Alain,
I am frustrated that I am either not clear enough, persuasive enough or eloquent enough to explain what "open" in OPF means. To me it means that once you realize you have information to help someone and/or you are asked, you should without question do so.
If one has scruples, one can't be a thief, if one can't stand the site of blood, one is not a surgeon and for sure a whore can't refuse to remove her panties! That's the way life is! Here it is much less unpleasant. All we have to do is be generous.
Let's recall what we said.
Alain Briot said:
Alain Briot
Moderator
Hi Joe,
I think you have to look at your marketing as a system, and not look only (or first) at each individual part. Asher's comments are very good. Personally, I see a lot on your web site that I would change, but this is because my approach is very different from yours.
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Alain, Could you suggest the top three things you might change? Asher
Alain Briot said:
I need more information, essentially regarding the fundamental approach for Joe's business, goals, etc. All I am saying is if this was my business, I would do things very differently. I have also helped others in similar businesses and they have been successful doing it very differently. However, I am not here to impose my views which is what I feel I would be doing if I was to list everything I don't think work.
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Joe Schiavo said:
1. thank you again for your candid advice.
2. as for suggestions and things to change: we welcome ideas and suggestions. we take no offense to any constructive crticism or ideas to improve. feel free to elaborate in the spirit of giving ideas, and don't see it as impositions; or send us an e-mail as i don't think the post would be allowed in this particular forum. we really appreciate your commentary.
Asher Kelman said:
Alain,
It is great that you actually checked Joe's website. Not many of us do that! So you had a definite reaction. It is the thoughts you had to deal with what you saw that are interesting here.
I probably didn't post correctly what I was requesting. I'm just referring to the statement that you "see a lot on your website that I would change".
We just want to know which items you were referring to? That would be most helpful as website appearance and construction is our face and character to the world.
Thanks so much,
Asher
Alain Briot said:
I really don't feel comfortable discussing what I consider to be private in public. I normally address these issues 1 on 1.
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Alain Briot said:
I did not realize that saying "personally, I see a lot on your web site that I would change" meant I would be forced to act in a way that I find personally very uncomfortable. I will make sure to avoid making this type of statement in the future.
So, Alain,
For the
future, that may be something worth noting, as It would really disappoint me if we had social, mental or business impediments to freely sharing knowledge at the drop of a hat. It's still serious, but, as I said, that's for the future.
Be that as it may, we have to deal with today, right here and now. Overlooking or bipassing this is even more difficult for us than it might be for addressing it. Joe has already clearly given his O.K. so that is not a reason or even an excuse.
Overlooking or bipassing this, doesn't work in a serious open forum like this. I would appreciate that we get over this discomfort!
As otherwise, why should I host this forum, why would you and others moderate or anyone else even turn up?
So, I'm insisting for us to address this. As Jim and Mike have pointed out, we all are here to benefit. Joe and his wife is starting a new business. He asked for ALL the help through the experience and knowledge we can share.
I want Joe and his wife to succeed. (I pointed out exactly that to you in the previous thread where you offered coursework
http://www.openphotographyforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1018 ).
That is why we are here, as a community for real fun, exchange of experience and to help one another
for free. I'm prepared to do this and so is everyone else.
It is therefore, to me at least, unacceptable to have a discussion in OPF where one is holding back clearly knowledge that can be of benefit.
I objected previously in private and in my posts. I tried to do it so gently, but to no avail.
So now, I have no choice but to draw a line.
So I ask one last time to please get over this discomfort, as free exchange is the only fee for admission to this open forum.
I would be appreciative of a full and substantial description of your ideas how the website could, might and should be improved, since the door has been opened and we have to therefore take responsibility.
So Alain, do me a huge favor and do it (as I know you fully can) and it would be a benefit and learning experience for us all (and also a star in you cap!).