Sounds to me like someone (or some forum) just wants numbers/members. Just like people and their Twitter(s)... "I've got nothing to say, but follow me anyway."

For me, I tend to go to the 'Official' Forum of the Software... ie:
Sony = SonyCreativeSoftware.com
Adobe = forums.Adobe.com
Apple = discussions.Apple.com

All the other Forums seem to be Hit & Miss for me so I've stopped going.

DVInfo is Chris Hurd's site (I'm assuming it still is) and it runs by his policies.

1:
The current forum rules for DVInfo does state:
The owners of The Digital Video Information Network reserve the right to remove, edit, move or close any thread
This is his site. I know of posts that have been deleted because a user asked the wrong question. And his subsequent post got deleted for asking why his post got deleted (why his first post got deleted didn't make any sense to me either).
And many of my own posts have been deleted because he felt like they were driving traffic towards Creative Cow.

2:
I don't like that some forum owners selectively delete posts for their own reasons (or variations thereof). So I don't post on DVInfo anymore, and will never do so in the future.

Ok, hopefully my blood will stop boiling soon. The situation is ridiculous.

It took about four days before I was registered. dvinfo.net is Cineform's official forum.

Real name. Never even heard of the other site until I was informed that I was now signed up for it.

So, once Chris Hurd reads this thread, I'm totally screwed as opposed to the partially screwed state that I currently enjoy!

Yes! This is the only reason why I am at that site. For CineForm. I am here for Vegas!

Must... resist... ranting....


Ok anyways, on a more productive note....

If you want to reach Cineform, I'm sure you could try the Cineform blog or this forum (e.g. mark the subject line OT/Cineform: blah and I'm sure they will read it). They have good products and a good blog worth checking out.

The OT/CineForm is a great suggestion though I read a post by Dan that said he forgets about this site because it doesn’t do notifications (RSS anyone...). I’m subscribed to their blog feed. You can comment on their blog but it is tailored to responding to the specific posts with comments as opposed to posting new thread with questions.

Thanks to all who have been posting on this thread. Very fun and helpful!

Glenn,

And here I thought that it was only me. I've cut down my posting there also (including the Cineform sub forum, which I really enjoy reading and need to visit), after a link to a helpful thread on Cinema5D was removed from one of my recent posts. I thought that including that link was harmless, but obviously the new hybrid DSLR message board is considered a threat to DVInfo.net.

I also recently got a PM from a user on Cinema5D stating that he was banned from DVInfo.net, for posting a petition, requesting that Canon consider adding manual control to the Canon 5d2 firmware (which, as you know, due to enormous pressure, they finally did). The user's native language was not English, so the petition needed a bit of work, but it didn't contain anything that would instigate a banning. That is really an unacceptable protocol, by which to run an Internet message board.

I can see why, in these troubled economic times, that software and hardware providers would be overly sensitive to even constructive criticism of their products on their own message boards (I should add here that SCS is incredibly good about this, as they have allowed some opinions to be posted here that I thought should have been toned down a bit.) But when a message board like DVInfo.net is more beholden to its advertisers, then its users, then I think that users should decide to move elsewhere.

J

"DVInfo is Chris Hurd's site (I'm assuming it still is) and it runs by his policies"

Yeah.... and I just simply refuse to post there anymore.... or even bother reading for that matter. It's Chris's site and he is therefore allowed to run it as he sees fit.... but then on the other hand, I have little respect for the way that it's operated, the edited posts... the deleted posts... etc... You can have a professional-type site without all that nonsense.

Let me add a few things here:

1. Yes, DVInfo is a Real Names site and it is moderated. I seriously doubt you were removed. Of course you didn't post your real name here so it's hard to check.

2. HDMom is a new site also created by Chris. Every DVInfo account was automatically ported over to the new site as well. So everyone who had a DVInfo account also now has an HDMom account. HDMom is still a work in progress.

3. The Vegas forum there (as well as other sites) have a TON of good information beyond what is found here. If you limit yourself to this one forum, you're missing a LOT of ideas, procedures, tools, and information about Vegas.

Yeah, that's okay, guys. I don't post at DVi anymore either. However, it was Chris' idea, though, not mine.

Some fella was belittling the EX cameras, making comments so absurd I was led to believe he had never use one, much less own one. So I asked him. Chris claimed my question was a personal attack (and the last straw). So I got booted.

Like Blink said, "It's Chris's site and he is therefore allowed to run it as he sees fit," good, bad, or indifferent.

"Some fella was belittling the EX cameras, making comments so absurd I was led to believe he had never use one, much less own one. So I asked him. Chris claimed my question was a personal attack (and the last straw). So I got booted."

That's happened to me.... a few times now. There are some "pets" (for lack of a better term) that seem to get away with murder... and you.... the newbie... speak up just once.... well..... that ONE time will do it.

I can always come up with yet ANOTHER 'real' name and email add, but I've come to the conclusion that it's simply a waste of time. As far as I'm concerned, the best in the business reside right here on THIS board. If people like John Cline, Farss, Glenn Chan, Edward Troxel (and LOTS of others) can't answer the question.... then you won't find anybody on DVinfo that will do it any better. DVinfo is a GENERAL site that will answer GENERAL questions... but if you want something specific (and correct) then you stand a better chance.... HERE.

Lots of us here do. It's about the only place where you'll find people from the various companies in this business posting information and discussing issues, even Sony have seen the light and now post there.

That said I have some issues with how the place is administered but I think most of us can read between the line easily enough. Worth keeping in mind that such sites are quite expensive to run so giving priority to guarding the income stream is understandable.

