New owner for ADV

[TheModThatBannedYou]

The one question I would like answered from the new owner is , do any of the owners, moderators/admins actually own and ride a motorcycle?

Where's the JimVonBaden "brow" smilie thingee? Oh, there it is...

[Delicate Snowflake]

I had been doing that for a few years now...
My count would have been close to a 100K
Instead of 49... LOL

I was thinking of removing some of mine here - the posts where now the photo links are now broken. Going back through the threads, there's lots sadly.

I'd ask CD for an auto-script for this but that might be risky?

[campfire]

You know why the windshield is so big, and the rear view mirror is small?

Look forward, glance at the past.

[LadyDraco]

Well said @Campfire !

Every time I look at your avatar the Kenny Loggins song pops in...LOL

[XR650L_Dave]

VS TOS (on their site) asserts everything on the site, they hold the copyright too.

Old ADV TOS says copyright remains with the poster.

I don't think copyright can be transferred by a new TOS.

[drlewall]

VS TOS (on their site) asserts everything on the site, they hold the copyright too.

Old ADV TOS says copyright remains with the poster.

I don't think copyright can be transferred by a new TOS.

New owner, new rules, THEIRS! ADV be damned..

[ozmoses]

Reading through the Fluff thread on advrider regarding this leaves me confuzled.

It would seem that many users there are under the impression that Chris Macaskill, aka baldy, recently sold the site to VerticalScope.

As far as I am aware, and as was pointed out here on page 1 as being old news when this thread began, Chris sold advrider to Rudy a while ago.

Of course, I don't recall if that was ever actually stated explicitly.

So some confusion on the point is understandable.


Likewise, Rudy has titled his thread on the subject referring to VerticalScope as a 'new operator', not the new owner.

So some confusion on the point is understandable.


However, ICANN data lists VS as the current owner of the domain ADVRider.com.


It is,therefore, evident that referring to VS as being 'owner & operator' would have been both more accurate and more forthright- and less confusing to forum members.
.
.
.

Although, this all does seem appropriate since VerticalScope, itself, has a complicated history- owned since 2015 by the Canadian newspaper the Toronto Star which, in turn, is owned by Nordstar Capital, a private equity firm which drove the recent VS IPO:

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/n ... 13201.html

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/torsta ... -1.6073484

https://www.nordstarcapital.ca/

https://www.thestar.com/business/2021/0 ... share.html

"Completing this IPO is an exciting milestone for VerticalScope," said CEO Rob Laidlaw, who founded the company more than two decades ago. "With the proceeds raised, we are in a strong position to accelerate our accretive acquisitions while continuing to invest in our software platform."

In the end, VerticalScope is an advertising company; no more,no less.

https://www.verticalscope.com/

Obviously, the advrider site will be integrated into the standard VS platform along with, I'm sure, many other... enhancements.


The only constant in this world is change.

For better or worse, it is a new day at advrider- whether or not the 'inmates' recognize this fact, or like it...

I am uncharacteristically optimistic about this development.

In my ever so humble opinion, that site has become insular and incestuous in recent years; perhaps this will prove to be the jolt needed to move forward in a positive manner.

Time will tell.

[XR650L_Dave]

I don't know if it simplifies things or not, but the new TOS accessible from the website is on a VS page, ownership may not be that important a distinction.

[ozmoses]

I don't know if it simplifies things or not, but the new TOS accessible from the website is on a VS page, ownership may not be that important a distinction.

My reference to site ownership is, at its core,a discussion of disclosure.

I always thought it was nice of Chris Macaskill to sometimes solicit input from forum members; of course, what he most often received was naught but "It's your site,your rulz. Thanks for all you do,baldy!".

Not particularly useful feedback.

So, it's no surprise then that many people do not understand they haven't been 'donating' money to him or smugmug for quite some time now but, rather, to another owner.

Those people should understand where their 'supporter' dollars go now, at the very least.

A full and clear disclosure of that seems fair and reasonable to me.

Anything less seems disingenuous.



Moreover, I've read your many posts re: VS TOS.

Frankly, I was surprised it took so long for them to become part of the discussion.

Having read them previously in relation to other sites, they very clearly do NOT favor the user in any regard.

For the average and occasional forum member, this probably matters very little if at all.

However, for members who contribute any copyrighted material, the new terms will be of concern.

The relevant discussion there becomes the extent to which their TOS are legally enforceable.

I'll also add that the occasional forum member may,in time, wish s/he copyrighted material- especially personal photos, prior to posting.


In the end, advrider has gone from being a mom and pop storefront to becoming another aisle in Walmart.

Unless there is some very compelling reason to do so, neither the site nor its members will be treated any differently than the other 1200 forums in the VerticalScope portfolio.

Parenthetically, if one were to take a closer look at the Fluff thread one might wonder if the 'content seeders' haven't already arrived... ...

[XR650L_Dave]

Oh yes, I was just looking at the copyright perspective.
Everyone should know exactly who's holding the purse strings and earning the money.

[kwthom]

Reading through the Fluff thread on advrider regarding this leaves me confuzled.

It would seem that many users there are under the impression that Chris Macaskill, aka baldy, recently sold the site to VerticalScope.

As far as I am aware, and as was pointed out here on page 1 as being old news when this thread began, Chris sold advrider to Rudy a while ago.

Of course, I don't recall if that was ever actually stated explicitly.

So some confusion on the point is understandable.
<...>

The resurrection of *this* thread was to explicitly point that out.

Ownership of ADVrider.com: Baldy --> Rudy --> VS

[ozmoses]

The resurrection of *this* thread was to explicitly point that out.

Ownership of ADVrider.com: Baldy --> Rudy --> VS

Probably, this fact should be pointed out *there* where some members continue to labor under the false impression that they have been "Supporting" baldy these last few years.

Particularly, those who seem to feel that Chris MacAskill just 'sold them out' might be disabused of that notion.

[TheModThatBannedYou]

What @ozmoses said.

[AwDang]

In the end, advrider has gone from being a mom and pop storefront to becoming another aisle in Walmart.

That is why I’m here.

[sleazy rider]

In the end, advrider has gone from being a mom and pop storefront to becoming another aisle in Walmart.

That is why I’m here.

Let me add - a resounding me too! I may not post much, but dammit! I’m not supporting yet another hostile takeover.

[LadyDraco]

You are welcome here SleazyRider

[drlewall]

Let me add - a resounding me too! I may not post much, but dammit! I’m not supporting yet another hostile takeover.

Them greedy bastards!

[kwthom]

The resurrection of *this* thread was to explicitly point that out.

Ownership of ADVrider.com: Baldy --> Rudy --> VS

Probably, this fact should be pointed out *there* where some members continue to labor under the false impression that they have been "Supporting" baldy these last few years.

Particularly, those who seem to feel that Chris MacAskill just 'sold them out' might be disabused of that notion.

I'm an absolute nobody in the grand scheme of things, both here *and* there.

If people are just not that involved (even from a user perspective...) on those sorts of details, then that job is left to those at a higher paygrade than mine. Like the people that own the place today still have yet to publicly post a banner message with the details of the transaction.

Thus, the new owner is obfuscating for as long as they can get away with.

The exodus from the place seems to be starting. Time to watch Rome burn, I suppose.

I truly suspect that's the majority of users at that establishment.

[ozmoses]

What @ozmoses said.

I admire your brevity.



As for me- Puto nimis, ergo sum.

[AwDang]

Rome won’t burn. It’ll morph into something you don’t recognize at first. Then looking around, you’ll find the same watering holes, just with new, younger patrons.
The “old farts” that leave will land somewhere else that’s more intimate.