Message Board | Rules

Thread: PT for sale....


Bottom of Page    Message Board > Website General Discussion > PT for sale....   [1] [2] >>
Excuse me?

My bad, for never reading the homepage of the site.... But, it's come to me as a real shock. Anyways. What I did find interesting though, was this from Ebay:

Quote:

#1) What is the memberships reaction to you selling the site?

There hasn't been one, yet. However the members understand that it won't change anything as such, but instead mean they will have a webmaster in charge who can give them the time they deserve.
What's this all about?
Link to Ebay

Ok. Help yourself with the copy paste :P ...... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3873042469

(Edited by floyd_n_milan to add the link)
Well this is something I wasn't expecting,and don't like it very much.
Hmmm. Not exactly the point I wanted to make. What I really meant was, that I have two sides on this. First is that we should have been notified more openly (this can be argued upon, but oh well, I do think that) and I do feel bad about PT being sold.

The other side is, we don't know who the webmaster is going to be, so we cannot say if this is for good or bad. But, wouldn't it be nice to hope that we do get another person like Taz, who does care about this site, as much as we do? And not to mention, I think we should thank Taz for giving us this website in the first place and then, its the matter of supporting the site, which we love. No use going all crazy over the changing of the webmaster. I figure we can just wait and see.....
No worries there Floyd, I am going to buy it!
Floyd: linky is borked.

Why is selling bad? He's selling, not selling out.

PT ruled by Taz:

PT ruled by Vir:


Edit:
*sigh* Given that pretty much everything I post on this site is taken as an insult by someone, even, and particulary, when no offence is intended, I should make it painstakenly obvious: Don't get offended!! What is the point anyway? A gift, when not accepted, stays with the giver. An insult likewise. *sigh* What a world.... Sad Smilie

No smileys were harmed in the production of this post.
Support your local charter of the RPCS today!
Quote:
Why is selling bad? He's selling, not selling out.


But, but.......
Well.. Aule told me that the site is on sale. I never check the front page for news, for that I have TORN. It isn't listed on the personal page as local news. I think my first reaction was that Aule was making a joke. Until I say the e-bay page.

I have several things that are big on my mind. I can understand why Taz is selling the site. I am responsible for some sites myself and it is sometime a balancing act between updating that and work or other real life things. Having your customers reminding you for updates is sometimes a bit embarrassing. Anyway, he is making that clear on the e-bay site. But as Floyd said: no mention of it here at all. Maybe he discussed it with his CM's. The thing is, if the member base is that big, why didn't he ask around here first.

I always thought of this site as being in one big fellowship, always willing to help each other, lending a hand wherever you can. I am certain there would be people who would have volunteered some of their free time by sharing their knowledge and helping out in matters as site management, putting things online in several sections. This simply could have been done without elevating them to a CM status (if that was an objection for the current CM's). But is all said and done, a decision has been made.

Another thing though is that as a member I pay for 3 supported memberships... what will happen to my financial details? I currently feel very uncomfortable that my details will be sold off to someone else. What will the new owner do with the information the current member database holds? Currently nobody has to pay to become a member, but as the information on ebay says: it is a possibility.

I am a bit worried how the Tolkien Estate will react on this, as far as I know, the lawsuit is not over from yet and I am worried how this might be used against Taz as wanting to make a profit out of it.

The bottom line is: I feel a bit put on auction currently without being consulted first. As I said above, I know why, but in a way I feel a bit disappointed that if the site promotes: Join us in a fellowship like no other.. I absolutely hate to see that Taz feels like he has to let go of his baby and I know that he will do everything that is in his power to make a transferral go smoothly. After so many years of dedication, letting go is very hard. It just saddens me that a person who made a fellowship possible, (seemingly) never thought that the fellowship of 5000 members would love to lend a hand and help him out.
We all know taz as creator/originator of this site and we all feel a little disconcerted by the prospect of a new 'boss' but that is normal.

I can't see anyone being willing to buy this site and then change it all. After all they are buying the website, design, facilities and membership. To me it is the community created by our members that matters and whether any changes will be made or not the community remains. We are here to share, learn, enjoy Tolkien as well as general chitchat, games etc and I see no reason why we cannot carry on doing that regardless of who owns the site.

