I really don't get why someone would rather post a link in a forum thread than put it in a highlighted area specifically for freestuff?

I want to host my freebies on my own server for several reasons. At the moment my free items have round about 5 Gig traffic per month. I can't bear mutch more traffic (same reason why Rendo wont host my freebies). I have to move some items around. I manage several internet servers and some parts are delivered from my home hosted Linux server.

Renderosity is using his simple freestuff list as a cheap and effective marketing tool. So, Renderosity makes money with what other people offers for free - and have to pay for themselve.

Those freebies not listed directly but mentioned and talked about in the forums keeps users hunting for treasures.

The freebie forum would be great if it was a forum where we can request or announce freebies that can be found anywhere on the web. As it is, it is not helpful at all... on the contrary.

Quote - So you are referring to links to freebies that are NOT yours correct?

He's referring to threads such as the following. We all want to know if these types of posts/threads are still going to be allowed in the Poser forum et al.

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2669000

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2669009

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2669072

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2673547

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2674080

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2674922

And then there are times where someone is looking for something in particular and there is a need to post links in order to answer the person's question, such as in this thread and dozens of others like it:

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?message_id=2924999&ebot_calc_page#message_2924999

Quote - The freebie forum would be great if it was a forum where we can request or announce freebies that can be found anywhere on the web. As it is, it is not helpful at all... on the contrary.

Exactly!     
And I make freebies for my own reasons, not to bolster Renderosities position in the 3D community.  I stated why I don't use the free section anymore. 
Even back when I did upload here, my referers proved that links from this site didn't even touch the number of links from all over the web.  In other words, the free section here isn't the traffic generator  it's being made out to be. 

*And I make freebies for my own reasons, not to bolster Renderosities position in the 3D community.
*Exactly. I make freebies because I like to share and sharing IMO is not best done at one single place.

Quote - ...

Also one other note, places like Daz or Poserpros, they don't have a freestuff area ONLY a forum right?  Our freestuff area should be seen as the way their forums work, we have an AREA designated to freestuff not just a forum so over there is only ONE place to put your freestuff links, the forums. Here the Freestuff area is where you SHOULD put your links and the forum is an additional area where you can highlight it more..

At PlanIt 3D we also have a huge area designated for free stuff...most of it avaialble to members and non-members alike.  The difference is we use it to host that freestuff for those who wish it.  It doesn't have to be exclusive to us either, but it does reduce the strain on people's own servers. 

We also have forums where we're happy to let people place links to their freestuff.  The two systems can work in harmony quite happily as I hope we've proved over the years.

Quote - The freebie forum would be great if it was a forum where we can request or announce freebies that can be found anywhere on the web. As it is, it is not helpful at all... on the contrary.

I agree.   If I want to find freebies that are already IN the R'ocity free stuff, I can just go there!  A forum doesn't help me to find them any better than I already can.  

The mods have said several times "what's the big deal - why don't you just submit them here?" 

As others have said, there are lots of people that for WHATEVER reason don't want to submit their freebies to R'ocity ,or don't post here at all.   As someone who appreciates the freebies, I don't see why someone being generous enough to give away something should HAVE to submit it here or justify why they don't want to do so.  It's a nice idea to have a specific "Freebie Forum" where ALL freebies, links to them, etc, can go, but to restrict it (and the REST of the forums) to only R'ocity freebies is not, in my mind, a good thing for the freebie providers or those looking for freebies..ie the community.

I don't see why someone being generous enough to give away something should HAVE to submit it here or justify why they don't want to do so.

And I agree with that. Freebie providers don't deserve to have to do more work in order to GIVE AWAY their creations. As I said before, we do not expect QA in a freebie but we do expect it in a commercial product. And I continue to say commercial products are not tested thoroughly enough and Rendo staff should concentrate on better testing those instead of making life harder for freebie providers.

I will state again, we are discussing this...please be patient while we work through it.

This thread is about the Freestuff so lets not get into the Marketplace product stuff in this thread or the confusion will intensify.

I hear you all and I will be making all your points in our meeting tomorrow around the Freestuff links.

Thanks, Stacey!

Your welcome. We do want to do what is best for the Community as a whole so I am listening, I do see your points and I will be driving home those points tomorrow. I feel confident that things will work out for everyone

I will be updating you tomorrow after the meeting:)

Quote - Your welcome. We do want to do what is best for the Community as a whole so I am listening, I do see your points and I will be driving home those points tomorrow. I feel confident that things will work out for everyone

I will be updating you tomorrow after the meeting:)

here, use this to drive them home...

