Petition to bring back the previous owners - Please Read - Page 10

MYT DC-10 · 07-31-2014, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ..airman

OK, this thread got very long, very quickly, so I'm sure some of you believe things were better in the past. TBH though (and I know I'm a controversial figure) I'm not sure why people are so flustered? Forum's cost money to run and host, so having adverts etc. isn't surprising. The 'new owners' may be making money, but then so (hopefully) do most of the airlines we all collect miniature models of, business is business, it makes the world spin, so are the owners not entitled to make some money? Did the old owner SELL the forum? If so, he sold it to make money and he sold it knowing that in order for someone to pay for it, they'd have an expectation to make money, so he was already commercialising the site himself and therefore no saint in this field.

Maybe the old owners used to send boxes of chocolates to members each time they had an anniversary, is that the difference? I'd sign in favour then! Otherwise I'll relish in the fact we have a free forum, that is kept free by the adverts, and I'll accept that the cost of licensing for the database pics is very high and that I'll have to live without it.

No offence to you, but the point seems to have rolled past you.

It's only the popup ad that is getting on everyone's ****, as does any popup. The main gripe is how they don't give a crap about the site itself, only the ad revenue they're getting. Hence why it's borked and they've have no intention of fixing it in two years.

..airman · 07-31-2014, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MYT DC-10

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As I said, the thread got very long very quickly, so I didn't read through it all. I've never had a pop-up ad in my life on this forum, I think I did see someone else suggest changing settings on your browser to prevent this, is this not possible? I use the forum on my work PC based laptop and my own MacBook, and just don't get them. However, do bear in mind that when you use Youtube these days, you have to watch an ad often first, and you get pop ups from sites such as tripadvisor (to promote booking though them) and many other mainstream sites. Are a few pop-ups, that you can prevent by adjusting your settings, really that bad for an otherwise free forum?

As I say, is the old owner really the solution, he would have known what would come when he sold the site, he wanted to make a profit and he knew the new owners would want to make a profit. His actions have directly led to this situation

MYT DC-10 · 07-31-2014, 06:28 AM

Just go back and read through the various threads, you'll get the idea why.

..airman · 07-31-2014, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MYT DC-10

Just go back and read through the various threads, you'll get the idea why.

I've done this now. I promise I'm not TRYING to be an ***, just getting to the bottom of this, as my major concern is that this just drives the current owners to close the site full-stop.

The pop-ups issue wasn't raised until Page 7 or so, it seems that the database and a variety of other issues were the main concerns, alongside the commercialised nature (which admittedly leads into the pop-ups point eventually).

I think my outlook still remains, the 'old owner' sold out, made a profit, and knew that the new owners would want to make a profit. There is a lot of criticism regarding the database, and I would like to say that I DO appreciate the hard work of those I know contribute to this, like Lou and MMU69 (and presumably Charter?). However, if FD, as the old owner, was not so interested in making money, then surely he wouldn't be holding out with the key to a major part of the database, the logos. He has stated clearly in this thread that the new owners and he have failed to reach an agreement on the price of using the logos, which the new owners could do. But if he really loved this site as he claims, why doesn't he just drop the price of the logo database? It is perhaps because that gives him the ability to hold the owners over a barrel and try to force their hand to sell back? Ultimately he is trying to profit further from the site he sold. He doesn't appear to be much of a saint to me. I'd suggest he proves his intent by giving access tot he logos for a low price to prove that he 'cares about the forum'.

Who knows, maybe I'll get banned if he gets his hands on the site again?

nathanbennett · 07-31-2014, 07:12 AM

I am struggling to understand why there is so many issues with the logos for the database. As I see it the logos cannot be owned by one sole person. For example surely the British Airways logo is owned by British Airways and not by a wings900 owner.

However, if we are all not bothered about getting in trouble with copyright issues then I would happily spend the next 2 weeks putting together every airline logo for sole use on wings900 and DAC. I would only charge for my time and W900 would have 100% ownership of them. A simple solution which I have suggested on numerous occasions but no one seems to be taking me up on my offer.

MYT DC-10 · 07-31-2014, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ..airman

I've done this now. I promise I'm not TRYING to be an ***, just getting to the bottom of this, as my major concern is that this just drives the current owners to close the site full-stop.

The pop-ups issue wasn't raised until Page 7 or so, it seems that the database and a variety of other issues were the main concerns, alongside the commercialised nature (which admittedly leads into the pop-ups point eventually).

I think my outlook still remains, the 'old owner' sold out, made a profit, and knew that the new owners would want to make a profit. There is a lot of criticism regarding the database, and I would like to say that I DO appreciate the hard work of those I know contribute to this, like Lou and MMU69 (and presumably Charter?). However, if FD, as the old owner, was not so interested in making money, then surely he wouldn't be holding out with the key to a major part of the database, the logos. He has stated clearly in this thread that the new owners and he have failed to reach an agreement on the price of using the logos, which the new owners could do. But if he really loved this site as he claims, why doesn't he just drop the price of the logo database? It is perhaps because that gives him the ability to hold the owners over a barrel and try to force their hand to sell back? Ultimately he is trying to profit further from the site he sold. He doesn't appear to be much of a saint to me. I'd suggest he proves his intent by giving access tot he logos for a low price to prove that he 'cares about the forum'.

Who knows, maybe I'll get banned if he gets his hands on the site again?

