| Author | Message | ||
    Stephan |
Hi there, as I got important and constructive feedback from you guys in the "Forum Posts" topic, I thought it might be helpful to involve you again regarding a restructure of the whole forum. Let me shortly summarize the problems we face now:
Now, I think, it's time to reorganize the board, to tidy up subtopics and posts and to define how to deal with old posts. And the most important issue: How to deal with that massive load of posts. Give me your ideas about how the board should look like in the future. But, please try to give short comments as I am sure that not only a few people will participate this discussion. Salome, Stephan | ||
Norm |
I say keep the messages that are on topic delete the ones that are not. | ||
Mark Campbell |
Hi Stephan ; There are some irrelevant conversations and arguments that should be deleted . Salome , Mark | ||
Lonnie Morton |
Hi Stephan, There is much very relevnant information in the archives. In my opinion these should NOT be deleted. I myself have learned a great deal form this forum, and so have the others. Some posts can be deleted if they are not important for our development. Spiritual teachings and pertinent FIGU matters should be kept in the system somehow. This is probably going to take a lot of work. It will require much discernment to determine what posts should be deleted. I hope the more important and informative posts will be saved. Lonnie | ||
Stephan |
Hi Lonnie, Mark and Norm (and world), I just browsed around an hour now, trying to define what relevant and irrelevant information is. Nearly impossible. What do you think can definitly be deleted? An easy thing was to upgrade "Books and Booklets" to a new main topic. It contains more than 500 posts, which was definitly a reason to move it out of the subtopic "The Spiritual Teachings". By the way: Books and booklets is one of our main focus anyway, isn't it? Another idea: Any topic contains various subtopics and the possibility to create and start a new one. Among those subtopics there is always a "pool" topic, called "Miscellaneous". I would suggest to delete constantly any old posts in this "Miscellaneous" subtopics, because any user has the (better) possibilty to create a new subtopic, instead. This could give us a better overview of the running topics, because they have all their own area, the corresponding subtopic. There are no longer among hundreds of "Miscellaneous" posts. Give me your comments, Salome, Stephan | ||
Mark Campbell |
Hi Stephan; The need for room on the server is a real one that can't be compromised , so maybe you could give us a warning about when some of the posts are going away ( and which ones) , so that we can re-read them before they go into the virtual void. - I'll research the posts for weak spots .I assume that to report the posts by date is the best way ? Can you give us a deadline date to do this ?' Danke und Salome , Mark | ||
Stephan |
Hi Mark, Reporting the date (including topic and subtopic) will be fine. Maybe other people will help you in creating some kind of a list? There is no deadline for this work. We still have some days, until the disk space is completely used  . I think, when there exists a list of "posts to delete", I'll sit together with Marc (virtually) to decide how to go forward. I don't have a good overview of this board and its posts, but Marc has. Thanks for your help, Salome, Stephan | ||
Anthony Alagna |
Hello Stephan, How about each author goes through their own posts to look for irrelevancy, errors, redundancy, etc., using the search option? Say everyone interested, could go through their posts with a goal of eliminating 50% of the stuff they threw up. This would take the burden off the moderators and at the same time put more people on the job. Perhaps you could stick a "delete post" option on user accounts for the time being? At the very least, authors could send you a list of posts to ax. I know myself, there are posts where I thought one thing, only to learn down the road what I said was incorrect. Like Norm, sometimes I'd like to correct or delete posts. And yes, eliminate any miscellaneous topic area. I think people can find a suitable string for their content, instead of being lazy and throwing it in the miscellaneous. However, there is a lot of good stuff in these areas that could be better organized by the authors into the appropriate subject area. Again, people could request that certain posts be moved or deleted. With all the great topics out there, I would think at this point you can eliminate the "start a new topic area" option. This would force people to look for a relevant area to post among the comprehensive topic areas that already exist. And if the need arises, a person could e-mail a moderator to start a new string. Best regards, Anthony | ||
Jean Pierre Lagasse |