Thanks Khai, that looks like a good "point driver" heehee

Thanks Stacey. Will wait for your report tomorrow. ;o)

Quote - We are still discussing this here at the office. I think there has been some confusion on whats what regarding this issue so please hang tight before jumping off the deep end:)

But I do want to say, somebody like say "DAD", I don't understand why you wouldn't take the few seconds to upload your item to the Freestuff area so it can be highlighted?  .

May I quote an example of why I prefer not to put my free stuff through the "free stuff area" and announce it on the forums?

Here a couple of years ago I was in the top 50 free stuff providers - and I moved my domain to a new server - all the links changed and I updated them - suddenly all my free stuff appeared as new and the rush began and something like 25 gig was downloaded in 24 hours putting me over my bandwidth for the month.

Nowdays if I have a freebie and show it in a forum I am certain that only those who want it will go and grab it because of the fact they see a need for it - not simply for the fact it is free and people want to increase the size of their runtime.

Understood tastiger:) That point has already been made so I will be bringing up this in our meeting tomorrow

Quote - I'm referring to freestuff items that a provider makes to give away to the community such as the items in the freestuff area not the things you are referring to above.

 
Stacy, something else you may want to consider is that some people may post a link in to their freestuff using the forum to control bandwidth. Once something goes into the Free Stuff "gallery", it's a free-for-all, everybody and their mother rush to download it whether they need it or not, which can quickly sucks up providers monthly available bandwidth, which makes the whole site unavailable for that month. Posting it in the Forum brings it to the attention of a smaller group of people who, more or less, have a real need or desire for said item.

It may also be that, for whatever reason, a provider may only want to offer his free item to members of a certain forum. By forbidding that, you're telling that provider to post it in in the Renderosity Free Stuff gallery or don't post it here at all. Under some circumstances that might be considered restraint of trade. At the very least it's restrictive, elitist, and monopolistic.

The ability to freely communicate, share, and trade is what made Renderosity into the cash cow it is today. To hinder free communication, sharing, and trade in any way is a slap in the face to the people that made this site great...the members.

I already said I got that tainted, lol:)   I got it covered, k?

Looks in to see if there are any answers

Settles down to wait for the committee

to StaceyG: Your wording/tone is very polite and is pleasing to read. It's easy to agree and see your side. What I find very heated, though, comes especially from others who do not write so politely but use the tone of "must" post in the freebie forum, rather than "invited" or "should."

I think there is confusion for things that come up in a community, such as casually helping another member with a useful or helpful link. For instance, the Ivy Generator link has spread from forum to forum like wild fire. It's a helpful utility and people spread the word without going through some other forum. In that sense, it is self-policing: a bad or inappropriate link would not have spread. The local moderators seem to do a good job keeping appropriate content valid.

It is interesting, though, there seems to be more negative feedback from this idea than the positive feedback posted in the suggestion forum. Perhaps keep the freestuff forum as an option instead of a requirement might be the better way?

Quote -
Nowdays if I have a freebie and show it in a forum I am certain that only those who want it will go and grab it because of the fact they see a need for it - not simply for the fact it is free and people want to increase the size of their runtime.

I can't resist but to add my 2c worth of contemplations on the subject....

That 25 gig of bandwidth issue reminds me of the old snail mail way... FREE, for the cost of shipping!
Too bad things can't be given 'free' for the cost of bandwidth, to prevent just such instances.

Too many people seem to forget that just because something is given away as free, it doesn't mean it's not valuable, or that it doesn't cost someone else to provide it.

I've often thought of 99c items or dollar items, just for such reason. Little bit like Daz's platinum club $1.99 offers. Or heck, even 2-3 or 5 items for a dollar.

Recently, on CGI I believe one of the artists resolved the bandwidth issue of giving away a large set of free textures by offering them via torrents. That way those whim take the freebie at least give back via providing bandwidth.

After speaking with Stacey and other staff members, I feel I really need to make an apology for jumping the gun on an issue that had not been completely worked out regarding linking to freestuff in other forums outside the freestuff forum.

Hopefully you will accept my apology and not hang me too high? :P

Quote - [It may also be that, for whatever reason, a provider may only want to offer his free item to members of a certain forum.

Last year I was playing around in Paint Shop Pro trying to make a "glowing glass orb." I ended up coming up with something that I thought was quite nice and wanted to share it, but not on a large scale basis.  So I posted a download link in the Paint Shop Pro forum for those who were interested.  It was a gift from me to the members of that forum.

