CR4 - How does it exist ?

Haven't you noticed the advertisements?

Not really, until you mentioned it!

I don't agree that CR4 is the fantastic resource that you describe or that Chris Leonard is some super-human Administrator. Disagree with him one time and you get banned for life. I have an inquiring mind, but I don't get to express it here (or at least pending appeal).

The site relies on advertising for funding apparently. Participation is way down though. This is evident by viewing the Whois on line, sometimes just barely 100 persons world-wide down from a high of 900+ several years back.

Do I detect sour grapes here Guest?

My experience is that you have to be an obnoxious, foulmouth flamer jerk to get banned here.

As stated, www.Globalspec.com is a for-profit enterprise. I've followed links here, and from their news-letters, and purchased stuff, so I guess it pays off for them.

If you don't like it, just walk away. However, it works for me.

Hi Bricktop

Just a guess but I suspect that #2 post is Leonard fishing for love under a mask of anonymity............sort of a convoluted reverse psychology sorta thing.

Just a thot

Hello, Kris,

I agreed with Hero point. Yes the advert is the main issue. I think CMS system, hosting and other software/hardware spendings are the least share in total cr4 cost/value. Salaries for admins' and editor staff is some greater but as well not such a significant to compare with main globalspec dotcom business.

But yours, Kris, posts along with others guru/veterans plus posts of all rested members are resulting to greater site traffic, top rating in search engines (Google, Yahoo etc). These and others factors make site very attractive for advertisement activity and gather means for its maintenance and developing. I've also noticed that some of blog topics looks like as surveillance queries.

Therefore it's both way road. You're grateful to cr4 staff. They hopefully grateful to You.

regards, caramba

I have been a CR4 participant for a little while now, as both a question poser and answerer. The adverts don't bother me in the least and I find some of them to be very helpful.

I am not sure how the whole thing came about but i am glad to have it as a useful resource in discovering information that is sometime hidden very well.

As for the above guest, I have had some pretty intense discussions with some of the other guru's in here and some of them were quite rude as was I. I am still here and have not been banned. My guess is you were very rude or crude or something of that nature and got banned for that behavior, not for expressing your opinion.

So thanks to the Admin and contributors for some fascinating reading and much needed information.

I thought it was funded by royalties from all the dead guys who get their quotes published here.

I thought it was all done so that I could further inflate my catly ego and preen and primp uncontrollably.

Saw a thing on telly last night Steven Fry going around the USA in sherbert. He spoke to the guy who started Wikipedia, apperently it only has about 6 emplyees and is non proffit making...no ads on Wiki.

Del <exit left rubbing aginst monitor>

Del,

Which channel was it?

I too agree that it is a good thing to have despite I used to whinge but, only against some participants who did not always say what I would have liked to hear as an answer to some of my questions however, it is seemingly improving.

Well done everybody!

BBC2 I think (I'm guessing 'cos Mrs Cat grabbed the remote that night....but I shall get my revenge and watch the footie tonight...assuming it's on)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00f2dfv

I saw it too, though I recall him saying 8 or 10 people 'worked' for Wiki (which the wiki founder chap confirmed). First time I've seen the prog, it's an interesting watch. He has his own web-site somewhere, and the QI site looks intereting.

First time I've seen the prog
That'd be 'cos it was the first installment

You forgot it was my turn to use the time machine next week. I'm still on a paragraph break, but reading all these posts with much interest.

I've been a little busy for a few weeks, just been going through some of the daily digests & couldn't resist a little squirel tusseling.

As my time is in higher demand, I have to be a little more discerning about how I spend my time.

Queries by guests may get a look but won't get a reply.

A little of the intimacy is lost as the userbase expands.

Seeing a new member come to terms with this amazing resource [ or is it just entertainment? ] is always a joy.

Seeing the know nothings [free energy idiots] pounded into submission equally gratifying.

I've been busy unmarrying, finding new love, rebuilding my business [stroking beauraucrats], I do catch up [CR4] from time to time.

Apix is still alive & well, jumping through all the legal hoops of incorporation take some time? I'll post some when something actually happens.

Now I can never resist posting a silly kitty pic [even though Del makes me sneeze], somehow squirls aren't as popular.

