I wouldn't be surprised to see several major changes hit the site all at once quite soon. A brand new site with many wonderful additions was promised not long ago as I recall. I'm sure there will be plenty of compliments and undoubtedly criticisms when that happens. You simply can't please all the people all the time...
Seems to me that since this one ad was rolled out, some have lost confidence in management and concluded that this is the start of worse things to come. Many comments regarding Datek lacking in customer service, etc., have been made and whether or not they're true, this sentiment has been generalized to SI given their recent partnering with Datek. Guilty by association?
Isn't it possible that SI's association with Datek might result in positive changes for Datek rather than this being the beginning of the end for SI as we know it? :) I am amazed at the far reaching conclusions that have been drawn from one small NON-banner ad on members' pages.
<<There still hasn't been substantial response from management despite this issue which has been burning out of control for days.>>
A lack of a substantial response from SI Administration is not akin to them being embarrassed, ashamed, in hiding, or insensitive to the comments being made on the ad and its possible future ramifications. I do think that the possibility of some of the members being embarrassed, ashamed, or in hiding in the near future is a high probability, though.
Let's face it - many have jumped all over them before they ever had a chance to explain. Russ makes a few comments, within a day or so of the ad appearing, and he's immediately bashed. Why would they want to respond to all of these allegations if folks wouldn't believe that an option to turn off ads might very well have been planned but not yet implemented due to a technical glitch? One post from Admin generates more posts requiring more responses from Admin and so on and so on... and if they don't respond to those, SI would again be accused of being embarrassed, ashamed, or in hiding... Yuck! What a vicious, and I do mean VICIOUS cycle... Personally, I'd rather see Russ out there acquiring a NEW COMPANY for Go2Net or getting some much deserved rest than playing "Question and Answer" on a Saturday night. He's got bigger fish to fry than to try to appease every disgruntled SI user, IMO.
Many seem to assume that the SI team sits around reading the threads nonstop, all day long. In fact, they actually do have other responsibilities and can't humanly keep up with every post though they may want to. In the midst of THIS problem, there are hundreds of other problems going on all over SI that also require their attention! I guess Russ or Brad or Jeff or Bryan is supposed to drop everything on his agenda to respond to everyone's complaint INSTANTLY and in a manner which they deem to be acceptable? Well, Russ did that. He gets bashed for not saying 'more'. Well, the 'more' he'd say, the more he'd get flamed... What's the point?
Anyway, like you, I have friends who are opposed bigtime to that ad and do not care if a snag occurred in an option that actually existed from the start to turn it off immediately or not. Some don't want to consider that the people running SI have lives outside of these boards and actually might have to tend to personal, family, or health matters on occasion urgently and/or are entitled to have some time off just like the rest of us. Some want to think that SI simply broke a promise, that it's black and white, end of story... To these friends, I can only say that I hope that when I do my best but fall short of their expectations, they will not be so inflexible with me and that they will give me the opportunity to explain when I am able to do so without passing judgement until that time.
I really am sad to see so many nasty comments from those who claim to love SI. It is one thing to voice an opinion on an ad appearing and ask that it be removed, etc., but it's quite another thing to call someone a liar and attack him personally regardless of the 'excuses' that were offered as to why the Dryers' supposedly "sold out".
The above not directed toward anyone in particular and obviously my [minority] opinion.
Best,
V. |
