Hi,

Really sorry to be writing this poop, but I'm passionate about this site, and about these forums.

The kitesurfing forums started up like the SUP forums, full of friendship, until the sport got big enough that "money" side of things entered into the equation. It went through some horrid ugly times as people sought to use the forums for commercial advantage.

It's about Pimping & Sniping .. definitions of which are:

Pimping - promoting a brand in a favourable way
Sniping - demoting a brand in a negative way

I'm writing this post to ask all relevent posters to **please** keep the pimping in check, and refrain from sniping, and it can all be good for everybody.

We know you know we know who you are.

The kitesurfing forum has a total ban on commercial posts because pimps & snipers couldn't restrain themselves (One business created over 13 logins, as an example). It would be a shame for this forum to go down the same route.

Enjoy .. Lozza

so if you like a particular brand name that advertises on this site you can espouse it to your hearts content

but if you have a problem with a product of a particular brand which happens to advertise on this site you better just shut your damn mouth

this forum is full of industry affiliated snake-oilers pimping their own interests

Gee Doc, are you going for the "Bitter and Twisted" award , I would have thought that:

"so if you like a particular brand name that advertises on this site you can espouse it to your hearts content" probably falls under the pimping definition. Surely these are guidelines and it's up to us to try to strike a balance.

If someone gets a new board and likes it I want to hear about it and why, equally if someone has a board that breaks or fails I'd like to hear about that too.

My interpretation of what Laurie is trying to achieve is to stop industry aligned people constantly banging on about how great their product is and pretending they are just a consumer. And equally someone that has a problem with a product launching into the whole diatribe of their experience every time someone mentions the brand they had the problem with.

As far as the case mollydooka mentioned, kinda agree. I'd rather have the individuals that had a good outcome from a bad experience report it rather than the manufacturer initiate. But, I appreciate the time that manufacturers put into reading the forum and responding if it is appropriate, to have the chance to understand where shapers are coming from in a new sport is a fantastic resource, I'd hate to see the forum dumbed down because we're too worried about being 100% politically correct. You don't get Blane or Stuey or Dale or Rod Hocker starting topics to push a new shape, but isn't it great that they are prepared to explain why they shaped a board the way they did and what the pro's and con's of that design is from their perspective.

I also understand where Sam28 was coming from when she commented on the "boys" stuff. I'm not a prude but I actually squirmed a bit when I read her comment, hope she hasn't been scared off, I reckon a couple of apology PM's would be in order there...you know who you are!!

It all gets back to the funny old concept of being "reasonable"

theDoctor said...


so if you like a particular brand name that advertises on this site you can espouse it to your hearts content

but if you have a problem with a product of a particular brand which happens to advertise on this site you better just shut your damn mouth

An inevitable viewpoint .. just a case of who was going to write it first!

Anybody who spends more than two seconds in these forums will easily find plenty of open discussion about all brands..

The last time someone suggested the "brands control the forums" concept, only 2 of the 20,000 posts in the SUP forum had been deleted. I think we're up to about 5 now.

It's one of the friendliest, most helpful forums on seabreeze, and I'm hoping it keeps that way.

Lobes said...

laurie said...


We know you know we know who you are.

Enjoy .. Lozza

To be frank Im not really sure about that. I wrote up a review of a piece of equipment in a recent thread. The equipment was on loan from a major brand. Was that a bit off?

I thought it was an impartial review and maybe you would too but is it the sort of thing thats going to be dissuaded under the guidelines?

Sorry, I've caused confusion!

It's come to our attention that some sponsored riders, and businesses are going beyond just promoting their product, and are getting into bagging the opposition.

This is an understandable reaction when you see another brand promoting more that your brand etc etc .. it's called competition, and it is natural part of business.

I'm just asking that if folks affiliated with companies can keep it "reasonably" low key, have respect for other businesses, and not flood the forums, then this forum can continue to be the great environment it is for sharing information about brands that we all want to know about.

Short answer to your question Lobes, if you're not "in the industry" and you're super stoked with your gear, (or the opposite) then for sure .. post to your hearts content.

To infinity & beyond!

Sooooo, anyone wanna beer?

petemc said...

B Chambers said...

Sooooo, anyone wanna beer?

Best thing I've read toady

Pete

oops...today

lacey said...

hi, i think if you have a vested interest you should say so, i like the way jacko is alway's up front about it
cheers
ps a non -vested interest view

I totally agree Lacey!

When you know who is whom, everyone can measure their comments accordingly.

There seems to be more and more industry affiliates hiding behind pseudonyms.

I would think there is plenty of room for everyone if they are up front about who they are and their allegiances.

Laurie, we know you know, that they know who they are and if you know that they know you should let them know that you know and tell them to GO!

AA

AH yuk Blane I'll pass on the VB (vomit bomb) but if you've got any Coopers Pale Ale i'll have one

i like it mac, Have a few drinks and log in under a mates name and go for it, make for good reading the next day i say.

Jacko

GET SOME BARBED WIRE IN YA!!
STARTS OUT LIKE THIS
ENDS UP LIKE THIS

Have a beer!

The Aloha is still there. To be 100% honest i still have not met a bad person in suping everyone seems to have good intentions and a smile on there face while doing what they do.

It starts getting funky when people start wanting to make big dollars out of the sport and they try taking no prisoners which will come for sure. At the moment most of the guys who are in the sup business do it for the love of the sport and all have the best intentions at heart. I hope it stays that way for some time to come but with the way its growing i doubt it. Just remember we are all different in some way and we are bound to have disagreements from time to time that's what makes some of us human.

Maybe where it says your login name it should say if you are a spono'ed rider or of you are affiliated with a brand. I am stoked to be sponsored from Naish and would be more than happy to have Naish sponsered rider under my name that way if i post some thing about there boards people can take that in to consideration.

After reading all this back it feels like i have had to much to drink already.

Jacko

Sorry looks like all post have to have some beer in them now

Sam28 said...

DavidJohn said...

Hey DJ, where do you come up with all this great stuff
Sheryl

You type into google images "Tits and Beer"

Well atleast that's what i did........