Yeah exactly :)

Nice initiative, however if you have time for it or can update it, I think you should add some checkboxes to question 3, 6 and 7 otherwise you will probably not be able to to use those questions for a lot.

I never make personal attacks and in cases where people can confuse what im saying as if it were, i have no problem explaining what i meant or apologize for the misunderstanding.

But Renderosity seriously have to stop rolling out these rules or at least be willing to undo them when the community react to them as they have done with the last one. I wrote a private message to you the moment i saw this rule, trying to convince you to undo it, as nothing good would come out of it. I know that this is not your decision alone, so im not blaming you.

Several members including myself have posted suggestions to things you could do, some which doesn't even cost you anything and we have also given you a lot of reasons why this rule is so bad as it is. You know my background if you have read the post in the vendor forum and have seen others with similar background, arguing for why this rule is not good, yet it is met with silence in form of no counter arguments or explanations to why you would enforce a rule which have such effect on your community as it have/had. From what i could make out of the responses i got, is that it seems that a lot of these rules or idea, is made by people with an economic background and as long as their numbers add up on paper, its assumed that it probably reflect the real world as well, which then result in these weird rules being made, which doesn't have a positive effect on anything, simply because the initial assumptions of how things are related doesn't reflect reality, and then the moderators are left to clean up the mess.

My bet is that this rule was primarily, because it was assumed that a lot of sales or customer disappeared through third party links or if you could simply get everything posted here on Renderosity it would boost your sales. The reason why this would be possible was due to the assumption that you have a very large amount of free content already and therefore it would be no problem convincing or "forcing" the freebie creators to agree to this rule. However this is of course just my guess, so i might be wrong. The virus thing was either a complete misunderstanding of how the internet works or simply a way of trying to make a stronger arguement of why this rule was needed. I tend to believe its the last, at least i hope so.

But the community quickly destroyed the virus argument and I also think that me and another vendor have made a very good argument for why you need the freebie creators, probably more than they need you.

So again its extremely important i think, that you are a lot more careful when adding these rules, how you present them, but most of all if the rule is bad and the community is really against them and you have no arguments to defend them, admit it and simply roll them back, end of story.

And as already suggested to you, make a community group and pass your ideas through them before simply applying them, lots of people here are dedicated members and would love to give you feedback, before you simply apply them to your forum.

If you make a rule and you really think its good, be ready to defend it with good arguments of why they are needed and don't simply repeat the initial arguments, when people have already made them invalid and if you have no good arguments, roll back the rule. But of course try to avoid to much of this, because its very confusing, but its better than keeping a rule in place that no one likes are not beneficial and that you can't defend why is needed.

hornet3d posted at 5:13PM Tue, 01 March 2016 - #4258445

@ 3D-Mobster.

A well chosen example and it really does make the point. The only thing I would add is that this has to be a company wide culture. The individual here has gone 'above and beyond' but that will not last long if a manager comes down hard for 'wasting his time', in their view at least. I know I have been there and left the company very shortly after.

I am sure there are still people here that would provide the same service here at Renderosity but they need to be given the space to work and the support to succeed. It baffles me why so many companies see making a good profit and good customer service as being mutually exclusive.

Agree, I don't know if he have gone above and beyond in what you should do, because this is their shop or face to the outside. Also as i said this is the founder of the company, so no one will come down on him :). But I think he is very much aware that the community is what makes his business go around and therefore cares to take the time to explain to them, when they have questions or there are misunderstandings etc. Think a lot of websites forget that a forum makes it possible to get very close to your customers, which can either be very positive or very negative depending on how you make use of it, but especially when this is your main contact point with your customers, its not something that you should look at lightly i think.

But what really like in his reply is that he doesn't try to act as if there ain't a problem or give the impression that nothing is wrong, he is very much is aware of the problem, but simply won't take the blame for it when he doesn't think its their fault and therefore give an explanation to why he hold that position and is being honest about it. Now this website doesn't have any rules as those found here, in regards to linking to competitors, free stuff etc. So they don't run into problems like Renderosity does with all these rules flying around.