I forget which thread it is, but FD explains the thought process of the old owners as to why they sold it. I'm assuming MassFailure hasn't deleted them thoigh.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathanbennett

I am struggling to understand why there is so many issues with the logos for the database. As I see it the logos cannot be owned by one sole person. For example surely the British Airways logo is owned by British Airways and not by a wings900 owner.

However, if we are all not bothered about getting in trouble with copyright issues then I would happily spend the next 2 weeks putting together every airline logo for sole use on wings900 and DAC. I would only charge for my time and W900 would have 100% ownership of them. A simple solution which I have suggested on numerous occasions but no one seems to be taking me up on my offer.

You're going to have to start from the ground up if you're creating a new logo set for the DB, whereas FD has a comprehensive set already. That's why that issue is/was lingering there.

nathanbennett · 07-31-2014, 07:29 AM

I have a copy of the full set too but for the purpose of this I would start from the bottom up to personalise it for W900 and DAC use only.

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mmu69 · 07-31-2014, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathanbennett

I have a copy of the full set too but for the purpose of this I would start from the bottom up to personalise it for W900 and DAC use only.

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That's too kind. However, it would still require changing the database software to fetch logos from a new location. Considering the new owners didn't manage to remove the old logos (which all have become an "unavailable" logo) and replace them with the airline name, I don't have high hopes.

nathanbennett · 07-31-2014, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmu69

That's too kind. However, it would still require changing the database software to fetch logos from a new location. Considering the new owners didn't manage to remove the old logos (which all have become an "unavailable" logo) and replace them with the airline name, I don't have high hopes.

Ah okay. That makes more sense now. Thanks for the info. Hope things get sorted out soon across the whole forum. Would be a shame to see it all disappear.

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make.me.laugh · 07-31-2014, 09:17 AM

G'day,

First of all the owners of the database have changed... Christian from Hobby DB no longer is the owner, he has moved on and now MAS Media own everything to do with the site.

https://www.wings900.com/vb/general-s...wings-dac.html

To quote from MAS Media:
{MAS Media} want{s} to apologize for our seeming lack of interest on Wings and DAC. Our priority was to simply keep things running smoothly when we bought the sites and we have admittedly been negligent to the needs of the community as a whole. We are looking to change that from this point forward.

Now to address the concerns regarding the DB and our relationship with HobbyDB. We have come to an agreement with HobbyDB that it is in the best interest of the community that we maintain the current DB as is. We will not be forcing users to use the HobbyDB offering. We will also be looking at recovering the airline logos. Unfortunately, this was controlled by Flight Director and he was only willing to make them available again for an unreasonable monthly fee. We'd like to work with the community to see if this is something we can recover.

All of us as a community need to move on if we want to see things develop positively from here on out. We will fix what we can. No sky high promises. Only realistic goals and proper communication. We welcome any constructive feedback.

Finally I would personally like to add that Michael Waffle at DiMA and Waffle Collectables has Banned me from his site. Because...?
Quote from Michael's email to me... I do have a bit of bad news though. With your continued support of MasMedia and Wings900 I will unfortunately have to close out your account. I can't help someone who helps people who trashes people like Flight Director because they themselves can't do their job.

I have never bagged DiMA nor Waffle collectables nor tried any form of sedition on DiMA. So because I volunteer for the members here at wings/DA.C I'm being banned from there. I too was being swayed by this discussion... but not anymore... dirty tricks hey...?

Cheers Lou

make.me.laugh · 07-31-2014, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmu69

That's too kind. However, it would still require changing the database software to fetch logos from a new location. Considering the new owners didn't manage to remove the old logos (which all have become an "unavailable" logo) and replace them with the airline name, I don't have high hopes.

The new, new owners are actually wanting to bring back the logos. The impass was due to the original sale of the site to HobbyDB and what was originally promised but not delivered by BOTH sides. The logos were part of the original sale of the site, however when push came to shove, Todd did not proceed with the sale, because several other agreements were not honoured by the other side.

Also Todd sent me an email where he stated clearly to me...
I know the current owners will never give up the site.
Which begs the question, why start a petition when you know the outcome..?
Because I suspect he knew that Christian was in the process of selling the database and wanted leverage to take it back himself. However Christian would NEVER have sold it back to Todd, he honestly would have shut the site down completely before contemplating selling it to Todd.

Fortunately MAS Media (The Forum) now have complete control over both the site and database and want to make improvements, improvements that Christian at HobbyDB never wanted to do here.

They are also aware of the logo problem since taking over the database and as I alluded to and dropped large hints at, there is honestly a fix being sort, one which will have no bearing on the previous owner of the logos, but will take the site back to its former self.

Also patches have been mentioned to fix missing members (members who uses any punctuation in their profile names are no longer considered members, like me... "make.me.laugh") as well as getting the print function to work again. This has only been possible since HobbyDB left the room.

Cheers Lou

..airman · 07-31-2014, 09:39 AM

Seems pretty comprehensive there then Lou. So all should be good.

masmedia · 07-31-2014, 10:41 AM

We appreciate the discussion and comments made here, but the site will not be sold so the usefulness of the petition for action will not be effective. We understand and respect the concerns raised and will keep this thread available, but locked for further comment. If you wish to continue discussion on the future of Wings and DAC, you are invited to the new thread located here:

https://www.wings900.com/vb/general-s...wings-dac.html