Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Georgia, USA
Posts: 2681

This used to be a great place to come and gather information, provide information and talk out our TiVo experience.....but lately, it has gotten unbearable.

There are way too many threads about the TiVo ads, and many of them are started by trolls...

1. If a thread is started by a new member with only a couple of posts, and it starts with "I'm never buying a TiVo because...", or "TiVo is doing something illegal", or "I'm suing TiVo", or "I'm absolutely outraged", it is clearly a Troll thread who's purpose is to do nothing but start problems.

2. If within a thread, someone posts a lot of crap to start trouble, flames or controversy, it is clearly a Troll post.

LETS NOT FEED THE TROLLS.

The problem is that people legitimately come here to seek information on TiVo...there is even a link from TiVo's website to here. If we keep these ridiculous threads going, then someone who knows no better will see them and will not consider purchasing TiVo.....that is VERY bad for TiVo....which is VERY bad for us. If these go on too long, TiVo will lose potential customers and will have to come up with even more ways to make money...or go out of business.

I understand that there are legitimate concerns over advertising, but some people that are against it are creating additional usernames and posting FUD to confuse the subject and make things look worse.

We have to accept what is....fine, voice your legitimate concern or complaint, but when the threads start getting out of hand, it is time to stop.

I, for one, am not going to post in any more threads about the advertising, and I suggest that everyone else do the same. TiVo is fully aware of peoples concerns and TiVoPony has already addressed some of them in the sticky note at the top. Re-Hashing this over and over and making it look worse than it is (making it look like the end of the world is here), is not doing anyone here any good and is counter-productive to what we have been trying to accomplish on this forum.

If things don't change, I may find myself not coming here as often...I am sick of the crap being thrown out on this subject.

Moderators: Since you already have a sticky note about this, how about we close all threads pertaining to the ads and allow no more? None of them are doing anything productive here and just serve to make TiVo look bad to potential buyers.

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Last edited by unixadm on 06-14-2002 at 09:13 PM

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Registered: Jan 2000
Location: Charlotte, NC USA
Posts: 1439

I with Unixadm. I'm done commenting until there is actually something new/different to comment on.

I mean I'm with him except ahem, I still have a job. Just kidding old buddy. Good luck on the search.

Xaa

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Georgia, USA
Posts: 2681

quote:

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Originally posted by Xaa

I mean I'm with him except ahem, I still have a job. Just kidding old buddy. Good luck on the search.

Xaa

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Thanks Xaa...way to kick a guy when he is down

Well, I have a couple of good prospects....Just set up an interview on Monday and have a friend in the right place somewhere else that is setting up an interview (and they have an opening!)

I am willing to bet that I will have something before month end.....at least I hope so

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TiVo has forever changed the way I view TV!

"If you're dumb, surround yourself with smart people.
If you're smart, surround yourself with smart people who disagree with you."

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Registered: May 2000
Location: Valley Township, PA
Posts: 143

unixadm: Great post.

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Registered: Sep 2001
Location: New York
Posts: 293

quote:

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Originally posted by unixadm
I, for one, am not going to post in any more threads about the advertising, and I suggest that everyone else do the same.

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I agree unixadm. I'm staying out of those forums from now. I suggested a "close" on the "absolutely outraged" thread, lets just hope some mods can close it.

Hopefully the TiVo forum isn't going to go the same way as the Replay Forum did.

-The Simpsons

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Registered: Jan 2000
Location: Charlotte, NC USA
Posts: 1439

I'm rooting for you Kevin, your one of the good ones. It's the New Yorker in me that makes me kick you when your down. No offense intended.

Wish I could help.

Xaa

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Registered: Mar 2002
Location: Gilbert, AZ
Posts: 691

Great post unixadm.

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Registered: Apr 2000
Location:
Posts: 1177

I agree that things are geting way out of hand.

There should be a Tivo Complaints section of the board, that way the mods can move threads that get redundant, or have 14 pages of the same thing over and over and over.

I vote we put all the complaints about advertising, how Tivo ruined someones life because they missed an episode of Enterprise, and any thread that has the words "class action lawsuit" in one place. This is just my opion.

Unfortunately I am sure that this thread will grow exponentionally, until it becomes a Troll's dream itself.

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Registered: May 2000
Location: So Cal
Posts: 882

I agree with you Unixadm. But I would add that at least to not look so snobbish at not answering the posts, is to politely point to a thread that discusses that topic. This way if they do have a legitimate question they will get more information

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Registered: Jan 2002
Location:
Posts: 7658

Unixadm, you don't have a job? I thought you just didn't have a life...

If my vote counts, I'll go along with this too. I know I'm a newby here. And read JAB's recent post pining for the 'old' more close knit days.

