Well, it's time I made a statement about this so that everyone knows and understands where we stand and what we are doing about it. No more hype. No more planning. No more empty promises of what's to come. It's all happening right now.
As many of you know, there has been a sort of mutiny here on WickedFire between some members and me. From all of the information I've gathered over the last week, from many different supporters, friends and peers, it's pretty obvious that this place needs to make some changes right now if we truly want it to live up to the original goal I had for WickedFire from it's launch.
Without getting into the drama, I take full responsibility for banning a lot of the used to be cool members that were here, but a lot of them are also responsible for killing the topics here and turning them to crap really quickly. There have also been lots of rules that weren't enforced that probably should have, but really, we were trying to make everyone happy, and that, a valuable lesson I've learned just this week, is not something anyone can do.
Again, I've learned a lot from this mutiny thing and from finally listening to what people have to say, instead of taking what some seem to think is a God complex approach. I am the owner and leader of this place, but now I hope to take on a different role, which is to listen to you guys, and what you have to say. That doesn't mean you can sit there and tell me your life story, but if you have suggestions for new sections, threads, contests, ideas, basically anything and everything to make this place better, let me know and I will listen to it and write a response back. My email address is Jon @ wickedfire.com. Reach me there at anytime. Your concerns and issues for WickedFire are now mine as well, so don't be afraid to voice concern or ideas. I'm just a regular guy like you.
Change #1
WickedFire Loyalty Section
The WF staff have launched a premium section for members who are active in contributing information. You will find lots of incentives in there if you are invited in (through a democratic voting process by the mods). It's going to house the information I had originally had planned for the paid premium section on WF, but it will be free instead. So if you have topics you'd like to add here, now is your chance, and you will be rewarded for it too. Just our way of saying thanks for your time and effort. We are calling it the WickedFire Loyalty Section. You help us, we'll help you right back.
Change #2
Time to grow up
No more swearing just for the sake of doing it. When I started WF people were relieved to finally be allowed to swear up a storm, and it was fun for a bit, but let's be adults here, it's getting really old. You can still toss in your profane word of choice in your posts, but no longer will you be allowed to bash the shit out of someone in a random thread just because you feel like or because your mother didn't hug you enough as a kid. Remember, swearing is fine, but excessive swearing will no longer be tolerated, especially if it's towards another member.
Change #3
Thread Hijacking
This needs to stop. It's getting so annoying to just see someone post a thread about one topic, and then have it hijacked into some weird and usually sexual topic. Although we won't moderate any single member for doing so (unless they are doing it on purpose to fuck with us), we'll just move it into a large dump of excessive shit posts in it's own special section.
Change #4
No More Hype or Promises from Jon
It's been brought to my attention by a lot of people, not just the lynch mob members but many others too. They are sick and tired of being promised or hyped up about this new section or that new section. Well, I promise to stop that. The only reason I create news about it is because I am excited and want to share it with everyone. I understand though, and really really do agree with you, that I need to stop it. So I am.
Change #5
Stop Being Such A Dick, Jon!
I agree. I have been a huge dick about a lot of things lately, well, for very long time, and as much as I sometimes enjoy being a villian in the industry, times do change, and I would much rather be well respected and trusted, than considered a huge asshole. To prove that I am making a change, I've just asked Lee Dodd to forgive me for being a prick to him, both privately and publicly. As much as I may disagree with someone, it's probably not the best route to get an entire forum of guys hating him. Even though we will always have our differences, and disagreements, I don't hate him, or anyone (unless you give me reason to - aka lie, cheat, steal, betray me). I'm not saying here that I've gone soft, and that I won't call someone out when I think it's necessary, but I am going to tone it down. Also, I will never stop disliking and being vocal about my disgust for the ebook guru crowd, so no luck there guys!
Change #6
New Sections & Mods
Even though I have been pretty against this, it's beyond my control now, and I'm going to go along with it. People want new sections that are more targeted to their topics and needs, so, we are going to give you some of them. From all of the advice I've had and all of the "change this" or "add that" comments, I am almost done figuring out what to add on. They will all be trial add-on sections for 90 days to see how they do. All sections will also now employ their own specific mods. We will continue to have our primary mods, but each section will also have it's own mods watching over and helping us keep up our quality of posts/threads in that specific section. I know, it sounds a little confusing, but I can assure you it's not.
