Comments on: Cayman Message forum censorship :( http://blog.thereef.com/2005/06/cayman-message-forum-censorship/ Cayman Blog from The Reef Resort in Grand Cayman Wed, 25 Aug 2010 20:13:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Anonymous http://blog.thereef.com/2005/06/cayman-message-forum-censorship/comment-page-1/#comment-75 Anonymous Mon, 27 Jun 2005 08:42:00 +0000 http://blog.thereef.com/?p=25#comment-75 Eric,We Morritt owners see this issue as just a smoke screen to distract us. How many times do we have to ask about the hurricane donations we all sent in for the employees. $27,000 was the last figure on the forum. The Cayman compass article telling all employees to pick up their 50 dollar food gift certicate was pointed out by Tom in your forum and you did not like that. Eric tell us please where is the rest of the money? Eric,We Morritt owners see this issue as just a smoke screen to distract us. How many times do we have to ask about the hurricane donations we all sent in for the employees. $27,000 was the last figure on the forum. The Cayman compass article telling all employees to pick up their 50 dollar food gift certicate was pointed out by Tom in your forum and you did not like that. Eric tell us please where is the rest of the money?

]]> By: bbgrsp http://blog.thereef.com/2005/06/cayman-message-forum-censorship/comment-page-1/#comment-56 bbgrsp Wed, 22 Jun 2005 20:57:00 +0000 http://blog.thereef.com/?p=25#comment-56 Tom/Erik<br/><br/>I am bbgrsp, that made the post asking for information about wedding sites.<br/><br/>The reason I found Morritt's website/forum was because I am an RCI member and use to find it very informative before it was dwindle to a private membership. Not a whole lot of usefull information anymore. Really too bad, I use to enjoy it and found out a great deal to learn about place/things in Cayman.<br/><br/>I didn't find Tom's post to be anything but helpful, I am glad I got a chance to read it before it was pulled.<br/><br/>If you don't want someone like Tom posting and are going to sensor it they why give him rights to post at all. All seems trival to me...<br/><br/>It was great to know there were other options while most of the RCI resort that I am affilated with will not be up and running to full capacity and availabilty for our Wedding in Dec 2005. (Hey Tom, don't forget our discount!!!)<br/><br/>Honestly, there is more than enought room and business for both. Tom/Erik

I am bbgrsp, that made the post asking for information about wedding sites.

The reason I found Morritt’s website/forum was because I am an RCI member and use to find it very informative before it was dwindle to a private membership. Not a whole lot of usefull information anymore. Really too bad, I use to enjoy it and found out a great deal to learn about place/things in Cayman.

I didn’t find Tom’s post to be anything but helpful, I am glad I got a chance to read it before it was pulled.

If you don’t want someone like Tom posting and are going to sensor it they why give him rights to post at all. All seems trival to me…

It was great to know there were other options while most of the RCI resort that I am affilated with will not be up and running to full capacity and availabilty for our Wedding in Dec 2005. (Hey Tom, don’t forget our discount!!!)

Honestly, there is more than enought room and business for both.

]]> By: TomCayman http://blog.thereef.com/2005/06/cayman-message-forum-censorship/comment-page-1/#comment-53 TomCayman Wed, 22 Jun 2005 18:15:00 +0000 http://blog.thereef.com/?p=25#comment-53 Lee.. well put... <br/><br/>Re our Forums... we have well over 3,000 people on our email list for newsletters, but when we had our forums, we only ever had about 10 or 15 active posters... there just really isn't that much to say about a small resort... it doesn't change that often.<br/><br/>For now I'll keep blogging, plus try to distill Reef stuff from the blog plus other news more Reef specific to our e-newsletter and try to keep sending one out every couple of months.<br/><br/>BTW, I am sure this is obvious to those who already dive with them, but sign up for the Ocean Frontiers newsletter even if you don't dive, their monthly newsletters are fun to read ! Lee.. well put…

Re our Forums… we have well over 3,000 people on our email list for newsletters, but when we had our forums, we only ever had about 10 or 15 active posters… there just really isn’t that much to say about a small resort… it doesn’t change that often.

For now I’ll keep blogging, plus try to distill Reef stuff from the blog plus other news more Reef specific to our e-newsletter and try to keep sending one out every couple of months.

BTW, I am sure this is obvious to those who already dive with them, but sign up for the Ocean Frontiers newsletter even if you don’t dive, their monthly newsletters are fun to read !

