JoeyA:
I'll bite -- no need to do the "baited breath" parry you like to engage Lou with.
I would say the Main forum is for the following things:
* Open sharing of knowledge. (This is something that geno is NOT doing -- on the contrary; one has to pay for it, sans his limited-time free loss-leader offer.)
* Open discussion of pool-related topics. "Discussion" is the key operative word here. Not a product loss-leader advertisement, followed by a pile-on of endorsers to the product.
* Sharing of road stories. Self-explanatory.
* Sharing of one's experiences at a tournament. Self-explanatory.
* Posting questions about tournament rules, variations of certain games, handicaps / matching up techniques, etc.
There are, for sure, others. But you get the idea. There are dedicated forums to product reviews, instructor reviews, wanted / for sale, etc. -- precisely because they are point-purpose forums designed for that material.
If it were up to some people (perhaps yourself?), AZB would be just one big "Main" forum, and *everything* (product reviews, sales, ads, instructors, non-pool related, etc.) would get tossed in here. That technique you're advocating, of "just skipping the threads that one is not interested in"? That only goes so far, when you have to pile-drive your way through MOUNDS of stuff you're not interested in. And for what? So that the viewership is granted the "democratic privilege" of making sure everything passes by their eyeballs? That sure sounds like sales to me -- the eyeballership thing. I think there's enough of a critical mass of people who, with sparse available time, can't in any way/shape/form do this -- they just don't have the time to do all this filtering. I like my time here at AZB optimized; being able to hit it and get out of it maximum value during my 5-minute breaks. I realize there are others here (retired, etc.) that are not in this boat; they do not have the problem of "time." But I'm sure the owners/moderators here have, in their interest, optimizing the time and value for the readerships. There's certainly NOTHING stopping that readership from engaging an extra mouse click or two to check forums outside of the Main forum. Certainly less hassle than having to wade through pages and pages and pages of the forum, trying to train their eyes not to gloss over while picking out the stuff that interests them.
-Sean
Unfortunately, you had to add in what the forum is not, which I specifically ask you not to.
The forum is here for the general benefit and use of all AZB's membership. It is only right that no formal definition exists for the Main Forum. This is the PRIMARY FORUM and that's all it is.
When a large group of members of AZ Billiards chooses to rant and rave about how that person has improved their game because of one person, those of us who aren't of like mind and spirit should simply value the rights of those who voluntarily acknowledge the contributions of that person.
One of the reasons that Gene Albrecht continues to receive the accolades of many posters is that he is making a valuable contribution to their pool game.
It is in THIS MAIN FORUM, that most of those people heard about Gene Albrecht and his PERFECT AIM system. It is only right that they have the opportunity to talk about their individual experiences right here on the MAIN FORUM.
If Gene continues to light the candle of aiming perception for some people, I hope that the management of AZ Billiards has the wisdom to continue to make allowances for any downside that might be perceived by a few. But more importantly, I hope that the management realizes that those who are receiving the benefits of Gene's FREE PHONE LESSONS have as much right to express how Gene has helped their pool games, and yes, IN THIS MAIN FORUM.
Yes, Gene is a salesman but if it hadn't been for his skills at selling, many people would be still languishing in the mediocrity of their pool game.
If the MAIN FORUM isn't here to give a blessing to improving one's pool game, then I don't know what better good it can serve.
The truth is that Gene has been BADGERED, CONDEMNED and ATTACKED for his PERFECT AIM SYSTEM by a few, WHILE DOZENS continue to sing his praises. Why is that? Hmmmmm. I wonder.
Gene has not retaliated to one of those mean-spirited attacks and even you have to admit that. Most would have lit up the forum with expletives that would embarass even the most uncouth.
I probably spend an above average amount of time on the forum based upon the number of my posts and the length of time that I have been a member and I have no problem with passing over threads that do not interest me. I also have no problem reading and interacting with threads that do interest me.
I can't call what you are doing a witch hunt, because I genuinely believe you don't mean Gene any harm but but attempting to censor what other posters are talking about, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CONCERNS POOL and THE IMPROVEMENT OF THEIR POOL GAMES, you and a couple of others do the Main Forum more harm than good.
Again, if this Main Forum isn't about improving your pool game, then I really don't know what it is.
Gene Albrecht is one of the best things to happen to this website.
People complain about pro players not spending time here. This wishful censoring and sniping by a few is why they don't come here.
We have GOLD with Gene and you want to push him off in some corner of the website where he won't be of benefit to most of the members of AZB.
If the management had the money, THEY SHOULD PAY GENE TO POST ON THIS FORUM because he can and has helped people become more excited about their pool game than practically any other poster.
When people become excited about improving their pool game, they bring other people into the sport. We need more people excited about their pool game and we certainly need more people playing pool. Gene helps with all of that.
Gene has AND CONTINUES TO HELP MANY PEOPLE to improve their pool game and that deserves to be here in the Main Forum.