And the "One who shall not be named" isn't the only one who is contributing to the problem. There are a number of other folks who seem to enjoy poking the bear, and have in fact started posts just for the purpose of getting him riled up. I know we come here for the purpose of camaraderie, and part of that is having a good laugh. But when you're crying about the bear crap and then poking him to watch him crap some more, then who really needs to grow up?

Other forums are mentioned. I don't post anything remotely technical on here any more. As PeteM says, it's not any different than it ever was; there has always been "the one" who stirs the pot. I just don't think it was ever as frustratingly annoyingly dumb (or smart) as "this one" who has serious memory functions which makes me doubt anything typed.

If it went back to the old way, I would partake more. Right now,,,, meh. ICBA.

Ummm, Cameron 

Where it this new bar located ?

(Everything else he said)

Thorty nailed it. It drives traffic. But not in a good way IMO. This forum at one point was about the community, but it is now about site promotion. MiniMania gets traffic by being on the top of search engines like Google. Is that a bad thing? Not in the slightest. In fact, I would do the same thing. But not to the detriment of the community.I like the analogy of the drunk in Wal-Mart. I honestly referred to it as "Would you want to go to a bar with a loud drunk guy that's calling everyone names and throwing S*** all over the place, and the owner sits back and watches him grabbing all over your wife while the patrons all beg him to kick the guy out, or would you rather go to the new bar that attracts all the hot girls, has the nice pool tables, and the owner (and his managers) don't put up with people screwing with the patrons?" I know where I'd go...

 

I'm positive they pay for search engine optimization, and nothing beats high traffic from unique visitors, and user created content with all the buzzwords. That's exactly how sites like Google now optimize searches. My wife used to do it for a living.

If you don't believe me, just look at MiniMania's ridiculous price-match policy.

 

We may choose not to price match in some cases; here are some reasons why:

"The item is not found within the first 10 items listed on major search engine results."

The truth is all this bull produces traffic for the site which MM is not going to turn away regardless of what we think. 

Has "it" been banned?

I too have tried to ignore. I don't mind so much personal attacks and digs directed at me, I know they're trying to get a reaction. But when other members are targeted, like a black hole, I get sucked back in. 

Jemal says "He's doing better, let's give him a chance ".

Really? Are you reading the same posts that the rest of us are?

I enjoy almost all posts. Some  members only ask questions. It's wonderful to see different perspectives working on resolving a problem. Some members are seasoned, enjoy answering with solutions.

Our "hobby" if you can call it that is kind of like and aging infrastructure. Mostly middle-aged to older well traveled roads. Not many "new roads" being built. 

Death is inevitable. We'll continue to lose members as we all age.

But by not providing a safe place to interact with like minded people, allowing an individual to ride roughshod over others, driving them away. We all need air and water to live. If they become toxic we'd be forced to look elsewhere.

Not ready to trade this in on a new model, but, not gonna lie, I tire of wrenching on the forum. A new model looks better all the time.

I very tired tonight, hope it made a little sense.

It is really sad that people like Boison are allowed to ruin the experience for many people here. I joined not that long ago (2011) and since the beginning I was welcomed by many of the members here who offered me their help. I was lucky enough to be able to meet some of them (DK Lawson, Steve CTR) in person. Over the last year, some of the threads have been deliverately derrailed by this character. It has become so annoying that, much like Ve9aa, I never read anything that bears his name. Whenever I have a question, I directly contact those (off board) that have genuinely helped me in the past. Ignoring him would be ideal, but how can you do that when he messes up with somebody elses thread? I know that I am probably missing a lot of good advise from the great people here.

I never met Robin, but I totally understand his frustration with Boison for being such a jerk. He would be very happy to hear that the troll has been definitvely banned from this forum,

cheers,

Abel

There's 2

very interesting post, ve9aa, because I've been finding myself thinking the same way: I now check the author of each thread before I open it, if "robster", or "boison" is the author I skip it.

When reading a thread, I now find myself checking the author of each post, before I bother to read that, because his ridiculous nonsense is so disrupting and that so many feel the need to respond in kind to every one of his irritating posts drives the threads off of the rails.

It would be nice to say, "everyone just ignore him", but that doesn't work because then folks who are new here will be confused by the things that he writes, and there is always someone who feels the need to say something in reply, each time.

A troll is a person who delights in causing disruption, and the bigger the response they get the more it serves their ends.

Result: I have been thinking more and more about not coming here anymore. But there is so much that I learn from the constructive folks who post here all of the time, I keep coming back and hoping robster/boison either gets a clue, shuts the hell up or just simply goes away.

Norm

Thirteen years I have been here.  Others even longer than I.  99.9% of the members here have been civil or kind, or VERY kind to me in some way or another. (zip-tph_RIP Robin), Big Al, Martin, Keith/DEb...other Montreal Members, WeirdEh! (there are many),  I like to think I have been the same, made someone laugh or offered some electronic advice on occasion. 

I used to REALLY LOVE coming here, often every day.  Now I only come here to see if Steve/CTR, jeg, cupcake, SXS, malsal, meb,mur, alex, BigAl (etc.)or one of the "regulars" has posted something and I will read as far as I can until someone who shall not be named gets into the action, then I may as well close the thread.

I'll be the first to admit I don't buy very much from mm........Well, I don't buy a lot from anyone. I drive the Mini less and less every year so repairs are minimal.

I have spent a few hundred dollars. (and TOO much on UPS fees)

I am sure many here have spent thousands.

When Jemal says "ignore him", ya know- that doesn't work for me anymore.  You know who with several user names has ruined this forum for me.  I don't get into it with him, as I know better. 

If you cared about your business like I HOPE you do, you would ban this particular person and make it clear they are not wanted back.

It looks BAD for your business.  Part of your buisness, like it or not, is this free forum !

Would WALMART tell you to ignore the dope addict drunk roaming the hallways slobbering all over people? I think not.

Why should 99.9% of us be told to ignore him?

How much business have you lost?

How much more WILL you lose if you allow this to continue?

I am only one very patient guy in Canada who barely ever buys anything (admittedly), but you have many many more in the USA and elsewhere that share my thoughts.

For many years (13) I have told locals & other people in the USA, Canada, and even Europe when I have been there, to buy from MM as they have a great forum, lots of helpful users, good staff etc. so I am sure I have put $$ into your pockets in an indirect kind of way. ayment for allowing me so many posts over the years and also good staff,parts, nice friendly users,. etc.  I don't know if my opinion is worth anything anymore, but you can probably be assured that I will think twice about recommending your business in the future.  I am not threatening.....it's just common sense.  Who would recommend a certain WALMART with a drunk cruising the hallways of the Toy Section?

Think about it.

Please.