Where is.....

[nicolai]

I know a few guys at the flea market that are selling those little black boxes to get all the pay channels for free as long as you have basic cable, but the boxes are only good for a year since they change the signal annualy. You have to pay a fee up front for the box but you get all the special events, shows and fights after that for free. but from then on you have to be careful the cable guy doesnt find out. If caught and the cable guy likes you he will look the other way since your paying for basic cable anyway. If he doesnt like you he will boot you off cable all together so your then left to go to all the less attractive pubic channels that are free, but sometimes those free channels turn out to be pretty darn good after you have been watching them for a while and you begin to wonder why you were do darn obsessed with having the pay channels in the first place. I have even heard of people who now think PBS is thier favorite channel because of the variety of shows they have on thier station, sure they have broadcast fund faisers and commercials to help raise money to keep the station going since no one can run such a thing without money, but you can still watch PBS for free if you want and not be forced into donating to it. But just remember that if enough people dont donate to the station PBS wont be able to broadcast any more and you will loose your favorite station. The other option is to be happy with the premium package you got from the cable company in the first place where you got basic service with those xtra pay channels as well for a pkg price, remembering that the cable company can change the fees and rules any time they want to keep thier company going but hey they have your favorite channels you have been watching and liking for a long time and you feel its worth it, but if you dont like the new rates or rules the cable company changed to and think its not fair or the rates are too high then all you have to do is not pay you bill when its due and your done with it no harm no foul because the cable company isnt going to miss a single customer here or there as long as all the people with basic service keep paying thier bills to keep the company going. Besides the people that have the basic service are happy with what they have and very rarely complain, its the people that pay the extra money for the premium channels that always complain when the service goes out for a little while, or they didnt get to watch that fight one night because they pay the cable company extra money to get what they want and are going to let them hear about it.
Whats the moral of my story.

 

[WebSlave]

Sorry, Rozann, but that just doesn't cut it with me. Making a "nice" comment after a string of innuendos, accusations, and jabs below the belt does not negate the prior negative things being said. You are saying I am overlooking the nice things you said. No I am not, but sorry you say them only to get nice things said back to you, and are offended that I have not. But perhaps you are not understanding what your own words mean when you say things like "Is this what it has become just a business, just money...", and why it might lead to some pointed rebuttals

When you start making what appears to me as false statements and accusations calling my decisions into question based on your opinions (which at face value appear to be based on a lack of reading the pertinent material) then I feel it behooves me to respond to make an attempt to at least give a balanced view to a casual reader of this thread. If I were to NOT respond, then someone who also has not investigated the pertinent information might come to agree with you out of sheer ignorance. You know the drill: A lie gone unchallenged can become the truth in some persons eyes.

You continually state that you apparently believe this site is all about "business and money", and say so in a pointedly derogatory sense. You are stating this here publicly because it is obviously what you want other people to believe. If it comes to a shock to you that I might find offense at such statements, then I think you need to get a better understanding of what your statements really mean to someone else reading them. Saying "have a nice day!" afterwards just doesn't make me think "well gee, Rozann is so nice, I'm just going to ignore those earlier pointed barbs she through at me." Does that work for you when someone does that? Maybe I'll try that at the end of this message to see.....

So answer me, please. Did you READ the pertinent threads about why paid memberships were instituted, particularly in the BOI, and why I placed a separate membership for the HELL forum? If you have read those threads, is there anything I stated in them that was not clear to you or you took exception to? Do you understand that those are not separate businesses but are separate forums in the same site?

If you truly believe that the only reason I put up with the BS I do on this site is for the "money" you are truly and completely clueless. Really, I don't mind contrary opinions on this site, but at least do me the courtesy of fully understanding what it is you are posting an opinion about.

To make it simpler and more understandable to you: Don't attempt to put me down if you can't take the same treatment right back at you.