Under the new linking policy I wouldn't have been able to do that and instead would have had to submit the item to free stuff for everyone instead of it being an exclusive freebie gift for a ilmited time to a particular forum.

Quote - After speaking with Stacey and other staff members, I feel I really need to make an apology for jumping the gun on an issue that had not been completely worked out regarding linking to freestuff in other forums outside the freestuff forum.

Hopefully you will accept my apology and not hang me too high? :P

Thank you :)  Your neck is safe for now   :tongue1:

i know I'm getting old...do you know how I can tell?
EVERYTHING IS TOO COMPLICATED ANYMORE

bring back the simple life...please

Hmm, so what's the verdict then????

Quote - You're right. I think this is just a ruse to squash the free stuff provider because they aren't generating any revenue for company.  However, they fail to see that the reason many are members here is because of the kind generous community that exists here.  That is slowly being eroded. Always one less reason to come here...soon there won't be any reason for some people :(

Actually, I lost almost all reason to come here a while ago. Silliness in policy (like this) brings me back now and again and I get reminded of why I decided to stop spending time and money here in the first place. 

heading off to go about her business

Nef

Quote - Someone should start to make a list with all the issues that make users want to leave.
Hey in another 5 years you can tell people that once upon a time there was a website...
Glad to see no cat pic here. :p

Hey, these types of Renderosity PR fiasco's are the only reason I and some others I know even come here anymore...

It is like watching the Titanic hitting the iceberg and sinking.

.

I won't have anymore updated information until tomorrow afternoon as that is when I have the meeting scheduled for:)

Acadia,

I will say that I can't see posting the freebie links in the other forums now that we have a freestuff forum. My push will be to allow any linking to freestuff items in the Renderosity Freestuff forum. Just as the Product showcase is for all commercial posts, I see the Freestuff forum being for all freestuff links. 

I'll know more tomorrow but just wanted to throw that in here because it sounded like you were saying posts should still be allowed in all the other forums and the whole purpose of the freestuff forum should be to consolidate all posts such as that to be in one forum area if the decision is made to allow all freestuff linkings.  The goal I am going for here is to open up that  Freestuff forum to all freestuff linkings. I do not feel that the freestuff linkings should still be allowed in specific forum areas when we have a forum that we hope to catch all those type posts.

Jani, don't feel bad. It was a misunderstanding and I'm sure I didn't clarify enough that it wasn't all ironed out yet. So I feel bad too:(

Quote - > Quote - Someone should start to make a list with all the issues that make users want to leave.

Hey in another 5 years you can tell people that once upon a time there was a website...
Glad to see no cat pic here. :p

 

Hey, these types of Renderosity PR fiasco's are the only reason I and some others I know even come here anymore...

It is like watching the Titanic hitting the iceberg and sinking.

.

Well whatever the reason you are here, we are glad to have you. Thanks:)

Quote - My push will be to allow any linking to freestuff items in the Renderosity Freestuff forum. Just as the Product showcase is for all commercial posts, I see the Freestuff forum being for all freestuff links. (

That sounds quite reasonable to me.  That's what I THOUGHT the new Freestuff forum was going to be like/for when it was first announced :)  

I see the Freestuff forum being for all freestuff links. ...  I do not feel that the freestuff linkings should still be allowed in specific forum areas when we have a forum that we hope to catch all those type posts.

That, IMHO, is exactly how it should be. ;o)

Great that was what I was hoping I was getting out of this thread, lol. But just wanted to clarify how I was envisioning this when I go into the meeting tomorrow:)

I'm sure I will have good news tomorrow afternoon. I'm small but persistant, heehee

We'll send you positive waves! loll

I feel them Francemi:) THANKS!!!!

*1) I will say that I can't see posting the freebie links in the other forums now that we have a freestuff forum.

1. My push will be to allow any linking to freestuff items in the Renderosity Freestuff forum. Just as the Product showcase is for all commercial posts, I see the Freestuff forum being for all freestuff links.*

Hrm, it sounds the same to me, though. Firstly, I thought this was about the freestuff forum, not the product stuff. Please don't confuse us members by going off topic. We're already confused enough! :-)

You don't see a reason to post freebie links as long as it's in the freestuff forum. This is was the original argument, I believe. Can't post a link anywhere except there. 

It seems you're saying your push will be to keep the new change in. Thank you for not being biased. You must have a marketing degree or getting some cool marketing experience for polishing up with a nice dance of words to say "nothing will be changed."

I give up. there's no point...