Hi all, If server space is already limited, any deleting of posts etc. would be a temporary solution at best. Also, I suspect that to decide whether a post is worthwhile to keep or not, might take longer than it took to write the post itself..!! Perhaps something more radical might/should be considered? I wonder if the existing posts could be burned onto a CD in text format... leaving only the posts from Andrew, Christian, Marc & posts from others containing "Official info"... A series of "temporary parallel" (to existing topics) strings could be started for us to "discuss stuff"... & would eventually be burned onto the same CD as well... This series of "parallel" strings would be temporary... & any REALLY good info would be occasionally transferred onto the "Official permanent" topic strings. The "official strings" would not have an "add message" box... however the moderators can still easily add to these strings despite this. If zipped, the entire bulk of this forum would fit onto a CD quite nicely??? Just guessing here... This "archived info" could be emailed amongst us... periodically... perhaps using a second site as a transfer point. The trick would be to make this info "text searchable" with word processors or whatever. FIGU might have issues with "rights"... however...??? or other considerations in all this? Another thought... perhaps FIGU could sell these "Archived CD's"... to us? Could help to pay for the site and/or translations or whatever, eh? (Love that edit button...!!)... The REAL trick would be to make these CD's compatible with Discus... so that we would search & read through the CD's (on our machines) through the FIGU discus forum... or some "look-alike" equivalent? If this is possible... Just thoughts... & these might be good or bad, eh? Regards, JP | ||
Savio |
Hi Stephan I would think it would be nice if all the discussions can be kept. As for the disk space, I would think it can be solved easily say a 40G hard disk is not dear nowadays. Would you consider using "data compression"? Disk space is doubled easily without any cost. Just some thoughts, I do not have experience in managing a server Regards Savio | ||
Linda Williams |
Pierre, I think you should volunteer as official FIGU Tech Support and be added to the Credits! *s* Linda | ||
Anthea |
Hi JP ... I have always saved copies of posts and bits of information that I have found relevant to my own hard-drive on my computer (copy and paste into a Word document or similar), creating my own database of information so to speak. This is perhaps a more reliable way of saving information instead of relying on an outer source to archive information you might deem important. Just a little suggestion. Regards, Anthea | ||
Mark Campbell |
Anthea has an excellent idea , however , some indexed information should be indexed for searches . Maybe a summarised fact area can be created out of all previous posts , that is accesible to the forum . Just an idea , and I don't know how applicable it is to the software program . Salome , Mark | ||
Stephan |
Hello, we do not have our own server system. This is, why we can't simply upgrade our disk space with buying a new harddisk. Burning the board on a CD is a good idea for "real" archiving issues. But this archive won't be available for all the people who participate to this forum (except if it would reside on the server again, which wouldn't solve the problem ). Therefore, I would like to find a way, which is satisfactory for everyone. The CD gets burned anyway, before we delete something. Only keeping "relevant" information results in another problem: The discussions get somehow disrupted when deleting single posts out of the subtopics. But, I think we have no other choice. Interestingly enough, a new major revision of the Discus Software (what we use for this board) has been released. It is still Beta, but offers already now lots of functions we will use to manage the load of posts. It has also an improved archiving feature, which could be used to prune or archive posts completely automatically, without moderators' attention. Very promising. Any more comments to the "Miscellaneous"-Posts-Idea described above? I think this is a quite good possibility to keep the load under control. Who could help to create a list like Mark described above? Salome, Stephan | ||
Mario |
Hello, This forum contains great information. Many topics may well be transformed onto articles like that one about "The near death of Semjase" by Christian Frehner. Then, when possible, they can be burned on a CD or printed in short format like those FIGU panflets. This way there is the possibility to translate them to other languages so more people can learn from them. But this labour needs volunteers. I am not a native english speaking person, but this is one of my jobs, journalism, and I can take responsability for one or more of the topics to make a complete report. At the end of the text can be placed the names of the persons involved in the topic to give the respective credit. I don't think there could be issues about "rights" since we all are learning from this board, but in this case each and everyone must express his/her point of view. So, this board can be almost "clean" and ready to receive more interesting opinions and comments from you, great people. Just my opinion, Mario | ||
