Big Rick Rock said:
It is kind of pointless to argue with you since you obviously just pick a side and dig your heels, ignoring new information. Sounds like you are more into "winning" than listening...
I’ll try to give you some new information again:
This site was started when GS worked at another company(no-BB related) as a bodybuilder himself, he wanted to provide a means for bodybuilders from allover the world, to communicate and share information... He built the first EliteFitness by teaching himself HTML and paying to have it hosted out of his own pocket. For 6 years he ran the site at a loss and made no money on it until about 2001 when he introduced the Platinum program and decided to make deals with some writers (Author L. Rea, Nelson Montana and a couple others) and market/sell their eBooks. I worked for MassQuatities back in 2000 and I don’t ever recall GS making any mention about plans to make EF profitable. If he had the foresight to see the “future sales” I guess he kept it to himself since he never mentioned it to us (employees).
Its called "posturing" and I try not to do it, and I'm not trying to win anything really, and I'm certainly not trying to put myself at odds with anyone.
I haven't been on the boards a super long time, but long enough to learn a few things.
I remember when I wanted to renew my platinum membership, I got a call on my cell phone from "George" personally! It was amazing, he talked to me about a bunch of stuff, took interest in what I had to say. When I was platinum and I sent emails to him, he responded 2 and 3 times per day! I have since sent emails and received no response.. just the automated deal that created a ticket number or something.
I've seen the search button restricted for non-paying members.
I've seen people who go platinum but then do not renew have their accounts locked.
And then, like I said, I have a voice conversation with "george" and talked about why people were being banned.. people like MP5, etc... because they drove sales away, those are not my words, they are his.
Then, and I know this isn't george or representative of EF.. but I've seen NEW boards start up, and people do just about ANYTHING to get members.. and these new boards sell the same exact shit that established boards do.. and they try to get members from other boards to buy stuff from them.. why??? Because they want money! Not because they want to create some great place on the internet for people to go and learn about fitness, bodybuilding, different drugs, etc.. because they want to fatten up their pockets.
I knew some people, Mods, vets, whatever... that I thought were really helpful, that I thought were genuinely trying to share knowledge... turns out they too were just trying to drive business their way. In many cases its illegal business, but still the same, they give referrals and what not because its in their best interest, not mine.
To some extent, I don't blame anyone. I'm an educated guy, I know how business works, I know how the real world works. No one does anything for nothing.. not even the "volunteer" mods...
I just don't like the feeling that every minute I'm being sold.
So my point. I know you don't want threads on racism, shit, etc... because its disrespectful. And I agree, I really don't like seeing threads that are derogatory to different races, or types of people, or gay people, or whatever... that is not why I use this board and not the type of thing I want to spend my time reading. But at the same time, lets not fool ourselves into thinking that the actions of the administration are entirely noble. That they are just trying to keep the place civil.. there are driving business factors as well, and the fact is, having threads on the chat board talking about how XXXXXXXXXXXXX are.. or how XXXXXXXXXXXX people are is BAD FOR BUSINESS.
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