I don't think there is any doubt that PN are trying to use some of the regular posters here to communicate on their behalf. What other justification could there be for Ian Wild and James Bailey sending a concerted wave of PMs to ex-customers? I know of at least six who have received such messages in the past few days and it can only be a planned propaganda exercise.

Some of the points raised in their PMs may well be worth discussing but you are right to object to what looks like an attempt to use you, and others, as messenger boys.

If PlusNet want to say something here then they should come and say it - and stop behaving like children.

Simon

What is this attack, attack mob?

Is this your way of trolling prehaps?

I reckon that Plus.net are regretting about pulling out from here but there isn't any way that they can come back on here without looking like they've made a U turn. It seems that their "let's throw a stink bomb in this forum before running out of the room" is back-firing because a lot of good discussions have come up, all without the usual trolling debate I hasten to add yet Plus.net aren't able to put their point across and the PUG don't seem to have the time to do so themselves.

My view has remained that I'm unconcerned whether they post or not, because their status/importance to an open forum should be regarded equal to other members, and participation is voluntary.

In my opinion, they over-estimated their importance to this forum (evidenced by the outburst of their Marketing Director), with the inevitable result that the forum continues to thrive whilst they have disenfranchised themselves from putting their perspective.

The trouble, in my opinion, with making big gestures like Plusnet did, is that it often leads to you unnecessarily "painting yourself in to a corner".

<Quote>

The trouble, in my opinion, with making big gestures like Plusnet did, is that it often leads to you unnecessarily "painting yourself in to a corner".

</Quote>

<Nods enthusiastically>

I couldn't agree more with your last comment and the reply in general..

No single man or woman is more important in this forum..

</nod enthusiastically >

In reply to:

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but there isn't any way that they can come back on here without looking like they've made a U turn

---

Oh, I don't know. They did it before with the usual Plus-spin about how things had changed here.

They'll be back, don't worry.

Well, Andrew says that the invitation to post on here is still open so now it looks like a Mexican stand-off to see who blinks first.

Personally I don't think that many members here really give a damn if Plus.net post here or not..

It could be a good poll to start..

"No single man or woman is more important in this forum.. "

you are forgetting "Don" best moderator in the world :-)

Ah yes, God rest his soul!..

I suppose the AG forum moderators should all be turned in to deities forthwith!

"I would have thought that these forums would have been better candidates for letting users see how the ISP is run?"

I've spent a lot of time in discussion forums of various flavours and the importance of what is not said gets my attention as much as what is said. There have been a lot of direct questions asked of PN and there has been scant evidence of PN sitting down and actually answering them. There has been much evasion, counter-evasion and ad hominem attacks on those that have asked the direct questions.

Once upon a time AG was a crucible where folks who had problems with PN's service burned away their issues until a solution was found. All this happened within minutes/hours of the original post. Most of the time was taken in penning a response, which didn't need thought as the response was obvious. They did the *right thing* time and time again.

I've come to the conclusion that PN are engaged in campaigns to obfuscate options open to customers who want to leave the service, to intimidate dissenters and control the amount of negativity in forums which may soon reverse PN's viral marketing strategy.

Most people don't really want to know how an ISP is run. They don't want to know about future plans. They trust that the service they buy is well run and that they have scalable plans for the future. They want answers to questions. They want PN to do the *right thing* without the need to get them in a headlock. People *need* to see those pertinent questions addressed.

If I was an investor I would be extremely worried about my investment right now. The viral marketing strategy has all but gone and the ideas to reverse the trend are woefully flawed. They are going to have to spend big money on advertising to survive.

TT