Stephan |
Hi Mario, good idea. Maybe you can open a new thread to discus this matter. Salome, Stephan | ||
Lonnie Morton |
Hi Stephan, These are all good ideas, but still, it is going to mean that most of the old posts will have to be deleted because there just isn't enough room. Looking at this objectively, it would not hurt to simply make the same or similar comments and answers one again. There are many new members comung on the forum all the time. So, instead of directing them to the archives we can post the information again. REPETITION FOR EMPHASIS is good. This can serve as a memory aid for those who know the answers and also help those who inquire about a certain subject that has been discussed before. Just as us older members were helped when this forum first started. Perhaps every so often we can go through this same process to refresh ourselves and also to continue learning. I myself don't mind at all commenting on information we have previously discussed. I'm sure Billy does this all the time. It is his duty and ours. Kind regards, Lonnie | ||
Stephan |
I completely agree with you. But, what I am talking about is:
Thanks for your comments, Stephan | ||
Lonnie Morton |
Hi Stephan, Yes, good point! It's "quality" not "quantity" that we can build on. Regards, Lonnie | ||
Anthea |
Hello Stephan, On your first point: I agree that irrelevant posts should be deleted. These posts do not serve the quality of the forum at all and cause more confusion than is necessary. On your second point - how about limiting the number of words allowed per post in the miscellaneous area (to a reasonable amount of course if discus allows this function), and have only ONE miscellaneous area NOT pertaining to the teachings, instead of a host of unhelpful miscellaneous areas? On your third point - the moderator (although he is a busy man I am sure) should "prune" the forum on a regular basis of irrelevant posts that don't serve the purpose of the forum, thereby maintaining organization instead of having to do a major clean-up when a crisis arises such as is being experienced now. On another note: I would like to volunteer to do a list as Mark Campbell proposed in his post of Wednesday, January 30, 2002 - 02:02 am. I have the skills, the time and the equipment (however I might have a problem with my Internet Connection soon), but if there is a way to get around this unavoidable problem I am willing to offer my experience and service for this task. Regards and Salome, Anthea | ||
Stephan |
Thanks for your offer, Anthea, I would suggest that Mark Campbell coordinates the work (simply because he had the initial idea ). Of course, you can discus that among yourself. If you need help, simply write me a note. Ok, finally, we all agree to point one. Point two is an excellent idea. Right now, Discus can only handle global limits (eg. 1k/message for public users) but not regarding a specific topic. I'll check, if version 4 has something advanced. I also like point two_dot_one (2.1) . This would mean to create one dedicated "miscellaneous" topic on the main page. But, I think, if a topic like this exists, we have to use mechanisms, to persuade the users, that using that topic isn't the best choice and that they better use some specific subtopic. Maybe we can achieve that with noting very clearly, that posts within that miscellaneous area are pruned on a regular base and may get lost with the time... Comments? Point 3: We are far away from a crisis, but you're right. If subtopics get archived automatically (eg. when a subtopic reaches 20 posts) and the ongoing discussion can go on, then the moderator would have enough time to browse through the archives, and delete irrelevant posts. Point 4 (yes, new ): Discus 4 also allows to create a dedicated "archive" main topic, which then would contain all archives from all subtopics in some ordered way. I like that idea. Comments? Thanks again for your help. I was thinking about the possibility, to give you moderator access for the cleanup job. Then, you could delete those (as irrelevant defined) posts immediately, regarding your list (that must be revised, first, of course). Comments? Salome, Stephan | ||
Anthea |
Hi Stephan, About the miscellaneous area (2.1) - this sounds great. I also like your point 4 very much - this will allow access to valuable information for new users of the forum. Thank you for considering me for the "cleanup" job - I would take on this task with joy - only I have to regretfully decline as I have learned only half an hour ago that for technical reasons our broadband connection is not going to be available anymore, and I'm not sure when we will have a dial-up connection again. If assistance is needed at any time in the future (safest time is last half of this year and further on) I would be more than willing to volunteer my services again. Regards and Salome, Anthea | ||
Mark Campbell |