Change #7
Advertising
Chrislingle brought this to my attention, along with some other guys, that they were all under the impression that we were monitizing WickedFire to make money for ourselves off of you guys. This is not the case at all. We are adding advertising to WickedFire and plan on re-investing 90% of it back into the forum, with the remaining 10% to charity. This isn't something new either. I always donate a portion of my income to charities like the USO, or something to help Doberman Pinschers, but will extend it to Cancer Research and Feed the Homeless charities as well. I'm not trying to sound like a saint either, because I'm anything but, but I did want to clear this up before we start aggressively pursuing advertisers.
Change #8
Seperating Newbies From the General Public
This has been a big complaint and worry amongst many affiliates and members alike. Let's not forget, at some point or another, we were all newbies as well. So we can't just leave them hanging, but we can however stop the very new and sometimes annoying ones from poisoning the forum with silly questions. There has always been a Newbies section, and with that said, we have already employed two volunteer mods to this section to guide the newbies into becoming more of a serious affiliate or member. These mods and others are being employed as Guides, because their job is to do just that. Guide members to the next level. By answering questions, or linking them to a useful source that can better help answer their questions without annoying the regular members. We are all newbies at something, and I consider myself a newbie at many things in the industry as well. None of us are experts in everything, so if you feel like you're in a helping mood, help the newbies out. They will be greatful more than you know, and you may even feel good doing it.
I just want everyone to remember that this whole WickedFire project is about bettering yourself, your career as an affiliate marketer/traffic person, and most importantly, bettering the community so the younger generations and even novices or experts can benefit from our knowledge and information. If you have something good, or bad, share it. We are doing this for you, and the best way to lend a hand is to help us by sharing information as openly and freely as possible.
Thanks to everyone who gave me advice and showed serious support during this rough but definitely one hell of a learning experience of a rough patch. You have my loyalty, trust, friendship, and most of all, respect. Thanks!
As many of you know, there has been a sort of mutiny here on WickedFire between some members and me. From all of the information I've gathered over the last week, from many different supporters, friends and peers, it's pretty obvious that this place needs to make some changes right now if we truly want it to live up to the original goal I had for WickedFire from it's launch.
Without getting into the drama, I take full responsibility for banning a lot of the used to be cool members that were here, but a lot of them are also responsible for killing the topics here and turning them to crap really quickly. There have also been lots of rules that weren't enforced that probably should have, but really, we were trying to make everyone happy, and that, a valuable lesson I've learned just this week, is not something anyone can do.
Again, I've learned a lot from this mutiny thing and from finally listening to what people have to say, instead of taking what some seem to think is a God complex approach. I am the owner and leader of this place, but now I hope to take on a different role, which is to listen to you guys, and what you have to say. That doesn't mean you can sit there and tell me your life story, but if you have suggestions for new sections, threads, contests, ideas, basically anything and everything to make this place better, let me know and I will listen to it and write a response back. My email address is Jon @ wickedfire.com. Reach me there at anytime. Your concerns and issues for WickedFire are now mine as well, so don't be afraid to voice concern or ideas. I'm just a regular guy like you.
Change #1
WickedFire Loyalty Section
The WF staff have launched a premium section for members who are active in contributing information. You will find lots of incentives in there if you are invited in (through a democratic voting process by the mods). It's going to house the information I had originally had planned for the paid premium section on WF, but it will be free instead. So if you have topics you'd like to add here, now is your chance, and you will be rewarded for it too. Just our way of saying thanks for your time and effort. We are calling it the WickedFire Loyalty Section. You help us, we'll help you right back.
Change #2
Time to grow up
No more swearing just for the sake of doing it. When I started WF people were relieved to finally be allowed to swear up a storm, and it was fun for a bit, but let's be adults here, it's getting really old. You can still toss in your profane word of choice in your posts, but no longer will you be allowed to bash the shit out of someone in a random thread just because you feel like or because your mother didn't hug you enough as a kid. Remember, swearing is fine, but excessive swearing will no longer be tolerated, especially if it's towards another member.
