clayV wrote:The changes happened 2 and a half years ago and if anyone could read that far back they would see a very different forum than the one that is here today.
Thanks, ClavV. When we first took the reigns of TDF it was pretty much being run under a two tier system. Some staff were breaking the very rules they were supposed to be enforcing ...while enforcing them...ie. name calling and insulting the violator.
Membership had become so unhappy that the then staff implemented a policy that provided a mandatory 30 day ban on any member who spoke out against management. How can a forum possibly thrive if the members have no ability to communicate their likes and dislikes with each other as a collective group?
Nothing will run itself, and like it or not, rules and order are much preferred in society to Anarchy. It is easy to say one does not believe in censorship, but is preventing someone from defaming and libeling someone else censorship? We think not.
Our mandate with TDF was to give the members a stronger voice in the goings on. We have been listening to the members concerns and polling the members for their input.
EVERYONE is accountable under TDF rules...including staff. Staff has been more than doubled from what was once a small clique of friends to a large cross sampling of forum members and doll owners.
TDF is taking the precautionary approach when it comes to young looking dolls so as not to have our community labeled as pedophiles.
TDF has adopted 'rules of evidence'. Member can pretty much say what they like...however, IF they are making damaging accusations against other members or doll makers, they must back those up with evidence or they will be removed.
TDF also implemented rules regarding sales posts to help insure that they are legitimate.
If you check out the rules, you will see they are mostly common sense. However, there are always those who will press it to the limit, and if there were no laws, they would murder and steal and rape and plunder.
The rules are in place at TDF to protect the good people from the bad people...not to muzzle valid discussion or negative experience with a specific brand of doll.
However, if there are those who refuse to play fair, then they will not be welcome at TDF...and that includes manufacturers.
TDF management is proud to be on good terms with many of the manufacturers...many of which help to pay our high server costs by placing ads.
If TDF were under the control of a specific manufacturer, you would not likely be seeing so many others here. This is just a rumor that was spread by some of the disgruntled TDF staff who ran away crying when we told them they had to share their sand box with the other kids
TDF is now pretty much running without the need of owner input. It is run by a very dedicated team of volunteers who are here because they love dolls. The forum is no longer losing money and should be here to service the community for many years to come without the need for member pay.
TDF is essentially more a member run community now than it ever has been
And its good to see an old discussion like this surface once in a while as it reminds us of how far we've come ... or not