I thought i would post an example of how I believe good communication is being done between a company and its community. This is from another forum, which i spend a lot of time on as well and have nothing to do with 3d. But simply to illustrate how they answer the community. This particular example is the owner of the company replying to a member in regards to a bug the member believes is with the company software. (I have replaced names, company name and product name from the example) But at least to me this is how you make a reasonable case for how and why things are as the are:

It's frustrating to be blamed for bugs in other people's software, and that specific iOS audio issue you referenced is the latest and strongest example of this. I am almost certain the bug is in either Safari or the iOS operating system. In this case, it doesn't matter what tool you use: anything at all that runs in Safari will be affected by the same bug. So I guess you can choose a different tool if you like, but you could easily run in to the same bug again, because the problem is in Safari or iOS, not our product.

I didn't even fix the bug, so I can't even take credit for that. It's impossible for us to fix problems in Apple's own software. All I did was found a crazy hack that seemed to work around the bug. So the bug is still there and Apple still need to fix it. Personally I regard this kind of hacking-around-bugs as beyond the call of duty - I'm sure there are companies out there who'd just say "we've reported it to Apple, hopefully iOS 10 fixes it" - but we go beyond that and try to work around (emphasis on work around - not fix) defects in other software we rely on where it's feasible to do so. Note it is not always feasible to do so. The fact this particular iOS bug is worked around pretty much amounts to luck.

Usually someone then blames us for relying on certain tools or libraries which have bugs, but all software has bugs. It's naive to think that if we switch to some other library or framework, everything will suddenly work perfectly. Common suggestions are things like: why not use Haxe? It could have bugs, and we could equally be screwed by its bugs. Why not use {insert library here}? If it's not developed by companies as large as Apple, Google, and Microsoft, it's probably even less reliable. Why not write native code? Operating systems have bugs, and graphics drivers have severe bugs - we have direct experience of that, and they are often far worse than the kind of issue we just dealt with on iOS. They tend to be of the class "all devices with this GPU crash on startup", and there is no diagnostic information whatsoever. In the past we've literally resorted to desperately guessing solutions over a period of days, then ultimately given up. That actually happened with our editor in the early days (it uses OpenGL to render the layout view). Eventually months later we got a tip out of the blue, and we finally managed to work around it. Hardly a reliable approach, but there's little else we can do when it's not our code that's broken.

I know this is super frustrating and when your things aren't working, you naturally look to us for support. However the nature of software development is everything - all platforms, frameworks, libraries - depend on a huge amount of third party code, and that code is as imperfect as everything else. It's implausible to expect any software company at all to magically fix everyone else's code. It affects everyone, regardless of their technology choices.

Now this thread goes on being discussed for another 11 pages and is still going, with people giving there view on this issue without it being locked etc. But hope everyone can see the difference in the approach, and the owner is not simply ignoring or not listening to the community, but give an explanation to why things are as they are. Now that forum is probably the best forum i have ever been on, so nothing bad to say about it. But the owner is handling all communication with the community as well being the main developer of their product. But still he spend a lot of time helping and getting involved and explain to the community if they request it.

Not going to say anything about this clip, but it does make you wonder, if something like this actually happens somewhere in the real world :P

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz-PtEJEaqY

Still think there is a good chance of Project E adding some fuel to the fire, seems like a very well made character that can take own the Genesis(es) head on, if the promotional images are true, which I see no reason to believe they ain't. There will most likely be made a lot of content for that one, i think. At least i see it as an addition or maybe even a replacement for V4 :D

It doesn't help matters that SM isn't even trying. Content Paradise is a wreck, neglected, and holds downloads for ransom. SM relies almost entirely on third party sites for advertising.

Content paradis is a bit of a wreck, but I kind of like it and could easily see how it could be improved so it would be a good site. But of course it would require a serious update/overhaul.

Did you know that as of yet, there are only 12 Pauline products on Content Paradise, and zero Paul products?

Im not suprised :D

Yeah there are some restrictions, no erotic/porno and you can't host a large number of free content for download, but doesn't say what is considered a large amount. But there is most likely some webhosting companies that allow any content and hosting of files etc. But again it all depends on what you need.

