I take it that the problem is being or has been rectified? Don't get me wrong, anything I would say in a PM I would say in the forums, nothing suspicious or untoward by any means. I do have one question, out of curiosity though ... why can we mention the names of manufacturers (who are also retailers) but cannot name disreputable or excellent retailers where such information may help fellow modelers? As said. I am just curious as this is the only forum I have been/am apart of that forbids retailers being named.
Nothing has been changed in many years. This came about many years ago. It has to do with legal technicalities, caused by people who thought they could say anything about anyone at any time- which is not and has never been true. (The "free speech" many believe, which has never existed!) And thus legal entities representing those feeling impugned contacted us.... See the Support policy on Retailers I mentioned. What other forums choose to do, (which exposes them to action), is something we cannot address.
So it is more a case of a few idiots ruined things for (what I would hope was) the majority. Oh well, as said, I was just wondering. As for the "Free Speech" ... all I'll say is this ...
There are often also differences in how we deal with manufacturers who sell directly as opposed to dedicated retailers.
Hi Wombat, the First Amendment is written to protect the media and the public's speech from the government. http://www.newseuminstitute.org/first-amendment-center/primers/free-expression-on-social-media/
Honestly? I'm all for filtering out recommendations or reviews of hobby shops online as it can often be unfair. It's an "all or nothing" because of the work involved... and who's to decide what's fair or not? If a retailer wants exposure they need to advertise, that's pretty straightforward, but it wouldn't help with my mild worries that all the items I've been itching to find are collecting dust somewhere, getting no use
Software is easy to circumvent, in the event it interferes with any PM sent. One mispla ced space or a slight msspelling is enough to get the message across to a human, but completely fool a computer.
This is true. However, we catch such things in public exchanges. And such deliberate attempts to circumvent the filter, make our owner very unhappy. Those same few who messed it up for all, in the first place, tried this- several who felt brave and funny are no longer aboard.
Right. But you gave your blessing to open exchange in PM's, and that's a way to achieve that without overworking the intrepid staff.
PM's are as I stated, just fine. It is only when people try doing it in our public arenas. That is where they fall down. And that is what a few too many choose.
