sick of being marketed at like a cash cow.

[bum]

Should Dane not have Pro membership, again more marketing and perhaps is (unintendedly) creating a toxic, snobbish and entitled 'upper class' who think their opinions outweigh all others because they have shelled out $30??

Is this really what people think has happened? I've got the Pro Member badge hidden with Adblock Plus so I have no idea who is a pro and who isn't (except for when they declare such things in a post) and I can't say I've noticed anyone acting in any more entitled a fashion than usual.

 

[Batz]

I think the title of this thread goes even further 'sick of being marketed at like a cash cow'. Should we just forgo the whole retail forum then? And should we remove all adverts from site sponsors, for that is also marketing. Should Dane not have Pro membership, again more marketing and perhaps is (unintendedly) creating a toxic, snobbish and entitled 'upper class' who think their opinions outweigh all others because they have shelled out $30??

Then you would not have AHB, it's these things that pay for the site.

Pro membership is only a replacement for the old donation button, some people appreciated the site enough to make a small donation towards it's running costs. Now you get a Pro membership and it gives you a couple a very small things back.

If people find $30.00 an excessive amount to donate towards the running of the site fair enough, ride along for free, no one looking down their nose at you.

My post way back was that in my opinion , not AHB's, a $30.00 donation for free advertising seemed fair....but not required or requested.

Batz

 

[Florian]

Had a look at the website last night. Seeing as he's running a consultancy based firm, I can see why he's not giving out advice for free on AHB.
Information is what he's selling.
A question though, is a course like this tax deductible if you're in the brewing business?

Most probably yes, possibly depending on your accountant. So basically, yes, it should be, but check before committing.

 

[GalBrew]

Then you would not have AHB, it's these things that pay for the site.

Pro membership is only a replacement for the old donation button, some people appreciated the site enough to make a small donation towards it's running costs. Now you get a Pro membership and it gives you a couple a very small things back.

If people find $30.00 an excessive amount to donate towards the running of the site fair enough, ride along for free, no one looking down their nose at you.

My post way back was that in my opinion , not AHB's, a $30.00 donation for free advertising seemed fair....but not required or requested.

Batz

That is the point I was making re: adverts. They pay for the site, but the OP is sick of 'marketing' so go figure. As for the pro membership thing I was using that as another example of marketing. But make no mistake there is a beginning trend (albeit quite small ATM) of newly minted pro members who think their shit doesn't stink....just keep an eye out for it happens more than you would think. I think the strength of this site is its egalitarian nature and I hope the new pro member badge does not alter the sharing nature of this online community. Time will tell.

 

[Batz]

But make no mistake there is a beginning trend (albeit quite small ATM) of newly minted pro members who think their shit doesn't stink....just keep an eye out for it happens more than you would think.

Give me one example of this, personally I find it the other way around in that the non pro members get their nickers in a twist over pro members. I don't think pro members give a tinkers cuss who is what.

Batz

 

[DU99]

a forum costs money to run,there's server cost's,various types of software,power costs.i know we have sponsors also who help with part of the costs.considering the $30 is money well spent for all the info i have picked up and to help keep this wonderful forum going. :icon_offtopic:

 

[doon]

I usually look at the forum on my phone the pro badge is too small for me to notice who had it

 

[bum]

That's somewhat misleading, DU99. Dane suggests that the advertising fully covers the costs you mention (I do accept that this may not always be the case).

Check his blogs to get a better idea where the membership money is going. I'm sure you'll be just as happy with the membership.

 

[GalBrew]

Sorry Batz I don't have all day to trawl through the forum to find my examples, to keep this idiotic thread going, just keep an eye out for it. Or will my point only be valid when I pay to be a pro member?

 

[Batz]

Sorry Batz I don't have all day to trawl through the forum to find my examples, to keep this idiotic thread going, just keep an eye out for it. Or will my point only be valid when I pay to be a pro member?

I didn't think it would take all day, you said it happens more than you think.....or do you just think it happens?

 

[Tony]

GalBrew.

Im sure there will be people out there who think that because they have made a $30 donation to the site to support its running costs, that their poop dont stink. Some people will tend to stick their chest out further while behind the safety of a keyboard.

But there will also be the majority of people who dont feel this way, and will always offer to help and contribute to the forum.

