Has the focus of the forum shifted? Is it the marketing, promotion and cheerleading arm of selected companies? Has advertising changed the landscape?
- Thread starter Elliot G.
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Sunlight (transparency) is the best disinfectant.
Thinking back on all the magazine review I have ever seen, I am yet to come across one that said, "This piece of gear is so great, I actually paid retail for it."
I think it's a good idea. What is the downside of such transparency?
Transparency? You don't even post your own system.
Have I made any claims about it?
WTF?
No fiscal interest here.
Guess I accidentally found your little man in a boat.
Mike,
I’m sorry. I didn’t expect for you to spend so much time and energy to answer my simple question. I should have known better.
Do you consider WBF promoting certain products as a conflict of interest in anyway?
In the context of this thread if WBF promotes a product and says it’s worth every penny, do you think that it matters what was paid for the product?
I’m sorry. I didn’t expect for you to spend so much time and energy to answer my simple question. I should have known better.
Do you consider WBF promoting certain products as a conflict of interest in anyway?
In the context of this thread if WBF promotes a product and says it’s worth every penny, do you think that it matters what was paid for the product?
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did not know where you were going. just did my normal thing. you ask me about how i conducted my business it's kinda deep. not that you might not crap on me or something given the chance.
i could have ignored you.i think more than one or two things can be true at the same time. but sometimes a flower is just a flower.
i see both sides of the feelings and reality. it's not nothing, but it's likely not as something as some think. so respect everyone's concerns and viewpoint.
as far as the very specific issue of whether i view anything inferred in this thread as WBF in and of itself promoting any single product beyond what any member in good standing could do themselves, or commercial member could do themselves, it does not rise to that IMHO.
but then i very strongly feel that the forum is not the owners, it's the community. and i've always viewed it that way. maybe if i was a paying commercial advertiser i would view it differently that owners posting is WBF. to me that is wrong thinking. but i do understand and respect it. they are the community too, but not central to it. they are here because of us, we are not here because of them.
i've had multiple (a half dozen?) 1000+ post threads over the years on products i believed in because i enjoyed them. anyone can do it if they can get enough attention to their efforts. but also they can start multiple threads that have limited shelf life. it's the sustained interest where the community buys in....or not. that's the forum. and so it's a collective thing. anything else is very temporary. even if it causes butt-hurt. the forum buys in......or not.
YMMV.
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Hornsolutions Swen
Well-Known Member
I think it’s more like people don’t read reviews that say: “This device is so poorly developed and built that I can’t recommend it to anyone.”
That’s probably the real issue.
Best Regards Swen
How is “WBF promoting certain products”?
This is conflating the personal threads of a member (who is also an owner of this forum) with some invented all- powerful entity ( in your imagination) called WBF.
The content of this forum comes from the people who choose to contribute. Anyone, including the forum's founder, is free to express their enthusiasm for anything from dacs to toasters.
Unless you can make a credible case that the forum owner is using WBF to run a payola operation to line his pockets…? Im not holding my breath on this one.
I think you missed Tim’s point. The whole idea about disclosure and transparency for a reviewer or influencer is to try to ascertain whether there may be disproportionate bias in what he writes. At least that’s the argument I’m hearing. How far does one want to take this? Members who are willing to share information about their own systems, and those bold enough to post actual videos of their own systems, do provide more information for the reader and context for their comments. Isn’t greater context or transparency the goal here regarding disclosure and affiliations?
Your defensive posture about your own system better explains why others may not want to disclose everything about their affiliations. From their point of view, affiliation is one thing, full disclosure and actual discount details about what is a private matter may be a step too far.
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Mike,did not know where you were going. just did my normal thing. you ask me about how i conducted my business it's kinda deep. not that you might not crap on me or something given the chance.
i think more than one or two things can be true at the same time. but sometimes a flower is just a flower.
i see both sides of the feelings and reality. it's not nothing, but it's likely not as something as some think. so respect everyone's concerns and viewpoint.
as far as the very specific issue of whether i view anything inferred in this thread as WBF in and of itself promoting any single product beyond what any member in good standing could do themselves, or commercial member could do themselves, it does not rise to that IMHO.
but then i very strongly feel that the forum is not the owners, it's the community. and i've always viewed it that way. maybe if i was a paying commercial advertiser i would view it differently that owners posting is WBF. to me that is wrong thinking. but i do understand and respect it. they are the community too, but not central to it. they are here because of us, we are not here because of them.
i've had multiple (a half dozen?) 1000+ post threads over the years on products i believed in because i enjoyed them. anyone can do it if they can get enough attention to their efforts. but also they can start multiple threads that have limited shelf life. it's the sustained interest where the community buys in....or not. that's the forum. and so it's a collective thing. anything else is very temporary. even if it causes butt-hurt. the forum buys in......or not.
YMMV.
Let’s be realistic,
You started your reply with a very misleading statement because edit: I believe: you knew very well where this was going and unfortunately imo makes all other content of your post moot and immaterial.
If you think ignoring
or threatening to ignore, or signaling to ignore is a virtue or is something you perceive as being an effective option or tool in the tool box then your not the guy that I thought could bring this thing to a amicable conclusion for all anyway.Hopefully if/when our paths meet again we can reevaluate and proceed appropriately.
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Find me one review that's has this sentiment. They're all positive, the only difference is to what degree.
Most of the content comes from people who are part of the industry and they do it to enhance their business.
IMO it is irresponsible for the forums founder who are getting paid from many different manufacturers, dealers, etc to express enthusiasm for any specific manufacturer or equipment.
Please provide your actual statistical evidence to support your claim.
How many years of complete WBF posts did you run through your algorithm to arrive at this conclusion?
How does your algorithm sort non-industry posts from industry posts?
Over the last 36 months out of the entire universe of WBF posts how many posts were non-industry posts and how many posts were industry posts?
I think your claim is inaccurate and irresponsible without the actual statistical evidence I'm requesting.
Thank you.
You seem to be imagining that Steve, the ever enthusiastic audiophile, IS WBF -- and that any material he posts regarding his experience with audiophile products carries an official WBF seal of approval. I believe he speaks for himself, regardless of his position at WBF or who is or is not advertising with WBF.
Are you saying that you believe anyone who has an official association with WBF should be prohibited from expressing experiences regarding any product that advertises with WBF?
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just look at the member tab and view posting ranking. who on that list is commercial primarily?
Hornsolutions Swen
Well-Known Member
That’s exactly what I meant. Anyone who believes in reviews also believes in Santa Claus.
Every reviewer lives at least indirectly from the client. The whole thing has almost parasitic relationships.
Best Regards Swen
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