as for that person being a moderator- the thought makes me shudder in horror.

certainly a fine example of gimme-me-me-me, not commenting on what was there to get, and not bothering to check the forums for why it got pulled.

Just think of the sizzling and moronic complaint if the pdf converter had stayed up with the faulty activation! (with thousands of downloads and short notice it's amazing how few activations fail!

I *got* the pdf converter downloaded, spotted the "ain't happenin'" comments, hit the forums and got the bonus of the ABBYY PDF Transformer 1.0 to compare with when the converter comes along.

plus NetStat Agent 2.0 too. jeeze. .

Example from today's comment section.

The following quote reflects....... for one, an attitude that is being vocalized more frequently now than in the past. All that I would like to see is actions that solve problems like those listed below.

I am quite aware of the hard work that goes along with being a webmaster. All that I have suggested involves help, not hindrance.

From today's comment section.

" Could someeone from the give away team please explain to the rest of us why we have no moderator or one that doesn’t do his/her job?
I don’t know about anybody else but I’m sick & tired of the way these comments are handled these days. This won’t be posted & I’m sure the one I wrote 2.5 hours ago won’t either after they read this. But this is a bunch of “BS” & I could care less who likes what I write.
Todays give away was supposed to be “PDF to Word” which I downloaded before 4:30 A.M. When I come back & I have many, many times since, it’s gone & my comments stating what a nice give away it was haven’t been posted! So what now? Do I have to volunteer to moderate for anything to get done around here”? This is horrible! Imagine that!!!!! "

September 14th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-18)

nope, live with it- I ain't going anywhere. getting on nerves is a hobby.

Go away little boy you are getting on my nerves. I once saw a child in the clinic that stuttered horribly too. Unfortunately the pitiful thing got worse when he reached puberty. Hope! Hold out for hope.

I am glad to see that today's main GOTD offering has had a number of good reviews. I hope a trend will start in that direction and gather some momentum.

There have been some useful programs on some of the other daily giveaway sites as well. "Download Junkie" had four winners yesterday. That website looks like a team is at work. I have not checked today yet.

Bigun, I just reread my posting and I have to apologize for not parsing my message properly- I should have made more of a subject break between saying I wasn't (generally don't- I can't tell the difference) saying troll or not and (I think I did it better elsewhere) saying some posters (subset, not subspecies, gotta haste spellcheckers) haven't fully realized that the conditions are set by the software companies and the gaotd team literally can't extend a giveaway by themselves, etc.

no excuse for not writing what I meant.

I think the rest is valid, though- and the board's software does dump a message if you work on it for an hour. it did it to me.

Bigun, I agree with Whiterabbit, I cannot see anything in the posts that Graylox gave to denote troll-like behaviour, and I read them all carefully. A tiny bit testy perhaps, in the last example given, lol. If I had received a message like that I would have folded up my tent and crept into the night, never to be seen again, so I am glad to see that that is not your modus operandi. Keep on writing in, Bigun, we have lost enough good forum members already.

Bigun,

I'd like to thank you for all the help you've given over the past several months. I checked some of the posts above that were suggested were supposed to cause chaos on the forums, and all I saw (in the main), were politely worded posts. Most of the content of each of the posts were constructive critisism or suggestions that were supposed to be of help.

Please don't leave these forums just because a few may not like your dry humor. Thanks

regards

Whiterabbit.

p.s.
I do take the point about some of the links being suspect. Though thta's easily overlooked sometimes.

Bonjour

Just want to *repeat* what Lady Gray & Goody have already stated on another thread.
====> "freedownloadcenter" not only has a rather bad reputation, also is deep red as per WOT.

I'm repeating this warning here so everybody that really wants to go there do so w shields up and feelers out, as Goody said.

I'm not risking a bad encounter for free softs.
At least I know GOTD is clean!!

You obviously did not read what I wrote - it was aimed at improving - nothing negative. Read today's comments on the download page for PPTminimizer (http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/pptminimizer-40/) and count the positive comments. Do things sound healthy?

A few of the daily giveaway sites previously listed - all offering high quality software. If these websites do not supply you with enough new offerings, search other posts. If that is too much work, you can write me and tell me what you are looking for.

http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/ (multiple downloads a day)

http://www.freedownloadaday.com/

http://www.vnunet.com/downloads/ (multiple downloads a day)

http://www.komando.com/downloads/

How do you define "giveaway"?

From a month ago. Look for the lists.

"There's been a lot of griping lately about the quality of programs offered on the Giveawayoftheday website. I've shared some of the same feelings. But, as I look back I see I have downloaded some very good programs. A recent offering, WireKeys, has turned out to be another jewel for me."

ain't gonna get my dawg in that fight, troll or no troll. there seem to be subspecies that just don't grok that the goatd team isn't in control of what's offered. or the exact conditions. they can ask but not compel.

I do have a bit of info for Bigun- if it takes an hour to compose a post, bbPress does reset and discards it, no recovery. fwiw, long posts editor-copy-paste is the only insurance.

had an idea about shills, though- send shills an email-contact message, whatever- politely suggesting they offer their software as a giveaway as that's the purpose- and you might try it that way... report, sure- but offer an alternative to just black-holing messages, what? might get more stuff offered.

heck, ask authors of software you want to see if they would consider a giveaway for the coverage and advertisement value- just be real polite.

that's my suggestion for keeping gaotd viable.

be part of a solution and voluntarily join the team rather than carping about lack of relevant giveaways.

Hi, Bigun,
sorry for answering so late, but I have read your post not before now.
It is not the first time you criticise Giveawayoftheday. And it is not the first time that you promise a list of your thoughts or a list of better offers and deals. And it is not the first time you have failed to present your lists. The only links you introduce (like http://www.vnunet.com/downloads/) have a large list of software downloads, freeware, demos, payware and abandon-ware, but no "GIVEAWAY".
The only thing you present are some crude ideas and unfounded criticism on company policy and persons.
If you have founded proposals for the GOTD management, please send them to the managers, or even better, establish your own company.
If you have to pass founded criticism on persons who work for GOTD, so please send them a PM and don't attach your comments with insinuation, which implies that you would be censored or locked out.
Please have in mind, that the team of moderators and administrator are not paid by GOTD or other companies for the many hours they spend to make the forums possible. They are all volunteers, who give their time and work for the benefit of the GOTD users - for us.
I am not going to explain the commercial basis of GOTD again, that has BuBBy already done with the best competence .
I have re-read some of your posts in your profile; in my opinion you are
just a troll, who wants to cause a chaos in the forums.
In the future I will not hesitate to report your posts, with the wish to delete them.

Some samples of your posts:
http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/3659#post-39029
http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2947#post-22810
http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2678#post-18468
http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2283#post-14277

a rather annoyed graylox
PS: As I have no Dragon NaturallySpeaking, all mistakes in this post are made by graylox.

BuBBY:

I wish that I had added (at the very top of my last post) that I thought that you and I were on the same side.

I make a distinguishment between "tyrant" and "crabby" but must admit that it is a very thin line.

The comment box works perfectly today. Last night I could not select a section, the delete key would not work for me, and sentence fragments kept being cut out and some times pasted else where. Must be due to starting the day with a clean and fresh environment. There is a lot to be said for clean air. Well, I guess we have both done our part to clear the air.

BuBBy:

There is another daily give-away-website that does each of the things that I mentioned. This is not a small new-on-the-scene website. In fact the website (URL given below) appears to be a good bit larger than GOTD judging by the size of the website, the multitude of programs that appear on the website and the quality of the programs offered (Acronis and Snagit have had recent offerings. The website features a daily giveaway but actually provides several giveaways on most days.

http://www.vnunet.com/downloads/ aka "Download Junkie"

The point I am trying to make when I say that the website is bigger than GOTD is in no way meant to be a put down for GOTD. The point is: software authors with good products are willing to work with websites such as this one. The role that users play in building a website is an important one - and can be investigated and commented on further. You might agree that discussion on this topic could go on for some time and is bigger than you or I (it is bigger than I - I don't know about you, I am guessing). Is there interest?

Those on the other side of the software fence (users on one side and developers on another) at three giveaway sites respond to user's comments immediately. To do other wise means risking poor attendance when the curtain opens for a new offer. At least that is what they, the webmasters, often say in their daily written response to users.

If the webmaster of a website wishes to gain and hold popularity, I believe it would be prudent to listen to and respond to user comments. BuBBy, I know that you have read some of the unkind posts by some of the users of GOTD of late. I don't see them as signs of growth and prosperity. Even some of the most serene women users who undoubtedly are positive to the core and rarely say unkind things about others have expressed concern about GOTD in a few of their comments. There is something greater than just an undertone of discontent. "Go somewhere else says you" "OK", says I, and a throng of users start migrating south.

While a migration can be prevented by displaying some good will, no one may think it worth the trouble. Faced with a wall of resistance and I know that its not worth the trouble to me. I will leave and I may be check back on occasion. Others will do the same. Why go through a divorce?

Show me the mechanics of a healthy website and mention the willingness of software developers that have recently participated in the GOTD program. I can do that. One crippled web user and I can do that.

