Howdy

[MadAsABadger]

Hi there,
I am a gamer with a clan called The Firm -=T.F=- and I a also the owner of a popular Computer store based in UK called www.GladiatorComputers.com

I keep my eye on Hexus to keep up to speed and thought I would give the forums a visit and see what's going on.

Cheers

[Zak33]

yo dude....

please drop the pimpage and we'll get along fine

[MadAsABadger]

you gotta try

Seriously check my posts I am not trying to take the mic here, but being involved in the industry I can offer a different perspective. As I understand the idea is to introduce myself, I have two main interests, playing PC games and running my business, hence the post.

Take it easy, I may be a salesman but I wont try to sell you anything! I'll just give my oponion - unless of course I am not welcome!

[Zak33]

ooooooooh you're welcome BUT I am currently editing the PRICE of your products out of your threads.....the info is good and the link at the bottom of your sig is ok(ish), but the content OF the threads is a bit too much like an advert....for which you aint paying.

Of course you CAN pay for a banner ad if ya like.....

[MadAsABadger]

so when anyone of your member says you can get product X at site X for price X - thats ok. but when I give my opinion on a product, give you information such as dates and specs and then mention where it is avaiable that is bad?

why are computer retailers evil? i would have thought you would welcome helpful information?

I must say, i fell less than welcome right now, thanks to you.

[Jonny M]

That would be a member posting stuff around in Bargain Hunt, which they have discovered themselves. We have never allowed computer retailers to come on here and just start copying and pasting product pages into threads.

[MadAsABadger]

b4 we get off on the wrong foot too much would you like to tell me what you consider to be acceptable and what not (as you have the god like powers of editing my posts!). I had a read of the general rules, I avoided the 'bargain' section as it said retailers not welcome and I attempted to provide useful/helpful advice.

If I mentioned ocuk you would let me, if i mention my site you would not, is that correct? I guess your thinking here is that i benefit from mentioning my site, slightly true but members benefit from the info I provide in the post?

My signiture is acceptable, but a direct link is not? I can appreciate that I guess.

Anything else you would like to share?

[MadAsABadger]

That would be a member posting stuff around in Bargain Hunt, which they have discovered themselves. We have never allowed computer retailers to come on here and just start copying and pasting product pages into threads.

A valid point, would defeat the point of a forum. however i do not believe I have done that. i was under the impression my threads actually offered useful information to other members? I have given my oponion, I have provide technical information, I have given insight into new releases, cleared up a matter on ATi video cards, advised on sapphire packaging. check for youself.

I have even offered to send out some dual layer disks so you guys can check your NEC DVDRW theory? Would benefit all of us to know if that works for sure?

I can appreciate you are keen to defend this smashing forum of yours, but no need to go overboard. point me in the right direction by all means, i welcome your advice, but have a pop and suggest I am evil becuase I part of a resller and I think you have let the forum power go to your head.

[Zak33]

its how it is from success....we dont overtly Moderate here...its a well behved and friendly place

And your threads are good....I fully accept that. In fact...I'm pleased you're here.

But you cant LINK to your site....cos it is not "ethical" in the same way an accountant can't audit themselves.

Hope you understand.....cos your threads are good. Good info. Well made points. ie valued.

But your adverts are not.....IF you were an outsider puting info into the forums on price for a product, then fair play....but you're not you're involved with them.

I didnt see too many links to Scan or New Egg in your links.

They PAY for these FREE TO VISIT forums.....with adverts. Thats WHY WE EXIST and dont sink.

I have over 2500 members here who are as happy as pigs in pooh....pls let them decide themselves on WHERE to shop, and not with your links to your products.

Cheers chap.....hope you're cool about it all

Respect

[MadAsABadger]

good points, i'll keep in mind what you say, avoid the links and try to keep it independent and free of pimpage!

If you have advertising options for indepentant companies (cost effective) then I would be happy to take advantage them and get some maximum pimpage in a more appropiate place!

I'll hang around for a few days, keep up the posting and see how it goes. I am here for me rather than my company, i am just as keen as your other members to know whats hot, whats not, what people think etc. I also would like to understand more about how a sucessful forum like yours works so that Gladiator can develop their own customer focused forum, we have put a little soemthing together but have a long way to go!
Cheers

[Jonny M]

And after seemingly understanding where we are coming from, you go and post a link to your forums.

Please try and consider what we are saying, and why we are saying it.

[MadAsABadger]

damm it Caged. the form link is not an advert, there is nothing on sale there - Its a forum just like yours only at a very early stage. i was hopeing that one of you forum experts may give me some feedback. too much to ask!
stop seeing the hidden meaning in things that dont exist, and loose the anti retailer stance. I have adjusted my previous postings and i have taken on board your comments. do you think you can stop badger bashing now!

