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Pastimes : Discuss Go2Net's acquisition of our beloved SI -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Paul Phillips who wrote (117)	4/24/1998 4:25:00 PM
From: Koshka	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 446

Paul Thank you for you words of reassurance. As a past major shareholder and president of a company that was bought out by others (and as a person who did some small company buying along the way) I understand your intentions and I also understand how fast the situation can change... Could you confirm to me that my life time subscription will be honored. I know the general statement has been made, but I would appreciate individual confirmation. We arrived like a flock of birds and we can leave as one...

To: Paul Phillips who wrote (117)	4/24/1998 7:24:00 PM
From: Ally	Respond to of 446

>>Hi. I am the CTO here at go2net and thought I would make a few comments regarding the news and the varied reactions to it. It is completely understandable to have some anxiety about a new company coming in and wanting to run the show its own way.<< Hello Paul, Thank you for taking the time to respond to some of the concerns expressed on this thread. It shows the sensitivity of go2net to the SI community, and this is a good sign. My point is that invariably, when a public company acquires a large cyber community of members, the first natural priority is to find as many ways as possible, and as quickly as possible, to raise revenue from the asset base. I'm saying that IMO, it will be a mistake if go2net decides to raise revenue directly from the members. We provide the show, and like my friend says, as mobile folks, we can just as quickly create a new cyber community elsewhere if we are unhappy here. And, we will be unhappy if go2net changes the culture of this community, or decides to levy new fees on members. >>I have been involved in all kinds of communities on the Internet, since well before there was a Web at all, and I know that poorly thought out changes can have deeply negative effects. We have no intention of rushing into any changes to SI, and we know that Brad and Jeff understand the community and site better than we do, so they'll be central to any decisions regarding its future.<< I'v been in corporate management, and I know how corporate politics and dynamics can frequently, and unfortunately, drown the voices of the small number of people who actually understands how the business works. You sound as if you know cyber communities well. Hopefully, you and Brad, and Jeff will be heard above the majority go2net stock holders in representing and preserving this community. >>So, I hope that people won't rush to any conclusions regarding the go2net acquisition. go2net is still a relatively small company -- SI is not being swallowed by some corporate behemoth. We're excited about integrating SI and are confident that together we can take SI to new heights. Paul Phillips <paulp@go2net.com> I await with optimism and curiosity on how things will unfold in the year ahead.