Should forums who clearly backed an HD DVD agenda be called out and boycotted?

[TheRealBob]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

It's pointless to do so. Unless the advertisers that keep those forums afloat are willing to pull their $$, individual boycotting makes very little difference

They ads pay for clicks through to the ad site. Fewer people on the site leads to fewer clicks which leads to less money for the sites.

[LynxFX]

Good list Clark, another one I would add would be HardOCP which mostly stemmed from a "we hate Sony" bias.

Just look at their news to see where they stand, two posts today covering the victory of Blu-ray, both from reporters saying the victory will be short lived because of downloads.

[Fozziwig]

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

AVS and AVrev are two obvious examples. I'm sure we all have many others. Forums where mod staff protected pro-HD DVD posters and allowed HD DVD FUD to go unchallenged while they punished, banned, or deleted posts from those trying to clear up misinformation and call out HD DVD shills who seemed to be running the show.

Personally, I don't think I'll ever visit AVS again except to monitor the discussion in the projector forum. AVrev is a similar place where the mods would back up LOTUS and all of his false information and discourage other members from challening him.

While at HTF it seems that most of the previously pro HD DVD membership have embraced the idea of a single-HDM format and are moving foward positively, there are still many individuals there and at other places who are now starting to push a "DVD is good enough" and "it doesn't matter since HDM is going to be replaced by downloading" message.

It seems that the format war for these individuals has merely changed categories... it wasn't HD DVD that they loved, it was just Blu-ray Disc that they hated.

What do you guys plan to do? Do you even remember that there used to be other decent forums besided Blu-ray.com?

I can sympathise with your view having posted at HDD, HTF, HDD and AVF (now banned there for calling them on their extreme bias on another forum). I also know some of the crap you personally had to put up with at HTF - but there were a few laughs along the way too, if we're honest.

Personally I really can't be bothered to worry about it anymore.

Blu-ray has won. A total victory with full studio and retailer support. I could not be happier and now I want to see Blu-ray go on to become a mass market format. I will put my energy and time into helping people move from DVD to Blu-ray (it's my business!).

And, with the exception of HDD (a pure format war site IMO), AVF, AVS and HTF all have some excellent content for any home cinema fan and I'll continue to visit those places. As for the 'war' forums, I don't see them lasting much longer. If the best that the anti-Sony brigade can come up with now is downloads and upscaled DVD well, they truly are a pathetic bunch.

[kwhiplash]

Is it just me, or does anyone else find this baldface lie hilarious?! This was posted on AVSForum.com

"Rochester, NY, Feb 21, 2008 – AVS Forum has always been a neutral and open forum for discussion of the consumer electronics hobby, even through recent tumultuous times. However, with announcements by Toshiba and Universal, the conflict of the latest format war is at an end. AVS Forum now looks forward to reduced consumer confusion and increased adoption of High Definition content on discs."

[Fozziwig]

Originally Posted by kwhiplash

Is it just me, or does anyone else find this baldface lie hilarious?! This was posted on AVSForum.com

"Rochester, NY, Feb 21, 2008 – AVS Forum has always been a neutral and open forum for discussion of the consumer electronics hobby, even through recent tumultuous times. However, with announcements by Toshiba and Universal, the conflict of the latest format war is at an end. AVS Forum now looks forward to reduced consumer confusion and increased adoption of High Definition content on discs."

I hope they're talking about Blu-ray..

[househead]

people need to stop spending so much time on message boards.

it's over. enjoy the movies.

[kwhiplash]

Originally Posted by househead

people need to stop spending so much time on message boards.

it's over. enjoy the movies.

This from the guy posting on the message board.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Fozziwig

If the best that the anti-Sony brigade can come up with now is downloads and upscaled DVD well, they truly are a pathetic bunch.

Here is a great example even today of HTF mod bias - again, sometimes done in subtle ways..

After Toshiba's announcement the other day and HTF's supposed "Moving forward with one format...blah blah", Mod Parker Clack writes:

"The sober truth currently as BD attempts to scale the mountain that is DVD" and then he links to that garbage poll, "Slashdot" (http://slashdot.org/pollBooth.pl?qid=1530&aid=-1).