[Elmo]

they're just doing their job MadAsABadger, there's no need to curse and swear. They've told you how it is on these forums. The link to your forums would inadvertedly lead to your company website.

For the record, i'm just your average run of the mill forum user, but i agree with the mods in this thread. It may seem harsh, but it IS fair. If you'd like to advertise here, you have to pay for the privilage, in turn benefiting the running of these lovely forums here. So both you and us benefit. The mods arent out to ruin your life or your enjoyment of the forums, in fact they're trying to do the complete opposite.

Please respect the rules, they apply to everyone and make the forums a raging success.

Not trying to have a dig, just trying to help you see that we're not all against you just chill and everyone will get on fine

[MadAsABadger]

the forum is like most forums full of computer nerd chat. I was under the impression that it would be of interest to some as it covers similar topics to that you have here, I was also seeking feedback. Advertisng was not a factor.

2mins ago I found a signiture from a poster with 1000 posts, it was a massive hosting advert in blue, stating not only a link but also prices, clearly to benefit a company that he is affiliated with I would imagine.

One rule from one person, another for someone else.

However - your forum your rules, I understand that. I just think that the chap was overly keen to censor my post, with little reason.

Its this thread is causing so much grief just delete it if you like.

[Saracen]

the forum is like most forums full of computer nerd chat. I was under the impression that it would be of interest to some as it covers similar topics to that you have here, I was also seeking feedback. Advertisng was not a factor.

2mins ago I found a signiture from a poster with 1000 posts, it was a massive hosting advert in blue, stating not only a link but also prices, clearly to benefit a company that he is affiliated with I would imagine.

One rule from one person, another for someone else.

However - your forum your rules, I understand that. I just think that the chap was overly keen to censor my post, with little reason.

Its this thread is causing so much grief just delete it if you like.

I have watched this exchange with some interest.

The moderators here are only doing as the owner of the forum has requested so, as a new member, how about you lose the attitude of instructing moderators here how to do their job?

If you want to promote either your business or your forums, kindly request permission to do so first. It is, after all, simply courtesy to do so. There is no anti-retailer stance here - in fact, we have close relationships with several retailers, to the degree that they host support forums here. What there is is a considerable degree of scepticism about the motivation of people who join a forum and immediately start promoting their own forums and businesses - as you have done, and without so much as the courtesy of asking if they can. The reason for the scepticism - we've seen it happen FAR too many times before.

Caged has tried to ask you politely to stop promoting your business and now I'll do the same. If you wish to promote either forums or your business, please get permission from the site owner first.

We're an easy-going bunch here, but your attitude from the very start has been confrontational, and somewhat sarcastic, in response to requests from Moderators. Has it occured to you that perhaps the member with a hosting business in his sig has paid for the option? Or perhaps has just ASKED FIRST?


Sir, you say you are here to help out and to get some feedback on how successful forums run. That's fine, and we'd be glad to help. So I'll give you one piece of advice straihgt away - try to see things from the Moderator's point of view before getting into an argument with both Moderators (Caged) and Administrators (Zak33) when you first join. Consider that they are doing what they have been asked to do, and that there are reasons for that. You clearly think you are being harshly treated, yet you don't know what our experience has been with similar situations in the past, so you don't know the context in which our decisions are being made.

As I said, we're an easy-going bunch and we try to avoid rules, except where absolutely necessary. And what rules we do have are usually borne of bitter experience. Instead, we try to handle things low key.

We don't have written rules for every situation, because we find they generally aren't necessary. Instead, when something crops up that needs dealing with, we just point out the situation ........ as happened here.

Let me give you another example. I'm an Admin here and owner of another forum. I don't even link to my own forum without asking the owner of HEXUS first, and I've known him for several years, nor have I EVER even ASKED to link to my commercial activities.


So how about we all start again? Enjoy the forums, participate where you want, offer advice and assistance where you wish and ask for advice or assistance where you need. But in the meantime, don't link to your own business or forums without getting David's permission first, please.

[MadAsABadger]

Saracen -thanks for your feedback I do appreciate it, however I have already accepted the points made by the others, and dicusssed via PM.

I would ask that if you going to have a go at my attitude then you do so via PM or email also, as such please remove this post.

It is a new day, the sun is shining, i'll take your advice and start again if thats Ok with you.

Once again thanks for you time, since this entire thread has nothing to offer other members and only contains my ranting and several Mods having a go back it may be an idea to just remove the whole thing!