You created this thread right out of the blue with apparently no reasonable effort to investigate the reasons WHY Wes was banned. Any reasonable intelligent person would have no problem understanding why, in my position, Wes gave me no choice in the matter. You said I was not FAIR. Allowing someone to remain after they got over 150 warning points on their record and had been suspended several times and STILL allowed to come back is NOT fair? There are probably more ludicrous statements made on this site, I am certain, but I would be hard pressed to find them. And when that was not good enough of an explanation for you, you then turned to accusing me of being in this only for the business and the money, using it in a derogatory sense to evidently belittle me and attempt to portray me in a very negative light in such a manner. Claiming that somewhere in the past I had made a statement that I would never ever EVER charge money for this site, strike me dead and bury me if I do. I don't believe I did, but even if I did, so what? When I had 1,000 members here certainly I never dreamed that number would grow to almost 25,000, with all of the attendant increases in headaches, workload, and expenses. So you would say "Nyah, nyah, nyah!! You PROMISED, you money grubbing arse!".

And yet you are baffled about my replying to you in the manner I am doing? Well I guess that makes two of us then. I am completely baffled that you are baffled about the response you are getting in this thread from me. Matter of fact, I find it downright unbelievable that you could be that completely clueless. Are you really?

Oh, and have a real nice Thanksgiving, Rozann.....

 

[KelliH]

Change sucks. Well, most of the time that is. I think it is human nature to want things to remain as they always have. Comfortable, safe, easy. We don't like it when things change. But they do.

People die, wars are lost or won, people are starving all over the world, our world will eventually run out of fossil fuels, and, oh yeah, Wilomn got banned from Fauna, and oh, one other thing, members have to PAY 10 whole dollars a year to post on the BOI!

I'm not going to lie and say I agreed with Rich charging us to post on the BOI, but, hey, I'm still here! And so are you! If you do not like it, you can delete this website from your bookmarks, can you not?

Oh, there is so much more I want to say, but it wouldn't do any good. Grrr. and !

Ok, can we all agree to disagree and move on from here?

 

[nicolai]

You are paying for a package. The last time I had paid cable TV (I get basic cable included with my internet service now), it was a flat fee for the services with each premium channel being an extra charge. At the time, I think I was paying about $50 for the expanded channel selection and two premium movie channels, a separate charge for each movie channel.

That is not how my cable works. I can't just get HBO without cinamax and visa versa, they come together. No two different charges. And the only way it is a package is just with basic or to get everything, showtime and all. Where I am at that is how it works.

So, if you work two jobs concurrently, are you implying that you don't think you should receive a salary from one of them? If you pay the fee for HBO on your cable TV service does that mean they should give you Cinemax for free? If your Chevrolet breaks down, then shouldn't Ford cover it under their warranty program?

Darn! What ever has gotten into the business world to think that they should charge separately for individual and distinct services?

Shame on ME.........

Well heck, we're not that lucky here either. Or maybe you just have to know how to sweet talk the cable guy, lol!!!

here it is hbo and cinimax together and you pay for another price for showtime and with that you get the movie channels with that.
Thought that was all over the place, guess not, hey webslave I guess I do live in a great place LOL
I dont get the showtime package but everything else for about 70.00, not too bad. But believe it or not I do not get regular channels. Rural and cable refuses to let it on there, was even paying 3 bucks a month for local but cable stopped that. Go figure.

I see a lot of people using the cable guy/company as a basis for reference in this thread. I use the cable service to make an analogy about this site being paid for, others being free and people should be happy with what they have and I get banged for a warning point for it.

Dr. Owens, did you even read the posts leading up to mine before you hit that button. My post was very much on topic with what rich and everyone else was saying.

Something doesnt seem right here!!!!!!!

 

[Dr Owens]

For the record, I am posting as a member of this forum, and NOT as a moderator.

I am getting a little tired of you putting me down. Acting as you are somehow better then I am. You are not.

Are you kidding me? Pot meet kettle. Hey guess what? You're both black!