[dobyblue]

Here is more evidence that AVRevforum has no desire to change its ways, or that its admin team has no desire to get to the bottom of anything and prefers instead to back up its biased staff.

I sent an e-mail to them about their behaviour and included is the e-mail and response.

Not only should you guys apologize to me in the manner with which you permanently banned me and IP-blocked my company on a first offence, but you should apologize to all high definition fans everywhere for allowing posters like "Lotus" to have a pro-HD DVD agenda and spread propaganda that by now should be very obvious to you was exactly what it was.
Your handling of the situation (Yes I'm speaking specifically about Andrew) leaves you as one of the #1 anti-Blu-ray sites on the net in not just my eyes, but in the eyes of HT Enthusiasts like David Boulet and others and the attention will be drawn to this fact.
The name of your site is Audio Video Revolution. Perhaps you need to revisit the ideals and goals which were meant when the site was created and named, because it's very apparent that somewhere along the line you've lost sight of the goal.
Sincerely,
~Steve

Here is their reponse:

Steven,
Attacking Andrew is about the BEST way to get your IP address banned.
Moreover, you fight too much on the forum thus you are uninvited to be part of our group.
Good bye...
j--
Jerry Del CollianoPublisher - CEOAVRev.com
ModernHomeTheater.com
310.860.9988 tel.

First of all, what a pretentious way to sign off a letter.
Secondly, go take a look at the order of things on that site in the thread in question (search my posts) and try and find where there was any unprovoked attack upon Andrew, HD DVD shill, by myself.



This site should be called out and boycotted.
www.avrevforum.com

[cpgator]

Those people here considering boycotting certain sites should probably do so - it appears you are still harboring some pointless anger and I doubt you would be missed.

If you aren't ready to place nice, then stay home.

[Beta Man]

I agree.... if you are of the mindset that "boycotting" certain websites, etc. is effective, then you're probably the people posting deflamatory messages that don't add to any conversation to begin with. My decision is whether or not to continue to contribute to this site in regards to audio/video, etc. and instead just visit to check release dates and read reviews. It's concerning when someone posts a questions, states they used to own HD DVD, or still do, and they are considering getting a blu-ray player since the "war" is over etc.... and nobody offers advice, everyone just attacks them for what THEY consider to be a poor choice by the poster........

people who look for advice shouldn't be rushed out!

[Ernest Rister]

I'm with David. Any writer who regurgitated HD-DVD propaganda in the face of independent analysis should have his or her work regarded with dubious antipathy. According to the Digital Bits, Harry Knowles suggested only HD-DVD players were backwords compatible.

I don't think such sites need an active campaign against them, it seems obvious most people will realize they've been misled or worse, and will make their own judgements. The truth always outs.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I agree.... if you are of the mindset that "boycotting" certain websites, etc. is effective, then you're probably the people posting deflamatory messages that don't add to any conversation to begin with

Perhaps if you would look into it a little further, you'd see that not to be the case.

[york weir]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I agree.... if you are of the mindset that "boycotting" certain websites, etc. is effective, then you're probably the people posting deflamatory messages that don't add to any conversation to begin with.

I totally agree. HD DVD zealots did it and so did Blu-ray zealots. It was just masked as dispelling FUD on either side. I took that to be an excuse to start a fanboy argument.

[cpgator]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

Here is more evidence that AVRevforum has no desire to change its ways, or that its admin team has no desire to get to the bottom of anything and prefers instead to back up its biased staff.

I sent an e-mail to them about their behaviour and included is the e-mail and response.



Here is their reponse:



First of all, what a pretentious way to sign off a letter.
Secondly, go take a look at the order of things on that site in the thread in question (search my posts) and try and find where there was any unprovoked attack upon Andrew, HD DVD shill, by myself.



This site should be called out and boycotted.
www.avrevforum.com

Actually looked at your posts over there, and it is beyond obvious why you were banned. Surprised you lasted as long as you did. Most every post of yours was attacking someone, and it looked like many people were getting tired of it. You should stick to this forum from now on...