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I hear people say all the time that posting is counterproductive and not profitable. I think that is far from the truth. Nearly every business relationship I have was established first on a messageboard and then only later grew from personal meetings, emails, and phone calls. Yeah - well, since you're reading this - I'm preaching to the choir but I felt I had to vent.
Even today, I am still meeting people for the first time at shows that I first came into contact with on messageboards. The messageboard served as our introduction. They are as viable as ever. Maybe more so.
__________________ Almighty Content. Your one stop for live content.
I've always viewed message boards as the internet equivalent to the water cooler, power lunch, business cocktail party, and Rotary Club meeting all rolled into one
I'm still trying to figure out how Jack, in "Prey", still had his cellphone in his pocket when he was in Nevada and had to remove all the OTHER metal from his body/belongings.......then "brrrring" - the hospital calls on what is apparently now the ONLY non-metal parts cellphone, to let him know his wife's wacko
I'm only about 1/2 way (he just realized how they're creating the assemblers). You know more than I do about all that techie stuff - how much of any of what's in the book is scientifically feasible?
Nanotechnology is an infantile field. Most of the speculation in "Prey" is stuff that can be found on popular websites on the subject.
Most of the material on emergent behavior and genetic algorithms is straight from today's research labs. You can find downloadable programs on the web that simulate flocking behavior etc. and derive it from just a few simple interactive rules. They're actually kinda interesting (at least I think so).
I personally didn't find anything in the book to be objectionable - in the sense that there were no physical laws violated - and nothing seemed overly preposterous to me. Much of the story's science is a review of current work and theoretical speculation from the field of genetic algorithms. Of course, at present these models are all computer simulations - no one has figured out how to put them in nature and that is the fiction part - at least for now, a long time to come, and maybe forever. Though I would bet against the last.
I am though a strong and maybe overly optimistic AI proponent and algorithmic science is one of my main interests and forgive the Vegas reference, my strong-suit (it's what I did in college).
Yeah, there are minor holes. Crichton's strength as a writer is his deft pace. I love text that can be read at warp speed. One can almost sense the influence of movies on Crichton's writing. This seems like a made-for-movie story.
__________________ Almighty Content. Your one stop for live content.
Originally posted by Colin@Jan 13 2003, 11:49 AM Crichton's strength as a writer is his deft pace. I love text that can be read at warp speed. One can almost sense the influence of movies on Crichton's writing. This seems like a made-for-movie story.
LOL, how true! I've gotten to where I read his books, Grisham's and Stephen King's and put a movie star's face to characters when I read the books
The rest of your post went over my head except I gather "Yes, it COULD happen..."
Take the case of flocking behavior. If you were making a movie and wanted to simulate what a flock of flying geese look like, what rules would you give each goose to make it look real? It turns out that you can use just a few simple rules and the computer-generated flying flock will look for the most part like a real one. (whether real flocks use such simple rules, no one knows).
For example.
1. Don't fly too close to other birds
2. Fly in the average direction of the other birds.
3. Fly towards the average position of the other birds.
You can combine these rules in such a way as to resolve conflicts between competing rules. ("Don't fly into another bird" would have high priority).
That's am old simple one that is decent by itself. One can make more elaborate goals and behavior on top of this. AI birds are called "boids".
Why might someone care?
1. To make a better movie. Why program the position of 100s of flocking/hearding creatures when one can just use a few simple rules and let the program run?
2. To understand how nature really works. Is there a flock leader? If not, how do
birds know where to go without a leader?
__________________ Almighty Content. Your one stop for live content.
I've always viewed message boards as the internet equivalent to the water cooler, power lunch, business cocktail party, and Rotary Club meeting all rolled into one
This is a pearl.
Message boards for me oringally was a place to blow off steam, to boucne ideas off of peers, and of coure to talk about current events...
They have become more then that, and as Colin said, I have started some wonderful friendships on messageboards!
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I think it's both. Posting *can be* profitable to your business (meeting people, getting new ideas or solutions to problems), but it can also hamper the profit to your business, as the time you spend on boards you could spend building and growing your porn empire.
