The commercialization of forums

[ThatsUnfairTV]

Hey all,

I was just wondering about this topic. I am sure that most of you who are on here peruse other forums such as the UMD and the SyrianECGunge .

What is your opinion on most of these forums inundated with ads and promos of various producers' offerings? Now of course, I use these forums as a way of advertising (not overkill I hope) but was wondering if some of you think the advertising gets too excessive and would prefer an outlet of just discussion without anyone hawking their work every post. Or should there be some sort of a balance?

I am not looking to change anything but I am always curious of people's opinions on such things when they visit a forum.

[Candy Custard]

I dont like UMD so much as here becuase its it seems to be 99% advertising, this place seems to have it about right nice mix of banter and ads

[dirtydids]

I dont like UMD so much as here becuase its it seems to be 99% advertising, this place seems to have it about right nice mix of banter and ads

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom" Anais Nin


Who or what is Anais Nin? (not very intellectual today )

[Etonman]

I dont like UMD so much as here becuase its it seems to be 99% advertising, this place seems to have it about right nice mix of banter and ads

Agreed...I rarely look at UMD, as it's mostly ads for US producers (whose sets, IMHO and as I said in a thread way back, are not nearly as good as those from this side of the pond).
I've no objection at all to a bit of promotion in this forum from our regulars here, like Bill and the others...they also generously provide us with lots of free pics and entertainment without any real commercialism.

[Phantom]

There are certainly certain producers who hog the UMD constantly promoting their stuff. I can think of one guy ... and I guarantee every time I go to the UMD forum there'll be about 6 posts from him.

That's not really a problem ... since if it's a producere whose stuff I'm not into, I won't even bother clicking on his thread.

What gets my goat is when the producers hijack an interesting thread.

For example - someone starts a thread with something like "I love to see big boobs messy. Let's all post our favourite pics of messy boobs". Before long the thread is full of posts by producers to the tune of 'well if you like big boobs getting messy, you'll simply swoon when you see my new DVD, only $9.99 plus shipping.'

Plus ... I much prefer the rough around the edges amateur stuff. Maddy and Piesplatter spring to mind.

And that's my two cents. (two baht)

Phantom

[Candy Custard]

I dont like UMD so much as here becuase its it seems to be 99% advertising, this place seems to have it about right nice mix of banter and ads

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom" Anais Nin


Who or what is Anais Nin? (not very intellectual today )

Anais Nin was a writer / diarist that I know of and admire for her erotic/sensual style - she was a pioneer in female erotica xxx

[ThatsUnfairTV]

Wow, phantom!

We must be reading each other's minds because that is how I felt about the whole thing when I was just a consumer and/or lurker before I decided to post stuff from the show.

I think what you mentioned should be an unwritten rule but some people just can't control themselves. I may get carried away from time to time but always try to still engage in conversation that has nothing to do with what I am "hawking."

I absolutely agree that this forum does maintain a healthier balance in that regard and it definitely has a different air to it.

But don't kill me if I plug once in awhile. I hate to be that guy.

[andy250]

I visit umd most days, though I treat it more like the office. Its where I go to see what other producers are doing. The problem with umd is their is a long thread running its either something that has turned into a major rant!!!

Plus you appear not to be able to have any daft conversations without somebody complaining about going off thread.

regards

Andy

[alext]

I dont like UMD so much as here becuase its it seems to be 99% advertising, this place seems to have it about right nice mix of banter and ads

I pretty much agree with this. It's nice to see the odd ad here or there, but with UMD, I struggle to wade through the advertising to find genuine threads from amateurs, not peddling their wares.

[driversoft]

I rather like the fact that I can see all sorts of producers works at the UMD. It's all very well to say "Lets tone down the advertising", but I would feel I was missing out then - at the end of the day the fact that different people see different 'faults' with the UMD probably means they're doing something right - there's nothing that will appeal to absolutely everyone.

Having said that, I like the more personal level of this forum too, which also feels more friendly, possibly due to its smaller nature and apparantly manageable size - so it's horses for courses. Here's to variety within WAM!

[DungeonMasterOne]

The UMD is the commercial portal for all things sploshy, and from a commercial POV a producer could promote there and nowhere else and never see a difference in signups. TBH we should be glad it's there, as having a heavily used central gathering place really does help to keep the Splosh scene as a whole running, and we'd all be poorer if we had to hunt through dozens of small niche forums and websites to find out what various producers were up to.

Having said that though, it does have a very different atmosphere to here, feels like more "watchers" and less "do-ers". There is an area for OT-chat though, and some of the discussions on their "Off Topic" forum can be fascinating, if a little slow to update, not many users seem to post there.

I like the format for image posting here, even if they do have to be arranged backwards, because it allows larger images than the UMD's 800 x 600 maximum. Got some 5 megapixel images from our latest update to post soon!

[DecadentDoll]

I can't knock UMD, i posted a lot of my first pictures there and wouldn't have met Bill, Hayley and co otherwise.

Yeah i do prefer the banter here, but the UMD does a major bit also, even if there are mega ads a go go!

Doll

xxxxx

[dirtydids]

I was posting pics on UMD long before Bill and Hayley started this great forum, basically it was then really the ONLY place to go.

I think it would be fair to say that the main difference between HERE and the UMD is that Splosh as many have said already is far more compact and the threads go off all over the place which in turn makes it more laughable and friendly And lets face it British Wam is Best. (We got the Best Gals as well )

Also another factor Splosh started as a purely "British" wam forum albiet there are international members now and growing, but UMD has always been truly worldwide hence giving producers the market to offer their products.

All sets of pics either Cede or Myself post on here are also posted on UMD, we do try not to overdo it but we update weekly so sometimes it can look a bit overbearing to some but its not intentional.

Both us do try and add comments accordingly on other posts as well unlike some elsewhere.

[leonmoomin]

I have 7 sites which update very regularly!

The problem is that it is such a small market, there are so many producers to a very small catchment area!

Its important to show of your media, there is so much to look at, you can easily get buried!

I don't post here, even though my media is aimed much more at Brittish fans! I just don't think this is the place, lets face it, 7 sites, each updating on different days! It just wouldn't fit in here!

[Phantom]

I agree with the people who've defended the UMD. It's absolutely right - it was the first place to really bring together all those lost WAM sould wandering the internet looking for messy pictures.

It should also be noted that, just like here, the producers selling their products on UMD give free sample pictures or movies. Some generous producers occasionally give away an entire photo set from their archives.

I just wish they'd keep to their own threads when pimping their wares and stop pouncing on every opportunity for another plug.