I think that what you suggest is certainly a possibility.

I also think it's possible that TER has made the change in recognition of the fact that, on busier boards, a gal's once a week only ad may drop down two or three pages by the end of the day on which she posted it.

I happen to like the participation of the ladies here though I also agree that the prevailing opinion is that this is a hobbyist's site.  I do however think that the ads are part of the draw here. I am going on a road trip next week and I have visited a certain regional board or two looking for provider ads in anticipation of my trip. I for one am very glad to see provider ads now separated from the mindless flotsam and jetsam that I had to sift-through last week.  I have already found very useful information and found it quickly.

I sincerely hope that TER is NOT planning to start charging for ads.  I think it will drive away advertisers if the fee comes from their end and I for one would not pay an additional fee on my end to see provider ad posts

Good morning and I wish all of you were having as nice a morning as I am. It’s a cool crisp lovely morning in San Francisco. As I sit here watching the hustle and bustle of Union Square a few thoughts come to mind. It is such a change compared to Phoenix and Vegas. I ordered my fruit cup and coffee, and as I wait let me tell you what I pondered.

I read with an incredible amount of curiosity the board changes yesterday. I thought to myself, how nice to be able to centralize the advertisements. It will be better to not have them mixed in with conversations about other things. I saw a few posts here and there where people wondered if it might reduce the amount of interaction between the “guys and the girls” and a few other comments. It’s probably too early to tell how or what the effects will be.

However that’s not what I was thinking about. Now keep in mind this is just my opinion, and we all know my opinion can be a tad biased. But I think it’s a safe bet to say that I have a level head on my shoulders and that I wouldn’t make a point or comment just to draw controversy or flames.  But I think TER has a very solid reason for splitting the ads out.

It’s my opinion that TER is moving itself into a position to start charging for ladies to place an advertisement, or perhaps changing the type of membership men have to view an advertisement. Now hear me out before you say I am crazy.

First off this is a review site, and as a review site it really has no need for ladies to post Ads.  That simply is not its function and certainly the men have pointed it out to us that this site is theirs. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard that “we really don’t care what you say or what your opinion is, the site and its reviews are here for us not YOU”. Not an exact quote but something close and similar. The Ads that are posted are of benefit to the guys and the girls no doubt.  But it’s a guy’s site, so we are constantly told, and I really have no issue with that.

So that being said what difference would it make if conversations take place on one board, and ads take place on another. All of the sudden did TER become a ladies site as well? Did they decide that our services are just as important as our reviews?  Perhaps not, and we could argue that it would present a bit more continuity and a semblance of order to be segrgated. But really, since when has TER shown they care about that. Not that I am criticizing, only mentioning that I have seen train wrecks that make the entire gene pool of both providers and hobbyists suspect. The only reason I can see that TER would invest in developing the database and invest in the coding and building of that database is if they stood to gain. By segregating the discussions and Ads, you now create an environment not unlike the provider only and reviewer only boards. You must be special (by that I mean meet distinctive qualities) to gain access. I am just saying perhaps there will be a fee for that special privilege.  Either a fee to post it or a fee to see it, but I can think of no other valid reason.

With the exception of a few (less than 10) boards, there are usually not enough conversations to warrant any segregation at all. For example Kansas had 23 or so posts for the entire state from 6/23 to 8/29. Of those 23, all but about 5 were ads. So this entire State needs an AD board?  Sure Vegas and LA and others are in excess of 50 posts a day, but really take the ads out and that’s often 50-75% of those posts.

I think what I am saying is simply this. Setting up an Ads only board is fine by me, I really don’t care either way. But it’s a mechanical form of segregation. You don’t segregate something without a reason. I don’t buy the reason that it’s just for the betterment of site or its population. BUT… I am not a guy, maybe I just don’t see the advantage of all Ads in one place and nothing but Ads in that place.

Have a great and safe day!!

...but not to charge more; simply to upgrade their product.  In many hobbyists view, separating the ads from the posts is just another upgrade.

I find an intelligent post by a provider just as sexy, if not more, than their ad.  Keep posting, Reagan.

bottom line: the segregation costs money, therefore one expects there to be a return on investment.

the only marginal benefit that one wouldn't charge for is: i know of (a very few) ladies i haven't seen who patrol the more active boards and become annoyed when conversation pushes their ad beyond the first page.

is avoiding that ire worth hiring a coder to segregate the boards without charging for it? i don't have an answer.

They've had the ads separated from the forum for a long time. They sure don't charge to see the ads. I don't think they charge to post them either, but maybe someone can tell me otherwise.

My guess is that this change has nothing to do with making more money, but rather to appease people who have griped about the boards consisting mostly of ads.

But TER did raise their rates as far as being a VIP. Can't remember, and don't have the gumption to go that far back to see if it was done before or after they changed formats. I'm guessing after.

But still. I'm with BG57. I won't pay extra to see the ladies ads cuz it's on another drop down. Fuck that shit. The fee should be all inclusive. It's the principle of the thing.

This ain't Comcast, or AT&T, where if you want more channels or extra cell minutes. And if they want to go that route, I'll tell them what I told these other companies...

'Guess who's other site I'm looking at right now? What they're going to charge me for the same thing. And you want me to stay with you because why?'

We all know these ladies advertise on multiple sites. They'd be stupid if they didn't. Even get reviews on other sites.

If TER dropped off the map for some reason, the smart ones could still work because they had the fortitude to look elsewhere in marketing themselves.

Shit. Talked with one last night. Turned me onto some her new pix she posted on another site before she posted any of them here. What does that tellya?

Yeah, it's all numbers and shit. It's also a crap shoot. They did their research and figured it'll make more money to go a certain route. But it's not a certainty. We'll see what happens.

What's better than a sexy woman? A sexy woman who's intelligent. I feel this way every time I read your posts. I can almost touch the intellect.

My only complaint is, why would some people not end a question with a question mark. You did it a few times in this thread. I'm exaggerating it now to make a point. Is it so hard to remember the question mark. Does anyone have an explanation. Why.

I can understand when others do it. They are just sloppy writers. But Reagan, you write beautifully. Why leave such obvious flaws? Are you trying to appear less perfect so as not to intimidate people? Just a thought after a long day at work, nothing serious.