Martin - I've been in similar situations to what you're going through right now, but usually in company takeovers where you have to face angry (paid) staff.
It's tough, but it's only day one, so please remember that everyone has to take in the news, and can only really judge you properly when they see the results over the coming days, weeks and months.
I also know that, in these circumstances, you are going to get a lot of unfair and hurtful comments while people let off steam. Please try to avoid hitting back (however tempting it is), as it will only make things worse. You may have to put up with the flak for a little while yet. The more you bite your tongue now, the greater the respect you will earn.
And for everyone else - no, I'm not making any judgement about whether things are going to be better, worse, or the same. Only time will tell and, as many others have said, we can choose to stay or leave. I would give the guys a chance to prove that they mean what they say.
I am sorry for my actions but I am not sure if you saw what one of the members had on their footer, we value our team like you value your community and what was done was completely unacceptable. No one at symbios would ever pull a stunt on this community like that.
So sorry if I threw my toys!!
Working for a Company which was taken over by another Company a few months ago, I have a feeling of deja-vu.
We had the same fears, New Company will wreck OUR way of doing things, we'll all be sacked within a month etc. Didn't happen!! Life goes on much as before.
Probably it will be the same here!! Look at it this way, we all have to go to work for the money, so we put up with the crap. But the only thing which keeps us on this site is the other members.
If this site became crap we could all leave, the regulars could probably form a new group because most long term members will have other peoples phone numbers or other email addresses, so word would spread as to the location of the new group.
But that can't be what the new owners want to happen. That would have killed the Golden Goose they have just bought. Because it is ONLY the members which make this site better than all the other sites out there.
John & Shel
Well, shocked isnt the word when I got told about the sale tonight
But sold it is and nothing can change that
Big Thanks to Mark and Helen and I wish them all the best for the future
I for one will hope that Elliot Martin and crew will let us keep our community very much alive because that is what it is, we have all made very good friends on here and will want to see it continue.
Martin please remember people dont like change and its come as a great shock. People react in many ways, including being negative.
Elliot Ive read your posts and will wait and see if the changes do make a difference for the better
But the Heart of this site is the members. Our SH Family, and like any family its just had a kick in the guts, give us time to heal and get used to our new parents
Will post again when ive got my head round all this and have stopped rambling
Waiting with baited breath!!!
Shall I break him in gently or give him the full SH experience ???
:twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
that's it gone on high jack the thread :giggle:
All i can say is as Mark has spent such a lot of his time building up this site, he obviously cares about us sooooo
The question i ask myself is do i think with mark caring so much would he of not sat with the new owners and discussed what there going to be changing?
Im sure he would of done..
And if they was going to upset it that much then maybe he wouldn't of sold it to them??
Not saying i am for the change or against it, all i am saying is maybe mark has talked about changes with them, what they want to do with the site and come to the conclusion that its for the good of us?
Shaz x
just read this tonight and here are my thoughts for what they are worth :-
sad to see the old owners go because they have built up a truly great web site and hats off to them for that but if it's time to move on it's time to move on
from what the new owners have said I think they have touched on a few subjects which have been mentioned by members which they would like to see ..........so if they are providing them i say get on with it
and lets face it is swinging heaven wasn't a going concern they wouldn't have touched it with a barge pole so says to me that they will just build on what is allready here
good luck for the future ..........just make sure ya lug holes are open and ready to receive suggestions and criticism...........not much more a new boss can do
Mod edit to remove offensive posting - and no, it's not a new owner doing this. Site AUP remains the same. Being abusive or unfriendly will still not be tolerated. Make your point without being offensive.
We've been a member of this site form pretty early on, not asking for any medals, it's just that this site has always stood out like a beacon in the sea of poxy, upgrade now, "free membership" sites.
The people that sort it all out and keep out the tossers, Ops and Mods I gather (seems I'm one of the other quadrants of this world!), do a really good job and this site had such a nice community vibe.
We work in IT, we live in with this gradual taming of user communities every day, it's always with a view of getting them hooked and then offering some better smack for a couple more quid.
Appease how you please, but that's the deal....it'll make things worse for us, and the only way that they'll do it successfully is if they do it slowly enough, and cover over any nasty little changes with a smeering of honey.
It's the way of things I tells ya....we're all doomed!
:shock:
:roll: 
:rotflmao: