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[Jason Better Contribution Level: 4]

Dear Members of the BetterNetworker Community,

I’m writing to you today because I need your help to make BetterNetworker an even better place for all members of our community.

We have a wonderful community here with tons of committed members and we’re proud to have some of the most successful leaders in the industry as members of our BetterNetworker family.

But lately, some members are acting a little like Buffalo Bill...

Read the rest of the article here...

[Richard Bravo Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 9]

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Thanks Jason ...
I hope this gets attention and EVERYONE reads it.

I really want to get active here again and hopefully this will help to clean things up so we can all get back to the business of creating an awesome community. (sans spam)

Thanks to the BN Team - you guys are AWESOME!

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[Deborah Tutnauer Company: ViSalus Sciences Contribution Level: 4]

Good article Jason..clear , concise and professional.

Years ago at the beginning, Better Networker was very much this way. We were smaller and most people had connected here after reading Magnetic Sponsoring when it was first published. I personally stopped spending much time here over the last year or so, because it lost it's community flavor and became so Spamming. Yet I miss BN. I am thrilled that you taking steps to bring it back to a go-giver, leadership and value oriented community.

I personally pledge to do my share to make it so.

Peace and Abundance,
Deborah

[Adam Taha Company: Amway Contribution Level: 7]

Rather Buffalo Bill..than sleeping giants or mice, which personally, what has happened.

Personally, they should be thanking them because the amount of spam we've seen on here, if it weren't for them; you'll have most people spamming like jack the rabbit, and try it on - which has happened.

Adam Taha

[Laura McCallum Company: Immunotec Inc Contribution Level: 3]

Thank you Jason for your post, but I won't be reaching out to anyone breaking the rules anytime soon, and here's why:

First, I have better things to do.

Second, the best way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it. If someone thinks that what they are doing is right, that is their perception and I am not about to get in the middle of it. All it does is confuse the situation as to who the idiot is.

The garbage that has been posted here lately has been enough to make me spend my time elsewhere lately. I rarely check back here any more. People just don't know how to behave any more, and I have better things to do. I am here to build my business, and to help others, but I am tired of plowing through the garbage to get to it.

So thanks for all you do, and I wish you all the best in cleaning up this place. I for one won't be inviting anyone over here anytime soon. I am truly sorry that this has happened to you and your forum, it is not your fault. As long as you have this forum, there will always be people out there that don't know any better, and those that know better and don't care. And once you stand up and say something, you have no idea which type you are dealing with. I prefer to steer clear, but that's just me. I learned this lesson from Dale Carnegie, and I am sticking to it.

I wish you all the best and appreciate all you and this forum have done for all of us!

[Jason Better Contribution Level: 4]

I want to thank you all for your honest opinions.

This is what we really need if we want to grow as a community.

I feel like we may have lost our way by focusing our attention on other areas of the site. But I want you to know that we take your opinions very seriously.

We know that some of the more vocal members of the community are speaking from the bottom of their hearts when they are voicing their concerns.

What I hear is that we haven't listened nearly enough.

I see this as a huge opportunity to once again open the channels of communication with the leaders in our community.

This community is your community and I want to thank you for your feedback.

It's in times of turmoil that leaders like you are needed most.

I feel grateful because you are willing to speak your mind and I want you to know that I appreciate it.

[Laura McCallum Company: Immunotec Inc Contribution Level: 3]

Thank you, Jason. That was a real from the heart post, and I really appreciate what you say. I'm glad I came back to see what was said here.

I am happy to help if there is a way to do it without getting into an argument or making someone feel all defensive. I just don't think that is going to happen anytime soon. When a person stands up and says please read the rules to someone who has broken them, they are taking a risk that it will turn ugly. And you don't know if it will until it does. And then you are stuck in the middle of it, wishing you could have just minded your own business in the first place. Google never forgets, there it is, for all cyber-eternity. I think that's what most of us want to do when it comes to these things- mind our own business. Nobody wants others to be miffed or upset with them. Most of us are probably hoping someone with authority will be the "bad guy" and say something, but I understand you can't catch them all.

I am wondering if there is a difference between a forum member who is not an instructor or anyone with any authority, like myself, saying something; and someone like an instructor, or someone official like you, Jason, speaking up and saying something. Would it come across better, would people be more likely to listen, be less likely to be defensive? I don't know how others feel, but I am just a fellow networker and if I speak up and ask someone not to do what they are doing, I am concerned that more likely than not it will not be received well, since we are more on the same level or peers. Kind of like "who are you to tell me what to do?" That doesn't exactly go a long way towards building a relationship with someone if that's how you start and they don't like it. What do you think?

Bottom line- there are two kinds of people - people that don't realize what they are doing, and those that do and do it anyway, blatantly. Problem is you don't know which one they are until you call them out. Risky business in my book. Thanks for letting us share how we feel, it's much appreciated.

[Jason Better Contribution Level: 4]

Hi Laura,

That's also one of our biggest concerns. We don't want members to feel like they have to "hit back" when another member is abusing the community. Or waste their time doing so.

Or even worse, say something they might regret!

It's like the old saying, "Speak lightly and carry a big stick.

We ask for two things:

1) That members speak "lightly" or politely to the offender if at all.
That way we won't mistake passion for brutality.

2) And that members report offenders to the Better Networker Help Desk so that we know where to swing the "banning stick".

Trust me, "Carl The Cop" wants to swing that stick around!

He's been bugging me all week.

[Laura McCallum Company: Immunotec Inc Contribution Level: 3]

I like Dean's idea for the forum. Is that possible?

[Jason Better Contribution Level: 4]

I will say that some really great points have been raised on this thread.

Some are shocking but honesty isn't always a bed of roses.

The opinions I ask for might not always be the ones that I personally want to hear.

But I'm here to listen to them.

I want to take a moment to thank everybody (and I mean everybody) for sharing their opinions.

"Thank you!"

We are learning from you all.

Together we can make this an even better place.