Quote: (Originally Posted by
n2diving)
To the issue of ‘community comes first’, it seems to me that the community is best served by allowing all the manufacturers and retailers a voice too. If Stuart wishes to continue to exercise editorial control over my posts, the posts of other members mentioning Dive Rite Express, and exclude non-advertisers this is certainly his right. However, RBW is no longer serving the community in an unbiased manner. There are conflicts of interest when the owner/operator has editorial and policy control of content, accepts paid advertising and has part ownership with a financial stake in the success of a for-profit retail store serving members. If RBW wishes to present itself as something other than a for-profit business then it seems like RBW should abide by generally accepted practices for non-profit organizations. This is particularly appropriate since RBW solicits and accepts 'donations'.
Well I guess that would be your opinion Mark - after all you would then get to advertise freely then with out having to pay.
However the fact is nothing has changed since day 1 if you want to make commercial posts or link to commercial sites - then you must pay to help cover the costs of RBW - it is something that you agreed to in our Terms and Conditions.
Thousands of hours and tens of thousands of $ have been spent on the site I give up my time but believe me if the money had all been coming from my pocket it would not have happened.
It seems to me we have grown into a healthy community following our principals of if you are going to make money out of the site then you can pay to keep it going - if you dont like not being able to make commercial posts then pay to advertise or dont complain about it.
Please don't try and spin what is good for the community when your focus is making money out of it.
Quote: (Originally Posted by
n2diving)
... means I have to explain why I have stopped posting anything business related here.
Why you have stopped? Nice spin again - however the fact is nothing has changed - always has been no commercial posts or links to them unless you are a sponsor.