Rozann, for you to act indignant that Rich has responded to you the way that he has when you started attacking his character FIRST is not only ridiculous, it's insulting to the intelligence of the readers of this site.

As far as I'm concerned there is one thing that has been made abundantly clear through this thread, and that is that you seem incapable of engaging Rich in an intelligent debate. Perhaps that is because you seem to have "brought a knife to a gun fight."

Btw...you have LIED about things that Rich has said in the past...and I think that we all know what that makes you...

 

[KelliH]

Whoa! Wait just a minute, Nic got warning points for his post? You're right Nic, that does not seem right. Damn, what exactly is going on around here?

No room for creativity in posts? No room for satire? How boring, and lame! I don't agree with the point Nicolai was trying to make, but what was wrong with his post? I think it was someone else that brought up cable television in this thread, right?

*edit* Sorry Jay, you are my friend but that is honestly the way I feel about it. Nothing personal.

 

[nicolai]

for the people that didnt take the time to read the previous posts.

In case you didnt take time to read the entire thread and didnt understand or comprehend my last post here it is laid out in laymans language for all to understand. I was under the assumption rich and you guys would understand my analogy as i had written it.



I know a few guys at the flea market that are selling those little black boxes to get all the pay channels for free as long as you have basic cable, but the boxes are only good for a year (yearly membership)since they change the signal annualy. You have to pay a fee up front for the box but you get all the special events, shows and fights(extra forums and options) after that for free. but from then on you have to be careful the cable guy(rich) doesnt find out. If caught and the cable guy(rich) likes you he will look the other way since your paying for basic cable anyway. If he (rich)doesnt like you he will boot you off cable all together so your then left to go to all the less attractive pubic channels(free sites) that are free, but sometimes those free channels (other free sites)turn out to be pretty darn good after you have been watching them for a while and you begin to wonder why you were do darn obsessed with having the pay channels (fauna) in the first place. I have even heard of people who now think PBS (other site you know which one)is thier favorite channel because of the variety of shows they have on thier station, sure they have broadcast fund faisers and commercials to help raise money to keep the station going since no one can run such a thing without money, but you can still watch PBS (other site)for free if you want and not be forced into donating to it. But just remember that if enough people dont donate to the station(other site) PBS wont be able to broadcast any more and you will loose your favorite station. The other option is to be happy with the premium package (fauna)you got from the cable company in the first place where you got basic service with those xtra pay channels as well for a pkg price, remembering that the cable company(rich) can change the fees and rules any time they (he)want to keep thier company going but hey they have your favorite channels (fauna)you have been watching and liking for a long time and you feel its worth it, but if you dont like the new rates or rules the cable company (rich)changed to and think its not fair or the rates are too high then all you have to do is not pay you bill (membership)when its due and your done with it no harm no foul because the cable company(rich) isnt going to miss a single customer(paying member) here or there as long as all the people with basic service(paying registered members) keep paying thier bills to keep the company (fauna)going. Besides the people that have the basic service (paid registrants)are happy with what they have and very rarely complain, its the people that pay the extra money(contributers and above) for the premium channels (extra forums, classifieds)that always complain when the service goes out for a little while, or they didnt get to watch that fight one night because they pay the cable company (rich) extra money to get what they want and are going to let them hear about it.
Whats the moral of my story.

 

[Dr Owens]

I see a lot of people using the cable guy/company as a basis for reference in this thread. I use the cable service to make an analogy about this site being paid for, others being free and people should be happy with what they have and I get banged for a warning point for it.

Dr. Owens, did you even read the posts leading up to mine before you hit that button. My post was very much on topic with what rich and everyone else was saying.

Something doesnt seem right here!!!!!!!

