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While I archived the thread here at CAP until Michael and I could discuss things personally, I see that that there is an active multi page thread at GPWA about the newsletter incident.
I sincerely wished we could have handled this privately as that would be far more productive and less prone to misinterpertation, but I now feel obligated to post a response and explanation my position:
Guys this whole situaton is a little more complicated then just a joke.
I know Most of us have the capacity to shake this off as a joke, and I could have possibly done so in the past too when it was just me and CAP. But CAP is owned by a corporation now, CAP is a highly valued BRAND and it is big business.
As majority share holder I have a responsiblity to protect our “brand” in the market place, this is something we take very very seriously and you have always seen me doggedly defend CAP when I felt we were wronged.
I have an obligation as a division manager to protect my employees. I take this role very seriously also.
I enjoy joking around as much or more that just about anybody and do try to keep things light. You have seen how I always have fun and post funny pics when I can slip them in without derailing a thread. I also have no problem working with GPWA (The Business), we have done so in the past and will hopefully do so in the future.
When I am made aware that we are exchanging jokes and involved in a JOINT promotion I don’t take offense to some good natured jabs. Remember the threads during the Battle of The Forums Slots Tournament? We knew about the promotion and we had fun with it. BOTH communities benefited.
The reasons I have to take this newsletter article seriously are the following:
1. In it’s initial form the headline and lead text was purposely made to appear that our brand had been purchased. To read the ENTIRE “article” you had to click to a forum thread that at the end revealed this was a facebook promotion. Unfortunately people who ONLY read the newsletter would NOT have been aware any of this was a joke.
Also for many members, here at CAP and at GPWA, English is a second language. A few posted that they WERE confused. More read the “joke” article and DIDNT post. They simply left with the impression that our business had been sold. Thats TOTALLY unacceptable and not really a joke if you ask me.
I know some have said Calvin Ayre didn’t react when Bodog was “joked” recently. Perhaps Calvin never even read the article about Bodog? I can’t imagine ANY business operator finding a public announcement that his business had been acquired humorus. If he did shame on him for being so foolish. We weren’t amused.
2. I have to defend our brand, it’s what helps feed a staff of 30 and their families. Imagine for a second that Checkers unexpectadly came out with an ad that Blared “Checkers Purchases McDonalds and Burger King!”. Do you think the President of McDonalds or Burger King would say “Ah, no harm done, those Checkers guys were just playing around” ? Would THEIR shareholders accept that? I can guarantee you there would be MAJOR lawsuits filed and justifilably so as Checkers was trying to play off of an established name brand and industry leader as a means of promotion for their business.
3. It’s been stated by Michael, and I guess he believes this, that a number of our staff and officers are already publically listed at AFFILIATEPROGRAMS.COM.
While that IS true it’s a totally seperate division/property that we own that primarily works in the RETAIL SECTOR.
We DO NOT have a list of that sorts posted here at CAP and that’s by decision not chance. Let’s face it CAP operates in an area that does NOT enjoy a favorable status with the DOJ at present. We have always felt that a low key approach was the safest way to proceed. It’s our right to do so if that’s what we choose and if that’s what makes our staff more comfortable. Please understand we are the largest and most highly visible community serving this sector. We already carry around a large enough bullseye as it is.
How many of YOU post your full names and the names of any staff you might employ on your gaming related websites?
4. A private meeting that Warren had with Michael was discussed publically without our consent. This simply ISN’T done in business. It’s poor form and how the hell does it make the spoof funnier? It doesn’t and was unnecessary.
It raises serious questions about what will or will not be held in confidence when doing business with GPWA and when any discussions or meetings might be announced publically within the context of a “joke”.
This breach of the most basic business decorum is unacceptable and not funny. It’s my responsiblity to react negatively to such behavior so that it doesn’t happen to others who do business with GPWA.
Any responsible business operator would do this if the same thing happened to them.
5. While I would love to believe everything that happens at GPWA in the forum areas is done in jest that isn’t always the case. Some of it IS malicious.
Despite numerous complaints by myself and requests to stop it, Michael and his moderators allow people to continually attack CAP and myself or our staff in public.
This goes on over and over and NOTHING generally gets done about it. A prime example is we STILL see Joeyl and iScami/Arkyt/CaseyEnos popping in and slandering CAP and saying I am a “database seller” at GPWA. This obviously is done to damage me and CAP. It’s trumped up bullshit from supposedly a single post made years ago, but it goes on and on. What I find offensive is it’s permitted by the GPWA Mods and these “posters” aren’t even private members. They are snipers. They are Cyber Stalkers and most likely mentally ill as its obvious they have an obsession with me. Anyone who knows CAP at ALL knows we dont promote database sales. Never have, never will.
