For Mark's Back

19 Nov 2005

But we don't know what the contractual details were do we? Maybe (I'm only guessing here but it makes sense to me) he was contractually forbidden from releasing any details. Maybe the new owners had it as a term of purchase that Mark didn't say anything to us. We don't know and I still think you're making a big fuss for nothing.... when was the last time you contributed to the forum anyway? dunno

I'm getting annoyed here, this was meant to be a thread to thank Mark for all the hard work he's put into the place, not for name-calling and bitching. I'm out of here, feel free to PM me if you have any further thoughts Brian rolleyes

19 Nov 2005

Quote by suzyandbrian1973
And I STILL say that Mark should have come here and said his piece himself. And while he was at it, he could have told us how much money he got for this 'free forever' website.
I have no idea whether or not Mark is a decent person and will probably never find out. All I do know is that if he wanted this to be a stress free change of ownership where nobody got upset then he could have gone about things a lot better. Telling us more about who we now answer to on here would have helped as well. We will only ever have their side of things when we ask them a question now.
Come on, seriously. Are you actually saying that Mark couldn't have handled this better?
Brian.

And I still say it's none of your business HOW Mark handles things. You have no rights here and have always been allowed to post by grace and favour of Mark. Appreciate it or move on.
We've all have 48 hours of stress and you are not helping. You've said your nasty little piece of nonsense and it's been responded to - it won't be responded to again. Before today you've only made 5 posts and most of the about the Wigan Munch. Hope NOT to see you there!
rolleyes

:roll:

19 Nov 2005

Quote by Steve_Mids
Why the fuck should he tell you how much he got for the sale of HIS invention???
If all you wanna do is knock the bloke I suggest you try and start a new thread as this one is only meant for good things not the mindless negativity that is all too prevolant at the moment.....

Spot on Steve (and Jags before)!
A lot of Teddys are being thrown out of prams!
Spoilt kids!
If people don't like it - start a new thread or preferably find the door!

19 Nov 2005

Let me put this another way. Yes, Mark has done a fantastic job here. If a site like Dirty Davids was sold, who would give a toss or notice the difference? It is because this place is so special that people feel hurt.
Brian.

19 Nov 2005

Quote by suzyandbrian1973
Let me put this another way. Yes, Mark has done a fantastic job here. If a site like Dirty Davids was sold, who would give a toss or notice the difference? It is because this place is so special that people feel hurt.
Brian.

Well why couldn't you just say that before rolleyes

instead of having a pop?

19 Nov 2005

Quote by suzyandbrian1973
Let me put this another way. Yes, Mark has done a fantastic job here. If a site like Dirty Davids was sold, who would give a toss or notice the difference? It is because this place is so special that people feel hurt.
Brian.

Why do you presume to think you're the only one hurting?? FOR FUCKS SAKE - stop being so bloody selfish or close the door behind you. I've had enough.. be warned.

19 Nov 2005

I'd just like to ask anyone who is griping about the money ...... put in Mark's shoes, similar setup that you'e loved and possibly hated and is a service/product that has become bigger than you ever expected, in both resources, time and self cost, after being approached by a company who appear to be maintaining the "free" membership, wanting to improve the site and incorporate new features, put in those same shoes, would you not accept a monetary reward? honestly!
I don't for one minute believe that anyone in those same shoes could do that ... not one of us is that selfless!
C x

19 Nov 2005

Whatever the amount of money Mark recieved (and i hope it was a LOT!), it can never replace the private time he lost running this site, and the time not spent with his family because of it.
Mark, i thank you, and wish you and your family a long and very happy future.

19 Nov 2005

Quote by Bazza64
Whatever the amount of money Mark recieved (and i hope it was a LOT!), it can never replace the private time he lost running this site, and the time not spent with his family because of it.

:thumbup:
Shireen
xxx

19 Nov 2005

Phew, that took some doing,
I had better just go and make sure I've not left anything behind!
lhk
Kat

19 Nov 2005

Quote by KitKat
Phew, that took some doing,
I had better just go and make sure I've not left anything behind!
lhk
Kat

Well done for splitting it guys...
Shame to contaminate 2 threads with negativity..