Don't worry, wait and see. A new webmaster with more time and enthusiasm could do a lot for this site. As taz said, there are a lot of things waiting to be implemented that he simply hasn't had the time to do. At least he didn't inlcude his boxers in the sale.

In a few weeks' time we'll be saying taz who? Nooooo, never! There'll always be a place for taz in this community and the next round is on him.
Quote:
I am a bit worried how the Tolkien Estate will react on this, as far as I know, the lawsuit is not over from yet and I am worried how this might be used against Taz as wanting to make a profit out of it.

Yes, I thought about that too. That is standard operating procedure in domain lawsuits really. Try to trick the domain owner into saying something that could be interpreted like he/she is selling it for money. Then go to court and say: "Look, he's sybersquatting only to make a qick buck out of us. Punish him!"

I know that that is not the case here, but Addershark & Co are good at spinning things.. But hopefully Taz scared them off. IP lawyers doesn't like prey that bites back.

It wasn't the Tolkien estate btw, but Newline or whatever the movie company is called.
Rhapsody wrote:

"what will happen to my financial details? I currently feel very uncomfortable that my details will be sold off to someone else. What will the new owner do with the information the current member database holds?"

I must say that I agree with that statement. Does our financial information really get forwarded to E-bay's highest bidder? If so, what assurance is given that it will be handled safely? With identity thefts in the increase, it was a leap of faith to become a supporter to this site as it required some personal information. Just wondering...

Having said that, I too wish to thank Taz for providing a site that has brought me many hours of enjoyment and some wonderful new friends. I apologize that I have no techy skills to offer our fluffy king, but I've listened to others in the chat room and am amazed at the knowledge that available within our own membership base. Who knows, maybe a fellow PT member will be able to buy the site! (it could happen, couldn't it?)
I think, without knowing it, that Taz doesn't have our financial details. Only SECPAY does. Isn't that pretty much the point with third party banking?

Also look at the terms-of-sale:
Quote:
* TERMS: This website is auctioned on the agreement with the winning bidder that they will not harvest, spam or use any of the members e-mail addresses/data in a way that is against the law or without prior permission of its members.

Such an agreement is legally binding. To what extent a breach of such an agreement can be sanctioned, I don't know. I'm not British.

I wouldn't worry too much. I browsed through the SECPAY site back when I was a paying contributor, and I seem to remember them giving full insurance against fraud. Or something to that effect. Feel free to investigate further. Paranoid Smilie
Quote:
I think, without knowing it, that Taz doesn't have our financial details. Only SECPAY does. Isn't that pretty much the point with third party banking?


Hate to break it to you, but he can cancel our payments if we ask him to. That means he has full sight on those details. I always fully trusted Taz with this and still do. But the thought that it might end up in someone else's hands... Grev, a couple of months ago my credit card details got hi-jacked and going through such a thing is a very very haunting experience. It is not something I'd wish to happen again. Nor to myself or to anyone else.
Quote:
Hate to break it to you, but he can cancel our payments if we ask him to. That means he has full sight on those details.

You might be right, but that doesn't necessarily follow from your example. Perhaps he cancels payments from "user Rhapsody"? Or your real name, but not your card nr? xxxx.xxx.xxx.#### is quite usual?

Quote:
a couple of months ago my credit card details got hi-jacked and going through such a thing is a very very haunting experience.

Stuff happens. Haunting I'm sure, but diasterous? Hardly. I'm (obviously) not familiar with Dutch banking regulations, but here the bank covers any loss due to credit/debit card fraud.

Anyway: I would be far more worried about my card details from phishing or URL spoofing than this. The net is not 100% safe, but nothing is. Putting all your money under the mattress is even more dangerous.

(Grondy change a verboten word.)
Thanks for the reassuring words Grev. I feel better after being reminded that Secpay assures a certain amount of responsibility with their agreement, whether with Taz or a new owner.
Quote:
Another thing though is that as a member I pay for 3 supported memberships... what will happen to my financial details? I currently feel very uncomfortable that my details will be sold off to someone else. What will the new owner do with the information the current member database holds? Currently nobody has to pay to become a member, but as the information on ebay says: it is a possibility.

Don't panic, all community memberships will be cancelled on the transfer and your bank details erased, not that I can see them anyway, they are securely stored by SECPAY. However you will be able to sign-up as a community supporter again, if you choose to do so.

I didn't post it in the local news about myself selling the site because it's still a bit of a sore point, and I didn't want to cause concern. My primary aim is to make the transaction as smooth as possible, if all goes to plan you shouldn't see anything over the next year except for new features and a friendly new face/webmaster.

Oh, and one less fraggle Smile Smilie

P.S. lol, good luck Virumor !! :P
It's a shock, particularly to someone like me who doesn't like change at the best of times, but hey, the world does change. I feel like one of the "older" members here, with respect to when I joined, but Taz formed this site way before I even got my first PC. Seven years is a long time to run a site. I know just from being a CM here, how much time and committment it takes. Taz has put so much of his life into Planet Tolkien, and if the truth's known, his private life and work will have suffered because of it.

Okay, it's a shock to find out it's being sold, but after seven years, I'm sure Taz must have good reasons. I just applaud him for getting things off the ground, and building up the site to the level it is at. None of us want to see detrimental things happen here, and I'm sure whoever spends five grand to buy it will want to see some return for their investment, but that's life. I'm hoping they will have the time to make the improvements Taz never had time for. If they do make a total hash of it, there's still hundreds of other great Tolkien sites out there.
I plan on giving the new owner the benefit of my hanging around until I find it no longer has the qualities we have grown to appreciate. Taz has provided us the platform and the great vision, but it is still our fellow members that make it work; and of course Professor Tolkien's creative genius.
Ahh! I go away for a month or two and come back to THIS?!?!? In March it'll be my 3rd year on PT and like Val, I think it'll be hard to adjust and accept all the changes (not that I'm around much anymore anyways, but that's beside the point.)
Like it says on the site, happy bidding, and I hope that everything turns out for everyone from Taz, to the members, to the new owner(s).
Just like Bilbo!! Big Smile Smilie
PT is being SOLD??? To whom? Will we ever see TAz again?? Boohoo. Will he terminate his membership? Will the person owning all of us (what a prospect!) actually have an account and will they post just like Taz did (when he could) and what will their username be?
I understand Taz's decision to sell PT.
I'm just hoping to still see still him around occasionly and all his efforts in making this place a family friendly atmisphere will prosper on even with a new owner.
I'm curious to know how much he's gonna make from the sale... My buddy had a site and sold it for $1000, then he gets paid monthly to update it.
Well the current bid says ’5,300. I have a feeling that sum will be larger.

About 9,5 hours to go, good luck everybody!
Quote:
I can understand that some have known of this a bit longer time, but for members like me it came as a shock and out of nowhere.


We were told when you were. We have NOT kept this a secret from you. All anyone had to do was glance at the front page. I don't even have to scroll to see it. I can understand that you are upset, but we are all in the same boat here.

Taz is doing what is best for the site. There are so many factors involved that none of us knows about, what we might think would be a good solution, probably wouldn't be when we got to know the facts.

In an ideal world Taz would have time to work on PT, but this isn't an ideal world, and instead of us suffering from his busy life, he is passing us on to someone who can take care of us. That is love.

I hope Taz hangs around even if PT is sold, but I don't know if I could hang around like a ghost and see my work in someone elses hands, out of my controll.
I didn't know about it until after taz had put it on ebay. The Council weren't advised, consulted or involved in any way but having said that the website and taz get our full support as will the new owner.
Can you pin point exactly where I am insinuating such a thing? Never mind, I will just pull the post then.
I am not an English professor, I saw I had used words that sounded worse than i intended, so I edited it very quickly.

No need to feel insulted when no insult was intended.
You had a valid concern which others may share and there was no need to delete your post. My reply, and Amarie's, can stay as answer to anyone else who has that concern.
Time left: 5 hours 32 mins

This is nerve wreching, I'll be a mess before this auction is over. Imagine how Taz must feel! Wary Smilie
Quote:
No need to feel insulted when no insult was intended.

Hmmmm....

*walks away*



Wink Smilie
I have come to like the people wandring around at this site. I think, or at least hope, that there won't be any drastic changes (except maybe some new features etc), and that not all the people whom I look up to because of their wisdom concerning JRRT and his works will leave us.
The favorite thing about this site is that it is okay to dislike the movies in a certain way. I sincerely hope that it still will be okay to dislike the movies when we change owner.
That is my main concern at the moment, after I read that PT is being sold.

But I do think it will all work out just fine.
I can't help thinking it should have been advertised as Magic Kingdom For Sale.
Nah that just makes me think of Disneyworld or -land or what ever. Big fake pink castle and stuff. PT is real. Well as real as internet can be. Wink Smilie Family for sale, loving parent needed.
Well, it was... almost.

Middle Earth for sale

Yes, I've seen that one. I like this quote:
Quote:
Planet-Tolkien.com, the place where people dream in High Elvish

Smile Smilie

Of course the next part "(...), is for sale." is not so nice, that makes the quote a bit sad.
Yeah. Aragorn_estel certainly can't complain that no one reads her journal! Tongue Smilie Almost 4000 views now! Smile Smilie

An on insults and why I think "pre-emptive moderation" only makes it worse: Woman insulted by the eating of a banana
I've heard it all now. How far will we go to appease people in this politically correct world before sensibility can again be applied?

Well, new owners soon.... It hasn't quite sunk in yet. Maybe when they get here and make a few changes? Don't be a stranger though Taz.
I have to start reading the homepage... I didn't know about this until I saw the forum topic up in the recently posted on area a few days ago... Is someone gonna post here who it is when we know? Which will be... wow, really soon! This time-zone thing is messing me up... Pixie Smilie
Only a few minutes to go. I'm sure someone will post the results - hopefully taz will if he has time.

I'm sitting here with a glass of Croft Original.... cheers m'dears!
Well, it's sold... 6600 pounds... Toomanyairmiles won.
Quote:
Imagine how Taz must feel!


I imagine he must feel pretty good considering he more than doubled his opening bid, probably running down to the pub at the moment! Congrats Taz!

Quote:
I'm hoping they will have the time to make the improvements Taz never had time for. If they do make a total hash of it, there's still hundreds of other great Tolkien sites out there.


Quote:
I plan on giving the new owner the benefit of my hanging around until I find it no longer has the qualities we have grown to appreciate.


The above two quotes pretty much sum up how I feel. I could say alot more, but I find it unnecessary at this point. Anyway, it’s a done deal now, all we can do is hope for the best, and that the new owners will put the time required into the site, and PT won’t go on being neglected in so many important areas the way that it has been for quite some time now!

This is either going to be the last dark before the dawn of a glorious new day, or the long, long dark of Moria’.

Elf Smilie
Quote:

Winning bid: ’6,600.00
Ended: 15-Feb-05 18:33:55 GMT
Start time: 08-Feb-05 18:33:55 GMT
History: 21 bids (’3,000.00 starting bid)
Winning bidder: toomanyairmiles


From Ebay!
Well, at least we know now... now to see how the new person pans out. Elf Confused Smilie
Well if things start going astray, you are all invited to http://www.planet-dostoyevsky.com !
well, congrats Taz, I'm just astonded at how much it went for....6600 pounds is almost 20.000 NZ dollars...............Crikey.
Quote:
Well if things start going astray, you are all invited to http://www.planet-dostoyevsky.com !

I will keep that in mind. Big Smile Smilie
Toomanyairmiles? If they actually have a membership account, I hope that won't be their username. Too confusing. So... will Taz still have a membership account? Will toomanyairmiles? Will TMAM actually post on threads every now and then like Taz?
Loni - I have no idea... but I'm sure taz will tell us what he can as soon as the business side is completed and maybe we'll get to interrogate... I mean, welcome - the new owner of PT.
  [1] [2] >>