Hi Stephen , Anthea ; My connection is slow like a turtle but I will start looking back into the archives with flashlight and wading boots .If anyone wants to help , we can assign areas to focus on , given the many branches that have sprouted (imagine a smiley face here).I think a good way to start is to copy all of an entire section into a Word program or similar as Anthea suggested ,and look for duplicates of questions and answers. The excess should be obvious , but we would email our results to Stephan, or whoever will assemble the edited archive. Salome , Mark | ||
Mark Campbell |
I have started to copy all of the posts in the Spiritual Teaching area ( all topics).I will start the editing process after I get the whole section in .If someone else wants to take on another area ,please announce your intent here , so that someone else can move on to another area . By now I can see that there are topics of interest that do not pertain to FIGU information, such as Zecharia Sitchin and his whole "parallel" history line . It's only my opinion that these should be edited down to a minimum , as to make a reference to it's existence , but not to establish it here in the forum as authority.After all ,once his version has been described ,it doesn't need to be repeated , because anyone can read all about it on Mr. Sitchin's website . There are also some topics that are covered in two or more areas , so I think we should all make a list of Specific topics within the Topic areas , and compare them with the others who are taking on this task .It would look like this: Spiritual Teachings : Miscellaneous 1. Decalouge 2. Aquarian Age 3. Semjase Contact translation 4. Semyaza / Adam lineage 5. Sitchin's history line 6. Moon /Destroyer comet 7. Quetzlcoatyl 8. Semjase's family names 9. Relegeon (description, quotes) This compilation could possibly result in the reassigning of these discussion topics into better suited areas . Any comments ? Thanks , Mark | ||
Lonnie Morton |
Hi Stephan, It is kind and considerate of Mark and Anthea to want to help with the clean up of the archives. However, in my opinion it is too much of a burden that this chore should be left to one or two persons to decide what should and what should not be deleted for everyone. I think Anthony's idea posted on 1/27 is the best. Would it not be better if all of us were to bring up all of our posts and each of us delete what we feel is not relevant? Then we can report back here when finished. This would make the whole process a lot easier and save a great deal of time. I know there are many things which I myself have posted which is not necessary to keep. Should not each of us individually be the judge of what comments of ours should be deleted? Certainly this is fair and reasonable, is it not? Lonnie | ||
Mark Campbell |
Hi Lonnie , Stephan ; I agree with Lonnie .This would be a logical first step to take , that everyone edit their own posts . My suggestions are mainly in the context of several people communicating decisions with careful consideration , checking between them to make sure that no "hatchet job" is done to the posts. General criteria could be established , like what I mentioned about the Sitchin information . It requires a little communication , to evolve a system of cooperation. Another idea that I liked alot is to compress the archive file , so that it is smaller .Maybe smaller print , and less spaces ? Salome , Mark | ||
Stephan |
Hello,
I would agree too, if Discus supported it. This is not the case. With other words: It is simply not possible that everyone delete their own posts, without granting everyone moderator acccess (which is, of course, also not possible ). Compressing the archive in terms of using some gzip or "compress" program method is not supported by our server. I would like to define a few persons, who create a list of "posts to delete". Afterwards, Mark Juliano and me would sit together to revise it. I am aware, that this is a big load of work. I'm afraid, that we can't avoid that step. Salome, Stephan | ||
Mario |
Hello Stephan, I started copying the messages of the forum to make articles with them and I noticed that lots of the first posts have been deleted. To name one example, the topic "Religion" contains the messages since May 25, 2001 and all the previous messages are not there anymore. I remember this specific topic because it was the first one I participated, but I have noticed the same with other topics. I'm only notifying this situation, I'll work with the available material. Thanks and regards Mario | ||
Stephan |
Some old archives have been moved out of the online board. If you want to use those old posts, I could give them to you (principally). But, as I stated above, you should
| ||
Linda Williams |
Hello Marc, This "forum post" actually has to do with Questions for Billy Meier. I couldn't post under that area. I noticed your recent moderator comments to Mario that his second question to Billy Meier would be submitted on the next round since he had already submitted one question this time. I also asked a question on this round as well, but waited my turn patiently for others to weigh in, then saw an opportunity to ask Billy another question about free will and destiny. I thought it would be okay to ask two questions since on the last round Michael Horn was able to ask two. Once again, I ask, have the forum rules changed? Linda | ||