I see it this way......... AHB is a public place, just like a shopping mall. Open to all who care to wander in and free to do what they want, say what they want and have their opinions, as long as they dont break the law or local rules set out by the management of said mall.

Some people will be trying to make a living selling stuff and contributing nothing else to the mass of society that has wandered in. Some go there to socialise, some go there because they have nothing better to do and just look around, and some go there to buy a product from a store. Without the shops, there would be no mall.

People on AHB will all differ in how they use the space. The retailers are here to sell something, some chose to contribute and socalise also, some just sit in their shop and wait for patrons to wander in. If they break the rules set out they are corrected. Some people will have opinions on how the place is run, and how others conduct themselves and they are entitles to have those opinions, and voice them, as long as they work withing the site rules.

People will also come across differently in test than they would in a face to face conversation. People often type how they would say something, but we forget as we read, thet the comment is missing tone of voice and facial expressions that we use more than we realise. I have upset and been upset by this very problem with internet chat.

I say relax, if you dont like it, skip over it or ignore it. If someone or something really gives you the poops, block it or them.

Use your jusgement on who to listen to and who not to, depending on what you want from AHB...... and let the rest just blend into the noise of the mall!

cheers

 

[GalBrew]

Maybe not all day, but on the list of things I have to get done today it does not rate very high. I know we all think that the stuff that goes on in the interwebs is very important and that is fine, but I am seriously not wasting my day to make a point to someone I don't even know (other than an online version) about something that I don't care about that much. My original point was that so long as you post within the rules of the site, then you should be able to say what you like without having a 5 page thread dedicated to the merits of such. Maybe if we spent more energy on the brewing side of things than the bitching side the homebrewing landscape would be better for it.

 

[Batz]

Maybe if we spent more energy on the brewing side of things than the bitching side the homebrewing landscape would be better for it.

Could not agree with you more on that one.

I've had enough of this thread, no more imput from me.......Now what's in the glass?? I like that thread.

Batz

 

[QldKev]

. But make no mistake there is a beginning trend (albeit quite small ATM) of newly minted pro members who think their shit doesn't stink....just keep an eye out for it happens more than you would think.

Naaa, we're just better brewers than the non pro-members :lol:

 

[dicko]

We are pretty lucky here.
I was on a fishing site a few years back and if you didn't pay membership then you didn't post. You had the same access as if you are a "Guest" on this site.
Pro Member indicates that that member has donated to the site.... nothing more and if you don't want to donate then don't.

@Tony, excellent description and post.

Cheers

 

[bum]

I didn't think it would take all day, you said it happens more than you think.....or do you just think it happens?

I agree with this completely but also wonder if, perhaps, the same might apply to your perception that some members have knicker-twistage with pro members (as opposed to the concept of pro membership itself).

 

[GalBrew]

I agree with this completely but also wonder if, perhaps, the same might apply to your perception that some members have knicker-twistage with pro members (as opposed to the concept of pro membership itself).

You are probably right bum, it will no doubt go both ways and I really hope that it does not divide the AHB community in any way. Now that said I am in full agreement with Batz.....what's in the glass?? :beer:

 

[Econwatson]

Isn't the name "Pro Member" a poor choice for the title of what the donators actually are? The title could be inferred as elitist.

Wouldn't "Community Donator" or "Investor in the Community" or something snappier than that be a more accurate term, and remove any delusions that either donators or non-donators might have about their status in the forum?

 

[Online Brewing Supplies]

I think this thread is exactly what social media is all about, communication and collaberation, weather you agree or disagree is a personal standpoint,
but you can NOT stop the OP for having a point of view, just as much as the guy selling his knowledge should be able to use the system.
This thread is not a waste of time as some have mentioned, in reality it is vital to the functioning of this social site.
Nev

 

[Nick JD]

Well, my "AM MEMBER" avatar was quickly and quietly removed, so I have no doubts about what it's implication meant to the community's assumption of the meaning of Pro member.

I also liked the play on words that I am a member, even though I choose to contribute by generating six figure hit rates on two threads that get people walking into the sponsors doors and spending thousands. But that's what I thought the good-side-of-the-internet was all about.

Maybe I'm wrong and it's all about generating income for site owners.