Also you can read this maybe that will be helpful as well: http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/internet/the-5-best-free-online-storage-services-3233766/

How much you need? Dropbox is quite good i think. Also you could just buy a domain for instant at One.com you can get 100 GB for £1.62 a month or 200 GB for 2.25 / month and 500 GB for 3.87..

but it is obvious that DAZ3d and SM are in "war" for the control of the software, Poser vs Daz studio.

This is actually good, because then they have to compete in features etc. Now if SM would also start to compete with characters it could be even better :D

Thought threads were close if they had personal attacks in them, non relevant and so on, not because it was simply decided that there is nothing else to discuss :) Think a better way to "end" a thread would be through reasonable and logic explanations, so it would have a natural ending instead.

Anyway going to be interesting to see, how this community develop.

You have no clue how hard we've tried. YES, we've expressed our concerns to tptb & but there comes a point when it's time to accept what you can't change. So, with that said, the community needs to move on. In order to do that, the negative comments needs to stop cause it's not helping. I think this thread is nearing it's end.

Ain't that just trying to refusing a fact? Clearly the community you want to move on agree with you on that point, but the negative feedback that is expressed just doesn't seem to agree with you in which direction it should move on to. If people doesn't express their concerns and feel as if they are ignored, there is not a lot of value left in the community, which you argue for is so important. We constantly hear arguments "We want people to be happy", "We are really trying", "We are listening", "We do it for you"...etc. Yet if you really believed that yourself and what you were doing actually resulted in that, how come so many people see it as being the complete opposite? At some point someone at Renderosity have to wonder, why your statement doesn't reflect reality?

I have asked several times and as you most likely know, most of my argumentation are not in the public forums, but in the vendor forum. Yet none of my questions or those of others have been answered, except either with new questions or simply by repeating the arguments that was put forward in the first place and are the ones that people don't agree with as either being beneficial or valid.

So fair enough that you want the community to move on, but Renderosity have done nothing for it to do so. Again its based on an illusion as if there is an unbreakable bond between you and the community and yet you do nothing to encourage it, except repeating the same statements mentioned above, that the community clearly doesn't share with you, due to you not listening to what they are saying.

And again the assumption that this "thread/topic" is over, might very well be, but keep hiding/ignoring the concerns from the community is not going to make it go away, people are complaining about lots of things, this was just another slap in the face to the community and the answers from what i can understand haven't changed. "If we all look the other way, it will go away".

Ill ask again for the third time, how is this rule beneficial for the community (Renderosity, vendors and members)?

Btw. Im not referring to you in particular 3dfineries as if you have to do it, as you probably already know, from reading my thread in the vendor forum. So i don't expect you to answer or having to defend it.

1. Do enough Poser users exist to support the need for another site/marketplace to take over for RDNA on the Poser side, since RDNA is seemingly phasing out their support of Poser with this merger?

Think there is enough Poser users. But I think you should try to ask yourself the same question a bit differently. Is it possible to make a new marketplace which can compete with the current ones? If you follow in the path or simply copy the already existing places there is most likely not. But if you can make a place which improve on the things that current users are not happy about with the current ones, will you have a chance?

2. Is this community ready for an entirely different approach to managing figure creation that could solve Poser’s need for a truly modern figure pair?

Not really sure what you mean by this, or at least i think it will be difficult to give you any good feedback with so few details. If you refer to if Poser is ready for new figures? I would say yes, I think for people making figures with the intend of competing with the current ones like V4, M4, Genesis etc. have a hard time, but if they could convince vendors or content creators to make stuff for them, they could have a very good chance of being popular. A way to do this or at least consider could be to offer this figure free of charge to the content creators and vendors, and if its a good model there is a chance they will start making content for it and therefore do the job or help make the character popular. But i think one of the big problems for character creators is that, they release a figure. But no one owns it or a able to make content for it, unless they buy it. But a vendor might not buy the figure for varies reasons. Which might not be very different from others customers, meaning I think the main reason a vendor would invest in a character is if they like it themself, and as a result of that will then make content for it. But it could also be for simply creating content for them, but if the figure is not popular enough it of course is not that attractive, so they won't buy it. So i think creating characters is a bit of a gamble, but one which can have a huge value if you can make it popular. So maybe an idea of simply offering it for free to vendors, meaning contacting varies ones and ask if they want it, might actually work.

