I propose that APC, in the goal of providing the best service to it's members, implement the following:
1) As a term of use of this forum, members agree to hold the APC owner(s)blameless for the content of any and all posts by forum members. I feel the threat (real or imagined) of lawsuits against the APC forum owners is a hinderance to the free exchange of information, opinions and ideas. The owners are providing a free service of great value to the aquatic gardening community and should not have to be concerned that providing this service will at any time create a liability for them.
2) As a condition of sponsorship, set standards for those sponsors as a condition of their sponsorship, further that a system of review be implemented to assess a sponsors compliance with those standards and allow for the cancellation of those sponsors who fail to meet those standards. I realize that sponsorship helps to offset the costs of running this forum, but at the same time, sponsors are getting extremely targeted advertising at a relatively low cost compared to what other forms of advertising available to them cost.
3) A merchant review section be implemented allowing a fair and honest evaluation of a merchants service and reliability. It should be a moderated forum to allow the administrators to read what is to be posted, and if neccessary, speak with the customer and the vendor to ascertain if it is a legimate review. Sponsors as a term of their sponsorship would agree to have their companies publicy reviewed, whether positive or negative, with the opportunity to present a rebuttal if neccesary.
4) Sponsors should limit their advertising endeavors on APC to their respective forums. This should include the elimination of any advertisements or links to their commercial websites in their signatures. Sponsors (some) seem to be less involved in this forum as a true partcipant in the discussions and interested only in promoting their commercial interests, with an occasional post that seems more focused on getting a reference to their business involved, whether by "have one of those, contact me" or simply by keeping their signature out there in many threads without actually contributing anything to the discussion.
Just my thoughts ....
1) As a term of use of this forum, members agree to hold the APC owner(s)blameless for the content of any and all posts by forum members. I feel the threat (real or imagined) of lawsuits against the APC forum owners is a hinderance to the free exchange of information, opinions and ideas. The owners are providing a free service of great value to the aquatic gardening community and should not have to be concerned that providing this service will at any time create a liability for them.
2) As a condition of sponsorship, set standards for those sponsors as a condition of their sponsorship, further that a system of review be implemented to assess a sponsors compliance with those standards and allow for the cancellation of those sponsors who fail to meet those standards. I realize that sponsorship helps to offset the costs of running this forum, but at the same time, sponsors are getting extremely targeted advertising at a relatively low cost compared to what other forms of advertising available to them cost.
3) A merchant review section be implemented allowing a fair and honest evaluation of a merchants service and reliability. It should be a moderated forum to allow the administrators to read what is to be posted, and if neccessary, speak with the customer and the vendor to ascertain if it is a legimate review. Sponsors as a term of their sponsorship would agree to have their companies publicy reviewed, whether positive or negative, with the opportunity to present a rebuttal if neccesary.
4) Sponsors should limit their advertising endeavors on APC to their respective forums. This should include the elimination of any advertisements or links to their commercial websites in their signatures. Sponsors (some) seem to be less involved in this forum as a true partcipant in the discussions and interested only in promoting their commercial interests, with an occasional post that seems more focused on getting a reference to their business involved, whether by "have one of those, contact me" or simply by keeping their signature out there in many threads without actually contributing anything to the discussion.
Just my thoughts ....