[Alex]

I just recently received this feedback from a user on HowardForums. What do you think about it?

"Ok, well, since you asked, I'll tell you that its pretty, but totally uneccesary.

There's nothing you can offer there that isn't already being offered on HowardForums. Having more than one site like this is actually a bad thing, because it divides the useful sources of information.

Right now, if I have a T-mo question, I ask in HoFo and get answers. If I see a question I know the answer to, I'll post a response.
But if there are several sites like this, unless I post my question in ALL of them, its less likely that the person with my answer will see it, or that I'll be able to answer someone else's question (since I may not see it unless I regularly waste my time perusing EVERY cell phone related message board)...

...no no, I see more bad than good coming from this site."

[chokaay]

Well, everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. I would say that this is his opinion. I personally think that he's wrong.


EDIT: T-mobileSignal is different than HoFo for a number of reasons. T-Mobile Signal acts sort of like a t-mobile subset of HoFo, thus everyone here has some common link to T-mo, (and also probably was invited or referred by a friend or acquaintance).

Because of this, it feels more like a family instead of a bunch of strangers that just happen to be in the same forum. This eliminates much of the hostile and rude behavior on HoFo, that leads to a few posters (who think they are "all that") dominating the majority who are "quieter". It also allows for people to be more active and participate in the forum more equally, instead of being intimidated or worried about being flamed. This means questions tend to get BETTER quality and more variety of answers than from HoFo (unless when I'm answering the question, of course... then the quality is ALWAYS GOOD ). The Mods on this forum seem much more "even-handed" and fair compared to HoFo mods too (although that may be because there's no one that's really causing any trouble... yet). This forum seems much more organized than HoFo too (although a lot of that has to do with the membership size of the forum).

So basically, yes, HoFo is a place that tries to be everything to everyone (and is OK for how many different people and topics and carriers and phone manufacturers it has to cater to), and T-mobile Signal is a place that specializes in one particular subset of that population (and does it VERY well so far IMO).

[Alex]

I believe he is completely and utterly wrong (I may be bias).

1. Howard Forums is completely cluttered and difficult to navigate due to the bombardment of advertisements.
2. Howard Forums moderators are supposedly quite strict and power hungry so I've heard.
3. T-MobileSignal is in its infancy stage. There will be several features to come but only after it's users have confirmed that the features are actually useful.
4. The Admin (me) actually converses with T-MobileSignal members on a daily basis. After all, it's a tight-knit community.
5. T-MobileSignal concentrates on T-Mobile alone and therefore will have more information related to T-Mobile than any other website.
6. If he is right, how could SprintUsers be so successful?
7. The Admin caters to his members rather than his advertisers.

That's all I can come up with for now (please don't take offense...these are my opinions only)...

[chokaay]

Originally Posted by Admin

I believe he is completely and utterly wrong (I may be bias).

1. Howard Forums is completely cluttered and difficult to navigate due to the bombardment of advertisements.
2. Howard Forums moderators are supposedly quite strict and power hungry so I've heard.
3. T-MobileSignal is in its infancy stage. There will be several features to come but only after it's users have confirmed that the features are actually useful.
4. The Admin (me) actually converses with T-MobileSignal members on a daily basis. After all, it's a tight-knit community.
5. T-MobileSignal concentrates on T-Mobile alone and therefore will have more information related to T-Mobile than any other website.
6. If he is right, how could SprintUsers be so successful?
7. The Admin caters to his members rather than his advertisers.

That's all I can come up with for now (please don't take offense...these are my opinions only)...

Well, basically you just paraphrased mostly what I just PMed you about... guess you don't need to read your PM now!

[greenblood]

currently hofo has some problems
one of them is talking banner, this is annoying
another is several informative t-mo members get banned by cingular
forum mods, and they are super mods, they just abuse the right and favorism, if you say something against cingular, you're likely getting in trouble

[chokaay]

Originally Posted by greenblood

currently hofo has some problems
one of them is talking banner, this is annoying

NO KIDDING!!! Every 4th time or so when I reload the page it's always "Congratulations! You have won 2 FREE IPOD NANOS!" (Or sometimes substitute this with "an XBOX 360!".) The forum mods' advice is if we don't want to see (or hear) the ads, then pay for a Premium Membership.

Originally Posted by greenblood

another is several informative t-mo members get banned by cingular
forum mods, and they are super mods, they just abuse the right and favorism, if you say something against cingular, you're likely getting in trouble

Yup, I've seen it happen to a BUNCH of people, and had it done to me temporarily too... not for saying anything against Cingular per se (since I always try and be fair and P.C. in my posts), but because I used 3 x "LOLUP" smileys in my post instead of either 4 x "LOL", 3 x "LOLUP" + 3 x "LOL" (alternating), 5 x "LOLUP", or 4 x "LOLUP" smileys. I got banned, but the other pro-Cingular users of smileys didn't (wonder why).

Seriously... Cingular Mods will BAN you if you use TOO MANY or TOO FEW smileys in your post!

[Alex]

That seems quite petty.

How about I make a few promises right now.

1. I will never, ever have annoying "You have won a free iPod" advertisements. They drive me NUTS!
2. I will never, ever throw you off a forum for expressing your opinion as long as you are mature about it. I believe a healthy debate is always great but name calling and just being a jerk is not cool.

[darkjedi]

Did any truly expect a hofo hard core member to support the creation of any site that might lead to some detrimental backlash against hofo?

Such thoughts are inexcusable I suppose. Long live this site and its freedom to express your opinion without being bombarded by PM messages from mods who are unhappy about you expressing negative opinion about their precious att.

[darkjedi]

Originally Posted by chokaay

NO KIDDING!!! Every 4th time or so when I reload the page it's always "Congratulations! You have won 2 FREE IPOD NANOS!" (Or sometimes substitute this with "an XBOX 360!".) The forum mods' advice is if we don't want to see (or hear) the ads, then pay for a Premium Membership.



Yup, I've seen it happen to a BUNCH of people, and had it done to me temporarily too... not for saying anything against Cingular per se (since I always try and be fair and P.C. in my posts), but because I used 3 x "LOLUP" smileys in my post instead of either 4 x "LOL", 3 x "LOLUP" + 3 x "LOL" (alternating), 5 x "LOLUP", or 4 x "LOLUP" smileys. I got banned, but the other pro-Cingular users of smileys didn't (wonder why).

Seriously... Cingular Mods will BAN you if you use TOO MANY or TOO FEW smileys in your post!

Really chokaay, they will ban you for that? Remember I am responsible for those smiley faces!!!

[chokaay]

Originally Posted by darkjedi

Did any truly expect a hofo hard core member to support the creation of any site that might lead to some detrimental backlash against hofo?

Such thoughts are inexcusable I suppose. Long live this site and its freedom to express your opinion without being bombarded by PM messages from mods who are unhappy about you expressing negative opinion about their precious att.

They actually PMed you about it? They just banned me for 3 days without a word. I mean, at least give a warning BEFORE you ban someone, or explain WHY they are being banned... is that too much to ask??? Sheesh... some people...