[Marty]

Originally Posted by Bowfinger

Do you think Marty wants to just get by, I am sure he wants to make money

Dude...I've got 3 university degrees and a job. I know it's very easy to judge and analyze people you don't know, but let me tell you that you've got no f. clue what I am all about. Before you pass judgments and tell ME what I am all about, let me tell you that for the last 5 years that I've been running my sites, making money wasn't my motivation nor priority. Breaking even was always a nice thought. Remember your first gecko? Did you get it to make money??? Remember your first aquarium, frog, hamster, snake, lizard???? To me, my sites are a part of my hobby. I've got a basement full of tanks. I don't have them to make money. I do the shit I do because I like it and can afford it. You may not get it, because you're not into the same shit that I am into and you may be motivated by completely different set of factors. Do not pass judgments on me, because you don't have the slightest clue what drives and motivates me.

[Riverside Reptiles]

Originally Posted by Bowfinger

Riverside,
Remember there was a question here, I did not start this thread and thought my opinion was just that, not complaining. If you want, start a thread "Tell me how great this site is" and I will, just thought this post gave chance to voice my concerns. Do you think Marty wants to just get by, I am sure he wants to make money...but did not insinuate it was a bad thing as good things come out of something earned for your work, yours is obviously recognition and many others is money. Don't think money is a good thing to go for?, try to live without it. I personally revolve money around all my interests...you obviously have the choice to not make that a priority in your life and that is your luxury...we all do not have that choice.
Well, I still come here and look forward to Marty sticking around and possible changes...I do understand this is now his baby.

Shane...errr Bowfinger (since we're apparently pretending that we don't know each other any more)...I apologize if I mistook your statement of "this is a site to make money" and "we all want to get the dolla" as a knock on Marty's wanting to get this site to pay for itself. As I said, my above statement was not just directed at you. 95% of this forum is the same as when Nathan left it...just with a little more shine to it. The biggest changes here have been to the graphics and to the classifieds. But the over all content is almost the exact same. I'm no big fan of the new classifieds (and I've made no secret of that to Marty). But if you actually take a few minutes to figure out how it works, it's not that big of a deal. And as for the graphic content...come on now...how hard is that really to over look? It's a text based forum. Again, if some more people would become forum supporters, the need for all the ads would go away. What bothers me more than any of the changes that Marty has made is that many of those who used to be leaders here have decided it's easier to be a misleader. As a community, like any other, it's important that everyone chip in and contribute to keep things going. Those who want change should act as agents of change. This is still a great site and has not turned into some cash cow as many seem to believe. Marty really wants to make this the best gecko forum out there. But it's hard to make any real progress when people can't get over little stuff like some added graphic content and get to the real meat of the issues. At some point, we all have to move on from the old look. It's been months now. It's not going to look the way that it used to. And the classifieds are not going back to how they were. Time to move beyond that. Again Bowfinger, this finger is not pointed at you in particular. It's pointed at everyone that could be doing a great deal to help shape the community but seem to find it easier to sit on the sidelines and whine about the good ol' days when the forum was "perfect".

[BlakeDeffenbaugh]

This thread started as a "all opinions wanted" and all its turned out to be is taking most things said to be personal it seems. You closed a thread in Tokays because of "flame wars" and I'm not seeing how this is any different. Marty I respect you a lot and I do believe you can and will do a lot of good here. But if anyone else posted saying half the stuff Ethan did and cussed that much we would be either in a good amount of trouble or kicked. I do believe the old form was a lot more user friendly, but I agree too that it was working on outdated software and things did need to change a little. To some it seems they changed to much. I havnt used the classifieds and havnt really checked them because I have no geckos to sell and no money to buy so I'm not even getting into that one. Once again this was a "all opinions welcomed". . In your guys own words "try to keep it civil". . . . just my own personal opinions. .