]]> By: Lee http://blog.thereef.com/2005/06/cayman-message-forum-censorship/comment-page-1/#comment-52 Lee Wed, 22 Jun 2005 17:47:00 +0000 http://blog.thereef.com/?p=25#comment-52 Interesting... I can see both sides on this one. But, most common forum rules do prohibit solicitaion and even if you are giving useful information, if you are _affiliated_ with the reference in question (thats the distinguishing difference), then you are doomed to have it deemed a "plug". The best way to handle this is to tell the person in the post to contact you in email if they would like to know more information about.... I know you are doing a great service and you should continue to provide the info! And as far as doing it on a competitor's website forum, its always going to be treated with extra scrutiny... By the way... Reef need its own forum again. I know it kind of died on the vine but it was very useful and I think a lot of people were lurking... consider bringing it back! Interesting… I can see both sides on this one. But, most common forum rules do prohibit solicitaion and even if you are giving useful information, if you are _affiliated_ with the reference in question (thats the distinguishing difference), then you are doomed to have it deemed a “plug”. The best way to handle this is to tell the person in the post to contact you in email if they would like to know more information about…. I know you are doing a great service and you should continue to provide the info! And as far as doing it on a competitor’s website forum, its always going to be treated with extra scrutiny… By the way… Reef need its own forum again. I know it kind of died on the vine but it was very useful and I think a lot of people were lurking… consider bringing it back!

]]> By: TomCayman http://blog.thereef.com/2005/06/cayman-message-forum-censorship/comment-page-1/#comment-51 TomCayman Wed, 22 Jun 2005 17:16:00 +0000 http://blog.thereef.com/?p=25#comment-51 Erik... you say tomayto, I say tomahto... to be honest, the posts you clipped in their actually prove my point, not yours.<br/><br/>2 of those examples you used were me offering a special rate to displaced Grand Cayman timeshare owners... which was at a commercial COST to me, as I gave them (I'll disclose it now, I couldn't at the time, for contractual reasons, make it public) a 25% discount off winter rates... that was significantly lower than anybody else got, so it COST me money to offer this... I was genuinely trying to help owners at other timeshare resorts come back to Cayman.<br/><br/>The 3rd post you reference was linking to a weather station... how is that commercial ?<br/><br/>Anyway, you are a great guy... and I hope Morritts give you an opportunity to get back down to Cayman full time, as I know you were settling in here well... and I will definitely buy you a Red Stripe or two at our beach bar when you next come down ! Erik… you say tomayto, I say tomahto… to be honest, the posts you clipped in their actually prove my point, not yours.

2 of those examples you used were me offering a special rate to displaced Grand Cayman timeshare owners… which was at a commercial COST to me, as I gave them (I’ll disclose it now, I couldn’t at the time, for contractual reasons, make it public) a 25% discount off winter rates… that was significantly lower than anybody else got, so it COST me money to offer this… I was genuinely trying to help owners at other timeshare resorts come back to Cayman.

The 3rd post you reference was linking to a weather station… how is that commercial ?

Anyway, you are a great guy… and I hope Morritts give you an opportunity to get back down to Cayman full time, as I know you were settling in here well… and I will definitely buy you a Red Stripe or two at our beach bar when you next come down !

]]> By: Erik Stafford http://blog.thereef.com/2005/06/cayman-message-forum-censorship/comment-page-1/#comment-50 Erik Stafford Wed, 22 Jun 2005 13:39:00 +0000 http://blog.thereef.com/?p=25#comment-50 You have never gone to our website to plug your resort? Let's see... a quick search brings up about a hundred examples... let's look at the most recent three:<br/><br/>Rental offer from The Reef... "soon done" <br/>Posted by TomCayman, January 5th, 2005, 05:18 PM <br/>----------------------------<br/>As many of you know, at The Reef we offered a special discount for all Grand Cayman timeshare owners who still wanted to visit Grand Cayman in 2005....<br/><br/><br/>Posted by TomCayman, October 18th, 2003, 07:15 PM <br/>----------------------------<br/>If you visit www.thereef.com.ky and go to our weather page we have a link to the East End weather station...<br/><br/><br/>Posted by TomCayman, October 31st, 2004, 08:46 PM <br/>----------------------------<br/>The Reef is offering all Grand Cayman timeshare owners (as they are all closed for the winter season) special deals on rentals, see www.thereef.com.ky for more information...<br/><br/>Right. So yeah, I think I close my case. It didn't have to be this way, but I have given you several warnings... if the companies were reversed and it was me posting Morritt's offers on the Reef website you would not like it, or allow it.<br/><br/>I am going to let this rest now, and I wish you the best in all that you do... but I will not have you soliciting your resorts on our website.<br/><br/>Regards,<br/><br/>Erik You have never gone to our website to plug your resort? Let’s see… a quick search brings up about a hundred examples… let’s look at the most recent three:

Rental offer from The Reef… “soon done”
Posted by TomCayman, January 5th, 2005, 05:18 PM
—————————-
As many of you know, at The Reef we offered a special discount for all Grand Cayman timeshare owners who still wanted to visit Grand Cayman in 2005….

Posted by TomCayman, October 18th, 2003, 07:15 PM
—————————-
If you visit http://www.thereef.com.ky and go to our weather page we have a link to the East End weather station…

Posted by TomCayman, October 31st, 2004, 08:46 PM
—————————-
The Reef is offering all Grand Cayman timeshare owners (as they are all closed for the winter season) special deals on rentals, see http://www.thereef.com.ky for more information…

Right. So yeah, I think I close my case. It didn’t have to be this way, but I have given you several warnings… if the companies were reversed and it was me posting Morritt’s offers on the Reef website you would not like it, or allow it.

