Mike J.

[prostriper]

Quoted from Michael J. Donovan

No privacy violation here.....it's a favor.....pm's are a feature of this site that we provide.....I think the last I looked the pm's were free. Oh, and the site was too..... hmmmm.....someone complaining about something like this doesn't sound right to me.....

This has really been bothering me the last few days. I didn't want to say anything on it but no one else has.

You say this as if you posted each and every one of the 1.6 mil plus posts. You see it is we the 48,000+ members that make this site what it is. If it wasn't for the FREE information we post this site would be nothing but a blank server.

I am sorry if we ask for a little respect and courtesy, after all we are Lawnsite. We make Lawnsite! You as moderators make sure everything runs smoothly.

Remember we as members are the reason the sponsors are here ,not you. So please don't come off like we are complaining, we are asking for courtesy. Is that so much to ask for? A moderator making a comment such as this doesn't sound right to me.

[MarcSmith]

I'm still waiting for a response to an email I sent to Sean....

[Sean Adams]

1. Marc - where did you email me? I do not have one from you - send it to me again - seanlawnsite@aol.com

2. The comment made by Mike was appropriate considering it was a response to someone accusing Mike and all the mods at lawnsite of something and being critical of something which was actually offered up as a way to deal with a temporary shut off of pm's - no one denies what has made lawnsite what it is (read my signature line) but that does not give anyone the right to act like a jerk, and that is what impactlandscaping was doing....

NEXT time, instead of starting a new thread and only posting a response that was made, include it all or don't post it....better yet, why even start a new thread? Why not just post your feelings in the original thread it was in?

[1MajorTom]

prostriper:
I understand completely what you are saying. And I agree with you, without the members and sponsors, Lawnsite would be nothing. And I can assure you, all of the moderators appreciate the members.

the problem lies not with you prostriper, but with a small group of members that wanted to get bigger than the site itself. it started out slowly, where a few members would "throw their weight around", immediately picking on a new member, always putting somebody in their place. then it gradually grew where this small group would follow each other around and "back each other up". then this small group decided that they wanted to have their own forum inside of lawnsite, they felt that powerful that they felt they could start placing demands on lawnsite. when their demands weren't met IMMEDIATELY, they left. nothing wrong with that, but THEN what they did was spread their lies to other lawnsite members, stating how they were so mistreated and done wrong by lawnsite.com
what has lawnsite.com done to anyone?, it hasn't changed. so a few members that sit in front of the computer 24/7 because they have nothing else to do didn't get a private exclusive forum at lawnsite because they felt they were more special than everyone else, lawnsite.com is now the bad guys? lawnsite.com appreciates every member 100% for sure.
And I am quite confidient that the pm system will be restored, no doubt.

marc smith,
really, no disrespect meant to you, but you are only going off one side of the story, you were fed the line, and you bit.

[prostriper]

I went to quote it in the original thread but it was closed. I'm not denying that you don't know what makes lawnsite what it is. But the way this was worded it sounds like we owe something to him. This site has helped me in the past, and helped me learn alot. I would like to add to it and help it grow more. You should have a good understanding of that from the correspondence we have had.

We're not complaining just kinda upset. I know that I have about 1/3 of my LS correspondence through PM, and I am pretty sure I am not the only one. You can look up my statistics. So it kinda puts a crimp in the routine of many of the members.

I'm not trying to do it as an attack at him, I am just suggesting that in the future he think things out a little better before typing them. Because if it troubled me, it most likely troubled others as well.

[John Gamba]

prostriper:
I understand completely what you are saying. And I agree with you, without the members and sponsors, Lawnsite would be nothing. And I can assure you, all of the moderators appreciate the members.

the problem lies not with you prostriper, but with a small group of members that wanted to get bigger than the site itself. it started out slowly, where a few members would "throw their weight around", immediately picking on a new member, always putting somebody in their place. then it gradually grew where this small group would follow each other around and "back each other up". then this small group decided that they wanted to have their own forum inside of lawnsite, they felt that powerful that they felt they could start placing demands on lawnsite. when their demands weren't met IMMEDIATELY, they left. nothing wrong with that, but THEN what they did was spread their lies to other lawnsite members, stating how they were so mistreated and done wrong by lawnsite.com
what has lawnsite.com done to anyone?, it hasn't changed. so a few members that sit in front of the computer 24/7 because they have nothing else to do didn't get a private exclusive forum at lawnsite because they felt they were more special than everyone else, lawnsite.com is now the bad guys? lawnsite.com appreciates every member 100% for sure.
And I am quite confidient that the pm system will be restored, no doubt.

marc smith,
really, no disrespect meant to you, but you are only going off one side of the story, you were fed the line, and you bit.


