don't bite the hand... and all that. It is what it is. IB is out to make money, and if that means that we'll see viagra adds or the like in the banner locations, that's what will happen. Anyway, Drew PMed me back and said he'll bring up my points at the next Mod meeting. I guess with my history, they give me benefit of the doubt, or so I guess. Matt
A few points here... M/A is a for profit commercial entity, I've never said it wasn't. m|u is not, hence the m|u links are OK over there. As are links to all clubs and other sites that are not deemed to be direct competition such as MINI2. I went to look at link in the very first post of this thread and then read the rest of this thread. The link was opened in another browser and I had not yet loaded Dr O's post. Screen cap of the banner that came up... PGT, your post was edited by me. That kind of language and demeanor will not be tolerated, thank you. While there is some animosity between the sites I'd prefer if we took the high road here please.
In case you were wondering, Motor On does like to give you "points" for things you say over here on Motoring Alliance...
There have been some interesting banner adds at NAM for sure. They aren't as on top of the allowed and barred list as you are Nate. Far as I can tell, they aren't differentiating on commercial vs non commercial, but more hanging a hat on "deviding the Mini community". with Forums, for profit seems to be a question of size. All have some sort of revenue generation (even if it's just a couple of Google adds or whatever), and when the size is large enough, they might even become profitable! Let's hope. right Nate? Matt
Thats the difference between a site run by a big faceless corp and one run by a hands on owner. With the volume of sites IB has there is no way they can see "into the corners" so to speak, so unless someone complains they don't see what is going on. Also IB deals with ad brokers, M/A is no where even close to being a blip on an ad brokers radar. This allows me to have more control over what is displayed in the single small Google Ads block that is on this site. I used to obsess over what was happening over there vs over here but I quickly came to the realization that there is really no reason to do so and I shifted my worries to working to be proactive instead of reactive. Of course I keep an eye on all the various sites but I no longer spend the time worrying what others are doing but instead focus on building M/A into what the members want, not a clone of any other site.
This is interesting, as I never really thought much about sites being "for profit" before. Sp what is ti that the "Mods" get out of it to keep them reading everything posted and taking action? Jim
I got triple-dinged last night. once for my public post, once for having a tinyurl link in my sig and a (double) ding for my public post quoted in a PM to Drew (which he inserted there, not me). The last was 'lewd language in a PM' for using the word 'whore' :lol: (even though he's the one who inserted it within the PM)
This is hard to quantify. Back when I was asked to be a mod and then admin on the other site I knew the owner was making a living off the site and it was, and still is, for profit. For me it was more of being involved in the community and using the skills I have to help out. In turn I got grill badges and other swag. When the site was sold being it was a big corp I only stayed on in my admin role when they agreed to pay me for my time. Was not a lot but it was something. My thoughts that were since it is a big corp I want my due, it was different when I knew the owner personally, then I had no qualms being a volunteer. I do what I can here, when I saw lotsie in CO I gave him a supporting member badge and some stickers. I've sent to same to others. Steve, I didn't forget you, waiting on a new set of badges to be complete. When I can I also send what amounts to some beer money to the mods too. Other sites are different, some outright pay staff, others are all volunteer for the good of the community as a whole. As the site grows I expect to offer more to those that are helping.
At first I thought it was volunteer and then I wasn't sure. I guess in the case of some of the Mods it could also be a "power" thing, but not here (except for lotsie maybe). Jim
I was the first Canuck club forum coordinator, then I became a Mod on the off-topic and detailing forums, then all round everything Mod, then an Admin. At the Admin point things went south, I quit, then a little bit later, Nathan asked me to be a Mod here. I like it here, I like yaking, about all kinds of stuff, beer is good, and nobody has ever payed me a red cent. A sticker here, a pat on the back now and then, works for me. Mark
I think the great thing about M/A is that you don't know when a mod is posting something unless you happen to look by their name. Other forums I've been on, well, sometimes there's this tone or the same person(s) swoop in to mother hen everyone. I enjoy the good natured banter here & the personality of this place.
There are a lot of reasons to contribute... for me (not as a mod here, but a general mini helper) I do it for a lot of reasons. I like to be helpful. I like to participate. I like to drive some traffic to my business (but this is a very late add on). I get paid to write for MC2, but really, even with the few freebies I get, my hourly wage is at close to slave wages. I get some perks for being an "automotive journalist", like occationally getting to drive some freakin hot cars (R8 V10 is freakin blast!), but overall it's for the love of the subject (cars, and explaining how they work). Matt
Matt, I just read your article in MC2 about intercollers and even though I don't have an "S", like you said, I feel smarter. Jim