03-09-2008, 08:32 PM

jskelton

WatchGeeks Owner

True WatchGeek

Join Date: Feb 2008

Posts: 16,675

Real Name: "Diamond Jim" Skelton

A note about our forum, other forums, and random things

Hi everyone. I'd like to start by thanking each and every one of you that have signed up to

become members here at WatchGeeks.net. It is truly our pleasure to have you here.

I have seen, and heard about postings on other forums about this forum, and I have noticed a few

posts here about those forums... I'd like to throw in my comments.

I understand that coming here and seeing a whole new 'way of life' is exciting, and it's natural to

make some comparisons to where you may have been before. I have no issues with that, but

please refrain from mentioning the other forums by name (so as to not incite any forum wars like

we've seen in the past), and please do not bash them. Whether or not you or I agree with their

administration and policies... they still house a community of members that many of us consider

friends, and hold respect for. Inter-forum bashing will not be tolerated here. We are beginning to

see it start at other forums, and if their administrators allow it as they have so far... then so be it.

Aside from comparisons and bashing we welcome ALL conversation, even if it is in reference to

a topic at another forum. If you notice in our "acronym" section, we have provided the acronyms

for each of the popular forums, that way when someone mentions for instance WTF you can

mouse over it to see the definition, and if you choose, can explore an option you may not have

previously known about. Conversations involving other forums are NOT off-limits, and please

do feel free to discuss them at anytime! As our banner states... we are a truly open community

for all.

Some have asked why we have aligned ourselves exclusively with Invicta. There are several

reasons for this....

1) Eyal and I are friends. I trust him, and he trusts me with the image of his brand. Many months

ago I was working with another forum to make ShopNBC an official sponsor, and due to other

business taking the focus off of that project (such as us replacing our own CEO), the project was

put on the back burner. Fast forward a few months and I was approached by Eyal to become

involved with a watch forum because he wanted to create more of a connection between Invicta,

and their dedicated customer base. By this time "things changed" with the other forum, and

Michael had recently approached me with the idea of starting a new forum. I asked Eyal if he

still wanted to do this... would he like to come over to our new forum. He agreed... and here we

are. If not for recent events, all of this would have transpired at a different forum.

2) Invicta is one of the largest, and most powerful companies in the industry. Even from the

outside, people can see this as Invicta secures more movements from ETA, Sellita, Ronda and

Miyota than ANYONE, and of course knowing that last year they sold more than 1.7 million

watches. It would make sense to bring in someone with so much going for them. Look at most

any watch forum and you'll see the greatest amount of activity in a forum dedicated to Invicta

watches. Love 'em or hate 'em, they generate a lot of interest and conversation. Invicta wanted to

support the forum members by "giving back" and allowing them access to them and listen to the

customers directly. Eyal also wanted to be involved in our contests to allow our members

exclusive, never before seen items.

It has been eluded to elsewhere that because I am a host for ShopNBC, that there will be

limitations on acceptable topics. If you have read our mission statement, read posts by our

owners, and if you have noticed the dedicated JTV forum you'd instantly recognize that this is far

from true. The reason this forum was created was to battle the censorship and to allow total

freedom in your posts. You don't have to be a ShopNBC lover, an Invicta lover, or "drink the

Kool-Aid" as they say. From Aerowatch to Zenith and everything inbetween... just enjoy talking

about watches. From a $50 department store special to a $1 Million Tourbillon... enjoy your

hobby without any fear or interruption.

We at WatchGeeks do not view other forums as competition. We do not ask for a blood oath of

undying loyalty... feel free to be a member at every forum on the internet! We aren't trying to

compete and pull people away from anywhere... my goodness... you're all adults and these are

only watch forums. WatchGeeks is here for the members.. not ourselves. No owner here profits

form the forum, as a matter of fact is costs money that we do not make up for with sponsors or

member donations. We are proud of that, and it allows us to be completely unbiased. The forum

is here for you, and your wants and needs... so enjoy it as you like, as often as you'd like.

If you'd like to see our forums expand with other brands or subject areas, please feel free to let us

know in the MEMBER SUGGESTIONS area, and we'll be more than happy to do it.

Whether we had 10 members or ten million, I am just as proud of this forum, and of its members.

We are seeing the most eclectic group ever on any forum. From forum veterans, to first time

forum participants and everything along the way. The forum in now less than 2 days has

spawned more than 2500 posts from almost 500 members with a record setting number of 160

members online AT ONE TIME, so we must be doing something right. I'm proud to see all of

you here, and I am especially proud of the hard work of our moderators, and my friends Michael

and Bruce. I thank them for making it through all of this, and especially to Michael for making

the dream a reality.

Thank you all for being here, and let's have some fun!