It sure is better now that the chosen few are gone:laugh:

[1MajorTom]

It sure is better now that the chosen few are gone:laugh:
John,
That is what we are starting to hear more and more. Members were afraid to be "belittled", and "bulldogged" by this little group.
This site has always been about learning, all the while still having a little fun. The moderators care about the members and want their time here to be an enjoyable one.
Prostriper: thanks for taking the time to let us know. the last thing I would want to do is come across as not appreciating the members, cause that's not the case at all.

[DLCS]

John,
That is what we are starting to hear more and more. Members were afraid to be "belittled", and "bulldogged" by this little group.
This site has always been about learning, all the while still having a little fun. The moderators care about the members and want their time here to be an enjoyable one.
.


I second John's comment.


BTW Jody,


Less than a month till Christmas!

[John Gamba]

I second John's comment.


BTW Jody,


Less than a month till Christmas!


Hay Mike:waving: Ho Ho Ho:laugh:

[John Gamba]

John,
That is what we are starting to hear more and more. Members were afraid to be "belittled", and "bulldogged" by this little group.
This site has always been about learning, all the while still having a little fun. The moderators care about the members and want their time here to be an enjoyable one.
.

Yeah what Mike said!! Less then a month Jodi till Christmas.

[prostriper]

John,
That is what we are starting to hear more and more. Members were afraid to be "belittled", and "bulldogged" by this little group.
This site has always been about learning, all the while still having a little fun. The moderators care about the members and want their time here to be an enjoyable one.
Prostriper: thanks for taking the time to let us know. the last thing I would want to do is come across as not appreciating the members, cause that's not the case at all.

I know you appreciate us, and I appreciate all of you. You guys do a wonderful job with this site. But this was kind of a "customer service" issue. If I was at a store and was told to "just deal with it, you didn't have to walk in the door" by an employee of a store I frequent regularly I would say something as well, and there's quite possibly a chance I would never shop there ever again.

I totally understand the shutting down of the PM's for upgrades and modifications, and for reasons as you and Sean have noted. I'm not saying I am against it. It's totally cool, I just hope that this issue can get resolved and things can go back to normal.

[John Gamba]

I know you appreciate us, and I appreciate all of you. You guys do a wonderful job with this site. But this was kind of a "customer service" issue. If I was at a store and was told to "just deal with it, you didn't have to walk in the door" by an employee of a store I frequent regularly I would say something as well, and there's quite possibly a chance I would never shop there ever again.

.


Mike J D. Can have an attitude, i think its because they wont let him hit the bottle before noon while hes at the office. I can understand, i had one to:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: .

[prostriper]

Mike J D. Can have an attitude, i think its because they wont let him hit the bottle before noon while hes at the office. I can understand, i had one to:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: .

Come on now John who you trying to fool. Your in the hot tub with a bottle of Hennessey XO by noon

[John Gamba]

Come on now John who you trying to fool. Your in the hot tub with a bottle of Hennessey XO by noon


One minute after noon with Mr Donovan:laugh:

[prostriper]

One minute after noon with Mr Donovan:laugh:

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:


I don't have anything against the guy John ( I don't Mike) , it's just were in an industry full of halfa**es and trying to validate our selves as a professional trade. And someone here that is supposed to be a pillar of a site based around its vallidation, in a way, tells us to F off and deal with it. There were alot more professional ways of going about it and still convey the same message.

[Michael J. Donovan]

John...thanks for spilling the beans :laugh:

prostriper...I apologize for coming off that way, but, by no means was I implying that we do not appreciate the members of this site. As Jodi, and others, have pointed out, we have had some problems with a small group of people and it can get quite bothersome with posts being made about our judgement and character on how to run the site.

It was not necessarily meant to be directed at you with my response, so please don't take offense to it.

Thanks.

[MarcSmith]

Jodi.

I bit at nothing. Quite a bit has transpired in last few weeks both infront of and behind the curtain. I'm not one to just willy-nilly accept facts at face value without some kind of digging.

My email was sent 10 days ago. To date I still had not recieved a reply. Just passing along fact, not running with the bait or stoking the fire.

Sean
I resent the email.