Quote - *1) I will say that I can't see posting the freebie links in the other forums now that we have a freestuff forum.

1. My push will be to allow any linking to freestuff items in the Renderosity Freestuff forum. Just as the Product showcase is for all commercial posts, I see the Freestuff forum being for all freestuff links.*

Hrm, it sounds the same to me, though. Firstly, I thought this was about the freestuff forum, not the product stuff. Please don't confuse us members by going off topic. We're already confused enough! :-)

You don't see a reason to post freebie links as long as it's in the freestuff forum. This is was the original argument, I believe. Can't post a link anywhere except there. 

It seems you're saying your push will be to keep the new change in. Thank you for not being biased. You must have a marketing degree or getting some cool marketing experience for polishing up with a nice dance of words to say "nothing will be changed."

Death at Midnight,

It is about the Freestuff forum but I was using The Product Showcase forum as an example. Please re read:)

No the original arguement was about posting freebie links other than the ones from our Freestuff area.  

My "push" will be to allow freestuff links OTHER than the ones from our Freestuff area but they would need to be posted in the Freestuff area of course. 

And NO I have no marketing degree. I speak from my heart and head, thats it:) Thanks though.

Khai,

Why do you "give up"?

We should have one centralized place for freebie links if our decision comes tomorrow to allow all freebie links so not sure why that would be a problem?  Didn't you say you wanted to post a link to a freebie at Sixus1's site in the Freestuff forum? If so then what I am proposing would be exactly what you asked me about? So now I'm confused. 

Quote -
Acadia,

I will say that I can't see posting the freebie links in the other forums now that we have a freestuff forum. My push will be to allow any linking to freestuff items in the Renderosity Freestuff forum. Just as the Product showcase is for all commercial posts, I see the Freestuff forum being for all freestuff links.

But what about threads where someone is looking for something in particular?  Sometimes they ask for freebies  only and sometimes the request is for either or it's not specified. What are those of us who reply to help supposed to do?  Find the item and because it' happens to be a  "freebie", go and create a thread in the Free Stuff Forum  with the link, then go back to the person's thread  in the Poser Forum and reply with a link to the thread we created in the Free Stuff Forum?! That's just plain nonsense if that's what is going to be suggested that we do.

Then there is the for sale items. Currently the only ones banned from posting links to for sale items are merchants advertising their own wares, in those cases they have to post in the Product Showcase Forum, but none of the rest of us have to when directing people to items or to sales.

The Product Showcase is for all commercial posts made by the merchant selling those products.   We the non merchant members can post links to for sale items in the Poser Forum in order to point people to items they are seeking, or to give the heads up on a great sale taking place. I know I for one take advantage of sales because Poser is an expensive hobby, and I know that many times if it weren't for someone posting a link to a sale I would have missed out!

Why is the Free Stuff Forum going to be different and require everyone to post freebie links in there regardless of whether the freebie is their own or not? The ban of posting free stuff links in other forums is not only for the freebie creator (as it is in the Product Showcase Forum), but for all members. That's just not right.

You want to ban the posting of all freebie links in the Poser Forum and make it so that they can only be posted in the Free Stuff Forum.  Are we then to conclude that all commercial links regardless of who makes them are to now be made in the Product Showcase Forum?

If that is the case then any and all posts in the Poser Forum where someone is looking for something will go unanswered, because I for one am not going to go Forum to Forum creating threads so I can go back and link the person to a freebie (or commercial) link  that I created in another forum to answer their question. 

lIn addition, people won't know where to make their posts so they will be posting multiple threads just to cover their basis if the item is a wish, a freebie or a commercial item:

1. Freebie Forum

2. Product Showcase Forum

3. Wishlist Forum  with a possible mention in the 3D Modelling Forum because many posters there don't read the Withlist or  Product Showcase Forum, because they are too busy modelling.

I'm sorry if I'm being difficult where this issue is concerned, but banning the posting of all freebie links in any forum other than the Free Stuff Forum, is a really, really, really badly thought out idea and it's only going to

EDIT: Even sites like Daz and Poser Pros allow people to post freebie links and commercial links in their forum threads in order to fasciliate helping fellow members. They may have a specific forum for freebies, but that is only for people advising those of nice freebies, advertising their own freebies, or people asking for a specific freebie.  Posts with links to freebie and commercial items are still allowed in the other forums in order to help other members.

It sounds to me like Renderosity is trying to ban all posting of freebie links, even those in threads that are in answer to someone's generic question.