As for being made a newbie, don't sweat over that too much I think after a certain number of posts you automatically get your status elevated. Just work the system, bite your tongue a bit and you'll be fine.

Bob.

This stirs up a memory for me. Up to just over two years ago I was a Forum Leader on the Creative Cow Vegas Forum.
Someone asked a question about creating slideshows, and Excalibur was recommended.
I agreed that was a good solution, and added that UltimatteS from VASST was also very good.
My post was removed. I believe at the time the chief Bull, Ron Lindeboom, was having some kind of "feud" with Spot.
I wrote to Ron and said if he was prepared to put his personal problems ahead of my ability to openly offer advice, I would resign, and I did.

Now Spot's a Forum leader on the Cow - funny how the world turns ....

Not to get too off the track here, but, the business about the "real name" site is probably a non-issue. I actually like that feature of DVInfo.net and it makes a lot of sense for them to do that.

However, when software and hardware vendors manage their own site, it is easy to maintain some semblance of decorum without the "real name " approach. For example, SCS requires that for anyone to register and post here, your must provide a valid serial number for an SCS product. This almost precludes anyone from creating multiple bogus accounts, because you would have to attach a given product S/N to each bogus account. I suppose that you could do that, but that's an awful lot of messing around, just to troll a message board. And if you want to "act crazy", SCS still knows who you are.

"I can always come up with yet ANOTHER 'real' name and email" So....... how many Canadian wives do you have?> ;-) Fathom co-workers do you say..... /-)

To answer the OP's original question, I read and post regularly at DVinfo, PasstheHat. Sorry to hear about your and others' troubles.

I lurked awhile before signing up at DVinfo. I quickly realized that joining the forum was akin to being 'invited' to and walking into someone's personal home for a free book club meeting paid by some attendees. With that mindset, probably not shared by many, I would guess, I've not had problems by minding my P's and Q's, whilst asking for and occasionally contributing helpful information or stimulating discussion. If the homeowner ever decides that I've worn out my welcome or offended a paying guest, so be it. It's his home.

$0.02,
Steve (real name ;) )

"If the homeowner ever decides that I've worn out my welcome or offended a paying guest, so be it. It's his home."

i think you've kind of hit the nail on the head there.... it's Chris's house and you have to keep reminding yourself of that. But then on the other hand..... it's not really what a forum is all about. On any forum there will be a difference of ideas and opinions... and even a few hot collars from time to time. (IMO) a good forum will make allowances and flexibility for this. If you can't FREELY express your opinions and differences (in an adult fashion) that what good is a forum?

A GREAT forum leader (IMO) is one that can read a post... COMPLETELY disagree with it.... and as long as it's relatively civil....let it ride anyway. Chris I'm sorry to say (again IMO).... does not have this ability.

"A GREAT forum leader (IMO) is one that can read a post... COMPLETELY disagree with it.... and as long as it's relatively civil....let it ride anyway. Chris I'm sorry to say (again IMO).... does not have this ability."

A few years ago, Chris and I had an e-mail exchange that grew out of my "observations" of a particular company, one of DVi's sponsors. Chris was of the opinion that his "forum sponsors" came first. I was of the opinion that the "forum members" came first. My logic was, take away the forum members (those who create all the posts) and what do you have left?

In the beginning, there were no "sponsors" for the DVi forum. The only reason the sponsors came along was because of the people, crowd, audience, members, etc., that Chris' forum had amassed. Now, imagine, if you will, that the vast majority of those members become disaffected for some reason and abandon the forum, leaving just a pitiful handful of members. What do you think the "sponsors" would do? Would they remain sponsors? Would they contiune to pump money into Chris' pocket to sustain such a forum?

So in "independent" forums (such as DVi) which group is actually the driving force--the members or the sponsors?

I think what's happened at the DVi forum is a perfect microcosm of what's happened to the free world.

Trying to stay somewhat light-hearted, I am reminded of a (funny) expression an old acquaintance used when she became dissatisifed with the behaviour of a group of people: "I'll just take my ball and go home." If you're playing kickball and don't play by the rules, whatever they may be, I guess that would end the matter.

I used to participate in a motorcycling forum that frequently kept alive threads devolving into much more personal, colorful and randy exchanges than anything I've seen posted here or on DVi, despite a striking similarity between the rules of all of these fora. I guess "relatively civil," Jay, is truly relative. ;)

Stepping off soap box...

Steve

FWIW, Blink was the one who made the comment regarding posts being "relatively civil," not me.

Hi Steve!

I don’t want to spill anything on someone’s carpet; I want to participate in the CineForm forum. I am a customer of CineForm and they have chosen to make the DVinfo.net forum their primary customer service tool.

I emailed the CineForm rep who wrote a nice email to Mr. Hurd. Mr. Hurd still has not responded to me. I still can’t post. If Mr. Hurd wants to “professionalize” the DVinfo.net site by making sure that certain conditions of professional practice are met, those requirements should be clearly stated and should apply to all members. However, professionalism includes standards of behavior that include responding to emails or telephone calls and not pulling a bait and switch with a site signup.

Now, if I was a technology company like CineForm, I might see some benefits of spending a little more money to host my own site as opposed to supporting a Forum that is creating anger in my customers. However, I don’t try to tell someone how to run their business (unless that business feels that it can violate my wishes by signing me up to a site that I have no interest in. Oh, to answer a previously incredulous poster, that is exactly what happened. I was never asked. I felt and still feel as if my privacy and Netiquette standards were violated).

Good posts all!