In the short time I've been reading/posting here, I've noticed the change in temperament. It's not quite the same.

So, I'll follow your lead, and do my best to stay out of the fray, and focus on the help and fun that is still here.

Rob

P.S. good luck on the search.

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Georgia, USA
Posts: 2681

quote:

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Originally posted by Rcrew
Unixadm, you don't have a job? I thought you just didn't have a life...

---

__________________
TiVo has forever changed the way I view TV!

"If you're dumb, surround yourself with smart people.
If you're smart, surround yourself with smart people who disagree with you."

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Registered: Dec 2000
Location: CA
Posts: 1009

Personally, I just ignore the threads I'm tired of reading. And ironically, "me too" threads like this one are more of a nuisance than most others.

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Registered: May 2001
Location: Acushnet, MA, USA
Posts: 275

I believe there are people who come here with a hidden agenda. They usually have posted less than 5 times and they come here just to start a thread complaining about TiVo. I believe they do hope to harm TiVo by spreading fear and lies. They might also reference the thread somewhere else on the net where it will further their agenda.

I'm pretty sure some of this is being done by investors trying to manipulate TiVo's stock price. TiVo has competition and it could be them or content providers or any number of forces out there whose business model would be harmed by the widespread adoption of TiVo. There are also people who just get a kick out of this sort of thing.

The ad zapping, network busting beauty of the TiVo service is what scares many people. A dumb DVR is what they would all like us all to have. No Thanks!

For anyone considering a TiVo, just go out and buy one and try it for yourself. Give it a week and then decide whether to keep it and buy the subscription or return it. It can't be any easier. It has been established that the TiVo service is amazing, however it's very difficult to convey how a TiVo works to a non-user. You have to see a demonstration from someone who has one or just take a gamble and try one for yourself. There is a great hesitation to purchase, but once you have a TiVo, there is an even greater hesitation to going back to TV the old way.

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Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Durham, NC, USA
Posts: 119

I agree that people shouldn't feed the Trolls, but...

I think the vast number of the post related to this are not from Trolls. I disagree that we should end and/or prevent any new threads on the topic. Overall, I think it will burn out on it's own as people discuss it to death.

So while I am plenty unhappy about the entire thing (the ads, not the posts), I don't have anything further to add, so I personally am finished posting on this unless there is a new development.

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Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 266

How about requiring a valid tivo serial number to post to the general forums, and limit non-owners to a special forum - might even help since a lot of the real newbie questions tend to repeat. If it's clearly explained why we're doing this (to keep Trolls out) and legitimate newbie questions in the special forum get quick answers, I would think that no one would be 'turned off'.

Yes - there are ways to spoof a serial #, but it raises the barrier for entry, and if someone becomes a problem the moderator can always check the validity of the serial # w/Tivo...

just a thought.

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Registered: Nov 2000
Location: Bothell, WA, USA
Posts: 151

quote:

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I am willing to bet that I will have something before month end.....at least I hope so

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I said that too ... over a YEAR ago.

Just keep your hopes up, but I really hope you didn't jinx it.

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Registered: Sep 2001
Location: New York
Posts: 293

quote:

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Originally posted by jeffw_00
How about requiring a valid tivo serial number to post to the general forums, and limit non-owners to a special forum - might even help since a lot of the real newbie questions tend to repeat. If it's clearly explained why we're doing this (to keep Trolls out) and legitimate newbie questions in the special forum get quick answers, I would think that no one would be 'turned off'.

Yes - there are ways to spoof a serial #, but it raises the barrier for entry, and if someone becomes a problem the moderator can always check the validity of the serial # w/Tivo...

just a thought.

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No, definitely not. This forum plays an integral role in people who are trying to make a purchase. Censoring all this from people who don't have a unit would be a shame and only hinder business for TiVo. This idea would be a bad mistake!

-The Simpsons

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Registered: Mar 2002
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 1711

One man's "Troll" is another's legitimately curious newbie. If these troll threads are so easy to identify, why don't the Moderators spot and remove them, or shift them to a new Forum called, perhaps, "Possible Trolls and other Sub-Humans?" (After all, that's what we're paying the Moderators the big bucks for!!)

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Registered: Sep 2001
Location: New York
Posts: 293

quote:

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Originally posted by steuert
(After all, that's what we're paying the Moderators the big bucks for!!)

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No it isn't. Primarily because Moderators do not get paid in the first place.

-The Simpsons

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Eugene, OR USA
Posts: 1482

Let's see now a "troll thread" is one that starts by someone writing a long winded litany bitching about something, and then dozens of folks post to the thread. Hmmmmmmmmm

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