Nick,
To answer your question, I have read every post in this topic. After going back and rereading your post more slowly, I can see how you were trying to make a point using a similar analogy as had already been used. To be frank, you were so monotonous and unclear in what you were trying to say that I missed your point when I read it the first time. I don't have the ability to remove warning points, but I'll ask Rich to take a look at it, and to remove your warning point if he feels that it was given inappropriately. Admittedly, it was given in haste...and quite frankly, in irritation at the overwhelming stupidity that I have witnessed throughout this topic.

 

[KelliH]

Completely understandable on Jay's part. He's right, this entire thread has been confusing and irritating. It all boils down to that old phrase, "Love it or Leave it". IMHO.

Peace everyone, and Happy Thanksgiving.

 

[nicolai]

Just so you know. The moral of the story is: Sure there are a lot of other sites out there right now and if you leave you may end up liking them as much as this one or you may not, But if you have been coming to the site for a long time and you like it here and its forums you may well feel its worth spending the money to keep it going. Rich has the right to changes things he wants anytime he wants and if you dont like what he does there are always others out the to go to and rich isnt going to try and handcuff you to your chair or coddle you and whisper sweet nothings in you ear to keep you here.

, I'm still here! And so are you! I

I for one am glad you are here Kelli !! And yes I am still here and plan to stay !!!

 

[KelliH]

Just so you know. The moral of the story is: Sure there are a lot of other sites out there right now and if you leave you may end up liking them as much as this one or you may not, But if you have been coming to the site for a long time and you like it here and its forums you may well feel its worth spending the money to keep it going. Rich has the right to changes things he wants anytime he wants and if you dont like what he does there are always others out the to go to and rich isnt going to try and handcuff you to your chair or coddle you and whisper sweet nothings in you ear to keep you here.

And that is exactly why I will continue to support this site. I believe that the BOI is a great tool in the herp world, forst and foremost. I also have a lot of friends here, and feel "at home" here. And lastly... well, change is a bitch.

 

[Dr Owens]

*edit* Sorry Jay, you are my friend but that is honestly the way I feel about it. Nothing personal.

No offense taken! In all honesty, it was your saying that (and my respect for your opinions) that prompted me to go back and reread Nicks post more thoroughly.

To be frank, I read Nick's post quickly while all bleary eyed after just waking up on my sofa at about 3 am where I had fallen asleep while watching a movie. Of course, my irritation with Rozann's inane posts wasn't helping my mood any. Under different circumstances I might have read and interpreted it completely differently....although, (and no offense Nick) I still would have been rolling my eyes.

Nick, I PM'd Rich concerning your warning point. I explained the situation and asked him to remove it. Obviously, he might not get to it until tomorrow, but I just wanted you to know that the situation was being addressed.

 

[nicolai]

Thank you jay, if I may call you that Dr. Owens for taking the time to reread my post. And thank you Kelli for sticking up for what is right even when it was your friend. See that...everyone on the playground is happy now!!! Fauna does has its good side.

 

[KelliH]

Dr. Owens, you, as a mod, taking a second look at Nic's post, and re evaluating the warning deserves a lot of kudos. Thanks,

-a member of Fauna

 

[Dr Owens]

Thank you jay, if I may call you that

Of course you can call me Jay...most people do.

 

[Lucille]

I have been very civil.

Rozann, I read through this thread this morning. My observation is that you have not been completely civil.
I honestly feel like you are not trying to make a cohesive point, but rather, because you are upset, bringing in a lot of extraneous subjects, much like marital fights where a spouse will list decades of past wrongs instead of focussing on the issue at hand; here's an example of this kind of response, where one spouse will respond to an argument by saying: "Remember when you forgot to take out the trash after Thanksgiving 5 years ago and the turkey leftovers had to sit on the curb until Monday?"
I think you are bringing in matters that are incendiary rather than problem solving.
I think your post saying I was banned from TRR was a grave error, you posted something you heard without checking out the truth first, and that was not a true statement. But, even graver, your retraction was both demeaning and incorrect.
Your initial question on this thread has been answered. There is nothing wrong with asking further questions. And, there is nothing wrong about having your own feelings. But, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, from here on in, instead of accusations and incendiary argument, let us try to build bridges of understanding. We have a good site, one to be thankful for, and a site owner that has put years of time, thought, and money into a place to be proud of.