Marc Juliano |
Hi Linda, No, the forum rules have not changed. Michael got in two separate posts/questions in the last round due to an oversight on my part. Marc | ||
Linda Williams |
Hi Marc, I'm assuming that my last question on this round will be submitted next round. If I am correct, I would like to request that you remove my question. I may choose to re-submit it but do not want to be locked into it, as there might be something else I would prefer to ask next time. As I re-read the "rule(s)" I think this statement could be reworded: If possible, please ask only one question per round so everyone gets a chance to ask. Perhaps the "if possible" wording should be deleted for further clarification? Thanks so much for the opportunity you are affording us to approach and question Billy! Sincerely, Linda | ||
Marc Juliano |
Hi Linda, You're right. I was going to submit your last question next time. I'll remove it per your request. As far as the "if possible" part, I'll try to make it more clear, thank you. What was intended behind the if-possible-one-question statement is sometimes people need to ask a second question that more or less relates to the first within the same post. e.g. "Billy, can you please tell me why the Giza Intelligences stayed on Earth of all places? And why did they choose religion as one of their primary 'weapons'?" This, of course, shouldn't mean that two, three or more unrelated questions always be asked in one post since it just gets down to a matter of how much time Christian and Billy have to allot to the task, usually done when Christian is visiting the Center on their busy weekends. Billy also answers many other questions for the bulletins, via phone and fax, and so forth. And I do try to ensure everyone gets a chance to ask. Anyway, you're welcome! I'm glad that you enjoy the area. Regards, Marc | ||
Linda Williams |
Hello Marc, I've tried to find an appropriate discussion area to respond to your recent forum announcement about quoting from FIGU booklets. Since there appears to be yet one more objection about "spoon feeding," I have understood for some time that FIGU WANTED to spread the "true truth" (as it as been refered to), so why would there be an objection to the quoting of relevant contact notes or other material as they relate to a particular discussion area? I would think that this material would be supportive of an FIGU point of view without disclosing the entire volumes of written material that Billy has to offer. Wouldn't these excerpts consitute a "sneak preview" instead and pique people's interest to learn more? Once again, I "sense" that there is a "new rule" on the board. Linda | ||
Hampton Hsien-Ting Chiu |
Hi Linda: I probably violate FIGU's copyright when I posted a section of German FIGU book translation. I can understand what you feel, about trying to get more info from this board. But if we look at this event strictly from copyright point of view, it would be clear that unless I have author's consent, else I should not post or translate any section of the book. Mentioning the content should be ok, but quoting exact section or translating whole section from German FIGU book and post it(as I did), is violating FIGU's copyright. Of course, this is my personal opinion, I am not a lawyer and I could be wrong. I hope Mr. Meier or FIGU will not sue me for what I did. Hampton Chiu | ||
James the truthseeker |
Greetings Hampton, Will look at the bright side, if Billy and FIGU sue you and many others for quoting FIGU books and contact notes on their own board, then at least all that new money can be put forth to publish new books and build new FIGU centers world wide. The only problem is, we wont have any more money to purchase the new books for quite some time. If they really didn't want this information posted then they could delete all the posts containing such. To be on the safe side perhaps we should ask that all these posts now be deleted. This will also add new space to the board. Salome, James TT. | ||
Norm |
Everyone, It was me that posted too much! I went way overboard. I don't think there would be any problem what Hampton did, given that its not in English. | ||
Linda Williams |
Hi Norm, I noticed those posts and I was enjoying them for their educational value and also thought they were especially relevant to the discussion areas and to current world events. I didn't consider them to be "spoon feeding" and was rather amazed by some of the prophetic accuracies, e.g. the Catholic priest problem. So, I am rather disappointed that this information cannot be shared as a teaching tool as would be the case with a study group. Linda | ||
Norm |
Linda, I understand your point of view, but I also understand Marc's. The good news is you can still buy the booklets at www.billymeier.com. | ||
Lars |
Hello Marc I read your Forum annoncement and entirely agree with it, it is absolutely fair. You got your point across very very well. As the Plejarens would say to one who executed a task, "you deserve a praise" Well, I submit one to you! you are an excellent moderator. Lars | ||
