Comments on: People on Message Boards Can Be Scary

by: Suz

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:00:38 +0000

I’d say that as long as you’re follwoing the Forum’s stated rules and arn’t being spammy you’re just fine. The guy is probably one of those bitter people who troll the internet to make others feel bad.

by: Working Nomad

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 16:16:08 +0000

The guy is a jerk in my opinion! What you were doing is perfectly reasonable!

by: Sip

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:38:57 +0000

That guy is being an ass, I wouldn’t sweat it - then again, I doubt if I would post that I’m compiling data for a book/site whatever either.

You are putting the work into compiling the data into a site, maybe the guys just mad he didn’t think of it first

by: Kirsty

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:04:52 +0000

Ok good to know. I suspected he was just a wanker.

Lissie that’s pretty rotten… passing yourself off as an expert, taking information from the true experts and then packaging it into a product! Pretty cheeky.

Will I know what you mean. I think I’d made a couple posts previous to that one but nothing really contributing, always asking stuff. I could probably stand to contribute more and certainly will once I get the knowledge. I will certainly be linking to that forum because, besides the roaming packs of arseholes, it’s packed with amazingly helpful info.

by: Will

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:29:28 +0000

Meh…

On the one hand, I’d be a little offended if you came into my community whether virtual or real and started asking me and my neighbors to give you information and help before you had contributed in some significant way to said community. That’s not to say you hadn’t contributed on that forum, but the first post you mentioned was made a couple of days after registration…

On the other hand….It’s not like you’re compiling the information that they’re giving you (or that you could get anywhere for that matter….for free) and then selling that information. If the site will be similar to the London site, then it will clearly be a place that has clear and concise information that is FREE for the reader. As Webjourneyman said, the forum is making money off of what others write…seems a bit ironic that people are complaining about what you are doing. I can’t see investing energy in something I take a negative view on…it’s a waste, so my conclusion is that the complainers are jerks and not yours to worry about.

by: lissie

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:56:23 +0000

I depends I think I had a big run in with someone who was writing an ebook on how to write hubpages on both the hubpages forum and warriorforum. I was furious because the hubpages forums are great for getting dumb questions answered and I felt exploited because she asked dumb questions and then got responses from some of us then at the same time she was over at warriorforums saying she was writing an ebook as a hubpage expert!
I think what you did was fine because u were upfront which as others say: also u are developing a website not an info product so that others can see the info without paying upfront.
Also Id be a little bit wary about mentioning a website with Adsense on it if there are jerks on the forum - if you know what I mean

by: Webjourneyman

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:26:12 +0000

The person who runs the forums is making money from people writing there for free, is s/he evil?
That guy (the jerk) uses the forum to vent his arseholeness, he should be using a shrink for that, not a free forum.

by: Mike

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:53:46 +0000

There are a lot of weird people on that forum. Although I have had plenty of laughs by some posts. I also get ideas for posts reading through the forums. I have my signature in my url and I don’t think I have ever had a referral from that site. People really seem to think you have an ulterior motive. They should check out some internet marketing forums.

by: Frank

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:18:00 +0000

Totall agree with the above.
Legally you’re not doing anything wrong. You are not violating copyrights as long as you don’t copy the whole forum or longer excerpts from posts. Second, the money part. You are adding value by compiling freely available info and giving it a structure, so I don’t see why you shouldn’t earn some money from it. That’s what gidebook companies like Lonely Planet have been doing for ages.

by: Frank

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:58:18 +0000

I don’t think its anything to worry about. You’re consolidating the information and placing it into an easy-to-read format. Forums tend to be hit or miss in terms of helpfulness, and I’m convinced that there’s at least 2 or 3 people on any forum who’s sole purpose is to antagonize and make as many people as possible have a miserable experience.

by: matt

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:38:53 +0000

Hell yeah it’s ok to “hit up internet forums for information that [you] will eventually be using to earn money from”. You’re compiling information which people will pay a “fee” for. They’re not paying for that one specific bit of info from one specific forum. People will be paying you for the compilation of data as well as all of your blood, sweat, & tears you poured into the site.

by: Nicola

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:58:05 +0000

He’s being a jerk - he doesn’t have to help you if he doesn’t want to.