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Originally posted by Colin@Jan 13 2003, 11:36 AM 1. To make a better movie. Why program the position of 100s of flocking/hearding creatures when one can just use a few simple rules and let the program run?
For some reason this strongly reminds me of running an affiliate program, a large TGP or LL... anything where webmasters come to you and contribute to the growth of your site/program.
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Originally posted by Carrie@Jan 13 2003, 09:10 AM I think it's both. Posting *can be* profitable to your business (meeting people, getting new ideas or solutions to problems), but it can also hamper the profit to your business, as the time you spend on boards you could spend building and growing your porn empire.
Carrie - I find myself agreeing with you a LOT today. It's a pleasure "meeting" you on this board even though I've been reading you for quite awhile. You've brought up a lot of excellent points to these discussions.
I agree that it's both.
I set myself a board limit for the day - one hour a day M-F and 2 hours a day on the weekends if the kids are off doing something else, otherwise the weekends are for family. This discipline really helps me save myself from over-doing it on the boards, which is easy to do.
However - from someone who spent the last 4 years staying "loyal" to a single board - you've got to get out EVERYWHERE to meet the largest amount of folks. You really do. And what you learn/pick up on other boards can be brought back to be discussed at your "home board" - the place that you feel the most comfortable. But - limiting yourself to one board would be like only shopping at Wal-Mart for the rest of your life. Sure you feel comfortable and they've got a lot of great deals - but just think about all the other opportunities you miss by sheltering yourself at one location.
Boards CAN be profitable in many ways - you just need to make sure they don't consume you.
Originally posted by Carrie@Jan 13 2003, 12:10 PM I think it's both. Posting *can be* profitable to your business (meeting people, getting new ideas or solutions to problems), but it can also hamper the profit to your business, as the time you spend on boards you could spend building and growing your porn empire.
This is why I have partners that take care of all the day-to-day stuff. This is my only responsibility. Shake hands, make deals, Shake hands, make deals. Repeat as necessary.
__________________ Almighty Content. Your one stop for live content.
Originally posted by Colin@Jan 13 2003, 06:54 AM I hear people say all the time that posting is counterproductive and not profitable. I think that is far from the truth. Nearly every business relationship I have was established first on a messageboard and then only later grew from personal meetings, emails, and phone calls. Yeah - well, since you're reading this - I'm preaching to the choir but I felt I had to vent.
Even today, I am still meeting people for the first time at shows that I first came into contact with on messageboards. The messageboard served as our introduction. They are as viable as ever. Maybe more so.
I feel that it is rarely directly profitable, but has a lot of power to get your name out there and let people know who you are and what you are about. Of couse if you are an ass, they will figure that out as well.
Plus I run into and do business with people from the boards that I never would have otherwise met.
Other messageboards *cough*gfy*cough* may not be a place loaded with people who made $ with message boards.. but i can think of 3 names off the top of my head who have made MILLIONS doing nothing but posting (ok, well there is the occassional potty break :=)
Serge, Brad and Myself (i'm being humble but honest here) are the 3 that come to mind because all 3 have built directly from the boards.... so YES, the boards are profitable.
Now back to actually working :-)
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Another point is that networking may be more or less important in the success of various business models. Various free site webmasters may feel that they are self-sufficient and do not need to network so much. I rarely took that attitude as a freesite webmaster assuming that one day the contacts I made would be more important than the money I was making and the businesses I was building at the time.
In addition to their normal function on both ends of the traffic assembly line, business contacts are valuable sources of information.
The great thing is that it is still relatively easy to establish a name and reputation for oneself and to schmooze with the biggest of the big. There are very few barriers to meeting the Heads of State in this industry. If you can't figure out how to do that, one can always get a job with ARS, SilverCash, MaxCash, or some other tremendously entrenched company and meet everyone that way.
your right about those ppl and others, I am a board **ore and have done real good over these past few years also, as you and many other have.
Mike,
Where else would you of found 1 repub. and a democrat becoming friends but on a board ) Can't wait to make it to NO's and visit with you and the crew sometime.