Edward |
Hi Linda, Norm, Hampton and all... Hope you are doing fine... Norm...Yes...You DID post very Much and went OverBoard... Naaaa....Just Kidding Norm.... I can understand you very well Norm. You Know the Material very very well I have noticed! And I take my Hat off for you. Ofcourse...posting as you do is a very good way...to let people know the Facts. And just like you, I can Understand Marc very very well also. He is just Right. All, This is a Disscussion Board...and we all should try and 'Verbally' try and make Our Knowledge Known...by what we 'Type' at this board. Posting...is Not Using One's Own Words. This is also a good manner to see how much knowledge we have absorbed from Billy's Teachings. And to discuss...One has to have 'Word-Exchanging'. That way..One has More Contact with what ever Subject is be disscussed. But ofcourse...a Small portion of Billy's material...I would say would not harm? To leading up to a subject. But again, it must not be Overdone. So, we can only Learn....by Absorbing Billy's Materials...and try and know as much by Heart...as they say. If I am correct...this is what it is all about. Memberizing as much as we can. So Remember...What your Spirit Absorbes Now...it All will be Stored. For your next incarnation....etc. So, Don't let Posting-Material Make you Lazy...All. And ofcourse we must keep the Copy-rights in mind also. One can only learn...by Discussing. Which I mean coming from Both Ways. But, I can understand that some of us out there are not that good with words as others...and here we just have to catch eachother and help out. Take Care...Be Healthy. Edward... | ||
James the truthseeker |
Greetings everyone, As much as I agree with the peoples publication of booklets, here in Canada these things are much harder to obtain along with the book "And yet they fly". I've tried to get bookstores here to order these things in for me but unfortunitly they wont, because they'er distributors don't carry them, nor will they make special orders. Unlike the US, a money postal order is very costly and the Canadian exchange rate is also costly with the higher cost of the US dollar. Then of course lets not forget the additional expences on postal orders when it comes to boarder customs. Credit cards for me are also not an option for personal reasons. About the only way left I can get these things from you is to purchase them from you personally if you come up to Canada or if I meet you in the USA. Had this situation being otherwise, then I would have gotten all these booklets along time ago already.  James TT. | ||
Edward |
Hi James-T-T. Yes, I just read you Uncomfortable posistion. Very unpleasant. Keep Your Knowledge Growing...James. I've noticed that you have very much knowledge of your own! Which we all can Grasp from... Take Care...Be Healthy. Edward... | ||
Marc Juliano |
Hi Lars, "Danke für die Blumen." (from Contact 1) ;) I'm glad that you see my point. It has nothing to do with the relevance of the information to this Forum or that FIGU doesn't want this or that information shared. Plus, it may help for some to read my post again. I used words like "extensively and frequently." I did not request a stop to all quotations! Anyway, I think if one worked as a volunteer in a study group for years, it would be easier to understand what I'm talking about. To all those "disappointed" ones out there: you can at least find comfort in the fact that the books and booklets are readily available for purchase at a very reasonable price, as Norm mentioned, considering the amount of translation time and printing costs associated with them. If you really do want the information, it's there. There's nothing better than having the printed German/English copies on hand whenever you want to refer to something. Regards, Marc p.s. - And Hampton, feel secure in knowing that Billy/FIGU are not "sue-happy," like some of us Americans over here. So I don't think you have anything to worry about. | ||
Linda Williams |
Hi Marc, I have "flowers" for you, too. Please do not get me wrong. My "disappointment" may also stem from not exactly knowing from time to time just exactly what the forum "rules" are. There was a time when there was an insistence that we cite our source(s) when we claimed something, and I will assume that this rule remains in effect and provides an opportunity for some of us to then refer to those sources. Appreciating your work, Linda | ||
Norm |
James, Did you order from www.billymeier.com? It shouldn't cost you that much more to ship up there. | ||
Hampton Hsien-Ting Chiu |
Hi Marc and JTT: Thanks for letting me know I will not be in any legal trouble with FIGU, I will not do that again. JTT, did you ever try to order the booklet from Canadian group? I think you can find their information on FIGU website. I personally bought some booklet and materials from FIGU swiss, by sending some US currencies with letter, I paid 10% more for the exchange rate difference and fee, and they send me the order. Getting a international money order or wire transfer will cost around $10 to $35, but if you pay them with currencies, they can exchange in the Swiss bank with a little loss in exchange rate. Hope that will help. Hampton Chiu | ||