Both LS and LC are great sites. and for anyone wanting to start up a business with out any prior knowledge a valuable resource for the most part. Its the internet and now that trolling is soon be an olympic sport there will always be pot stirrers and one person being mulitple trolls and such....And the only wya to learn who is who is to post and learn and lurk.

Did discussions get out of hand. yup....Would LS be any better with out the off topic and non business discussions. It might not be better, but it would be more professional. But the down side would be less traffic, wich means less $$. And we all know that althoug LS may have started out as a nice little forum, it has grown beyond that and is now a full fledged business. Congrats to Sean on that, I wish I was as insightful.

Since much of this hubbub started as a result of off-topic banter. why not remove the off topic forums altogether....:cry:

ok maybe not...

Mike how do you feel about the Irish and Gators in the Sugar Bowl....:)

[Michael J. Donovan]

Marc, I will double check with Sean and make sure he looks at the email you sent to him.

As far as the Irish and Gators, I guess we'll have to wait and see...I saw on ESPN last night where Kirk Herbstreit said Notre Dame may play Michigan in the Rose Bowl, so who knows...I'd love for the Irish and Gators to meet.

[LawnHunter]

I read this thread with interest.....

But I only hear one side of the story. I guess that is to be expected when the person telling to story also controls what is said.... ie.. deleting posts of the other side of the story?

Much like this post and this account will be deleted also?

[Dirty Water]

I'm glad you guys are being honest now with the truth, instead of saying it was from the Spammers.

The PM system was being used to recruit people to other forums, by bitter former members of this site.

If any member feels the need to be told what to do by a group of bullys, then this site is better off without that member anyways.

Turn on our PM's already. By letting the cat out of the bag with the truth, it takes away the only weapon the former members have.

[1MajorTom]

I read this thread with interest.....

But I only hear one side of the story. I guess that is to be expected when the person telling to story also controls what is said.... ie.. deleting posts of the other side of the story?

Much like this post and this account will be deleted also?

hey Lawnhunter, I had been watching you. I knew it was just a matter of time for you show up AGAIN, and post under ANOTHER fictional name.

[1MajorTom]

John,
you are one of the best things to this site. I love the pics you posts, always brings a smile to my face, and Matt when thinking about equipment purchases, Matt always says, "wonder what Gamba thinks about it." you know your stuff.

[1MajorTom]

BTW Jody,


Less than a month till Christmas!
Time is going to fly, it will be here before we know it... and I won't let you guys forget that it is coming fast, all you have to do is keep reading my sig line. :laugh:

[Charles]

Jodi.

I bit at nothing. Quite a bit has transpired in last few weeks both infront of and behind the curtain. I'm not one to just willy-nilly accept facts at face value without some kind of digging.

My email was sent 10 days ago. To date I still had not recieved a reply. Just passing along fact, not running with the bait or stoking the fire.

Sean
I resent the email.

Both LS and LC are great sites. and for anyone wanting to start up a business with out any prior knowledge a valuable resource for the most part. Its the internet and now that trolling is soon be an olympic sport there will always be pot stirrers and one person being mulitple trolls and such....And the only wya to learn who is who is to post and learn and lurk.

Did discussions get out of hand. yup....Would LS be any better with out the off topic and non business discussions. It might not be better, but it would be more professional. But the down side would be less traffic, wich means less $$. And we all know that althoug LS may have started out as a nice little forum, it has grown beyond that and is now a full fledged business. Congrats to Sean on that, I wish I was as insightful.

Since much of this hubbub started as a result of off-topic banter. why not remove the off topic forums altogether....:cry:

ok maybe not...

Mike how do you feel about the Irish and Gators in the Sugar Bowl....:)








Lawnsite has always had the ignore button. You don't like a person(s) then put them on Ignore. This was not about not liking somebody or what they said. This was about a small group banding together to intimidate/trash the forum to get their way. Like Jodi said when that didn't happen they went on a recruiting/trash Lawnsite spree. We are not going to let them change the forum then or now

[MarcSmith]

Marc, I will double check with Sean and make sure he looks at the email you sent to him.

As far as the Irish and Gators, I guess we'll have to wait and see...I saw on ESPN last night where Kirk Herbstreit said Notre Dame may play Michigan in the Rose Bowl, so who knows...I'd love for the Irish and Gators to meet.

I doubt you'd see a rematch, especial from such a lopsided score from the first game....I think LSU will get the nod for the Rose bowl....Gators are going to be stuck withthe sugar bowl as SEC champs...

