I don’t get it either - was the plan to intentionally alienate everyone? Drive away the old time supporters as well as the newer customers who were becoming increasingly less tolerant of the delays and excuses? The number of people I saw who actually posted abusive or inappropriate things was fractionally small and could have been easily handled by active and competent moderation. Not an auspicious start to the "new and improved" AV123...
I have been a long time supporter and have purchased literally pallets of gear from Mark and AV123. I don't think that I have ever been anything less that professional in my dealings with Mark, the company, or other forum members. I did try (like many others) to honestly observe and offer an opinion on why the problems have been springing out of the woodwork lately. Not out of malice, or a desire to do harm, or to hurt Mark's feelings, but because it needed to be said. If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t have taken the time. I can't count the number of times that Mark stated that the forums were there for both the good and the bad and that was one of the reasons I had been a supporter up to this point. As soon as the "bad" starts being censored, it becomes impossible to get the real story. The very idea of hiding the problems (of which there have been many, and many seemingly legitimate) or shuffling them off out of sight of potential customers is concerning to say the least.
As should be expected, Craig shut down the TCA thread on the subject. No surprise as there is a formal business relationship in place. What is most disappointing is that the TCA thread, like most of the ones on AV123, had numerous legitimate, courteously stated suggestions and observations - they just weren't what Craig wanted to hear. The general gist - and M-fine stated it most eloquently - was that if AV123 fixed the problems with the company, the issues with the forum would take care of themselves. "Fixing" the forum without addressing the underlying issues won't solve anything and is akin to putting a bandaid on a compound fracture. It may cover up the blood for a little while, but that won't heal the damage.
I have heard all the stories, and I am truly and honestly sorry for all of the problems and issues that Mark has had to deal with recently. Hopefully there is someone there (who Mark will listen to) who is in a position to convince Mark to address the real problem, not just the easy and convenient one. I’d like to go back, I really would, but there needs to be some real actual change – not just good intentions.
I found Klaus and Odyssey here a while back and I have always wanted to try some Salk’s, maybe it’s time for some changes all around…