Change #3
Thread Hijacking
This needs to stop. It's getting so annoying to just see someone post a thread about one topic, and then have it hijacked into some weird and usually sexual topic. Although we won't moderate any single member for doing so (unless they are doing it on purpose to fuck with us), we'll just move it into a large dump of excessive shit posts in it's own special section.
Change #4
No More Hype or Promises from Jon
It's been brought to my attention by a lot of people, not just the lynch mob members but many others too. They are sick and tired of being promised or hyped up about this new section or that new section. Well, I promise to stop that. The only reason I create news about it is because I am excited and want to share it with everyone. I understand though, and really really do agree with you, that I need to stop it. So I am.
Change #5
Stop Being Such A Dick, Jon!
I agree. I have been a huge dick about a lot of things lately, well, for very long time, and as much as I sometimes enjoy being a villian in the industry, times do change, and I would much rather be well respected and trusted, than considered a huge asshole. To prove that I am making a change, I've just asked Lee Dodd to forgive me for being a prick to him, both privately and publicly. As much as I may disagree with someone, it's probably not the best route to get an entire forum of guys hating him. Even though we will always have our differences, and disagreements, I don't hate him, or anyone (unless you give me reason to - aka lie, cheat, steal, betray me). I'm not saying here that I've gone soft, and that I won't call someone out when I think it's necessary, but I am going to tone it down. Also, I will never stop disliking and being vocal about my disgust for the ebook guru crowd, so no luck there guys!
Change #6
New Sections & Mods
Even though I have been pretty against this, it's beyond my control now, and I'm going to go along with it. People want new sections that are more targeted to their topics and needs, so, we are going to give you some of them. From all of the advice I've had and all of the "change this" or "add that" comments, I am almost done figuring out what to add on. They will all be trial add-on sections for 90 days to see how they do. All sections will also now employ their own specific mods. We will continue to have our primary mods, but each section will also have it's own mods watching over and helping us keep up our quality of posts/threads in that specific section. I know, it sounds a little confusing, but I can assure you it's not.
Change #7
Advertising
Chrislingle brought this to my attention, along with some other guys, that they were all under the impression that we were monitizing WickedFire to make money for ourselves off of you guys. This is not the case at all. We are adding advertising to WickedFire and plan on re-investing 90% of it back into the forum, with the remaining 10% to charity. This isn't something new either. I always donate a portion of my income to charities like the USO, or something to help Doberman Pinschers, but will extend it to Cancer Research and Feed the Homeless charities as well. I'm not trying to sound like a saint either, because I'm anything but, but I did want to clear this up before we start aggressively pursuing advertisers.
Change #8
Seperating Newbies From the General Public
This has been a big complaint and worry amongst many affiliates and members alike. Let's not forget, at some point or another, we were all newbies as well. So we can't just leave them hanging, but we can however stop the very new and sometimes annoying ones from poisoning the forum with silly questions. There has always been a Newbies section, and with that said, we have already employed two volunteer mods to this section to guide the newbies into becoming more of a serious affiliate or member. These mods and others are being employed as Guides, because their job is to do just that. Guide members to the next level. By answering questions, or linking them to a useful source that can better help answer their questions without annoying the regular members. We are all newbies at something, and I consider myself a newbie at many things in the industry as well. None of us are experts in everything, so if you feel like you're in a helping mood, help the newbies out. They will be greatful more than you know, and you may even feel good doing it.
I just want everyone to remember that this whole WickedFire project is about bettering yourself, your career as an affiliate marketer/traffic person, and most importantly, bettering the community so the younger generations and even novices or experts can benefit from our knowledge and information. If you have something good, or bad, share it. We are doing this for you, and the best way to lend a hand is to help us by sharing information as openly and freely as possible.
Thanks to everyone who gave me advice and showed serious support during this rough but definitely one hell of a learning experience of a rough patch. You have my loyalty, trust, friendship, and most of all, respect. Thanks!