[Charles]

I mean really, this small group were the kings of smash mouth/intimidate/threaten talk and all of a sudden they are offended by silly internet talk??? Give me a break!!! Too bad so many fell for that crock of you know what:rolleyes:

[Michael J. Donovan]

I doubt you'd see a rematch, especial from such a lopsided score from the first game....I think LSU will get the nod for the Rose bowl....Gators are going to be stuck withthe sugar bowl as SEC champs...


I would agree with you...that's just what Herbstreit had said...I think Florida and Notre Dame would be a great matchup

[John Gamba]

John,
you are one of the best things to this site. I love the pics you posts, always brings a smile to my face, and Matt when thinking about equipment purchases, Matt always says, "wonder what Gamba thinks about it." you know your stuff.


That was in Manhattan this past Friday. My daughter is going to go to collage there to be on Broadway and she told me that it would be nice to get a Christmas gift from there seeing its where Broadway is. Does matt need something too.

[John Gamba]

I read this thread with interest.....

But I only hear one side of the story. I guess that is to be expected when the person telling to story also controls what is said.... ie.. deleting posts of the other side of the story?

Much like this post and this account will be deleted also?

Go peddle your crap someplace else. Oh take this back to the cave --- look for a great pic to be posted in lc soon:laugh:

[Az Gardener]

Hope I don't get banned but it may be good for me, I spend way too much time on site. So let me be sure I get this straight.

Some members of the site were recruiting to start their own site and they did'nt PM me? I feel disrespected. They subsequently were banned from site?

I am surprised and probably a bit naive. How could a group that you consider to be unprofessional and overbearing be a threat to lawn site? I would rather have lawn site be filled with educated adults that can handle a little abuse when they are talking out their proverbial rear end. Then a bunch of teenagers asking the same questions over and over again.

I just don't see how they posed a threat to Lawn site or how they could be bad for the on line green industry. Like everything else let the market decide. I hope I am dealing with adults each and every time I come to lawn site. Adults are capable of making good decisions if given the chance. Perhaps you made the right call for the business that is lawn site. I'm not so sure for the members that make up lawn site. At least I would have liked to make that decision for myself.

[John Gamba]

:cry: Hope I don't get banned but it may be good for me, I spend way too much time on site. So let me be sure I get this straight.

Some members of the site were recruiting to start their own site and they did'nt PM me? I feel disrespected. They subsequently were banned from site?

I am surprised and probably a bit naive. How could a group that you consider to be unprofessional and overbearing be a threat to lawn site? I would rather have lawn site be filled with educated adults that can handle a little abuse when they are talking out their proverbial rear end. Then a bunch of teenagers asking the same questions over and over again.

I just don't see how they posed a threat to Lawn site or how they could be bad for the on line green industry. Like everything else let the market decide. I hope I am dealing with adults each and every time I come to lawn site. Adults are capable of making good decisions if given the chance. Perhaps you made the right call for the business that is lawn site. I'm not so sure for the members that make up lawn site. At least I would have liked to make that decision for myself.



If you think a site can sustain it self with 5 people, try it. there has been allot of complaints by the starting members about the children that are there paying the bills on the other site.


Its like, why are the newbies here and not over there.what happend:cry:

[Charles]

Hope I don't get banned but it may be good for me, I spend way too much time on site. So let me be sure I get this straight.

Some members of the site were recruiting to start their own site and they did'nt PM me? I feel disrespected. They subsequently were banned from site?

I am surprised and probably a bit naive. How could a group that you consider to be unprofessional and overbearing be a threat to lawn site? I would rather have lawn site be filled with educated adults that can handle a little abuse when they are talking out their proverbial rear end. Then a bunch of teenagers asking the same questions over and over again.

I just don't see how they posed a threat to Lawn site or how they could be bad for the on line green industry. Like everything else let the market decide. I hope I am dealing with adults each and every time I come to lawn site. Adults are capable of making good decisions if given the chance. Perhaps you made the right call for the business that is lawn site. I'm not so sure for the members that make up lawn site. At least I would have liked to make that decision for myself.


I don't think "they" like you. :laugh:

[Az Gardener]

I don't think "they" like you. :laugh:

Somehow I'm not surprised. Confused as to why, but not surprised. Actually I can't even figure out who they are, and you know the whole "curiosity killed the gardener thing". Driving me nuts, at least until my kids get home. Then they will take over the driving me nuts shift.

