It is easy to "trash" others online....
 

...with no evidence whatsoever.

Unfortunately, this is how some people try to "beat" their competitors -- by spreading lies about them.

I have a particular example in mind, however I just want to talk about this in general without naming any names.

Online, it is EASY to accuse other people falsely of various things, without needing to provide evidence for it whatsoever. This is particularly true if these accusations come in private email, though they also occur on forums.

My general approach to this if I hear this kind of thing is to ask these questions....

• What is the evidence for these accusations?
• Does the source of this accusation have a motivation for spreading these accusations? For example, perhaps they are a competitor....
• Do you know the other side of the story, or have you just heard one side?

Just a few thoughts I wanted to share....

By the way, it is in order to prevent this kind of thing that we are the only NO INSULTS marketing forum online that I know of. I'm interested in FACTS and KNOWHOW, not accusations without basis.... These fly around like wild on other forums, but thankfully we have largely avoided them here at Sowpub....

- Dien Rice

Thank you Dien....that is why....
 

I will NOT post on some other boards.

As "seller" of items which can be purchased by readers of these posts....it has been "curious" to me (as a seller and poster) why board monitors on other "marketing" boards have allowed "attack" or "negative" posts against those who "sell" stuff.

It is THESE "sellers" who normally have more knowledge and info to offer than the "average" reader (that's why they are "selling" stuff)

So...if it is THESE sellers who add to the "Info-Quotient" of a board...why do the monitors jeopardize their "bread and butter"?....those who are responsible for building their boards?

I never will understand that one.

A couple years ago just ONE disgruntled customer was allowed to attack and harrass with his posts, one of the best marketing minds in the biz.

Apparently the guy had bought a product he was unhappy with and instead of returning th eproduct thru normal channels...decided to attack the seller...on MANY boards.

This caused the seller to STOP posting and readers on EVERY board missed out on this guys ideas for ever more.

Why the owners and monitors decided to leave these posts was beyond me...but that caused me to pull back also.

Not that I and others like me are so "great"...it's the reality that "I HAVE DONE THINGS OTHERS HAVEN'T"...and I believe people can learn from MY and other "doers" experiences.

Thanks Dien...for having a "No Attack" board. I know I will be stopping by more often.

Don Alm

> ...with no evidence whatsoever.

> Unfortunately, this is how some people try
> to "beat" their competitors -- by
> spreading lies about them.

> I have a particular example in mind, however
> I just want to talk about this in general
> without naming any names.

> Online, it is EASY to accuse other people
> falsely of various things, without needing
> to provide evidence for it whatsoever. This
> is particularly true if these accusations
> come in private email, though they also
> occur on forums.

> My general approach to this if I hear this
> kind of thing is to ask these questions....

> What is the evidence for these
> accusations?
> Does the source of this accusation have a
> motivation for spreading these accusations?
> For example, perhaps they are a
> competitor....
> Do you know the other side of the story,
> or have you just heard one side? Just a few
> thoughts I wanted to share....

> By the way, it is in order to prevent this
> kind of thing that we are the only NO
> INSULTS marketing forum online that I know
> of. I'm interested in FACTS and KNOWHOW, not
> accusations without basis.... These fly
> around like wild on other forums, but
> thankfully we have largely avoided them here
> at Sowpub....

> - Dien Rice




Some of my Unique Money Makers

The Golden Rule...
 

is one rule that everyone should go by. A "treat others like you would like to be treated" mindset will go a long way toward generating good will in the world we live in. (Unless you were a masochistic sicko!)

It's always OK to question, and even disagree at times. Just agree to disagree and keep it peaceful. There's already enough strife in the world that we can't control...let's do our best to be a positive influence in our little corner of the universe.

Be blessed,

JDB


37 Secret Money Making Strategies

Some things will never change...
 

Hi Dien and all,

Some of us know all too well the *sting* of the trashmongers.

Making yourself look good and your forum traffic skyrocket by creating controversy and strife only turns around to bite you in the a$$ in the end.

Paul "Never-Give-Up" Short

There are "Leaders" and there are "Followers" in..
 

every aspect of life and business.

My take on all this is probably a little Jaded, but please bare with me:

People want to *belong*. They crave to be a part of something... part of a group. Unfortunately, some people choose blindly to belong to a group started by a person who falsly inflates his/her image through the net.

In turn, they support their idol (Tyrant?) blindly. That's how the Idol gains power.

Sorta like a cult following.

But thankfully, there are those of us who have the common sense (Like Dien illustrates in his post) to weigh the facts and get both sides of the story before passing judgement.

People... most of the flames and trashing you see on the message boards are just modern examples of the old "Tarring and Feathering" or "Witch Hunts" of long ago.

Told you I was a bit Jaded ;-)

The Tarred and feathered Witch
Paul Short

Frequently it backfires on the jerks
 

I had to help an art archive owner deal with that very issue last week where one artist started flaming another artist's works and techniques in public. It was starting to turn to a nasty brawl and the archive owner asked me to step in and help calm things down.

In my long experience, you always come up as a winner if you're polite, don't retreat, and don't get angry. The other person eventually starts to look like a loopy jerk and everyone discounts anything they say.

It's particularly true when there's a big difference in percieved power in the two people. A powerful person (or corporation) giving a well-deserved slap to a person with almost no power always seems to get everyone up in arms. But a person with almost no power giving the same well-deserved slap to a corporation or person in power is cheered as a hero.

Someone once said that the pie-in-the-face is not intrinsically funny. If you take a starving child and push a pie into their face, you'll get lynched by the onlookers. Do it to Bill Gates and you'll get your 15 minutes of fame.

Anyway... in all the battles I've seen over the years, the polite ones come out ahead. Posts have a way of lingering on for years in search engines. You never know who will read that.

Hey Paul....
 

....welcome back

Your head above the parapet is valued

Regards

Andy

Re: Frequently it backfires on the jerks
 

Thankyou kindly Mel.

Just want everyone to know that I responded to Dien's post as one uho understands what it's like to be on the recieving end of the flames.

It's how I felt at the time and how I still feel now.

Your points are well taken and appreciated.

Respectfully,

Paul Short

Re: Hey Paul....
 

Hi Andy,

> ....welcome back

Been here all along my friend!

> Your head above the parapet is valued

Thankyou.

They say time heals all wounds, and rightfully so. They also say one can forgive but never forget... that is also true. Time to move on.

Paul