Norm |
Hampton, are you for real? Marc was kidding. Do you really believe you would get in trouble for what you posted? All you did was translate a few paragraphs. I was posting english stuff, and alot of it. If the forum were that bad, that you can't post what you did, I'm out of here! | ||
James the truthseeker |
Greetings everyone, Yes it would seem that FIGU booklets would be the best to have as these will always out last computers, by humdreds of years, and they don't take power to read them. I'll see what I can do. If I order from www.billymeier.com, then perhaps I can make a phone arrangement like I did with Col. Wendelle Stevens to get his books. Salome, James TT | ||
Hampton Hsien-Ting Chiu |
Hi Norm: I am not kidding... Imagine you write a English book, would you like someone translate in Chinese or Japanese and post part of it on a foreign website without your consent? I won't like it if I am the author, though I doubt FIGU will pursue me for violating copyright, but the option is there. It's like, if you don't like others do to you, don't do it to others. About 100 years later, when scientist discover inexpensive energy sources, and price of transportation and production drop dramatically, then maybe FIGU will be able to offer the materials free to interested reader, but before that happen, FIGU will need funding to print booklet, maintain the website. Though I am not a passive member yet, I have been donating a small fixed amount of money to FIGU to show my support in the past couple of years. I think after we digest the sentences a little bit, and not 'cut and paste' to this forum, then it is not violating the copyright, at least I will do that and inform others the source by contact number and maybe page and line number from the source document. Salome, Hampton Chiu | ||
Norm |
Hampton, In my opinion what you did was very different than what I did. You let people know about information that wasn't in English. I posted stuff from English sources. You let people know about things they had almost no chance of finding out, until the translating happens, which will be years before all the info is translated. You covered new territory. What you did should be acceptable, if it isn't then this forum is dead! Moderator: I wouldn't go as far as saying the forum is dead if there are no cut-and-pasted texts! Again, this is a Discussion Board, not a Bulletin Board. What you did isn't going to hinder the sale of that book when it comes out, infact I sure many of us can't wait to get it. I personally want to thank you for posting it because after studying this case for over ten years, I never even heard or realized there was second prophet until your post. | ||
Savio |
Hi Hampton I agree with Norm, please do not go to extremes Letting more people aware of the "messages" is what Billy's mission is, those interested will surely buy the books because of what they saw in this forum. Not the other way round, I think I think what you did is understandable, it is the intention that counts Regards Savio | ||
Norm |
Hampton, I will add one more thing, if you noticed your post is still there, while some of my posts are not. That should be proof enough that what you did is acceptable, but what I did was go overboard. I posted way too much from one little booklet. | ||
JAY |
Hi Marc and All, Marc, is the release of 235th Contact report going to be out soon in english??... MAN.... I WISH I KNEW GERMAN!!, lol lol BE WELL | ||
Marc Juliano |
Hi Hampton, Norm, Jay... There will be more comprehensive forum "rules" that will be accessible at some point in the future. I'm still waiting for the administrators in FIGU to switch us over to the newer version of the forum software, which is currently being beta-tested by the moderators. At that point, we can integrate definitive guidelines for posting and such. In the meantime, I think all I can say is just try to use common sense. Jay, your question is unrelated to this section. The English/German version of contact 235 is already available in English (and has been for many years!). It may still be out of stock, however. You can go to www.figubooks.com to go straight to the "storefront", if you will. If you or anybody else needs help with ordering anything from this site or to find out when an item will be back in stock, contact Mike Whelan (mwhelan@billymeier.com). I can also help out if need be. | ||
Hampton Hsien-Ting Chiu |
Hi Norm and Savio: Ok, you convince me...., I was preparing for a monetary settlement if FIGU sent me an e-mail saying I voilate their copyright...., I was thinking to offer US$100 for that.... If FIGU decide that translating German version of FIGU book into English(for those books not available in English) and post on Forum is acceptable, then there will be more interesting stories. I certainly hope so, and I will await Mr. Meier and core group's decision, which I think they really represent FIGU's decision making authority. I will buy more books from FIGU Swiss(using the proposed $100 copyright settlement fund), and let you guys know if I come up with something more interesting.... So don't touch that dial.... Hampton Chiu | ||
