babes "that like it hard". Never replied to their 'remove me' address as it's just a confirmation I use it, so I do notice a drop off from certain mailing lists, to be replaced by others (you get a feel for your spam eventually) *lol* So anyway, I read my inbox, and every few days, quickly scan the spam for anything that looks interesting, then flush the lot. Now, I have 2 hotmail addresses (the other isn't as heavily spammed), my ISP email address as well as my domain email addresses.

So you see, I get a lot of junk mail (not even including my IRL letterbox). THIS is the reason I agree with this thread. A genuine offer for a product is something I'll always look at.... an offer rammed under my nose gets the derision it deserves.

Having said that, I do tend to give things an objective view, and people are only human, so the occasional capitalist pig plug for the business is ok with me, but every second post is a little (read that as BIG) much. You wouldn't do it in real life so just pretend you're there.

social grace and context <--- words to live by.

Greg Moore
http://www.akashik.net

Thank you thank you thank you Greg. :rolleyes:

Hopefully that little rant of mine was the last time I had to comment on the issue....

I agree with all that was said!! BC me is with you, Protectiing the Board from the Scum of the Net! :D

Originally posted by Félix C.Courtemanche
I personally asked for IDEAS about a control panel.

Sigh... that was one post I was hoping would get a lot of input, Felix.

Then I eventually realized that those who THINK BIG... often have to THINK ALONE. :(

I wish I could have contributed to your post... but then it already had all the features this little dwarf sitting on the top of Mt Ignoramus could think of!!!

Anyway, best of luck with that project, Felix.

BC... I went to the store and saw that there are a lot of cough syrups and medications available over the counter for curing a bad cough. But when I asked the cute chick if there was a medication which could bring back a bad cough, she looked at me with strange eyes!!! LOL !!!

Thought I'd pick one up for you (had they stocked it) and fax it to you... cuz I am missin' yer hackin' an' a coughin' a lot!!! :D

Learner

[Edited by Learner on 09-21-2000 at 03:39 PM]

Felix,

It's a fact of life that in discussion on any topic, there will usually be at least one person who doesn't pay attention to the question and responds with something barely related and not a direct answer to a direct question. No matter how specific a question you ask, it seems somebody will jump in with irrelevant information.

I find the best course of action to either ignore them or politely point out to them that their response has nothing to do with the issue at hand.

As far as people suspecting your stated motives, a similar handling is advised.

It helps to keep in mind that the opinions of people who are abusive and paranoid are from people who don't know you. Thus, any faults are likely to be in their character and the way they choose to communicate, and it isn't really personal.

have I told you guys lately how great we are ??? ;) buy, buy, buy, sign up with me, sign up with me, sign up with me, me, me, me ...

Darn ... I got myself sick ... :(

Learner, I believe I just might be hacking and coughing for a while..... ;) But thanks for the kind thoughts anyway! Of course, all I need to do get my bad cough back is to annoy a friend of mine who's laid down with the flu (got it from me last week)...

And Duster's points are perfectly correct. You either ignore them completely (giving them the benefit of whatever doubt you have) or it's nicely pointed out. Of course, it does get a bit tiring when you start having to do it repeatedly...