[Bowfinger]

I can say I do not place much to support here and understand the work you two give with little or no return. I never thought there was big money here as well, just figured the goal was to make money. I will try to be more supportive when I have more time.
Also want to add, I have personally attempted the "forum" business/hobby and honestly can not get the look right,...I have been so anal about it that making it search engine friendly and loading the sales site has taken a back burner as I have to get it just right. By the way its not in the reptile business. Anyways, what I am saying is I am picky and sometimes to open about this...

[bugman426]

Well heres my view on it:

MARTY:
"I do the shit I do because I like it and can afford it. You may not get it, because you're not into the same shit that I am into and you may be motivated by completely different set of factors. Do not pass judgments on me, because you don't have the slightest clue what drives and motivates me."

So technically, according to Ethans standards, you should be banned Marty against Ethans rules:

[in a PM]


"Mike, sorry but I have to delete the picture that you posted in the "funny picture" thread. It's cute, but we just can't have the word "****" being used on the forum. We have a surprising amount of young kids that use this forum. Just wanted to let you know why it's been deleted.
Ethan"

As Ethan states: "95% of
this forum is the same as when Nathan left it...just with a little more shine to it."

So if 95% of the forum is the same, why is it the main contributors to "real" content dont post anymore
real info, and not just ads?

"But the over all content is almost the exact same."

So how do you account for the HUGE decrease in threads(not in leopard gecko or crested forum) over the past
few months? According to Marty we have triple the amount of visitors and who knows how many members, so why
the decrease?

"Again, if some more people would become forum supporters, the need for all the ads would go away. "

Maybe more people arent forum supporters because they dont like the way the new site is?

"This is still a great site and has not turned into some cash cow as many seem to believe. Marty really wants to
make this the best gecko forum out there"


I believe this, but its hard to show when the site is the way it is. I don't think this site is a cash cow, especially having
spent 3 months in the summer dealing with just this. But I think Marty is trying to make it too "techy" and that might
detract some of the members that have been on here a long time. I would have no problem donating money or giving
contributions to a site I enjoyed and liked, like this one.

I have no problem with new software and updates...just part of website upkeep, but I do feel like this site tries
too hard to keep up with every update and new techy mod so we can see the time, address, location, gender, contribution
to forums, age, etc. etc of the poster. I like the old classifieds because they were simpler, and YES, easier to search.
I would like the new ones as well, if there weren't so much crap displayed before the actual ad. I don't care about the rating of the poster,
if I want to see how they are as a seller/buyer thats what the BOI is for.

Maybe the problem is needing more mods. While one mod (Ethan) might be good, I think you need more to run his site efficiently.
I don't want to get banned for my opinions but this is how I feel, and I feel like some good info can come out of this,
and the site can be a lot better, even with new members, etc. But I feel like at some point, I had to say something,
even if it seems like bitching I check this site more than anything and would love to see it do well,
so thats why I care (bitch) so much about it


Thanks Marty for a great site, that will hopefully get better.
Mike

[Bowfinger]

Great! Last thing I want is to be in the middle of another debate leading to another GU step down.

[BlakeDeffenbaugh]

What do you mean "another step down"?

[Bowfinger]

Just before Nathan let go of the forums, there was a huge or make that several huge blow ups before transfer of ownership and I found myself in a few...hate finding myself in the one Marty is talking about throwing in the towel. No one here offended me, I took it as it was, opinions that where taken personal.
I recommend everyone get a set of those silver balls and roll them in your hand like Laurence Fishburn did in "Boyz n' tha Hood"...it will help us all find our chi

[Marty]

I appreciate all opinions and if I found them constructive I acted on them. This thread isn't going anywhere at this point, so I'm closing it. Like I said, the site "is what it is", if you can't deal with it, then too bad. There are other sites you can visits other than GU.

I run this site to the best of my abilities. Perhaps I should be a bit more of a hard ass and not ask for so much feedback given the negative attitude towards me since day 1.

Most of the admins on forums I belong to, don't ask for so many approvals. Perhaps that's a better strategy. However, I'm not moving away from 'progress' and I'm always open and receptive to valid concerns and suggestions, I just won't be asking for them as much publically.