Hampton Hsien-Ting Chiu |
Hi Norm and Savio: Ok, you convince me...., I was preparing for a monetary settlement if FIGU sent me an e-mail saying I voilate their copyright...., I was thinking to offer US$100 for that.... If FIGU decide that translating German version of FIGU book into English(for those books not available in English) and post on Forum is acceptable, then there will be more interesting stories. I certainly hope so, and I will await Mr. Meier and core group's decision, which I think they really represent FIGU's decision making authority. I will buy more books from FIGU Swiss(using the proposed $100 copyright settlement fund), and let you guys know if I come up with something more interesting.... So don't touch that dial.... Hampton Chiu | ||
Norm |
Hampton, Your missing my point. A few lines isn't going to hurt anything. But whole books will. Why do you keep taking this to the extreme? I never meant a whole book! | ||
Hampton Hsien-Ting Chiu |
Hi Norm: I meant only sections of German FIGU book, there is no way I can post the whole book or booklet on Forum, it would take months.... Hampton | ||
James the truthseeker |
Question???: After going through the list of FIGU books, I found that there is much more good information which I was unaware of. So the big question is; with all those FIGU books to choose from, why are not the metaphysical bookstores carring them? and why aren't the book distributors carring them?? Should not these books be advertised in new age magazines like must other new age books are??? James TT. | ||
Linda |
Marc, Apropos to the "runaway train" discussion that you closed tonight, I rest my case about the need to get the forum rules, or at the very least, a sense of fair play under everyone's belt so there will be no need for hitting below the belt. Tsk! Tsk! "Gentlemen???" Thanks Marc, Linda | ||
Jean Pierre Lagasse |
Hi all, I really smiled when I read the above on copyright stuff... Mike Hooten has researched copyrights dealing with internet & posted materials etc. for eduardmeier.org & it's forum & passed much info my way on this... At first I was resentful but then I eventually simply got used to "our legal devices" currently in place. FIGU forum has been allowing almost everything to be posted including it's own materials & from others, including "bad translations" which cause problems etc. We (including myself) have become used to this, thinking this is normal... and legal. It is not !!! The 2 (or 3??) sentence rule seems to be universally accepted by all concerned: Meaning that you can quote 2 (or 3??) sentences from any work depending on in which country the copyrights are registered. Translations are "derived works" and are subject to this rule also. There are "exceptions" and methods of using copyrighted materials in limited amounts, depending if you are a library or teaching institute & others. Overall, the internet has evolved so quickly that the legal systems cannot keep up. I am very curious about how the FIGU moderators will handle this issue !!! Technically, they could "charge me" for lots of stuff I've posted in the past, before M.H. began sending me informative info on this. I hope they don't though... If one thinks on it though, there is NO REASON to post anymore than 2 or 3 sentences of ANY officially published English work. If people are not interested enough to purchase their own copies, it may be questionable as to what they would do with extensive quotes. Publication name, Page number and paragraph references (only, along with 2 or 3 sentences) to sections of published works are quite a different matter. Much better. Also, in my mind, there is the question of whether FIGU itself might be "charged" for "other info" posted on it's own forum if it allows this??? The above is only the best I know for now, and is not necessarily true or what the moderators of this forum think !!! (I'm not a lawyer, eh?) Any further info will be appreciated !! One totally ironic bit of thought "along the way", however, is this: Perhaps the Plejarens truly own the copyrights on the contact notes??? Regards, JP | ||
Linda |
Pierre, My guess is the Plejarans don't concern themselves with "legalese." I think that's an earth human deficiency. Your parsing of rule-ism might be beneficial for the moderators in the near future. I truly hope so! Linda | ||
Savio |
Hi JP In response to your comments, I would like to quote from TJ Chapter 10 / 8 Quoted: " ..... Because you received without paying, give without pay also". Regards Savio | ||
James the truthseeker |
Greetings everyone, It is my understanding that copywrites only apply in a monetary society such as Earth. Eventualy we can evolve and live with-out money altogether which is called "Autonomism". Salome, James TT. |
