Yeah this one is getting messy, I can see that a few people are talking about a couple of different things, which most arquements/disagreements come from.
Where myself and I think Edwin stand is that we would like the main "look" of the page and the major topics being discussed are engaging reef topics that local enthusiats can participate in.(MARS or not, 1 or 5000 posts) I would like the initial glance of the page to be a reflection of the passion and collective knowledge of the local "scene" on RC and "hosted", (may it be called), by the local club MARS rather than a sidewalk reminicent of Las Vegas with all of the ad flippers trying to get you to go here or there/buy this or that. I don't believe that anyone is trying to make it a members only place or censor anyone,(if so we totaly have to get those old school "Members Only" jackets! Yeah Cool!!), because that would be wrong. It is a public forum and ultimatly we are here as guests/squatters of R.C. and have no right to say who can or can't be here/post here. (And that was one of the biggest misunderstandings I saw come out of this)
In the end.......the FS ads do not matter and do not need to be given a second thought about. I thought a sticky would be a good place to put them and have them in one place to find for both buyers and sellers. "A place for everything and everything in its place." However, after some research and some insight from more knowledgeble people, the benifits do NOT outweigh the costs/troubles to maintain it.
Our wise Reefgeek did have some excellent points that not only pertain to this subject, but all of the "problematic" threads on this forum. (which even this one is becoming!) What I mean by problematic, is what I was hoping to accomplish in the first place by placing the FS threads in the sticky.....see above. Reefgeek had some simple logic to deal with it that I have been trying to practice myself but I admit can be hard to do....ignore it and it will fall away, don't take bait and respond to snide comments and it will fall away, don't engage in debates that are not constructive and it will fall away.
I suggest we all push away from this now because it is not going to be solved or changed as we have seen in the other examples presented. However, I am pleased to see that there are people who are passionate about the MARS forum and want to make it a better place. I think the best way to do that is lead by example and try to follow Reefgeek's simple and effective logic.
As you can see from Edwins passion he is begging to be elected for something, use his enthuasim for all of our benifits and nominate him if you so are inclined.
I said it once and I will say it again: "I like fishtanks, not sewing circles" So quit staring at your computer and go feed your fish!!!
And once again I drove home from Folsom in a daze from a busy day at work and forgot about the meeting again.....maybe one of these days I will make it....hopefully next month I am a big fan of Sanjays work.
