T/A-Bob

OK, now I see what you mean.

JasonD

I don't see why it couldn't be. Chris and I are still here, as are a lot of people. The site changed hands, but I haven't seen where IB has stepped in to make it any less of a hangout.

If IB is forcing changes to the nature of this site and how people use it, please let Chris and I know.

We promised ourselves that we would never ask for any "donations". This site is no charity. We would always offer up something in return (such as the Premium Member program or the merchandise sales) and we would never, ever threaten or punish anyone for not finding their wallets. We would never, ever hold a threat over everyone's heads that we would intentionally limit their viewing ability just because they didn't pay us money. That is not the right way to do things.

I think we all know that if we had, this thread would be exactly the same. NEW CZ28 vs. OLD CZ28...just about what Jason and Chris did rather than what IB did. We ran into it before when we added some ads to the non-logged in users (yes, we had to do that as well...but a few years ago). We got a lot of backlash for that then, too. There is no question we would have now...because in reality...we are now.

There are many reasons we came to the decision we did. Making ends meet were one of them.

We did! Premium Member program, CamaroZ28.Com merchandise. Maybe we weren't as pushy as we should have been with them, but it really wasn't our style.

I really cannot say I agree with that totally. If we had not made if public that the site was acquired, I don't quite believe that people would notice much difference. I haven't seen IB step into any content.

On this site when it was Chris and I?

Sure it works, just like commercials in radio and television, and ads in magazines and newspapers. It is what kept media available for decades. The difference is, internet advertising can be bypassed.

File sharing and using adblock have one thing in common (and I am sure not everyone will agree with me)...it is wrong. File sharing is giving away something that doesn't belong to you nor do you have the right to distribute, and running adblock denies a site owner the opportunity to receive revenue in exchange for the use of the web site. It is no different than sneaking into the movies or stealing cable.

So...what is the new, better way that works? Determine that and you will start a new revolution.

Thank you for the kind words, and even though I don't quite agree with how you are perceiving things, that doesn't make you wrong in the least. I just see it from a different angle. I understand. Thank you for being a friend here.

A few kids were generated because of this site, too. Although...I don't think anyone named them after Chris and I. Dan Burke does have kids named Jason and Christopher, but that is coincidence.

I don't think that I have heard anyone every say something about what (Chris and) I have done that carried so much weight and meaning. I myself never thought of it that way, but otherwise...I am speechless.

No one should be mad about it. That would be rather unfair to themselves. My question is...are people later going to regret letting their attitude toward the site change superficially and walk way when it might not have been as bad as they were perceiving it?

Amazing. Chris and I asked ourselves that same question at a few points over the past several years when times were tough. We also asked that question of ourselves when we were talking with IB. We have no doubts that we made the right decision, based on that question.

I disagree 100%. If Chris and I were still the owners of this site, the exact same would apply, there is no change in that regard. However, right now it would be closer to reality than you would feel comfortable with.

A very smart business person told me more than once, "You can make every business mistake in the book, but when you run out of money, they take you out of the game." This applies to everyone...you, me, Chris Frezza, IB, Facebook, GM, Apple...

Above all, I really don't see how things now are any different had Chris and I not let IB own the site. Just a few more ads for unregistered users and some technical problems that are being worked out. The same could easily apply no matter who owns the site. Again, I am not saying you are wrong, but I don't see what you see. Maybe I am too close to the situation to be able to.

I haven't followed my own advice. I have been asking people to help the site without giving examples as to how...so here's a suggestion list. I don't know how well it will be accepted, but I am just throwing a few thoughts out there.

• Be a positive contributor. Chris and I built this site, but we certainly didn't entirely build the community that lives on it. Help people out when they ask for it. Make posts that encourage people to continue to call this site "home" and not a place loaded with complaints.
• Talk about the site, tell people to join and be a part of it. That is how it started to begin with.
• Offer constructive criticism, not just negative feedback.
• Buy a CamaroZ28.Com shirt. Yes, I know..."too little, too late" but not really...it still shows people you are a part of the site, no matter who the money goes to.
• Listen to the CamaroZ28.Com Podcast! Your old pals Chris and I still do the show, every week, without fail. It's us...your buddies...talking about Camaro stuff. BUT...we also talk about non-Camaro stuff, too and offer enough of a variety for everyone. People are finding that we are just as good of talk show hosts as we are community admins. Have a listen, call in, be a part of it. If you haven't already, give it a try. All you need is a web browser (although there are other ways to listen, too). See the Podcast forum. Listen in, then talk about it, get people to listen as well, help it grow with the rest of the site.

I am sure there are other things but I just threw them together. But yeah...tune into the Podcast.

one wicked element

Jason, thank you for taking the time to reply to mine (and others) "venting" posts. Honestly, it helps to know that it's not going on deaf ears.

However, I think there will always be an difference on "shoulda/coulda/woulda". We the users, don't know the inner workings of the form, so our (or my) perception will always be different than yours. Ultimately, you guys made the decision that you felt was best for you and the forum. For us, all we know is the current state which currently includes random slowness and endless ads. It's quite a different change for us, and as creatures of habit, we're not taking it well.

I think the main point that upsets us is that this forum isn't different anymore. It's just like every other forum out there - just like IB wants it.