As usual it is not quite clear what problem is discussed, or
rather, different people seem to discuss different questions.
I spot at least two different questions discussed in this thread,
none of them new.
1) Commercial use of the forum by advertising or promoting
ones products
2) The risk of somebody "stealing" intellectual property posted
for free on the forum and using this for commercial purpose
in a product.
I think #1 is what Jam originally intended the thread to be
about. This question can also be subdivided into discussing
only moderators or all members.
#2 has also been hinted at both in this thread and in previous
threads. It is a problem if information shared for free is used
commercially and, as a consequence, some of the people who
use to contribute such information decides no longer to do so.
However, and I have said this before, many times, this is not
only about people on the forum using or abusing what others
share for free. If they do so and also promote or advertise
their product on the forum, it is clearly visible what has
happened and people will complain if they do not like this
situation. We must also consider that there may be other
people, members or just guests, who vacuum clean the forum
for useful information to put to use in commercial products,
but who are not stupid enough to advertise these products
on the forum. Hence, we will never see what happens unless
somebody happens to come across the product elsewhere.
If I were one of those generous and experienced persons
like Nelson Pass, Jonathan Carr, John Curl and others, I would
be more worried about the second type of abuse than the
first one. Worrying only about what is visible on the forum
is to behave like an ostrich IMHO. Unfortunately, I have no
solution to propose. One has to realize that anything that
gets published on the internet can be found and used by
anybody, be it a forum member or a large-scale
manufacturer of pirate equipment. Let's just hope that these
generous individuals are already aware of this and decides
that it is still worth it to share their knowledge with us DIYers.
rather, different people seem to discuss different questions.
I spot at least two different questions discussed in this thread,
none of them new.
1) Commercial use of the forum by advertising or promoting
ones products
2) The risk of somebody "stealing" intellectual property posted
for free on the forum and using this for commercial purpose
in a product.
I think #1 is what Jam originally intended the thread to be
about. This question can also be subdivided into discussing
only moderators or all members.
#2 has also been hinted at both in this thread and in previous
threads. It is a problem if information shared for free is used
commercially and, as a consequence, some of the people who
use to contribute such information decides no longer to do so.
However, and I have said this before, many times, this is not
only about people on the forum using or abusing what others
share for free. If they do so and also promote or advertise
their product on the forum, it is clearly visible what has
happened and people will complain if they do not like this
situation. We must also consider that there may be other
people, members or just guests, who vacuum clean the forum
for useful information to put to use in commercial products,
but who are not stupid enough to advertise these products
on the forum. Hence, we will never see what happens unless
somebody happens to come across the product elsewhere.
If I were one of those generous and experienced persons
like Nelson Pass, Jonathan Carr, John Curl and others, I would
be more worried about the second type of abuse than the
first one. Worrying only about what is visible on the forum
is to behave like an ostrich IMHO. Unfortunately, I have no
solution to propose. One has to realize that anything that
gets published on the internet can be found and used by
anybody, be it a forum member or a large-scale
manufacturer of pirate equipment. Let's just hope that these
generous individuals are already aware of this and decides
that it is still worth it to share their knowledge with us DIYers.
Fair play
This is not a perect world, but as long as we do our best and tell the truth, thats as good as it gets. All points are valid and have there angle of verity, so as long as we agree to disagree lets play nice in the mean time. Life is to short for this
so chin up and carry on camping
This is not a perect world, but as long as we do our best and tell the truth, thats as good as it gets. All points are valid and have there angle of verity, so as long as we agree to disagree lets play nice in the mean time. Life is to short for this
so chin up and carry on campingJam,
You can always and everywhere find a lot of differently thinking people so it means nothing as such. There are more lot of them not thinking differently, and?
There is nothing that leads to the conclusion any moderator used the position of the moderator for any commercial purpose. As about the commercialism generally, you had opened thread about that. But you just thought you have another topic for hunt. And it was really too much of it already.
You can always and everywhere find a lot of differently thinking people so it means nothing as such. There are more lot of them not thinking differently, and?
There is nothing that leads to the conclusion any moderator used the position of the moderator for any commercial purpose. As about the commercialism generally, you had opened thread about that. But you just thought you have another topic for hunt. And it was really too much of it already.
The ideal moderator.....
Should have no interest in sharing his produce.
Or he may become overwelmed by the possibility of making M$$$.
Should not share his ideas.
