Eben's forum

[Ron&Gill]

Notwithstanding who created, originated or founded it, is this really "Eben's forum", a bit like "Groenie's Facebook"?? Or does this forum belong to the users, as per the definition of a forum:

"A Roman forum was a public space. A gathering place of great social significance, it was often the scene of diverse activities, including political discussions, meetings, et cetera." I quote this since "forum" is originally a Latin word, and while sure, somebody built it, it remains a public space. I consider the word forum to describe more an activity than an object.

"Internet forum (plural Internet forums): (computing) A system in which users may send, read and reply to messages on a particular subject." Says nothing about individual ownership.

Eben is listed (or lists himself) as the administrator, not the owner, something which I find very gratifying. Eben could also call himself the originator, or a founder user, or THE founder user. A forum is like a club, it is owned by the users/members, because if all the users/members disappear, so does the forum or club.

It is analogous to bar brawl. There are lots of participants, even one bloke that started it, but there's no owner.

I hope hence people will refrain from calling it "Eben's forum", it makes me feel like a trespasser.

[Chris]

But then again,won't such a gathering place then have rules and regulation to which all visitors the have to abide by.

If you do start a brawl,or vandalise the building,won't you get arrested?

And if there is a certain dresscode,and you pitch up naked,don't they then have the right to not let you in?

And my next question.If you go to a rugby match,and you aren't allowed to streak accross the field and tackle the ref,and you do,and then get banned from that stadium,which is a public meeting place,will you then be upset?

You can only be a trespasser if you jumped over the wall,and are trying to take the merchandise like the Pluto or Ceaser's bust.

[beetlepower]

eben pays to host the site so i think its a case of fifo

[Eugene]

A bit like Robert Mugabe if you ask me

I do not see anywhere that"...if you disagree with me, your'e not welcome"

[eben]

http://www.aircooledvwsa.co.za/ucp.php?mode=terms

[Ron&Gill]

Of course they have rules and regulations and codes of conduct, like this forum. Nothing wrong with that. Nothing wrong with policing it either, like our moderators do. Absolutely right. But the rules should reflect the users as a group, not the administrator. For example, Eben might never say the F-word, but if I want to throw a WTF in there now and then, I should not be kicked off the forum for that, because most users are quite comfortable with the odd expletive. HOWEVER, even that should be controlled, and it is done effectively on this forum. A simply rule, not rigourously applied, but it give the moderators a stick to beat someone with if it gets out of hand.

What with the raffle going on, I think the site pays for hosting itself and surplus is raffled off. So no, that point doesn't hold water. If Eben is paying whilst raffling off income, without compensating himself for his expenses first he should have his head read...

Sure I can feel like a trespasser. I invited myself onto the forum, because I think it is a public place, but if I am now being told that I am in fact in Eben's house, then I am trespassing. If you walk into my bar at home thinking it is a public bar (with permanent happy hour) and I then tell you it is in fact my own bar, then you would modify your behaviour to suit or risk being banned for any infringement of the rules.

I am not critisizing the forum in the least, only the fact that users should not refer to it as being Eben's forum. It's OUR forum, which started as Eben's idea, he set it up, he runs it as the administrator should, and i have no problem with that, nor with how he does it. Yes, I suppose you could say this is his site (his meeting hall so to speak), but it is our forum.

[JohnHoffe]

Welcome back Ron!!!

I missed your comments / viewpoints while you were taking a break!

I sure as hell hope Ebens' Forum is not gonna loose you permanently at some point......

[vader]

Oh is that what the terms say......mmmm

Its cause I'm Black isn't it....

[Ron&Gill]

A bit like Robert Mugabe if you ask me

I do not see anywhere that"...if you disagree with me, your'e not welcome"

I was trying to avoid this...

[calooker]

EBEN = dick ---- tator.
The way I see it, there are rules, and if you are not happy by sticking to them, then you don't have to be part of it ,simple.
It's your choice, you vote COPE, ANC makes the rules, not much choice there either, you screwed either way, live with it.

[Chris]

Ro&Gill wrote:
I was trying to avoid this...

Well,you started it

[Chris]

"Hopie!!"

[Ron&Gill]

Ro&Gill wrote:
I was trying to avoid this...

Well,you started it

No, I meant a Eben-bashing thread, we don't need one.

There is a code of conduct on how we use OUR forum, and it should (and it does, for the most) reflect the way we want OUR forum to be controlled, moderated, administered, policed, whatever you want to call it. I am not aware of anyone, including Eugene, being banned, except the one unfortunate incident with Brian what-his-name, about which I have potificated enough.

[eben]

Actually the TOTAL Adsense revenue from this site and all associated URLs go towards the raffle prize. The only time I get paid now is when Tony buys toys off kalahari.net

Giving me money back to ACVWSA makes me feel more empowered to have a moan

[dubster]

i think this is really childish this whole thing,samba advertise your bus in gumtree and sell to whoever you want but dont come do it blatantly on here when you know for a fact that its gonna upset people...and i think we should just but out of this thing and let eben and samba settle it in their own way...cause just now chris and ron exchange words and this one and that one...and for what?it stupid!lets get back to talking over acvw's