That's wonderful to hear. I feel much better about how things may go now, and apologise for my confrontive behavior before.

If someone gets the names of all the infrigned artists, they could get together and file a lawsuit for damages.

Understood, Sir. ;)

"Seems to me that they can't win no matter what they do." Yes, they can. They just can't win as long as they keep pretending to listen, implementing retroactive policies with queestionable justifications, and operating unprofessionally.

Jeff, use the IM's, that's what they're there for, jeez. ;) "Shippable merchants should not have access to the merchant forum and we will correct it this week." Whynot? The delivery method of someone's products has jack (Sorry, Jack) to do with their current or potential integrity as far as betraying site secrets or behaving themselves in the merchant's forum. Plus, it's obvious from experience that several people were not lacking in integrity or honesty- Lady Silver Mage, for one. To vaguely imply otherwise is irresponsible at best, and slanderous at worst. There was actually both sides of the coin happening...the discussion.." In the mod forum or with the actual merchants? "... was conduct and owning a store." Two seperate topics, right? "The decision was made that if you were an owner of a store, then you probably should not have access to this forum for all the reasons mentioned earlier...confidential information, competition, etc." Great. Just come right out and say you will tolerate no competiton on site and will do whatever it takes to elimenate competitors. Just be honest about it, for godssake. "It was implemented hastily without looking at all sides." Usually when people admit a mistake, it's because they are trying to correct it. "If you were removed from the forum, it was most likely because you were an owner/manager of an online store." Again, vague accusation with the potential to be interpreted as slander and charachter defamation. "I think more than anything we were reacting to fears. We had good intentions just the wrong actions." So did a lot of former business owners flipping burgers. If you want peopel to trust and believe in this place, do sometthong that proves you deserve it. I haven't seen anything lately. "When we really looked at the core of these issues, it was more about owners and their potential conduct...not admins or managers of other sites but owners of others sites and misusing our marketplace, tools, and communications for their own benefits." I'll remember that, and so will others. If you even think of touching admins or managers of other sites who are not owners, prepare to get hit. (This is assuming that all the merchants removed were site owners.) "Those merchants removed were removed for the wrong reasons. We made a mistake and trying to correct it." Prove it. If it's a mistake, undo it. Otherwise, quit blowing hot air. "We appreciate all members giving their input has made a difference." We'll see. I don't know why I post in this, other than the fact that I hate to see people get manipulated over and over. Besides, there's the fascination of a train wreck. Also, if you actually listen to what I and others are saying, you'd realise that i's the ones you call enemy who give teh best advice. If you want to have a successful business, do the following- 1. Be upfront 2. Be accountable 3. Say what you mean and mean what you say. ....it's a good start.

Oh, all right! I'll bite. "-We acted hastily in the lock out of digital merchants in the merchant forum. The issue was more about conduct in the forum and we should have created a merchant code of conduct instead of removing merchants. Although it does not help the situation currently with those removed, we do offer our apologies for the implementation of this process." We jumped the gun, got mad, and threw people out. If it was you, too bad, so sad, bye bye. Sorry. "-Only digital merchants should have access to this forum. We found a bug in our programming once we made server changes and have found that shippable merchants have access as well. We will change this back and only digital merchants will have access." What's a digital merchant as opposed to a shippable merchant, and isn't a merchant a merchant? "If digital merchants are known or become known competitors, then we may ask those to sign a contract regarding this." What on earth does that mean? What kind of contract regarding what? A non-competition agreement? A non disclosure agreement of all this top secret information? What about a plain old contract like the kind people should be getting before they submit anything to sell here?

.

Hmmm...

I'm sorry, did you day diving in entrails? 8P

What about a contract? What about a contract? What about a contract? What about a contract? What ab......

I am pointing out the fact that my well worded points about legitimate legal concerns were parried with an emotionally based response, (Why do you hate us?) inteneded to cloud the matter by causing distraction and argument. I refuse to be party to such tactics, which have been used repeatedly since in this thread. I merely reiterate my earlier points. Business equals disclosure equals legal procedure equals accountability equals professionalism. Period. You haven't addressed one point in a direct manner, Tim. Why are you wasting your breath and our time?

Told you. Don't air your dirty laundry if you don't want people to go "what's that smell?" Now is there going to be some actual communication and acknowledgement of the valid concerns raised?

Who, IB? (Don't say it out loud if you aren't prepared to tell.)

"Renderosity IS the FLAGSHIP of this Community and it really needs to start having a direction and a captain who can guide it through the rough waters and storms." And a standardized, legal brokerage contract, a set guideline, and open and honest accountability of pracitces.

Excellent points on all counts, Cheryle, btw. 8)