Quote - I will say that I can't see posting the freebie links in the other forums now that we have a freestuff forum. My push will be to allow any linking to freestuff items in the Renderosity Freestuff forum. Just as the Product showcase is for all commercial posts, I see the Freestuff forum being for all freestuff links.

Just what we needed, digging through tons of posts in the FreeStuff Forum to find free stuff pertinent to our needs. Who wants to wade through posts for Max, Bryce, Carrara, Paint Shop Pro or whatever to find the Poser items, or vice versa..,

That was the reason applications specific forums were created in the first place. It's a grand idea, but impractical at best and about as necessary as a left handed compass. We got along just fine without it for all these years.

Wouldn't be EASIER, and MORE HELPFUL to post a STICKIED TOPIC on each individual forum (IE: Poser) That said "FREEBIES".?

In that sticky Direct links to the threads in the Freebies Section so members can find them?
OR --IF possible: A mini-forum "POSER-FREEBIES" for example?

There has got to be some way to do this so EVERYTHING is not completely screwed up.  Sounds like we're reinventing the wheel, but maybe we just need a new tire on an old wheel?

Stacey,  you talk about "consistency" across the site, then be consistent.

Have a Free Stuff Forum, but have the same rules as in the Product Showcase Forum.

That will  mean  continuing to allow members to  post links to sales and found freebies in the Poser Forum etc.  This would then leave  the Free Stuff  Forum for those who create the items to advertise their creations, regardless of whether those creations are here in the Renderosity Free Stuff area or not. It can also combine what the Wishing Well does for the MP and that is to provide a place for people to put in requests for specific free items.

This would be consistency.

EDIT: Sorry for the typos, I see my dyslexia is coming across loud and clear tonight :(

and Arcadia puts exactly what I want to say.

I still don't think your solution is totally thought out. What happens in the middle of a thread when a link is posted due to the discussion going on at that point in time? If it was a direct request for an item, fine, post the request in the freebie forum. As the staff well knows thread subject changes during the responses. Interesting, no?

Acadia, I think you are really stretching what I said.
I DID say like the Product Showcase forum. EXACTLY like that is what I meant. That is Consistent.  You are really confusing me by the types of things you are bringing up. IF someone is ADVERTISING a freebie item THEN it should go in the Freestuff forum. If they want FEEDBACK or to post things they would like to find or see in regards to a specific freebie item it would go in the Freestuff forum. I'm talking about EXACTLY the same concept as the Product showcase forum? I thought I made that clear but I guess I need to be extremely clear.. Its seems that a few got what I was saying right off the bat so I thought it was more clear than I guess it came across to some. 

As far as the different types of freestuff items, then we can require that in the subject title of a post. For instance "POSER - Freestuff Title" in the Freestuff Forum.  

I'm going to bed now because my head hurts from misunderstandings:(  I am trying to compromise here. The freestuff forum is a GREAT idea suggested by quite a few for quite a while and I don't want to lose sight of our wonderful freestuff providers here at Renderosity and the help this can give to them and to all.

But before I go let me make it crystal clear. I envision the Freestuff area working like the Product showcase except instead of "commercial" posts it will be "freebie" post but the same concept. CONSISTENT.

Thanks, I will post back tomorrow after I have my meeting and have updates available.

o.k., take two aspirin and call us in the morning good luck with the meeting. as I understand it now, we can post freestuff links in freestuff forum. we'lll wanna post links here, as this is the most popular forum. it will be hard to enforce any rules about no commercial posts in this forum, or no freestuff posts in this forum, but perhaps a gentle hand will make the transition easier for us.

Well we already have the rule about no commercial posts in this or any forum other than the Product Showcase forum, the same type rule would apply to freestuff providers "advertising" so to speak, their freestuff item in this forum or any other forum other than the Freestuff forum. It would need to be posted in the Freestuff forum same concept as the Product showcase forum. We move commercial posts to the Product showcase and the same would happen with freestuff posts. I don't mean helping someone or some of the examples you listed above, Acadia (before anyone starts misunderstanding me:)

Poserpros, Daz, RDNA...they all have specific forums you post Freestuff links in just as we now do. It would be no different what I am proposing, so I don't really understand the confusion or the "up in arms" attitude once I said we would be discussing tomorrow in our meeting. I said to hang tight and let us get this straight and only a few seem to hear that.

Okay I'm really going to sleep now cause my stress level is at an all time high, lol:)

Quote - Acadia, I think you are really stretching what I said. For what reason I guess only you know.

