Originally Posted by Psimet2001 (Post 18238221)

The "industry" part of the industry that you are referring to doesn't bother coming out to a forum and posting anything. Mainly because their bosses would fire them if they did. Any company in the industry that is large enough to have more than a couple of people working at it pretty much forbids anyone from posting anything publicly without having it first go through a marketing department, etc.

Think about it. You work for a company just like that odds are. The bike "Industry" is no different. Most likely if you hit the internet in a forum regarding your company's products and then started saying anything bad about other companies or good about yours your company would come down on you like a ton of bricks - even if it was true.

Say you're walking through a state fair and a company has a guy doing a spiel about how great his products are - YUP HE has something to sell.

There have been a long line of shills on bikeforums in the past. They usually get run out of town on a rail. Most of "us" industry people are the little industry people. Single to small business guys either hocking our own product or services or importing and branding. Sure we have a lot invested but in general the main share of our business clients don't come from an online forum. Let's face it - most forums are made up of people who don't like buying things from people they know. They would rather buy from big faceless brands or tiny unknown guys than the guys that actually take time to discuss things with them one on one. Disagree with it if you want but the numbers reflect that. As a business I would be much better off never posting anywhere.

The responses to a lot of stuff on here have gotten progressively worse. At least in the past the number of glaringly incorrect posting, fan boys, flame throwers and trolls would be wrangled in by those that were in the know at least a little. With Facebook, Twitter and Instagram taking over for those industry connections and personal connections many of us have just walked away from the forums.

I still try and get back when I can. I like to hop in every now and then and at least take a look. I've got nothing to gain by it really. I seem to just piss people off and make them jump back in a fight. So why do it? I don't know...I guess I just love bikes, the community and the industry and I can't stand seeing ignorance perpetuated. I've taken a lot of time and used a lot of connections to learn what I have.