[Dirty Water]

Az, The people in question barely posted in the professional forums.

They preferred to go around gang-posting on others. As a whole, I think the forum is a lot better without them.

Even if I felt that Lawnsite was wrong in banning them (which I don't), I wouldn't leave Lawnsite because of the professional forums I am active in. I lurk in the irrigation sections of other forums, but they don't have the quality members that we have here.

[Dirty Water]

I just lurked over at their new home for a minute, Ironicly they are already starting to turn on themselves again.

These posters are low life scum that don't belong here. Anyone who misses them can join them.

[John Gamba]

I just lurked over at their new home for a minute, Ironicly they are already starting to turn on themselves again.

These posters are low life scum that don't belong here. Anyone who misses them can join them.


No. i like it the way it is now.

[nmez21]

I just lurked over at their new home for a minute, Ironicly they are already starting to turn on themselves again.

These posters are low life scum that don't belong here. Anyone who misses them can join them.
"Their new home". I checked it out for the first time yesterday, it's pretty chaotic in some parts(more than it seems on here on LS)- and not to the point where it's funny, more off to the point where it's a bit annoying. I can't say much at all because it's really not "my home." But like John said earlier , you get near the knowledge and support that we've got here anywhere else.

[LindblomRJ]

Charles, I bet you are waiting for me to chide in on this one?

[Charles]

Charles, I bet you are waiting for me to chide in on this one?

Ya and I got a itchy trigger finger tonight:laugh: :waving:

[LindblomRJ]

Ya and I got a itchy trigger finger tonight:laugh: :waving:
LOL.

I am going to try to stay out of fray.

Do I need to change my sig?

[Charles]

LOL.

I am going to try to stay out of fray.

Do I need to change my sig?

Might help:laugh:

[prostriper]

John...thanks for spilling the beans :laugh:

prostriper...I apologize for coming off that way, but, by no means was I implying that we do not appreciate the members of this site. As Jodi, and others, have pointed out, we have had some problems with a small group of people and it can get quite bothersome with posts being made about our judgement and character on how to run the site.

It was not necessarily meant to be directed at you with my response, so please don't take offense to it.

Thanks.


I understand your job can be quite stressful at times dealing with everyones BS and the Callender girls. And I'm not telling you how to do your job. And I understand that you were getting frustrated with all the "why aren't my PM's working"?

But as a moderator you are a pillar of this site you keep the blood pumping. Along with this comes alot of responsibility, including self control and restraint of actual feelings and frustrations. I know its hard, believe me I am part Irish as well, and German, I have quite the temper.

Like I said in an earlier post if someone were to treat anyone, not just me, at a store that way I would make it known and possibly never return. Some here may have done that. I am quite possibly not the only one that took it this way. Even though I joined in 2004 I have been coming to this site since 99 when it was a somewhat cheezy little sight with two thousand members and only a handfull of posts a week ( I believe I started an account back then but I couldn't remember when I came back after a 5 or 6 month hieatus). I can't believe it is what it is now and can't wait to see 100,000 members here.

But alot of that growth lays on the shoulders of the moderators. Were like one big freaking disfunctional family that are all leaning on one another and if one falls many could follow.

I'm not trying to make you feel bad or bad mouth you. So please don't take it that way. I am only looking out for what is best for Lawnsite.

[SodKing]

you are not going to bash the members of this forum
Charles

[1MajorTom]

I'm glad you guys are being honest now with the truth, instead of saying it was from the Spammers.

The PM system was being used to recruit people to other forums, by bitter former members of this site.

If any member feels the need to be told what to do by a group of bullys, then this site is better off without that member anyways.

Turn on our PM's already. By letting the cat out of the bag with the truth, it takes away the only weapon the former members have.
Jon, I appreciate your input.
I think what is perceived as not being fully honest with the members or not caring about the members, is really just about taking "the high road". As you can tell, I for one do not want to go back and forth with a few disgruntled members that have nothing better than to do, than to keep signing up new names to harrass us here. This thread proved that, this is what they thrive on. It's a shame that some people have taken things so seriously, that this is all the have to do in their lives is to bash an internet forum.
Lawnsite.com is what it is, a great learning tool for the industry, new comers, and veterans combined. Let's all enjoy it for now.
This thread I noticed was closed, I guess it will remain closed, as I have better things to do than to watch 10 "new" members sign up who supposedly don't want anything to do with lawnsite, come post on this thread. :dizzy: