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Thread: What is up with FPN?

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    Senior Member fountainpenkid's Avatar
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    Default What is up with FPN?

    Well, I decided to take a peak at FPN to see if anything interesting is going on, and I see some pretty crazy stuff. They now are making the rules more and more complex, but that is nothing new. The thing that really surprised me is this: there are now 3 "special" accounts for people who sell a lot of pens or just want to be more "powerful." You have to pay $90, $180, or $350 bucks to get them, but it gives you more power...to sell pens on the classifieds, as well as to have more power over topics. And yet they insist that the classifieds are not for member that only want to sell pens... This leaves me with a very bad taste in my mouth. I immediately have had my account deleted. Anybody else really find this going too far?
    Last edited by fountainpenkid; April 7th, 2013 at 07:50 PM.
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    Senior Member woosang's Avatar
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    Default Re: What is up with FPN?

    Oh? I have to pop in and have a peak

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    Senior Member jar's Avatar
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    Default Re: What is up with FPN?

    I don't see the problem. But if storming out makes you feel better go for it.

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    Senior Member fountainpenkid's Avatar
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    Default Re: What is up with FPN?

    It just seems a bit too controlled and hierarchical and silly. But I would completely understand others' (who are more connected to it at present) choice to live with it...maybe it is just me.
    Will
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    Senior Member Bogon07's Avatar
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    Default Re: What is up with FPN?

    FPK, it looks like they have decided that if you are going to use FPN to make money from pen sales then you should contibute towards the site up keep, hence the Premium Accounts. For those who use the forum solely to sell or trade in volume.

    I'm not quite sure of the wording of this part of the rules and how that would be enforced. Could be aimed at those who are putting it discussion posts just to draw attention to their blogs for commercial gain ?
    In a subject discussed on The Fountain Pen Network, links to other sites (including links to Blogs) may only be posted by approved and paying Premium Account Holders. Links, redirects or pointers to content, which duplicate content as found on The Fountain Pen Network, are not allowed.
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    FPG Donor ♕ KrazyIvan's Avatar
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    Default Re: What is up with FPN?

    I saw that Bogon. Makes me worry. I think it is in conflict with another rule that says you CAN post blog links but you have to at least summarize your post. Confusing.
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    Default Re: What is up with FPN?

    Many of the members on FPN, are not overly happy about what is going either.


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    FPG Donor ♕ KrazyIvan's Avatar
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    Default Re: What is up with FPN?

    Just read the thread. I seem to visit FPN less and less. There are a couple of threads that I do like reading. I also like helping with the noob questions when I see them. I had pretty much stopped posting my reviews there except for the odd ball here and there. *sigh* I don't quite understand something about the external links. Sometimes when someone solicited advise on a certain pen and I have a review on said pen I would post a link to my blog review. I guess I cannot do that anymore?
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    Senior Member Bogon07's Avatar
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    Default Re: What is up with FPN?

    KI, maybe you should approach the Administrators about that as their wording could do with some clarification. You are not selling stationery but sharing knowledge which I assume is the whole point of the FPN & FPG forums.

    I find FPN very sloooooooow on any PC or iPad which limits my enthusiasm for visiting.

    I think I can sort of see the Admin's reasoning behind these new rules. They seem to have become concerned about a perceived trend towards commercialisation away from a community forum.
    Also their ruling on appraisals indicates there were some complaints about that aspect as well. There appears to have been a resurgence of interest in stationery and fountain pens in particular which is going to attract purely business orientated individuals who are trying to use these sites as free advertising after all they have a ready made audience of potential buyers.
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    Senior Member Tracy Lee's Avatar
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    Default Re: What is up with FPN?

    Have only been to the site twice, and ages ago. I had trouble following threads but perhaps that was lack of forum experience. At any rate, my husband uses a prop replica forum and their rules are very strict so it does depend on the mods and what their goals are. Sometimes those goals are not compatible with all users. I so enjoy this community and the free exchange of information, reviews, opinions, etc. I have learned so much I don't have a need for another forum right now. But I am a FP simpleton compared to most of you, so I hope you can encourage clarity on their new rules so you can continue to enjoy that community, too.

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    Senior Member fountainpenkid's Avatar
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    Default Re: What is up with FPN?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bogon07 View Post
    FPK, it looks like they have decided that if you are going to use FPN to make money from pen sales then you should contribute towards the site up keep, hence the Premium Accounts. For those who use the forum solely to sell or trade in volume.

    I'm not quite sure of the wording of this part of the rules and how that would be enforced. Could be aimed at those who are putting it discussion posts just to draw attention to their blogs for commercial gain ?
    I think so. But if you are willing to shell out the dough, you get that power and much, much more?
    Last edited by fountainpenkid; April 9th, 2013 at 04:51 AM.
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    Senior Member jar's Avatar
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    Default Re: What is up with FPN?

    I don't see anything that would effect the average user. Sure, some of the wording will have to get sorted out but that's normal. Frankly, it looks to be no big deal.

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    Senior Member Sailor Kenshin's Avatar
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    Default Re: What is up with FPN?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bogon07 View Post
    FPK, it looks like they have decided that if you are going to use FPN to make money from pen sales then you should contibute towards the site up keep, hence the Premium Accounts. For those who use the forum solely to sell or trade in volume.

    I'm not quite sure of the wording of this part of the rules and how that would be enforced. Could be aimed at those who are putting it discussion posts just to draw attention to their blogs for commercial gain ?
    Ruh roh. I think I just did that. Not to sell anything but I post links to my blog all the time.
    Last edited by Sailor Kenshin; April 9th, 2013 at 11:03 AM.
    My other pen is a Montblanc.

    And my other blog is a tumblr!


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    Default Re: What is up with FPN?

    This does affect average joe members with blogs as myself. Watch_art posted:

    The rule:
    In a subject discussed on The Fountain Pen Network, links to other sites (including links to Blogs) may only be posted by approved and paying Premium Account Holders. Links, redirects or pointers to content, which duplicate content as found on The Fountain Pen Network, are not allowed. The Fountain Pen Network is a free service to our members, and The Fountain Pen Network maintains sets of rules, posting limitations, and a fee structure for those advertising goods, services, and external information sources such as blogs and sites which have similar content to the Fountain Pen Network.
    and watch_arts answer:

    I think the second part is speaking specifically to people posting links to their own blogs/sites in an effort to drive traffic their way. The rule I posted would cover everything you're talking about above, like posting a link about baby bottom for educational purposes. You're not Binder, so the first rule applies to you. If you were Binder, the second rule would apply to you, so you'd have to be a paying member to post links to your own blog/site, in that example.
    While I am not trying to drive traffic to my blog, it is convenient to just post a link to something I may have already stated in a blog post. They are also saying that links in your sig may require payment. I am not happy about that either.
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    Senior Member Sailor Kenshin's Avatar
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    Default Re: What is up with FPN?

    Are you KIDDING? No more links in your siggy line? Because I have TWO.
    My other pen is a Montblanc.

    And my other blog is a tumblr!


    And my latest ebook, for spooky wintery reading:

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CM2NGSSD

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    Senior Member fountainpenkid's Avatar
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    Default Re: What is up with FPN?

    Quote Originally Posted by KrazyIvan View Post
    This does affect average joe members with blogs as myself. Watch_art posted:

    The rule:


    and watch_arts answer:



    While I am not trying to drive traffic to my blog, it is convenient to just post a link to something I may have already stated in a blog post. They are also saying that links in your sig may require payment. I am not happy about that either.
    How ridiculous. Really, I can imagine all the time you bloggers take to write your reviews...and to have to re-write it all (even if it is copying and pasting) is a royal pain the ass for no reason. Why shouldn't someone be able to give their blog a little kickstart???
    Will
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    Senior Member Maja's Avatar
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    Default Re: What is up with FPN?

    Quote Originally Posted by fountainpenkid View Post
    How ridiculous. Really, I can imagine all the time you bloggers take to write your reviews...and to have to re-write it all (even if it is copying and pasting) is a royal pain the ass for no reason. Why shouldn't someone be able to give their blog a little kickstart???
    Answer: because if the review disappears from the reviewer's blog, it disappears from the FPN site as well, and it's very annoying (think of all the stuff hosted by Photobucket et al that disappears when someone deletes images from their albums).

    FPN is a very large, popular and expensive site to host and they have never charged anyone a penny to post anything there since it was launched in 2004 (the site even hosts images posted by members, something that many other pen sites do not). The Admins and Mods are all volunteers. The fact that high-volume & professional sellers who wish to continue advertising their wares now have to purchase premium accounts does not affect the vast majority of FPN members...far from it. And since I don't want to waste any more FPGeeks bandwidth on the topic, I will stop there.

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    Senior Member fountainpenkid's Avatar
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    Default Re: What is up with FPN?

    You definitely have a point about the review disappearing. I guess as this story further becomes clearer to me it makes more sense why they did this...though not to the extent they did.
    Will
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    Default Re: What is up with FPN?

    FPN is offline now.... Was it something I said?
    My other pen is a Montblanc.

    And my other blog is a tumblr!


    And my latest ebook, for spooky wintery reading:

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CM2NGSSD

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    Default Re: What is up with FPN?

    I'm hoping FPN raises the selling limit for inexpensive items. I like to sell little things in the $3-$20 range for diversion and a bit of pocket money.... buy if I can only list 24 items a year it would make that less tempting. Anyway, all the changes the other day are what got me to finally sign up here.

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