I still gotta say that cybernet party in NO's at the pool house you guys got, was one of my funnest times. Shit, I spent half the night talking to the bartender, as others were getting bj's in the back room
Originally posted by LA Mike@Jan 13 2003, 01:53 PM Of course you can make money by posting...
Watch this...
Hey Serge great seing you at the show
Now Serge will be sending me a Vase for my birthday next year or cut my advertising costs.
So yes you can make money by posting :P
Mike
LAMike,
the pleasure was all mine and...I already cut your costs by 50%...
and sent you invoice @ 50% for
ALL MONTHS you weren't advertisingf on Oprano last year!
;-))))
as for vase...which PLASTIC is your favorite?
;-))))
the wall I posted today is good enough for a decent Porche
;-)))
we all have our own vices..or should I say "vases"
;-)))
Serge, Brad and Myself (i'm being humble but honest here) are the 3 that come to mind because all 3 have built directly from the boards.... so YES, the boards are profitable.
**************************************
you are wrong about Brad...he self destructed himself on the boards back in a day and if it wasn't for MikeAI who threw him a life line and made him acceptable,
we wouldn't even remember this name.
now he withdrew himself from the boards, cuz his stupid mouth hurts him more than anything else.
PLEASE, don't even put my name in the same sentence with his.
Originally posted by Colin@Jan 13 2003, 11:36 AM Peaches, Lady law,
Take the case of flocking behavior. If you were making a movie and wanted to simulate what a flock of flying geese look like, what rules would you give each goose to make it look real? It turns out that you can use just a few simple rules and the computer-generated flying flock will look for the most part like a real one. (whether real flocks use such simple rules, no one knows).
For example.
1. Don't fly too close to other birds
2. Fly in the average direction of the other birds.
3. Fly towards the average position of the other birds.
You can combine these rules in such a way as to resolve conflicts between competing rules. ("Don't fly into another bird" would have high priority).
That's am old simple one that is decent by itself. One can make more elaborate goals and behavior on top of this. AI birds are called "boids".
Why might someone care?
1. To make a better movie. Why program the position of 100s of flocking/hearding creatures when one can just use a few simple rules and let the program run?
2. To understand how nature really works. Is there a flock leader? If not, how do
birds know where to go without a leader?
Yes, all that and more in fractals...
Mandelbrot established an "index" which each self-replicating phenome can be scaled by but still maintain its essential structure... like DNA
I do believe posting is profitable, you get your name and programs out there for thousands to read, you get the opportunity to help out now and again, and you get you name known! I think it is especially important for small business owners with limited advertising budgets to utilize them for name branding while your company grows. The fact it, most people feel more comfortable doing business with people they know or know of, and know how to get a hold of. I know my business would not have grown as quickly without me utlizing the boards. :P
Originally posted by Colin@Jan 13 2003, 12:22 PM
That's funny you say that. I wrote my own TGP trading script. While developing it, I actually tried using genetic algorithms for such but eventually decided it was way too complicated to get into as I'm only a novice programmer. Fun as science but too slow for business.
Colin,
GAs can be good for learning from static data, but much to slow for dynamic real-time systems. There are some AI tools that might work well in traffic trading scripts, learning in real time. If you're interested, I'll dig out the research I did a while ago on them.
On topic:
Back in the pre-Internet days I tracked what was going on in my industry by weekly mags that targeted my field. The boards are a much better source of information today since lot's of people want to talk about what they're doing , what's working and what are the trends.
Will posting make me a million, probably not, but it definitly helps my business.
Edit: Just noticed I (JerryW) posted from Gregg's account and not mine I better switch back to my PC.
