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 Post subject: Thanks for your courtesy
PostPosted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 11:04 am 
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Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2011 4:27 pm
Posts: 1678
A friend's hobby manufacturing business just went under, costing dozens of people their jobs and destroying value that his older family members were counting on for their retirements - since all the family money was in the business. The fellow has basically dropped off the grid and stopped returning e-mails or answering phone calls. I'm sure it's because the tens of thousands of users of his products each "needed" to know all the gory details.

Trying to find out SOMETHING tangible for my readers, I googled my friend's name, and the results took me to a hobby forum I used to participate in regularly. There I found two guys who make and promote ONE product that "competed" (not well) with ONE product made by my friend's company, which made over a thousand products at its zenith. Since my friend's company was founded in the 1980s these two "anklebiters" have spread rumors and lies about the big company, hoping that they could get it to fold (ignoring the fact that if they destroyed the hobby in the process, they wouldn't have any customers anyway). They were kicked off of one forum I still participate in because of their venom, rumors and lies, and I was hoping that they had given it up.

Well, a bunch of crooked investment bankers managed to accomplish what the anklebiters never did - caused a worldwide recession that drove the companies that distributed my friend's products out of business, owing him millions, followed by the inevitable collapse of the manufacturer itself. Back to the forum - when I got there, I discovered that the anklebiters were not only alive and well, but they were gloating. GLOATING. In message after message, whenever something remotely related to the topic came up. As though their hate and rumormongering had finally toppled Goliath. "We win! We win! We win! Nyahh Nyahh Nyahh!" summarizes the attitude and the emotional maturity of post after post.

If I thought for a minute that their mom-and-pop shops' constant character assinations on my friend's family had ANYTHING to do with the manufacturer's collapse, I'd be a lot angrier than I am. But they're safe on that score, because they're so insignificant to everyone but themselves.

Here are two lessons - when I say I'd rather have ten courteous friends on my forums that a thousand semi-strangers that I have to keep an eye on every minute, this is one reason why.

Here's the other lesson - ANYBODY can read this forum without logging in, just like I read the other forum without logging in. The forum owner, ironically, is a friend of mine, and would never stand for his members treating each other that way. But since my business-owner friend wasn't a member, he and his family were "fair game." It never occurred to anyone associated with that forum that my friend and his family are not only broke, but also brokenhearted, and every "Nyahh Nyahh Nyahh"-themed post is a slap in the face of every family member and supporter (including me). I know I won't go back to that forum, and I'll be taking down any links I've built to it over the years.

Since I set the CardboardChristmas forum up in late 2011, EVERY post has been positive and encouraging. I have gotten minor criticism for making signup difficult or slow or something. But you have to admit, we've kept out the "riff-raff." Our goal of having a "safe place" to discuss our hobbies without fear of animousity or "sniping" or other hurtful behaviours has been achieved so far. And I appreciate everyone's courtesy and encouragement and helpful attitudes more than you know.

In other words, thanks again, and carry on. :-)

- Paul


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PostPosted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 11:25 am 
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Joined: Mon Dec 09, 2013 1:09 pm
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Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Paul,

I am sorry to hear that your friend's business went under and worse, that the money for the older members of the family is gone. Truly heartbreaking!

Thank you for keeping malicious gossip and troublemakers out of this forum. I was involved in a plant email list and the gossip and wild accusations (NOT involving me) made me quit. I just do not want to "live" in that type of environment.

I can tell that you want to keep the name of the business confidential, but can you tell us what hobby this is associated with? I am involved in a few hobbies and would hate to find I can no longer get something I use.

Thanks!

Eric
"seathingie"
California


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PostPosted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 4:12 pm 
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Eric,

Thanks for your feedback. Unfortunately if I say what hobby it is, everyone who knows anything about the hobby will know exactly who I'm talking about, so I'll let it go as is.

Have a great weekend,

Paul


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PostPosted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 5:27 pm 
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Joined: Sat Jan 26, 2013 2:27 pm
Posts: 373
Location: Houston, TX
I for one am thankful for a forum like this. It is refreshing to be able to come here and get help and positive feedback about our hobby. Everyone here loves what they are doing and the welcoming atmosphere here is outstanding!
Thank you,
Lee


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PostPosted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 6:04 pm 
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Joined: Fri Sep 16, 2011 7:32 pm
Posts: 2336
How sad is that Paul. I always cringe when I hear stories like this-and I am sorry to say I hear them all too often.

I am sometimes criticized for moderating comments over at my blog--and for refusing to put up what I call "the viscous stuff". I don't care--even when the venom gets directed at me by way of some other forum. My goal was to set up a safe place as well in my hometown--and I have succeeded so far.

It has been a blessing to come to these forums and see appropriate, helpful discussion on our hobby--without all that hateful nonsense...so congratulations to you Paul--and to everyone on this site for behaving so darn well!


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Note: To ask a question, sign up for our "Christmas Times" newsletter, or learn how
to apply for membership to this forum, please visit our Contact page.


Note: All content on this forum is Copyright (c) 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 by Paul D. Race
and by the posters who have contributed specific content. All material is for your personal use only. No content
or plans may be republished or sold, nor may any plans be used to make products to sell without prior written
permission from Paul D. Race and the individual who contributed the content or plan in question.
For permissions or for questions about this policy, please contact us using our Contact page.



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