If a business such as McDonalds allowed a group of three or four lunatics to throw rocks at cars in the neighboring Burger King drive up they would be SUED. If they allowed this same group of lunatics to parade around in their parking lot with signs stating “Burger King has has worms in their burgers! ” they would be SUED.
As a business operator (Thats what CAP and GPWA are) you have a responsibilty to govern what takes place on your property. This is NOT being done at GPWA and the intent of these few posters is CLEAR. They want to damage CAP and myself.
By “innocently” letting these handful of “people” to continue this abuse it shows the GPWA staff must either think it’s another “joke” or they are tolerating it in the belief that any damage done to CAP by these trouble makers improves their position in the marketplace. It’s not funny, its not acceptable and it has to stop for there to be peace.
I dont and WONT allow our members to behave like that. That is the professional and curteous way to run an industry forum. I wish GPWA would follow this lead.
If Michael and I can work through these issues privately and there is meaningful progress made I will be thrilled to work with GPWA. The members of GPWA are more then welcome here at CAP and this does not effect them whatsoever. Our decision is directed at the BUSINESS and staff that operates GPWA only.
A simple “Uh, we were just joking” isn’t enough. I hope you guys can understand where CAP is coming from and don’t just view this as “CAP has no sense of Humor”. With honest effort made by GPWA we can get past this. I have every confidence that is what will happen in the very near future.
Thanks
I got that email, and only skimmed it. If not for reading this post, I would still believe GPWA did purchase CAP.
Wow..
Thanks for clarifying this Professor.
As you say, if it was some sort of joint joke or challenge it would have been acceptable – but the title and the delivery was indeed deliberately confusing. If I hadn’t read the BoDog article more thoroughly (as my thought was, how the hell did they raise the capital to buy out BoDog?!?), I would have been taken in by the GPWA/CAP one as well.
I’m sure they’ve realised the full impact of their error, hope you guys can sort it out. No-one wants bad feeling in the industry!
I understand where CAP is coming from. I can see why you didn’t find this very amusing.
Mark
Being that I’m active on both forums daily as well as facebook I knew that it was a joke, but I thought that all parties were involved in it. I really hope that this issue can be addressed and rectified privately as I personally do not believe Michael meant any harm IMO.
I feel that Lou is a good guy dealing with life in this industry as best as he can just like the rest of us and I agree that allowing folks to publicly attack Lou/CAP is NOT cool and hope it’s not allowed to continue.
I certainly fell for it when I first read it, even reading the whole post didn’t make it entirely clear (despite being english myself!)
Good to see you are making a stand against it as CAP is certainly a reputable brand worth defending, even if there was no malicious intent.Despite numerous complaints by myself and requests to stop it, Michael and his moderators allow people to continually attack CAP and myself or our staff in public.
You all know that we don’t allow personal attacks at CAP.
I feel very strongly about this, people need to feel safe stating their opinions on a message board without being attacked. Especially on a professional board.
I am happy to be here where everyone can feel free to speak their mind without worries about personal attacks or having their words twisted in arguments.
There is no good reason for such things – ever.
I am not active at GPWA and I don’t do facbook (maybe I am too ugly).
That was a stupid stunt. I’d be pissed.
I had some hard times myself….
and a certain song helped me out…“Don’t worry….. Be happy….”
Sorry Lou
Please, please…
dunno what to say….
intentions are ok…you know…
wtf…why cant i write a proper sophisticated post….????
I’ll have a few Captain Morgan’s…cya all later
Thats just what I had in mind Elgoog.
I am going to pour myself a nice Dark Rum over ice and add a little Baileys to make the sailing smooth, then I am going to lay down and watch wrestling. Lets all hope for pleasant journeys now and in the future.
:capmiami:I am going to pour myself a nice Dark Rum over ice and add a little Baileys
What kind of dark rum is good with Baileys, sounds good I love Baileys with butterscotch schnapps with a whole bunch of ice..yummmm
elgoog, I think your post is just fine and I was able to understand exactly what you were saying.:wavey:
Thanks for clarifying Professor, I too read the letter briefly and was bummed at the thought. I am a member at both, but this is home when it comes to affiliate biz. I appreciate the job you do, as well as the rest of the staff here, I would certainly hate to see that change.
It was Meyers Dark Rum last night Bonus. I love complex Rums and my personal favorites are Mount Gay Reserve, Barbancourt Eight Star, Captain Morgans Reserve and Appleton Estate Extra Rum.
Appleton Estate Extra Rum – never tried that.
