Hi
As i'm not longer an active member (just watch some building threads and stuff), I´m not sure if i'm well placed here to post an opinion on this matter, I will do, if you feel that is out of place or does not hit the issue, please ignore it, or some moderator please erase it.
I think, that the base problem of the forum, is not the ads for advertising, is something with the morale of participating in a profit forum.
For the older users, there is a feeling attached to this forum, because of the wonderful it was before, much like a family. Older and experienced users were always watching for us the newbies and newcomers, congratulating us for our achievements, and encouraging us in not so lucky times. I feel it too in my short time before the transition of ownership.
Thing is, first of all, we have to accept the motion that the forum will NOT be the same as before (I'm not saying that is bad or better now), and this is natural, in order to survive, things must evolve: this forum was great, and bigger and bigger every day, in some point it was not able to maintain itself out of charity.
So now, beside that the forum remains almost the same (I deactivate the ads and haven't seen one then), there all kinds of issues, problems and discontent about anything.
The morality problem? we share knowledge, ideas, pictures and all for free, just for the fun and enjoyment of seeing great engines threads, smooth running engines, and help other tho archive these goals.
Some people dont feel right about it, because out of his enthusiasm, some people are making money, its like work for free. The time and work to make a post is relevant: writing, redacting, upload pictures, answers and ask questions to other users, and if your native language is not English, then spell check to make sure that at least somebody could understand the basic idea. Making a post could consume and hour or more easy, and for the people with time problems, posting in the forum instead of playing in the shop is a sacrifice, but just for the joy of sharing, they do it anyway.
But now, out of this joy and good will, someone is taking advantage, than, most of the people don't feel good about it. THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
Doest not mather if Austin changes the color of the forum to a more blueish one, or the font from Arial to Arial Narrow. A complain thread will come up, and afther endless discution, will end with the issue topic of copyrigth and profit.
That being said, this forum will not improve until a few facts are clear to all:
-The forum will not be the same as before.
-Naturally for web evolution, this is a forum for profit. and will remain so.
For the users that they joy in this hobby is so, that they dont care about the copyright or profit, my congratulations! you are the people that is keeping the forum alive!
For the other users, you will have to decide if you live with the facts listed above, or not, the intermediate state has only accomplished a slow and problematic transition.
For Austin, he is not the evil dictator that have ruined the forum, he is just a person that their job is to maintain the community happy, ensure high traffic, and user expansion. Its not fair that all the guilt goes to him. If the forum were not bought, then at some point it will have died, because of the inability of sustain itself, better have some that nothing.
Austin: It will be better IMO if you discuss first your plans for the forum, strategy and proyections before you implement it, that way anybody will not feel offended, or taken by surprise with changes, and also that way all users can contribute, making any changes something positive, and sparing complain threads.
I hope to not have offended anybody, is just my opinion.
Saludos