There are no ulterior motives or hidden meanings in my posts.  I say what I  mean and mean what I say. This issue is no different.

Quote - I DID say like the Product Showcase forum. EXACTLY like that is what I meant.

If that is what you meant, it wasn't what you said, or at least it didn't come out as you intended.

My earlier post was in response to the following statement of yours. I looked at the words and didn't read between lines or interpret anything beyond what was written:

Quote - I will say that I can't see posting the freebie links in the other forums now that we have a freestuff forum.

You said that you can't see posting freebie links in any other forums now that there is a free struff forum.  That seems pretty clear to me.

I see that as saying that there are no linking to any  freebie items except in the Free Stuff Forum.  Especially given the fact that  the examples I posted in an earlier post  included an example of a thread where someone was looking for shoes and I had found several links and posted them in response to their question and you didn't address that type of post as an exception to the new policy.

Quote - My push will be to allow any linking to freestuff items in the Renderosity Freestuff forum. Just as the Product showcase is for all commercial posts, I see the Freestuff forum being for all freestuff links. "

I thank you for that :)

You said that  Product Showcase Forum is for all commercial posts, but that's not the case.

The Product Showcase forum is a forum designed with the Merchants in mind: a place for them to post advertising their wares, and a place where we regular members can go and openly discuss those commercial items. However, as long as I can remember, the regular member has not been prohibited from posting commercial links in other forums. The no commercial links policy applies to Merchant's advertising their products, not to members helping other members locate items or tipping off of a sale.

So when you said that the Product Showcase Forum was for all commercial links, and you see the Free Stuff Forum being the same (especially when combined with your statement of not being able to see freebie links in any other forum than the Free Stuff Forum), I hope you can see how the impression was given that there would be absolutely no linking of any kind to freebies in any forum other than the Free Stuff Forum, under this new policy.

Saying *"I can't see posting freebie links in any other forums..." * is vastly different than saying that the only change happening is that like merchants, freebie creators can no longer advertise their freebies in the Poser Forum (et al), and that all member requests for freebie items now have to be placed in the Free Stuff Forum.  The first  is totaltarian and  seems to ban all  freebie links, while the other only bans some freebie linking (byt the creator), not all linking by everyone.

Quote - That is Consistent.

It is now that you have clarified what you meant.  I can be happy with the same rules as in the Product Showcase Forum, so long as access to non free stuff area  freebies is not  restricted like it was coming across much earlier in this thread.

Quote - You are really really really confusing me

LOL, You're confused?! Heck, you should be in my head while I tried  to organize my thoughts in a coherent manner to post and have them understood :)

Quote - The freestuff forum is a GREAT idea suggested by quite a few for quite a while and I don't want to lose sight of our wonderful freestuff providers here at Renderosity and the help this can give to them and to all.

Yes it is a good idea, but the initial way it was presented has shown that the concept needs more work in order to be effectively useful and not alienate either freebie providers (future merchants), or the community members.

Quote - I envision the Freestuff area working like the Product showcase except instead of "commercial" posts it will be "freebie" post but the same concept. CONSISTENT.

I don't mean to appear glib, but this whole thread and situation could have been prevented had that been said at the very onset when the Free Stuff Forum was created.

Thanks for taking the time to discuss this more indepth and having listened to what was said in this thread and seeing room for improvement.

At the onset of the Freestuff Forum being created it WAS meant just for Renderosity Freestuff items uploaded to our Freestuff area so I couldn't say that because that wasn't the intent. BUT after listening to some of the reasoning from some of the members about why they don't upload to that area then we planned a discussion to decide the best way to more forward.

I can see where my post might not have been clear to some. I forget sometimes how precise my wording needs to be or else it gets twisted up and unclear. I just start typing the way it is in my head and I guess since I know what I'm thinking I take it for granted that others will to:)  So its a learning thing for me to get it out in a way that my words can't be misconstrued or misunderstood so please bear with me.

As long as the discussion stays productive then we never mind listening and having an open mind.  It might not always change  but we are always open to discussion. The problem usually comes in when the discussions turn non productive and negative to the point there is middle ground or compromise to be had.

This discussion for the most part has been helpful and productive and its going to produce results that will hopefully be a good compromise for all.

Now I am truly going to sleep. I have an early day in the morning and I'm going to be beat:(

Quote - I just start typing the way it is in my head and I guess since I know what I'm thinking I take it for granted that others will to:)  So its a learning thing for me to get it out in a way that my words can't be misconstrued or misunderstood so please bear with me.

No worries. I do the same thing :)

Sleep well.