[TPIN] Brassdeal.com controversy

[Michael Anderson]

> 
> With all due respect, oh exalted one, this doesn't mean we have to like it,
> and frankly the majority of the objection has to do with the lack of
> attribution.
> 
> IMHO, the whole "controversy" (both US and UK pronunciations) could have
> been avoided if the announcement said, "Mike Thompson of Thompson Music and
> Tom Raney's are pleased to announce..."
> 
> Frankly, in the 4 or so years I've been on this list, and probably longer
> than that, we've become a community.  One we gladly accept your selfless
> guidance for.  But a community nonetheless.  One that has come to expect
> honest and open debate, and one that is free of blatant advertising without
> some sort of backing and justification.
> 
> As always, my humble $0.02
> 
> -- Doc
> 

Doc,

As a matter of clarification, TPIN has been a community for over 15 years. I
have actually written articles on the phenomenon of the online community and
I did it long ago. So, it hasn't become a community in the last 4 years. I
viewed this post as an announcement. No different than if someone had posted
telling everyone about a great online deal on valve oil.

I'm not sure what you mean by "some sort of backing and justification." I
gave some backing and some justification and made it clear that this wasn't
blatant advertising by my interpretation. In fact, I think there are plenty
of TPIN members selling stuff on our list who are responsible for
considerably more blatant advertising on a regular basis on TPIN than one
post from BrassDeal.com constitutes. In many cases over the years, I have
stepped in via private email and tempered blatant advertising when it got
excessive. Some people on TPIN know how to just walk the line of what I
consider suitable for this forum.

I just don't understand the intense need for a name in this case or any case
for that matter. When I look at a product ad or business, I never think...
"I better know the name of the guy who runs this company or I'm never going
to buy anything from them." We'd probably all starve if this was a
requirement to engage in commerce. :-)

Bottom line to me is this. BrassDeal.com is a new and quite unique business
dedicated to our subject matter. There isn't another web site resource like
it that I know of. Getting the word out to TPIN and other folks who are into
brass playing is a good thing in my opinion.

My humble $0.02 :-)

MA