E-Class (W212) 2010 - 2016: E 350, E 550
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Old Mar 10, 2024 | 09:24 PM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by JettaRed
Wow, some people don't understand that they are members at the pleasure of the forum owners and administrators. This is not a public square where everyone enjoys the rights of free speech, this is a private forum, operated and maintained at a cost. If an administrator or a sponsor that pays the bills wants to shut anyone down for adversarial postings, then they should have at it.

I have been an admin on a private discussion forum in the past. I'm a fair person, but I've had to bounce members that chose to be confrontational when it came to my decisions as an admin.
Well, look who's got his Irish up!

A moderator or administrator making an independent decision I can respect (but when you make a split-second decision to make a "problem" go away without much consideration or offering some kind of potential solution, a member has every right to be angry or call you on it). I’m not going to take a “let me tell you how it is” attitude from Peter aka BenzNinja because he has a personal beef with a post (that did not involve or even mention him). Absolutely not.
Old Mar 10, 2024 | 09:41 PM
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Just start spending your time and providing free content somewhere else. Problem solved! There are a bunch of "public" message boards on the public internet that have turned into private discussion areas for all the mods. Some site owners don't realize that other people are providing the networks that their website sends bits over. They don't own the internet. I didn't even bother reading the rules here quite frankly. They simply don't matter to me. I have rules of my own that are much more important.
Old Mar 10, 2024 | 10:00 PM
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The internet uses public utilities, such as phone wires, airwaves, and other public means of connectivity.
Online forums are the next closest thing to a public square.
It should be treated as such, and allow as much free speech as possible.
Obviously civility should be pursued.
But confrontation should be accepted and defended.
If we all agreed on everything, only 1 of us would be needed.
Old Mar 10, 2024 | 11:47 PM
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What if calibenz or prihada decided to take there information elsewhere? This forum would be basically dead. All that cash the forum gets from people just showing up would be gone. From my experience one person or entity paying a forum for advertising isnt anywhere close to the clicks and imbeded advertising revenue (which is not small by the way).

Now if the OP is requesting PMs to get people to buy stuff on the side then yeah drop the ban hammer, if the OP is legitimately helping people free of charge then the admin needs to unscrew themselves.
Old Mar 10, 2024 | 11:53 PM
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Originally Posted by JettaRed
Wow, some people don't understand that they are members at the pleasure of the forum owners and administrators. This is not a public square where everyone enjoys the rights of free speech, this is a private forum, operated and maintained at a cost. If an administrator or a sponsor that pays the bills wants to shut anyone down for adversarial postings, then they should have at it.

I have been an admin on a private discussion forum in the past. I'm a fair person, but I've had to bounce members that chose to be confrontational when it came to my decisions as an admin.
Ok but this "public" forum is also dependent on the people that come here and post information or ask questions. If no one shows up your admin rights arent worth a piece of dirty toilet paper. Sure its a private forum (open to anyone on google) but if no one can post anything useful well ya better have some motivated knowledgeable mods with alot of experience that like making alot of threads.
Old Mar 11, 2024 | 02:52 AM
  #31  
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Originally Posted by MB_FanAddict
Well, look who's got his Irish up!

A moderator or administrator making an independent decision I can respect (but when you make a split-second decision to make a "problem" go away without much consideration or offering some kind of potential solution, a member has every right to be angry or call you on it). I’m not going to take a “let me tell you how it is” attitude from Peter aka BenzNinja because he has a personal beef with a post (that did not involve or even mention him). Absolutely not.
I believe you are confused here. Members report posts all the time (including sponsors) and we will take action ONLY if they are warranted, which it was in your case. It is really as simple as that. No sponsor has any power to make or influence any decisions.
Old Mar 11, 2024 | 09:27 AM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by Quint22
What if calibenz or prihada decided to take there information elsewhere? This forum would be basically dead. All that cash the forum gets from people just showing up would be gone. From my experience one person or entity paying a forum for advertising isnt anywhere close to the clicks and imbeded advertising revenue (which is not small by the way).

Now if the OP is requesting PMs to get people to buy stuff on the side then yeah drop the ban hammer, if the OP is legitimately helping people free of charge then the admin needs to unscrew themselves.

Right, without any members or visitors, there is no forum!

How many dozens of posts on this forum have the line “PM me” in them? Would anyone like to do a search???? Maybe I should go report a few…..I wonder how that would go over??? The argument is ridiculous and just an attempt to save face at this point.

After I came up with a detailed list of things I could help people code on their 212’s, there was no need or use for further discussion on the board, hence “so if you’re interested PM me”. I was not soliciting forum members en masse (in multiple posts or subforums) to sell things to or join a club.

There are relatively few people into coding modifications and fewer still have their own diagnostic system. It was an extremely limited-interest thread.


Old Mar 11, 2024 | 09:45 AM
  #33  
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Originally Posted by Wolfman
I believe you are confused here. Members report posts all the time (including sponsors) and we will take action ONLY if they are warranted, which it was in your case. It is really as simple as that. No sponsor has any power to make or influence any decisions.

I appreciate your response, but we're going to have to agree to disagree on that.

Deleting the entire thread (which was well over a year old) was not warranted. Had the post/thread not been reported out of spite by Peter aka BenzNinja, it would have been well down the page by now. No one can offer remote assistance via the forum.....Just because people have to contact me to set it up or for me to research what is available in regards to their specific car, does not mean I am operating a commercial business for profit.


