Here we go again!
Ross, please listen to our suggestions, recommendations because the suggestions posted so far do make sense and would satisfy most if not all of us who oppose this - well, to put it bluntly - a very insulting maneuver on your or the AWS's part by going forth with this change without so much as even a heads up, even though there was a thread last year with posted replies, and started by somebody else I might add that alluded to the possibility, and only a possibility of implementing this advertising move that is again very insulting to suddenly start in the manner in which we have experienced at the present time...
I mean, it's good to see you posting again but, don't you think out of respect towards the long standing participants that you could have given us a heads up, and ask us if we could come up with alternatives that would satisfy everybody? I say this because most, if not all of us feel that we have a personal stake in this forum, and we feel that we should be shown more courtesy by including us in how we would go about making such a change...
The way I look at it is that there was no compromise to seek beforehand on the AWS's part when the decision was made to implement this change, and that in itself speaks at the very heart as to why we are for the most part upset about this sudden move... I can remember when there was an issue about whether or not it was wise to get rid of the body of knowledge that was built up over the years, and instead of just going forward and implementing that move, you instead discussed it with us beforehand and we came to a compromise that was satisfactory to most if not all of us - remember that? If you do? then why can't we do the same with this change???
I think the idea of having a marketing section of the forum where the advertisers can display whatever they choose, and even giving some of them the opportunity to have a Lincoln, an ESAB, or a Miller section - well maybe not Miller because they have their own forum but then again, if they want one also and are willing to pay for it then go that route but please don't advertise in the existing sections and ruin the integrity and purity of the sections and pissing off the majority of the most active participants and major contributors to this wonderful repository of knowledge that took so long to build up only to have it poisoned with advertisement in the already existing sections!!! And some of the sections have very little activity like the regional AWS sections and advertising may do them some good along with some more localized advertisement offerings to the AWS sections also... I mean the bottom line is this Ross, there are so many other alternatives to use without affecting the integrity of the existing sections where the majority of the threads are posted and where the knowledge is in...
And 46.00 does have a point to use an adblocker for the present time in order to prevent the ad from being seen currently yet some of the folks that post in here aren't "Puter" savvy as 46,00 or myself yet, it would be so much better to isolate the ads to be posted in a marketing section or one of their own sections while simultaneously keeping the integrity and purity of the existing sections intact.. I think you should take advantage of those recommendations in order to alleviate some of the bad vibes this move has already generated Ross...
Now I don't object to starting a marketing section or any of the companies interested in buying into their own sections but, please leave the rest of our forum alone friend! Okay?
C'mon Ross! I know that you have it in you to find a compromise to this problem because you did it before - remember? C'mon Ross! You can do it!!!
Btw, it's good to see you post again Ross! I was wondering what happened to your frequent visits here and started thinking that the AWS must have promoted you to some big shot position that didn't afford you the time to converse with us members in the forum.
Please reconsider hombre.
Respectfully,
Henry