19 Nov 2005

Quote by Steve_Mids
Phew, that took some doing,
I had better just go and make sure I've not left anything behind!
lhk
Kat

Well done for splitting it guys...
Shame to contaminate 2 threads with negativity..
One thing it is proving though Steve is that there are people here who care so much and really do appreciate what Mark has put up with for the last few years!
And that we still won't put up with the whingers!

19 Nov 2005

Quote by Alexandra
Phew, that took some doing,
I had better just go and make sure I've not left anything behind!
lhk
Kat

Well done for splitting it guys...
Shame to contaminate 2 threads with negativity..
One thing it is proving though Steve is that there are people here who care so much and really do appreciate what Mark has put up with for the last few years!
And that we still won't put up with the whingers!
I totally agree....
I have nothing but good things to say about Mark and I have never even met him......Didnt have the pleasure sad

If folks want to whinge about him let them have their own punitive little thread and the rest of us can ignore it.......Except the mods who will still have to police it as they always do....

19 Nov 2005

I can definitely understand the impact that the change of management would have for the mods and for those who have pictures hosted by the new company. The new company have outlined their basic plan, reiterating the plan to keep the site free to us all for at least a year ......
What I can't understand is where all these headless chickens squawking "we're doomed we're doomed" came from? dunno

Personally I'll be glad when it's all calmed down and we can get back to being "normal" or maybe should that be normally perverse?
C x

19 Nov 2005

What some people seem to have forgotten is that they have enjoyed themselves here in SH Towers completely for free and all thanks to Mark and Helen for making it possible in the first place.
Yes, the site is, to a great extent, down to what we have made it (to greater or lesser degrees), but the plain truth is that without Mark's creation none of us would be here now, and fortunate enough to be able to voice our opinions freely in this open forum.
This thread sucks! :huh: :huh:

19 Nov 2005

OK TIME OUT !!!!!!!
Yes the site was set up to be free, but shit things change.......... In the last two days I have read posts from the new owners and posts from the community.
The owners have been slightly guarded in what they have been saying, and yes SH will now be run as a profit centre for the group........ It has to be it's the way of business.
From the community there has been a mixture of shock, sadness, anger, and now finger pointing.
I never met Mark H & I have only been here for 3 months so how could we? But I do know that to build something like this takes time, energy (lots of it) and money. How can people sit there going on for the best part of 30 hours now bemoaning what Mark did for us?..........
Yes the forums and chatroom DO have a community, a vibrant one.......... but never forget they WOULDN'T EXIST without Marks vision.
So come on lets all put the typing fingers into neutral, the brain into gear, and ensure that this unique community survives and thrives. Lets all work together to persuade the new owners that the community will only survive if the most important aspects of it (Forums and Chat) remain free. At the moment I can't see too many of us doing that.
Mike

19 Nov 2005

Quote by suzyandbrian1973
It's all very well saying that this was a choice that Mark had to make. God knows, I am well aware of how the smallest of web sites can consume your life. BUT, did he have to do it the way that he did, selling the community in effect? If he valued the fact that this site is free so much - as in the 'This is a Free Site' section - then why could he not have offered it to the moderators to run as a co-operative? Why couldn't he have asked ANYONE to step into his shoes as a way of keeping everything free.
Brian and Sue.

And why is it wrong to get some kind of monetary compansation for all his work?
He has a young family to consider - he has given up so much of his time in the past 3+ years and we have benefited from that. It is only right he gets some benefit from it too.
I wonder how many of the members of this community actually made a donation to help with site admin? Not very many I reckon - perhaps if we all had, Mark could have employed someone to assist him. This was a service he provided at no cost to us but at great cost to him and his family.
I wish everyone would stop berating him and just be bloody grateful he bothered to do it in the first place.
So many ungrateful sods on here - I am stunned!
If Mark wanted universal thanks - or gave a toss about what we thought - he would have found a better way to do things AND have kept us all better informed.
Have another read of the section headed "This is a Free Site" and tell me whether people had every right to expect him NOT to make a fast buck at our expense.
Brian.
PS Mark seems to have had a lot of people assisting him. He dumped on them from a great hight too.
Mark has not asked for thanks from anyone.
Any bucks he made were hardly fast. I am sure if you divide the money he made by the hours he put into the site, it is unlikely to be above the legal minimum wage for the UK.
Any bucks he made were not at your expense, because the site is free to you.
I really do not feel dumped on at all. But then, Mark and I are great mates and having spoken to him and Helen, I fully understand and support not only the decision he has made, but also the way he made it. I would do the same.
lhk
Kat

