Someone knows how to make friends.

[Kate]

"Right, this issue is officially OVER.

No more of this character assassination please, it's not dignified and it doesn't do anyone any favours.

Thank you, "

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/for...tml#post153583

It's now character assassination to ask about biased reviews.

That's official. Do not question someone who knows how to make friends.

[ApOsTle51]

You gotta admit it , Trog was right. the Forum here is certainly commercial based now rather than having the best interests of the members at heart anymore.

But If SJ likes it that way , well I guess that's that.

[Kate]

Do not question the money makers.

Be prepared to be attacked if you do.

Fanbois rule KO.

[surbitonPete]

When a trusted reviewer suddenly goes into business ...questions obviously need to be asked.....there is a great deal of difference between someone who reviews products simply as an end user to someone who reviews products as a salesman.

[Kate]

It's clear that manipulation and bias questions will not be answered in this case, they've been avoided from the beginning of the saga.

Pretend you're a victim and you'll get away with murder.

We're not allowed to talk about it either - this forum doesn't seem to be for users but to protect and promote business interests.

[Grandma Cas]

"Right, this issue is officially OVER.

That's official. Do not question someone who knows how to make friends.

Kate I totaly agree with you having read all & I do mean "ALL" the threads on this subject I am reminded of the following quotes:

Commonly attributed to P.T. Barnum "There's no such thing as bad publicity" & most famously "there's a sucker born every minute"

I blame Dale Carnegie who wrote "How to Win Friends & Influence People"

[surbitonPete]

It's clear that manipulation and bias questions will not be answered in this case, they've been avoided from the beginning of the saga.

Pretend you're a victim and you'll get away with murder.

We're not allowed to talk about it either - this forum doesn't seem to be for users but to protect and promote business interests.

I don't know anything about forum's and how they are set up and run but I would imagine the only way a forum like this could be completely unbiased would be if it was financially supported by end users only, very much like the WHICH magazine and website.

[Kate]

Yeah. Well it's got commercial sponsors now so I guess that means the review board is fair game. Maybe a warning about it not being reliable or credibility traps or something is in order.

[Fedor]

i don't know if this counts for anything but i totally agree with you.

I've just found the thread that you mentioned and read through it.

I don't understand why its deemed as being over and settled. So many holes...

I sure hope i don't get into trouble with this.

[SmokeyJoe]

Oh for goodness sakes, there's no conspiracy. People had their say, the guy responded, a forum member spoke to him on the phone, the issue is dealt with. People can make their own minds up.

The issue is over, and yes, there was character assassination - the guy was called a conman with absolutely no evidence to show that this was the case.

As for commercialisation - well, yes, the forum now has sponsors - partly to cover my rather large exposure in all this - I'm contracted in to the server arrangements for at least a year at an enourmous monthly cost to keep the forum running. it could all go belly up at any time for all of us, but from my personal point of view, it could bankrupt me.

As to protecting the interests of the sponsors - no, absolutely not true. I would protect anyone from these kinds of accusations, whether sponsor, member or non-sponsoring supplier.