I am going to let this rest now, and I wish you the best in all that you do… but I will not have you soliciting your resorts on our website.

Regards,

Erik

]]> By: TomCayman http://blog.thereef.com/2005/06/cayman-message-forum-censorship/comment-page-1/#comment-49 TomCayman Wed, 22 Jun 2005 12:56:00 +0000 http://blog.thereef.com/?p=25#comment-49 Erik, thanks for your reply... and I won't edit or remove YOUR post to MY website :)<br/><br/>Hand on heart I have never gone on your or any other website to "plug" my resort.... have I sometimes made reference to The Reef or recommended it ? Sure... but only where relevant.<br/><br/>Nonetheless, I know how sensitive Morritts management are... they have (so far) always felt somewhat threatened by our presence nearby, and have reacted by doing everything they can to prevent any attempts to co-operate between (eg) the actitivies directors and restaurants... I hope this will change under the new Resort Manager, who seems to be a good guy... and I am doing my part by answering whatever questions he has and assisting him on various issues.<br/><br/>Anyway, in the words of the motto of the Royal Artillery regiment "Nil Illegitimum Carborundum" Erik, thanks for your reply… and I won’t edit or remove YOUR post to MY website :)

Hand on heart I have never gone on your or any other website to “plug” my resort…. have I sometimes made reference to The Reef or recommended it ? Sure… but only where relevant.

Nonetheless, I know how sensitive Morritts management are… they have (so far) always felt somewhat threatened by our presence nearby, and have reacted by doing everything they can to prevent any attempts to co-operate between (eg) the actitivies directors and restaurants… I hope this will change under the new Resort Manager, who seems to be a good guy… and I am doing my part by answering whatever questions he has and assisting him on various issues.

Anyway, in the words of the motto of the Royal Artillery regiment “Nil Illegitimum Carborundum”

]]> By: Anonymous http://blog.thereef.com/2005/06/cayman-message-forum-censorship/comment-page-1/#comment-48 Anonymous Wed, 22 Jun 2005 11:44:00 +0000 http://blog.thereef.com/?p=25#comment-48 Competing economic interests disguised in the form of an internet forum? Competing economic interests disguised in the form of an internet forum?

]]> By: Erik Stafford http://blog.thereef.com/2005/06/cayman-message-forum-censorship/comment-page-1/#comment-47 Erik Stafford Wed, 22 Jun 2005 03:34:00 +0000 http://blog.thereef.com/?p=25#comment-47 I have told you about a hundred times that I understand where you are coming from, but I could easily put together an email containing about 40 thinly veiled references or promotional plugs for the Reef that you have posted on our forums over the last year. <br/><br/>You work at the Reef, it is natural that you would be proud of the resort and your efforts since Hurricane Ivan... I just need you to keep it off the Morritt's website!<br/><br/>I understand that you are trying to promote tourism in the Cayman Islands, and your information is great to have, and your posts are fun. I will even post a link for our owners so that they can read this website, as I see it as another great resource.<br/><br/>How can I be more fair or get my point across in any other way?<br/><br/>I have always liked you, and obviously wish you the best... but I honestly think that what I am asking is fair and reasonable. Pepsi would not want Coke employees posting about Coke on the Pepsi website, would they?<br/><br/>No.<br/><br/>Regards,<br/><br/>Erik I have told you about a hundred times that I understand where you are coming from, but I could easily put together an email containing about 40 thinly veiled references or promotional plugs for the Reef that you have posted on our forums over the last year.

You work at the Reef, it is natural that you would be proud of the resort and your efforts since Hurricane Ivan… I just need you to keep it off the Morritt’s website!

I understand that you are trying to promote tourism in the Cayman Islands, and your information is great to have, and your posts are fun. I will even post a link for our owners so that they can read this website, as I see it as another great resource.

How can I be more fair or get my point across in any other way?

I have always liked you, and obviously wish you the best… but I honestly think that what I am asking is fair and reasonable. Pepsi would not want Coke employees posting about Coke on the Pepsi website, would they?

No.

Regards,

Erik

]]> By: abby http://blog.thereef.com/2005/06/cayman-message-forum-censorship/comment-page-1/#comment-43 abby Wed, 22 Jun 2005 03:16:00 +0000 http://blog.thereef.com/?p=25#comment-43 Tom!<br/>I think that I know one of the forums, but don't dispare! We have read and are following you where you go! Please keep posting on all of the boards, I love to hear and read everything that you write! We all have our ways about getting around things.......don't worry and fret! Tom!
I think that I know one of the forums, but don’t dispare! We have read and are following you where you go! Please keep posting on all of the boards, I love to hear and read everything that you write! We all have our ways about getting around things…….don’t worry and fret!

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