I don't want to start a debate here. I honestly hope that some officials of Introversion could be here to clear things up for both you and me. But from whatever you said in the above post, I can see where the problem is.
As you said, you are not an official of Uplink or Introversion, I'm not sure if I can take your word for it. Are you certain this is
not an official forum of Introversion/Uplink? Are you sure it is a place for fans only to hang out? Are you definitely sure it is not a forum for all Uplink customers to seek for help?
I got a great impression from Introversion homepage that this is an
official forum for the game, Uplink. Other than a list of links, the page has 5
big buttons on it and one of them links to this forum. The page also offers a link to
other sites which has a list of
fan sites but does not include this forum. If you clicked at the link
contact us at the bottom of the page, you will find lines saying that
Before submitting a query, please make sure you have checked the Uplink or Darwinia forums as the answers to most questions can be found there.
If you go to the page of Uplink,
www.uplink.co.uk, and click on the
FAQ link, you would find the forum policy. Simple company has simply rules but it still implies that this forum is totally under the control of Uplink, i.e Introverstion and monitored by its representives. If you open the contact us link on the same page, you will find the following:
If you have comments or questions about Uplink, the Forum is the place for you. Post your queries here and they will be answered by one of us or someone else in no time.
From how Introvesion presents this forum to the public on Introverstion and Uplink home pages, I don't think I would be the only one here
misled to
assume that this is an official forum for all Uplink customers.
While you treat this forum as a place for fans to hang out, you consider yourselves have the all rights to push newbies away. No wonder I always found lines saying something like,
Idiot! Go away!
Retard! Get off my forum!
However, to the rest of us, we believe it is a place for us to get help, service and information from Uplink as we are told by the information on its homepages. So , unless an official representive of Introversion or Uplink comes forward and says otherwise, I do believe, as a customer of Uplink, each one of us has every right to come here to seek for help, service, and information, including asking a dumb question, as long as we give respect to the forum and the people who are using it.
[b]see nothing wrong with politely explaining the situation, which I believe the majority of users do. Admittadly, there are some flamers, but I believe them to be the minority
Right! I do agree with you 100% here. I see nothing wrong with politely explaining the situation either. Could you however find a line which you would take it as politely explaining the situation on this page or any other pages? Yes, I did come upon a good/polite response. But one is all I have found so far.
Regarding to the conflict between Strategy First and Introversion, it is an unfortunate outcome. In the business world, sometimes you lose and sometimes you win. But the fault never goes to the customers. We are more innocent than Introversion is. We are certainly not the ones to be punished or humiliated for the unfortunate consequence that Introversion is facing.
According to what I read from this forum, I do admire Chris's spirit. I do sincerely hope that he would succeed and get to the point where he is heading. From what you guys wrote, I can tell you are very supportive of him. However, a few fans' support is not enough to get his business properous. If you do care, please be more considerate when you respond to people who comes to ask for help and not to push his customers / potiential fans away.