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Old Mar 11, 2024 | 10:05 AM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by JettaRed
Can you provide an example? If there is a vendor sponsor posting about an accessory, etc., I just ignore it if I'm not interested. But you seem to be talking about something different.

Can you provide an example of where a sponsor has had a posting deleted because they didn't like it? Is that what you are talking about?

Um...carbon spoilers? As for deleting threads, I have not seen it...not even with some of the inflammatory lib poking that I am becoming quite adept at ;-)
Old Mar 11, 2024 | 11:26 PM
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Originally Posted by MB_FanAddict
Right, without any members or visitors, there is no forum!

How many dozens of posts on this forum have the line “PM me” in them? Would anyone like to do a search???? Maybe I should go report a few…..I wonder how that would go over??? The argument is ridiculous and just an attempt to save face at this point.

After I came up with a detailed list of things I could help people code on their 212’s, there was no need or use for further discussion on the board, hence “so if you’re interested PM me”. I was not soliciting forum members en masse (in multiple posts or subforums) to sell things to or join a club.

There are relatively few people into coding modifications and fewer still have their own diagnostic system. It was an extremely limited-interest thread.
If your intent was to charge forum members for your assistance then you were in violation of the TOU. If not then you have a legit gripe.

Last edited by MBNUT1; Mar 11, 2024 at 11:29 PM.
Old Mar 18, 2024 | 08:17 AM
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Originally Posted by MBNUT1
If your intent was to charge forum members for your assistance then you were in violation of the TOU. If not then you have a legit gripe.
Most scams also use PM's and we deal with that every day. Since the PMs quickly turn to emails we will have to make our judgments for what can be commercial or potentially be harmful.
We greatly appreciate members to help others but the concept is to use the forum discussions for that; helps others in the process.
Old Mar 18, 2024 | 02:04 PM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by Wolfman
Most scams also use PM's and we deal with that every day. Since the PMs quickly turn to emails we will have to make our judgments for what can be commercial or potentially be harmful.
We greatly appreciate members to help others but the concept is to use the forum discussions for that; helps others in the process.

Having been scammed (or taken advantage of) on other forums in the past by people who had their hand outstretched “I can help” when encountering an issue, I can appreciate the concern.

In any event, there was never any question or concern of anyone being ”scammed” or receiving unwanted solicitation from me. Whether or not people want to admit or acknowledge it, there are other issues at play here besides potentially having contact with other members outside the forum. It would be nice if they could be addressed, but I’m not holding my breath.

Often a little communication can go a long way in smoothing over issues, but unfortunately, it’s a lot easier to press the delete button than to get the "other side of the story" or get in between other members.



Old Mar 18, 2024 | 04:21 PM
  #38  
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@MB_FanAddict do you charge, ask for, or received any payment for your help? You still haven't answered that question.
Old Mar 18, 2024 | 06:42 PM
  #39  
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Originally Posted by JettaRed
@MB_FanAddict do you charge, ask for, or received any payment for your help? You still haven't answered that question.
Well, @JettaRed because quite frankly I really did not think it was anyone else's business if people chose to be appreciative of my time or not.

I don’t intend to publicly offer "free" help, post coding data or an instruction book (yes, one has already been requested) and that should not be a requirement to ever offering coding assistance to people on the forum. Again, if someone asks, I am happy to provide information or attempt to provide some kind of solution so they can get their car coded with new features. Until another member has an actual issue with me (and not just that they think I'm taking business away from them), it should not be automatically assumed I am running some kind of nefarious side business or scam.

Now, is there something I can do for you?????


Old Mar 18, 2024 | 07:15 PM
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Originally Posted by MB_FanAddict
Well, @JettaRed because quite frankly I really did not think it was anyone else's business if people chose to be appreciative of my time or not.

I don’t intend to publicly offer "free" help, post coding data or an instruction book (yes, one has already been requested) and that should not be a requirement to ever offering coding assistance to people on the forum. Again, if someone asks, I am happy to provide information or attempt to provide some kind of solution so they can get their car coded with new features. Until another member has an actual issue with me (and not just that they think I'm taking business away from them), it should not be automatically assumed I am running some kind of nefarious side business or scam.

Now, is there something I can do for you?????
No. You answered my question.

You don't need a website, business license, or anything a bona fide business has to act like a business. Perhaps that's where the confusion lies.
Old Mar 18, 2024 | 08:41 PM
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Originally Posted by JettaRed
No. You answered my question.

You don't need a website, business license, or anything a bona fide business has to act like a business. Perhaps that's where the confusion lies.
Correct. This is considered commercial activity and thus not acceptable.
Old Mar 18, 2024 | 08:50 PM
  #42  
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Originally Posted by MB_FanAddict
Well, @JettaRed because quite frankly I really did not think it was anyone else's business if people chose to be appreciative of my time or not.

I don’t intend to publicly offer "free" help, post coding data or an instruction book (yes, one has already been requested) and that should not be a requirement to ever offering coding assistance to people on the forum. Again, if someone asks, I am happy to provide information or attempt to provide some kind of solution so they can get their car coded with new features. Until another member has an actual issue with me (and not just that they think I'm taking business away from them), it should not be automatically assumed I am running some kind of nefarious side business or scam.

Now, is there something I can do for you?????
Just become a sponsor of the site, play by the rules, and quit trying to pull one over on the forum!
You're making drama because you don't like the rules. Come on. This is a free forum unless you're trying to use it to make a buck.
Edit: or make yourself a more valuable member and post up the software mods you've discovered.
Old Mar 18, 2024 | 08:55 PM
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