 

[WebSlave]

Nick, I PM'd Rich concerning your warning point. I explained the situation and asked him to remove it. Obviously, he might not get to it until tomorrow, but I just wanted you to know that the situation was being addressed.

Done.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

After going back and rereading your post more slowly, I can see how you were trying to make a point using a similar analogy as had already been used. I don't have the ability to remove warning points, but I'll ask Rich to take a look at it, and to remove your warning point if he feels that it was given inappropriately.

I also would like to acknowledge that this was an honest and fair evaluation by Jay, and is what I consider to be the type of thing a GREAT moderator would do. YAY JAY!!!

I honestly feel like you are not trying to make a cohesive point, but rather, because you are upset, bringing in a lot of extraneous subjects, much like marital fights where a spouse will list decades of past wrongs instead of focussing on the issue at hand; here's an example of this kind of response, where one spouse will respond to an argument by saying: "Remember when you forgot to take out the trash after Thanksgiving 5 years ago and the turkey leftovers had to sit on the curb until Monday?"
I think you are bringing in matters that are incendiary rather than problem solving.
I think your post saying I was banned from TRR was a grave error, you posted something you heard without checking out the truth first, and that was not a true statement. But, even graver, your retraction was both demeaning and incorrect.

Lucille, I cannot for the life of me understand why you would even add to the 'drama' on this thread by posting this, and by doing so, I honestly feel like it is you that is "not trying to make a cohesive point, but rather, because you are upset, bringing in a lot of extraneous subjects, much like marital fights where a spouse will list decades of past wrongs instead of focussing on the issue at hand." Get over it!

Thank you jay, if I may call you that Dr. Owens for taking the time to reread my post. And thank you Kelli for sticking up for what is right even when it was your friend. See that...everyone on the playground is happy now!!! Fauna does has its good side.

Right on, Nick... Fauna DOES have a good site!

 

[WebSlave]

Fauna DOES have a good site!

Well since it is blindingly obvious to you all, tell me what IS that BAD side that seems to be so oppressive and more evident then that hidden GOOD side just now exposed? This statement is posted in such a manner to make it look like there being a good side to this site is quite a surprise.

Honestly I can't for the life of me understand why people so damned unhappy about this site are sticking around here. Completely illogical to me. If I go to a website and find that I am not comfortable there or don't like it in general, why in the world would I want to hang around? Just to try to kick up crap? Just to pick a fight with someone? Why? What would it prove? Is it a touch of masochism in some people, or just plain old everyday maliciousness to try to cause trouble and headaches for other people? Just leave and then everyone will be the happier for it. You get to find someplace that is more to your liking, and the people remaining on the site don't have to put up with the malicious and condescending crap that you want to dish out.

What is so tough to understand about that concept? Please, will someone explain it to me, because I obviously don't understand the kinds of personalities I am referring to here.

 

[nicolai]

Well since it is blindingly obvious to you all, tell me what IS that BAD side that seems to be so oppressive and more evident then that hidden GOOD side just now exposed? This statement is posted in such a manner to make it look like there being a good side to this site is quite a surprise.

Honestly I can't for the life of me understand why people so damned unhappy about this site are sticking around here.

Rich, Sit down and drink your coffee and have a bagel or something. I think your trying to read more into it then there was. You have a few of your supporters saying good things about your site and your turning what we are saying around into something we didnt mean for it to be understood as.

Kelli said she likes the site and is happy here.
Lucille always, and I mean always says how happy she is here. raspberry )
I stated that i like it here and plan to stay.
Marcia stated that fauna is a good site


So if your addressing the last few posters then its like the preacher preaching to the choir because we are the ones on your side. Maybe its time to sit back and look around you and take count of those that are still on your side.