Originally Posted by
Chris Parks
We are the product suppliers in a forum, fora were in the initial concept and that concept is still in place for 99% of users to be a free exchange of ideas and a meeting place for those ideas to be shared. It was never meant to be a trade for profit place. Without you and me to contribute the whole thing falls over and for people to contribute and have their product that they have freely given traded for profit is a concept that I and I suspect a whole lot of others can not agree with because they are not going to pay to play. If that profit concept was not present then a lot of us would have no problem. I a a member of a forum that every now and then asks for money, declares how that money is spent and this is a totally transparent process and there s never any discussion of the nature that has happened here. I know the above is a bit radical but it is what is happening. To take a single person for an example if I am and I hope this does not offend him. Derek Cohen puts up content here that any magazine would pay for and does it to share freely with others. I rest my case as further discussion seems pointless.
Another way to look at this, FWIW... This forum provides a place to hang out, a place to talk and gather and socialize. A good local pub serves a similar function. But the fellas down at the local sports pub don't try to tell the owner they ought to get their beer for free just because they come in to talk about the latest game/match/fight - or because they share golfing tips with those less capable - etc. And if the local golf pro doesn't want to come by to share, the rest of us will still enjoy the evening. Those conversations are not a product IMO.
I contend we are paying Keith to provide a gathering place. Keith could change it from a woodworking forum to a gardening forum, and another group would probably gather here to share ideas and opinions about their roses and tomatoes - because that is human nature.
Finally, I think people avoid paying because they dont have to - there are plenty of other free sites out there, for now. That is going to change across the board, I think.
Fred
Last edited by Frederick Skelly; 03-28-2019 at 7:19 AM.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
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