David Curlee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> OPRRMS Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > OK. If it had been me, I would've explained to
> him
> > that this is an non-moderated, no subscription
> > discussion board and that unless what someone
> > posted was illegal or immoral (like, "I'm
> coming
> > to your shortline and kill you"), I wasn't
> going
> > to prevent the person from posting it.
>
> That's essentially what I did.
>
> > Then I would've thanked him for reading AP,
> > told him I hoped he would continue to do so and
>
> > that if he changed his mind about providing info
>
> > about his railroad to please get in touch with
> me.
>
> He was angry enough about what was said that he
> refused to help and ended the phone call.
>
> > As to whether or not what's posted here affects
> > your sales, I really can't speak to that,
> simply
> > because I don't know. My recollection is that
> > when you posted your Winterail letter, you
> stated
> > that sales had fallen off the last couple of
> years
> > and you suspected the reason was related to the
> > economy.
>
> I don't remember talking about the economy at all.
> I can't get enough folks to help with information.
> When railfans make it more difficult for me, it
> hurts that much more.
>
> > I have no problem with any rules you write. I
> > have a whole grip full of rules that I'm
> supposed
> > to follow. Some make sense, some are clearly
> > there for no reason other than to protect the
> > company from liability ("We have a rule against
> > it, the man did it anyway, so we're not
> > resposible") or are just plain silly ("You're
> not
> > allowed to walk with your hands in your
> pockets").
> > But the timing of the new AP rules seems to
> > indicate that they were written so as not to
> > disparage Todd Clark or his web site.
>
> I reached a point where I'd had enough. The
> subject of Mongo's posts had nothing to do with
> it. And the rules weren't written to protect
> anybody. When Mongo went off about TO, I received
> several phone calls and e-mails alerting me to the
> problem. I shouldn't have to put up with this.
>
> > You didn't write rules when people started
> taking
> > potshots at Drew Jacksich, and I'd argue that
> Drew's
> > done a lot to bring people to this web site than
> Todd.
> > How come Drew wasn't afforded the same
> > consideration?
>
> If you recall, Drew responded in kind or sometimes
> made the initial comment that created the heated
> discussions. Should I have instituted rules back
> then? Probably. But instead, I decided to give
> everyone another chance.
>
> David

I get it, David. You're a martyr. But if the timetables and discussion board are so painful for you, why continue to put yourself through it? No one's holding a gun to your head, right?

If you're not already contractually obligated to the printer for your next timetable, why not just pull the plug on the project now? Hold a Super Gigantic Everything Must Go Going Out Of Business sale, and whatever inventory's left after that, give it away to the retailer's and museum groups who've supported the company over the years. Got obligations to creditors or investors? See if they'll forgive what you own them or accept a lesser amount. Believe it or not, the railbuff community will survive without Altamont Press.

Rather than complain about the lack of response you got from the railbuffs to your call for info for your next timetable, take it as a sign that maybe there's not the interest that there once was.

Rather than complain about the response you got from some guy at a shortline because he didn't like what people said about his railroad, take it with a grain of salt and get over it. For example, I wasn't planning on visiting the Nevada Northern, regardless of what was posted about it on AP.

If you'd been getting calls and emails about "Mongo," why didn't you make the effort to contact him then? I'm sure you two could've had a dialog, discussed you're concerns, and come to a mutual agreement. But to post your gripes after the fact and threaten him is nothing more than sour grapes.

Sure, Drew sometimes is his own worst enemy, but I think he's really been an asset here. Like you say, you probably should've done something about it, but the fact remains that you didn't. All water under the bridge now.

So maybe it's indeed time for you to pack things up and ride off into the proverbial sunset. The sun will still come up tomorrow without Altamont Press.