19 Nov 2005

You know what, isn't there some saying about not judging anyone til you've walked a mile in his mocassins?
Or live and let live?
Or 'If you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all' (think that one was Tigger...)
rolleyes

19 Nov 2005

Quote by Chardonnay
Question.
Who here would be willing to put in so much of their time, effort AND money to run and maintain a site this big?
Mark owes us nothing. Personally I thank him for each and everyday I've been a member.
Yes it's sad that he's gone.
Yes it's sad that the site is now sold.
Do I blame him or judge him? Do I bollocks.
I wish him every happiness

19 Nov 2005

For a free site there is a lot of talk about money so where has this money come from then and how is it managed?
Who exactly is privvy to the'books'? Owners? mods? dunno

Is it on a need to know basis?Lack of information can be the mother of negative curiosity which could be nipped in the bud by the powers that be.
I'd just like to know how it all works in the background or am i to be put in my place for being too nosey?
cc_7up

19 Nov 2005

Quote by cc_7up
For a free site there is a lot of talk about money so where has this money come from then and how is it managed?
Who exactly is privvy to the'books'? Owners? mods? Is it on a need to know basis?Lack of information can be the mother of negative curiosity which could be nipped in the bud by the powers that be.
I'd just like to know how it all works in the background or am i to be put in my place for being too nosey?
cc_7up

YES!

19 Nov 2005

If that happens Alexandra then it would speak volumes to the membership.
cc_7up

19 Nov 2005

Quote by cc_7up
For a free site there is a lot of talk about money so where has this money come from then and how is it managed?
Who exactly is privvy to the'books'? Owners? mods? Is it on a need to know basis?Lack of information can be the mother of negative curiosity which could be nipped in the bud by the powers that be.
I'd just like to know how it all works in the background or am i to be put in my place for being too nosey?
cc_7up

You can browse in your corner shop. Do you ask what their figures are :dunno:

19 Nov 2005

Quote by cc_7up
For a free site there is a lot of talk about money so where has this money come from then and how is it managed?
Who exactly is privvy to the'books'? Owners? mods? Is it on a need to know basis?Lack of information can be the mother of negative curiosity which could be nipped in the bud by the powers that be.
I'd just like to know how it all works in the background or am i to be put in my place for being too nosey?
cc_7up

The money will come from the people on the site who want to use the facilities that have to be paid for. If you don't want to use them, you won't have to pay for them.
The books are where a company always keeps it's books, with the fucking account.
Duh! :doh:
lhk
Kat

19 Nov 2005

I didn't ask for figures. I asked how it works in the organizations publish their goings on for their memberships,don't they?

19 Nov 2005

Quote by cc_7up
I didn't ask for figures. I asked how it works in the organizations publish their goings on for their memberships,don't they?

I think you maybe should read all of the posts on the relevant threads before you ask any questions relating to money. You are jumping the gun a bit. wink

Alex x

19 Nov 2005

Quote by cc_7up
I didn't ask for figures. I asked how it works in the organizations publish their goings on for their memberships,don't they?

Pop down company house, everything you are entitled to know will be there.
lhk
Kat

19 Nov 2005

Quote by KitKat
I didn't ask for figures. I asked how it works in the organizations publish their goings on for their memberships,don't they?

Pop down company house, everything you are entitled to know will be there.
lhk
Kat
It can also be found on Comp House's website!

19 Nov 2005

I am keeping an open mind about what i have read so i am a sceptic by nature or through experience but i will wait and see how the new order shapes up.
:wary:
cc_7up

19 Nov 2005

Stop being a drama queen. It is a company takeover, not a bloody Mafia takeover. :roll:
*Kat wanders off muttering about this being a website not a bloody pension fund*