Last edited by photogregg at Jan 13 2003, 07:10 PM
Originally posted by Bestat@Jan 13 2003, 05:39 PM I do believe posting is profitable, you get your name and programs out there for thousands to read, you get the opportunity to help out now and again, and you get you name known! I think it is especially important for small business owners with limited advertising budgets to utilize them for name branding while your company grows. The fact it, most people feel more comfortable doing business with people they know or know of, and know how to get a hold of. I know my business would not have grown as quickly without me utlizing the boards. :P
Originally posted by LA Mike@Jan 13 2003, 05:33 PM Serge, When do I get my second bar under my name? I think I'm going to double post from now on so I can get those little boxes sooner
Plastic Vase? Damn, I guess thats better then the wood one I got last year.hahahaha
LAMike, how many bars do you need for full happiness?
;-))
I agree Colin, posting on boards can be very profitable.
I know for me, even when I first started, if I hadn't been 'told' to 'go post dammit!'...I would never have learned the things I did...and never have met the people I did.
Going 4 years into the biz for me now, the boards still function as a place to learn, mingle, and now initiate deals...not to mention the 'free advertising' space for your program.
Besides, if it wasn't for Oprano, I don't think I would have even known who you were (colin) when I met you in Vegas.
__________________
A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives the rose mail me
Don't let anyone let Serge read this, but 99% of my success in this business was directly attritubatable to my pissing matches with Serge back in 97..oh yeah, and I won most of the time :P
It got out of hand in the end and I no longer think that that sort of post accomplishes much, but essentially making myself a presence by posting is the only reason that I made it as far in this business as I did.
Oh, and Colin's posts are sexy.
I think most of us have come a long way in the last 6 years.
Don't let anyone let Serge read this, but 99% of my success in this business was directly attritubatable to my pissing matches with Serge back in 97..oh yeah, and I won most of the time
OHhh Lordy... now Serge is going to get a big head!!
:P
__________________
Make big money on your Domains! Why wait 40 days to get paid with the other guys? Parked.com pays the most for your traffic, and cuts checks twice a month!
I think yes...but profitable in different ways for different people. For newbies, posting on the likes of VNWR or TNB will teach them how to successfully make money in this business far quicker than battling it alone will do.
For sponsor programs, content providers, coders, etc etc, there is definitely some value purely in name recognition. I couldn't count how many times I heard, and said, in Vegas, 'wow, I know you from xyz board'.
Naturally, posting alone won't do it, but if you can spare a little time each day/week/whatever, it sure can't hurt.
I hope XYZ Board is how you Aussies spell Oprano! :P
__________________
Make big money on your Domains! Why wait 40 days to get paid with the other guys? Parked.com pays the most for your traffic, and cuts checks twice a month!
Originally posted by Lisa@Jan 13 2003, 09:33 PM I think yes...but profitable in different ways for different people. For newbies, posting on the likes of VNWR or TNB will teach them how to successfully make money in this business far quicker than battling it alone will do.
For sponsor programs, content providers, coders, etc etc, there is definitely some value purely in name recognition. I couldn't count how many times I heard, and said, in Vegas, 'wow, I know you from xyz board'.
Naturally, posting alone won't do it, but if you can spare a little time each day/week/whatever, it sure can't hurt.
Originally posted by originalheather@Jan 14 2003, 02:33 AM What do I do besides know who you've slept with? :P
*cough* *splutter*
heather, I just shot water out of my nose
LMAO
your such a bitch!!!! (I mean that in a loving way ;-))) )
Quote:
I feel that it is rarely directly profitable, but has a lot of power to get your name out there and let people know who you are and what you are about. Of couse if you are an ass, they will figure that out as well.
Certain boards are ALWAYS directly profitable ...
For example ...
I'm looking for exit traffic from paysite companies, for 5c unique ... pop this console, if the surfer closes it without clicking you get the traffic back.
icq me with details of your traffic source ... 3422430
thanks!
Originally posted by originalheather@Jan 14 2003, 12:04 AM Don't let anyone let Serge read this, but 99% of my success in this business was directly attritubatable to my pissing matches with Serge back in 97..oh yeah, and I won most of the time :P
hahahahhahaahahah,
what exactly have you won?
;-))
I know only ONE person who WON, hands down, undisputed winner...
Kjell from Jettis who made a bet with me and collected $50 check for his wall
;-)))
01-13-2003
ass smilie 
but no tittie smilie ...
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