**Um, No. It is all off-site linking to competitive sites. Not just in the free section but also in signatures & posts, so if you have a link your signature expect a message as soon as we can get to it. Additionally, offsite linking to other marketplaces or freestuff sites are not allowed within the forum, gallery, or forum signatures. For example: Links to competing stores like Daz3d.com, RuntimeDNA.com, etc are not allowed. However, links to non-competing stores like Etsy.com or Ebay.com are acceptable.

And please don't shoot the messengers. We're just doing our jobs by following the rules. Please & thank you.

Have a creative day!**

Don't worry i wont shoot anyone :D im just addressing the rule.

And i will make it perfectly clear to anyone, im not against Renderosity removing links, whether its signatures, competing or non competing links or any other type of link for that matter, if it contain or have been reported to contain viruses/malware and so forth they should remove it. Any company running a community should do that, so i have no problem with that. I also understand why Renderosity doesn't allow competing links to places like Daz3d etc, but it have nothing to do with preventing viruses, its for completely other reasons, so these things shouldn't be mixed together.

So my issue is aimed towards a specific addition to the rules of linking that i strongly disagree with for a lot of reasons, But those people and by far the most, that have added links and free content to people here on Renderosity completely free of charge, that a lot of you have benefitted from and enjoyed over the years, does not want or are trying to spread these things, But because a few incidents of people getting a virus from a link in the freebie forum, all these people are some how being accused or pointed out as if they are the main problem here and simply by removing ALL their links the problem can be helped.

But the fact is that you can get a virus from any link, regardless of the place its posted, if you click a link without protecting yourself or using your own judgement when downloading something, there is a chance of you getting a virus. A person spreading these things might have posted in the freebie section, because its the most obvious place to post it, but they will post it regardless of whether Renderosity want it or not, and should it be removed or not have the effect that they want, nothing prevent them from posting it in another forum with another topic, that won't be removed before its to late.

Its impossible to look at a website or something you download whether it contains a virus or not, therefore specialized software have been developed and continues to be so in other to better analyze and remove these things for you.

But if a person is defending this rule, because they think it will increase their security, they are simply being mislead by Renderosity argument, which can potential be very harmful, because such people might assume that due to this rule, any link found on this website is save and therefore don't use there own judgement or software to protect them self.

Tips for protecting your computer from viruses by Microsoft

Protecting your computer from viruses and other threats isn't difficult, but you have to be diligent. Here are some actions you can take:

Install an antivirus program. Installing an antivirus program and keeping it up to date can help defend your computer against viruses. Antivirus programs scan for viruses trying to get into your email, operating system, or files. New viruses appear daily, so set your antivirus software to install updates automatically.

Don't open email attachments unless you're expecting them. Many viruses are attached to email messages and will spread as soon as you open the email attachment. It's best not to open any attachment unless it's something you're expecting. For more information, see When to trust an email message.

Keep your computer updated. Microsoft releases security updates that can help protect your computer. Make sure that Windows receives these updates by turning on Windows automatic updating. For more information, see Turn automatic updating on or off.

Use a firewall.‌ Windows Firewall (or any other firewall) can help alert you to suspicious activity if a virus or worm attempts to connect to your computer. It can also block viruses, worms, and hackers from attempting to download potentially harmful programs to your computer.

Use your browser's privacy settings. Being aware of how websites might use your private information is important to help prevent fraud and identity theft. If you're using Internet Explorer, you can adjust your Privacy settings or restore the default settings whenever you want. For details, see Change Internet Explorer 9 privacy settings.

Use a pop-up blocker with your browser. Pop-up windows are small browser windows that appear on top of the website you're viewing. Although most are created by advertisers, they can also contain malicious or unsafe code. A pop-up blocker can prevent some or all of these windows from appearing.

The Pop-up Blocker feature in Internet Explorer is turned on by default. To learn more about changing its settings or turning it on and off, see Change Internet Explorer 9 privacy settings.

Turn on User Account Control (UAC). When changes are going to be made to your computer that require administrator-level permission, UAC notifies you and gives you the opportunity to approve the change. UAC can help keep viruses from making unwanted changes. To learn more about turning on UAC and adjusting the settings, see Turn User Account Control on or off.