Otherwise he might be trying to make more $$$.
Should not have an interest in audio.
Or he will have pre-conceived ideas and be unable to make unbiased decisions.
Should no know members.
Or he may be biased in his treatment of other members.
Should be Stateless.
To prevent him having to be "with us" or "against us".
Should make no posts.
Otherwise he might be steering the forum's direction.
Qualified members only need apply.....
Should have no interest in sharing his produce.
Or he may become overwelmed by the possibility of making M$$$.
Should not share his ideas.
Otherwise he might be trying to make more $$$.
Should not have an interest in audio.
Or he will have pre-conceived ideas and be unable to make unbiased decisions.
Should no know members.
Or he may be biased in his treatment of other members.
Should be Stateless.
To prevent him having to be "with us" or "against us".
Should make no posts.
Otherwise he might be steering the forum's direction.
Qualified members only need apply.....
Perception is reality.Christer said:
Moderators are perceived to have special status/powers/influence beyond those of the average member (we don't, not really). This will be particularly true for new members (accomplished DIY'ers or not). This is the perception which becomes the reality.
If members are allowed to sell/market/abuse IP on the forum unchecked, the forum becomes a commercial forum. If moderators are involved in these activities, it validates the perception.
There are just a small percentage of members that stay around long enough to break through the "perception barrier". You all know who they are. What we don't see is when a new member joins in a discussion and finds it to be riddled with commercialism, and decides that it's like all the other websites out there.
There has to be a limit to what is an acceptable level of commercialism on our forum. As I stated in the other thread on commercialism, if this is the "line in the sand" then so be it, but know that the line has moved from a year ago toward more commercialism.
Hi,
Still it is not the same....
Looking at it this way:
You and Geoff went to school together and later on Geoff decides to join the police force.
You both get married, continue to live in the same town and occasionally have a drink together.
While having that drink together, do you view Geoff as the guy you went to school with or do you keep in mind he is a police officer?
What if I never knew Geoff at all?
I'm new in town and run into him at a local shop. Geoff's off duty but still in uniform.
Am I socializing with Geoff, another citizen, or am I talking to a police officer?
No need to tell me the analogy seems far fetched but I'm sure this is exactly how newbies feel when they see "moderator" under the monniker of a member while posting in a thread.
Next scenario:
I've met Geoff a few times and we discovered we share the same hobby.
Last time I met Geoff he told me he's selling some boards on the side and asked if I'd be interested to buy some?
Well, I didn't give him a straight answer but told him I'd think about it and let him know....
Once back home I think, O.K., why not?
After all, he's a police officer so it won't hurt me...Quite to the contrary, next time he tries to give me a parking ticket I'll make him understand it's either the ticket or no more boards for me...
Ah, ah....and what happens when Geoff is taking the initiative and promises light sentences provided you buy a few boards from him?
What's that word for such practices again?
Yep....that's it.
Is this what has happened here on this forum? No, I don't think so...
Could it happen?
As things are right now, yes...
The potential is installed already, just waiting to happen....eventually.
Cheers,
Still it is not the same....
Looking at it this way:
You and Geoff went to school together and later on Geoff decides to join the police force.
You both get married, continue to live in the same town and occasionally have a drink together.
While having that drink together, do you view Geoff as the guy you went to school with or do you keep in mind he is a police officer?
What if I never knew Geoff at all?
I'm new in town and run into him at a local shop. Geoff's off duty but still in uniform.
Am I socializing with Geoff, another citizen, or am I talking to a police officer?
No need to tell me the analogy seems far fetched but I'm sure this is exactly how newbies feel when they see "moderator" under the monniker of a member while posting in a thread.
Next scenario:
I've met Geoff a few times and we discovered we share the same hobby.
Last time I met Geoff he told me he's selling some boards on the side and asked if I'd be interested to buy some?
Well, I didn't give him a straight answer but told him I'd think about it and let him know....
Once back home I think, O.K., why not?
After all, he's a police officer so it won't hurt me...Quite to the contrary, next time he tries to give me a parking ticket I'll make him understand it's either the ticket or no more boards for me...
Ah, ah....and what happens when Geoff is taking the initiative and promises light sentences provided you buy a few boards from him?
What's that word for such practices again?
Yep....that's it.
Is this what has happened here on this forum? No, I don't think so...
Could it happen?
As things are right now, yes...
The potential is installed already, just waiting to happen....eventually.
Cheers,
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