Hi Garthh, it's good to see you back ! I'm sure that many people will agree with/relate to (oops, bad phrase maybe ) those points. I recall the Tiger pic(s) from elsewhere - awesome ! Cats are so sneeky, peeking through closed up eyelids, if only they could talk . I don't know where the phrase 'Legal Eagles' came from, I can think of other birds more suited even if they don't rhyme

BBC1 9pm Sundays Just saw a trailer for it on t'box.

Maybe no ads but big time support from publishing houses.

part of business, value addition. But created a platform in a reliable forum to discuss with 'the' like minded people who wants to share their experience/knowledge. we get satisfaction when someone at the other part of the world appreciates/responds to our feelings/problems/concerns(I recollect the concerns shown when there is an earth quake in china, hurricane in Texas, etc.)

and I appreciate these words from kris

'it restores my faith in the nature of how a global society can work'.

thanks CR4 for creating an opportunity for interacting with these great guys,

kayems

I would guess that ads help this site to survive in addition to the members/guests who post here and keep it lively.

Sure, a server and administrator are defiantly part of the puzzle. It is my opinion that what really makes this a great site is the magnitude and caliber of the participants. Yes, you could always "google" something up and its also free (for the time being) but what makes this site so special is the combined years of hands on experience from everyone who contributes. I would have at a guess the mindset of engineers/tradesmen/technicians/"jack of all trades" is one of constantly striving to improve, the financial rewards seem to take a second place.

As someone who's skulked on CR4 for quite some time, long before I joined, I have to note that the quality has gone down. There appears to be a lot more of attacking the messenger rather than attacking the idea. Sign of the times perhaps?

I think (like others) the advertising from Globalspec pays the bills, thats why we should use Globalspec when possible, especially if we like CR4 a lot (like me).

I have been reading and then a member of CR4 for over two years. I have no solid numbers to back it up but it seems as though the participation has decreased over time. Could an administrator comment on this? Is my impression correct? Is there something the regular posters could do to help? Be nicer, be more aggressive, start more threads?

I would like CR4 to continue a long time and grow if possible.

Actually the CR4 traffic has not declined over time. It has indeed grown significantly. We average about 250,000 visitors per month - up from 175,000 visitors/month a year ago. We've also seen significant growth in the amount of posts per day. This is a healthy and robust community site.

Could everyone be a little nicer, though - sure...

Thank You.

Sorry Chris, I'll be nicer. Sometimes it's a little hard.

For it to exist this long , it must be in equilibrium as any other system that exists.

I am sure somewhere cost and revenues off-set each other and create a profit , as little as it may be or ever growing into lots of zeros.

My significant benefit , for which I am grateful , is that after 30 years in the telecommunications, control system and electrical power business, there are a whole lot of forums on this site that I can learn from and contribute.

I feel a kind of kinship with the other techies like me who would have had problems figuring out transformer connections, faced elusive intermittent electrical problems.

Hell, we are all friends here , just that we have never met before.

So for whoever works in the engine room of this thing . Keep it going.

Hey.........

They thought of it.

Spent some dough.

Made it happen.

Attracted some darn good expertise, info and likewise advertisers.

Hope it gets them into the big time.

I recommend this site (_{grovel grovel}) and have

Never heard about meta-monitoring...? I've noted a wide range of abilities to present insults here. You are correct, the best of them make you laugh so hard, the insult never stings. The worst are so crass all they do is stink. You've been hanging around here since nearly the beginning, I came along about two years later. But yes, it's a fine place to spend some time!

I told you I took a shower my crass don't stink

yes, it's a fine place to spend some time!

Habitual even. Too darn interesting not to be.

Yes the reduction in moderation possibly allows more trash through. Also when the more up to date format arrived and the "Anonymous Coward" was replaced with "Guest" the Anonymous Cowards felt they could abuse their Guest rights with impunity. I joined around the same time as you. The other thing I've noticed recently is the amount of "Wiki Experts" who have little or no real experience but feel obliged to tell all and sundry what they found on Wiki.

Yeah, you're right about the anonymous coward. Maybe we can talk the admin's to change it back!

CR4 gives one faith in the human race, and hope that it can survive. This is the friendliest place I have found on the Net- yeah, there is some flaming, but nothing like one sees elsewhere. It amazes me that so many astute individuals freely give of their expertise, and the quality of the responses is phenomenal, for the most part. I would like to believe that, even if the Powers That Be were to pull the plug on the server, we would find some way to continue this community. It is the community that keeps it going...