I have a very recent example of a software author (who has been prolific enough to have a handle on the market place). I suggested that he check two specific areas of program that was a recent offer on this website. I was flabbergasted when he soon struck up an on going conversation that has lasted several weeks.

In the spring the same thing happened with another company (a larger company by several times) that had an offering on GOTD. Our communications lasted over a month. Statements mentioned by each indicated a willingness to work with software users far beyond the boarders of GOTD. Neither case can be misconstrued as being a simple user to vendor/technical support department exchange - and only one user. Imagine a friendly Group of users. A proactive group of users, or the GOTD webmaster or both could work with either of the companies alluded to and have an offer on "standby" waiting for an opportunity when an offer is badly needed.

The comment blocks in the forum section keep doing strange things with my machine tonight. I don't have any thing else to add so I will stop with this final comment. If you personally wish to checkup on me or see how they might respond I will send you the name of the companies by PM upon your request.

Bigun, on the matter of just extending giveaways from 1 day to 2 - I think you need to understand that many of the conditions of the software giveaways are negotiated and agreed upon with the developers in question.

I don't believe it is sufficient for a bunch of the site users to want something - it is the bidding of the software developers that GOTD does - and not up to us to change things from day to day (no matter how much we might want to).

Regards,

BuBBy - the tyrant ;)

My observations and thoughts on helping keep the Giveawayoftheday website a pleasant place to do business.

I was peering at the comments page made for this past week on the day that there was no Giveawayoftheday offer. Several thing struck me while I was reading the comments. First off, it appeared that those posting comments were on the whole nicer than the ones that post comments on the day-to-day comment page. I have noticed this friendlier approach when we have had circumstances that for one reason or another, have lead to no offer being made available on a given day. Are there ways it is peace and goodwill toward men, attitude be captured and woven in to other parts of the website? I think so and I have a few ideas on how to do that. I am not going to list those ideas tonight. I hope that everyone that reads this will give some thought to that question and observation - how to establish a friendlier atmosphere!

I see no particular reason to be a stickler for rules when it comes to the offers on this website. No one pays much attention to the rules when to do otherwise better suits what they want to do and say. So let us come up with a list of circumstances that will permit suspending the rules temporarily - a list generally acceptable to reasonable men and women. Again, I am not going to propose a list tonight. I will mention though, one suggested instance for rule suspension in the paragraphs immediately below. I would ask the others of you to consider what circumstances you would like to see on such a list. Also I would ask you to comment on the advisability of requesting additional moderators with or without a rotational schedule so that no one gets burned out or rises in power to become a tyrant. You know, as I think back to that part about becoming a tyrant - I doubt anyone that we would choose to become a moderator would ever think of abusing his power. I would like to quickly add that editing a comment in part or in whole is not tyrannical behavior. .

Concerning extending a giveaway time period beyond the normal one day limit, it seems quite reasonable if no new offer is going to be made available for that day. There are other circumstances that should justify suspending the 24 hour time limit on downloading Givawayoftheday promotions. Perhaps not all software authors would agree to this, but I bet many would and some might even add a bonus giveaway to go along with the original promotion.

I hope I do not come across as being "holier than thou" because that is not at all like I feel. I enjoy reading the comments that many of the regular Giveawayoftheday website visitors make. I would like there to be a place where others y'all for I do can go and enjoy ourselves as we experience a feeling of community.

I really do not expect those responsible for the Giveawayoftheday website to go out of their way to set up anything special. We the community can do that. I would ask that the Giveawayoftheday folks make some effort to respond occasionally, in some outward way, to the comments and suggestions made by responsible website visitors.

What say you?

Bigun

I can use only one hand to type. Because of that I use a dictation program, Dragon Naturally Speaking. The program often continues to scan a document, and may make changes on its own in the text after it has been finalized by me.

I would really hope that there isn't a lot of moderation actually needed here.

In most forums - moderation is typically performed by real people correcting "problem posts".

Generally speaking, users here are relatively well behaved and friendly (which is how it should be).

However, everybody is encouraged to help out if they can, with software recommendations and answering software questions (typically from new users who perhaps haven't been around GOTD for long, and are unfamiliar with how things work).

I don't know everything, but I know google (and that is more than some people are prepared to do).

Well in here (forums) a total of 5 people moderate comments.

I moderated one earlier as it was generalising rather than kept in ones head.

How does the comment moderation work?
Is there a "engine" that moderates the posts, or do actual people moderate them and approve of them?
If they are moderated by people; I would be interested in helping out the project some.

This is to discuss comment moderation.