I started a topic sharing my 2 cents this morning and the topic was deleted-

http://forums.registeredrep.com/forums/new-forum-update/totalitarian-attitude-forum

The totalitarian attitude of this forum... | Registered Rep Forums

Totalitarianism comes with a price...

I can easily start new a forum if there is enough interest.  I already run one major one with a few k members.

What is your major one?

The new interface seems to have fairly few new features and seems less easy to navigate. Other than the "ignore" feature (which is a real great idea), I definitely preferred the old one.

<< yawn >>

Chirp

[quote=aeromaks]

I can easily start new a forum if there is enough interest.  I already run one major one with a few k members.

[/quote]

There already is one.  Problem is that you won't ever hear about it here because the admin's are somewhat territorial and have deleted all the posts that mention it. 

[quote=chief123]

[/quote]

The new site is blocked on EDJ computers for compliance reasons =\

He/she obviously doesn't want to post a competitors website on his(similar if MSSB posted a link to UBS on theirs)..

However "administrator" have you noticed that nobody posts on here anymore? Not even a little... Why is this site even up and running anymore?

I am looking for a serious answer....

[quote=administrator]Funny how you claim we are "pimping the site out to advertisers"...[/quote]You and your company have been accused by the members of this forum of successfully indulging in the practices of pimping not running a financially successful company Mr. Chap 11. 

P- Person   I- Into   M- Marketing   P- Prostitutes/Posters

I don't think that the previous poster's views reflect a significant percentage or RR readers or posters. N.D should remember that Registered Rep, the forums, etc have all been services delivered free of charge. I think most of us recognize that.

It's perfectly reasonable that the moderators wouldn't allow users of this forum to direct traffic elsewhere - and certainly not to a competitor. Duh. Would your firm allow former clients to post criticisms of your firm and their new advisors' information on the company's website? Registered Rep is trying to make money off this site - you, as an advisor, and presumably a capitalist, should understand that. Because you're justified in being unhappy with the new forum platform - you're allowed to use their site to steal their customers? Come on, man...

There are certainly some issues with the new forums software. I agree that they threaten this site's relevance (at least to me). But, I think nothing justifies being rude to our hosts. Yes, there are problems that need to be fixed. This site is too much of a hassle to navigate and information isn't well summarized. The update emails that the site sends you continue to be terrible. Please fix the issues that you see being regularly discussed.

RR's editorial postion has always been pro-advisor, and whether or not this was always well run, the intentions of the publisher towards its readers have always been good natured.

So - here's what I have to say:

Thank you Registered Rep for providing us this free service. We appreciate that people worked hard to establish the new forums. I'm sorry to hear that your company is having financial problems. I wish your employees and shareholders the best of luck as you work your way out of your troubles.

Oh, yes, and thank you for the "ignore user" function. (If not flame-proof, flame retardant.)

I agree that we should not direct attacks at the Admins.  We can flame each other, and we can voice our displeasure (I have done so), but let's be professionals.

Sidenote: a few simple modifications to the site could have avoided ALL of this.

I agree with San Frans comments, and the intelligent posts that followed.

I would also add, that taking Penton to task for having to file bankruptcy doesnt make a whole lot of sense when the firms that a lot of us worked for would have had to do the same thing if not for the U.S. Government.

More important, it's totally irrelevant to the discussion.

Since when did constructive criticism hurt anybody? It amazes me how posts on this forum can at times cut like a knife and be ok but yet other times, demand political correctness. The comments on this board or simply that; comments, suggestions, thoughts and ideas. I enjoy and appreciate the contributions from many present and former RR members, even the posts I must sort through pages of rubbish to get to (I need a good laugh at times).

I personally feel that a forum with such a diverse membership must have a diversity in the posts to provide a better view of the financial industry from the people living it every day.

I do not fault the admin nor Penton Media for restricting subject matter that is determined to be inappropriate or unnecessary for this forum, for example the multiple topics started with another forum's name in the title. I do fault them for taking a Totalitarian attitude and banning members like they stole the holy grail of financial forums.

To each their own…

Thank You...feel free to disable the dammit account.  I can only keep up with one profile.

[quote=administrator]

N.D. regarding the Totalitarian attitude.

I have only banned users that have plastered this site with spam.  I've also banned aliases of those people.  In certain cases I have banned IP addresses.  This is for those users that are using a Proxy Server to access our site.  These users have only the intent of damaging this site or other users.  When I see a user has spammed every single forum on this site, I think it's well within our rights to ban that user. And I don't think it's totalitarian.  Just like any other forum on the 'net, use of the forums are a priveledge, not a right.

In addition, there are a few users that have taken it one step further and attempted to hack into these forums as well as our old forums.  This is a much more serious attack on Registered Rep.  Because of this, some of the bannings may have seen more heavy-handed.  I have not, and will not, ban users who express their dislike of this site, insult admin, or make comments about RRep or Penton.

I will, however ban users that do the following:

[/quote]

Getting insulted on this site is a time honored tradition. If you ban all those who have done it you're going to be here by yourself. At times the discussions can become very lively and throwing a few barbed punches is part of the back and forth of a healthy debate. I can see warning those who insult for the sake of detraction and detraction only,  but as part of the normal course of business it's really not necessary. It is my hope that you will employ a wide latitude in this regard.

Other than that, how about a spell checker for us grammer school drop outs?

Admin - question for you - what was wrong with the old software?  It's OK to tell us that the format of that software didn't allow enough ad space so Penton decided to beef up the one part of their site that gets more traffic than any other.  The one thing I like about "the forum who shall not be named" is that they are utilizing the old software.    

Did it work?  I notice on this particular page there's only one ad.  So, did you gain much in advertising space?  Was it worth the tradeoff for all the traffic you lost?  I know, I know, you're the admin.  You've got a job to do.  But you probably ought to communicate back to the powers that be that we prefer the previous setup.  The fact that you are losing traffic to a forum set up 90% exactly the same as this one used to be should be a pretty big clue. 

Just an opinion - but the blue is too harsh.  It's too difficult to look at.  And the fonts aren't as good as the old site.  The emoticons...well, you've probably heard enough about them.   Instead of "Recent Posts"  how about "New Posts"?  You know, like on the old site.  It's nice to be able to click that one link and see all the topics that have been updated since I was here last.  Just my $.02  

Hey Spiff, are you serious about the colors?  A little *cranky* today?

Admin, how about for schits and giggles, you expand the threads to occupy 100% of the screen (side to side) as a "test" to see how we like it?  And move the ads to the top. 

No, I was serious.  I know it's picky, but aesthetics are something that can make or break printed media.  Why do you think Jones got away from the EDJ green only on the statements and public communications and went more toward yellow and softer greens?  It's not a deal breaker for me, but if I'm going to stare at something all day long, I at least want it to look pleasing to the eye.

Admin - thanks for the response.  Good to know that it's not about the money.  Is this the only software that you do support?  Can we make suggestions?  For instance, I like the aesthetics of the forums here:  http://forums.saltwaterfish.com/vb/

Can we send you links to other forums we like?  I'd guess that you'd know enough about the software packages out there to recognize what they are when you see them.