GNR fan boards

Fellow Gunners,

It’s been a really great (and on a few occasions bumpy) ride running the Forum for 12 years. In all my experience has been really positive because it made me exchange ideas with and meet lots of really cool fans, make new friends, see lots of concerts and also meet the band. And I know from all the feedback I’ve received in the past 12 years that the Forum has been really appreciated by Forum members (and watchers), some of them even referring to the Forum as their second home (many have even mentioned experiencing withdrawal symptoms during brief outages). But 2.5 million posts and 41,000 members later, I’ve given personal thought lately about the Forum’s future, and me administering it.

I’ve recently come to the conclusion that of course the Forum should live but that it’s time for me to pass along the Forum to a group of really dedicated fans which have the energy to continue running the Forum for the long term, are financially stable in hard times, and are also able to innovate in new ways. The new admin team wants me to pass along the message that “new developments will be announced in a couple of days”.

This new admin team is current Forum members you already know and are used to. I’ll be around to ensure smooth transition and will of course remain a member. I’m confident that this new admin team will be able to keep the Forum running smoothly. So in conclusion I’m happy to announce that the forum’s future should be secure and saved by the new admin team in the long term.

The transition will happen this week-end. The new admins will be :
- Uk Subs (admin and owner)
- Highvoltage (admin)

I’d like to thank forum members, previous and existing mod team for always making this what I have always believed to be – the absolute best online community about this band.

Eric Romano (admin)

Hey everyone!!
A year's a long time, no?

When everything fell through a year ago I think it's fair to say I never
thought I'd be posting back here let alone have an opportunity to admin
and own the forum. I want to get this out of the way here, first and
then I can 'park it' Any decision I make on this forum whether it's to
do with mods or forum members, nothing is personal or indeed is
connected in any shape way or form, to what transpired a year ago, fact.
High' emailed me around 4 weeks ago to tell me Eric was thinking of
selling and he was able to get Eric and I to put any previous
differences aside and to see if a deal could be reached and obviously,
here we are. It's that simple.
I'd like to thank Eric for the opportunity to purchase the forum. A lot
of time and effort has gone into getting an agreement reached and
during the process it's clearly been a fairly stressful time for Eric,
High' and myself but we're here and I'm delighted to be back!

Anyone who thinks the purchase was for financial benefits needs their
head reading!! The agreed price would never be disclosed and it never
will be so please don't ask but I will say it's a significant amount of
money and it's something I've done because I want the responsibility of
returning this forum to the best Guns N' Roses forum in the world -
That's not a dig at any current admin/mods far from it, it's an opinion
and, I include my own period here as a mod (at least the final year or
so) when now looking back I think 'you know what, it's not "fun"
anymore' Talking of mods - High' and I have put that at the top of the
list in terms of getting things moving as quickly as possible; current
mods will all be emailed/PM'd individually as to be asked if they either
want to stay on in the same capacity, stay on in a different capacity
or unfortunately in certain cases, be politely asked to step down.
Again, to make it absolutely clear, none of those decisions are personal
and we will do so with the interests of the forum as the main priority.
You may agree, disagree and I appreciate making those types of
decisions are extremely subjective - I understand and respect that.
Regardless, some changes will happen now, some much further down the
line (again, depending on changes to the way the forum is moderated in
general terms).


As soon as I've heard back from current mods, new mods (and yes there
will be at least one new mod) then either High' or I will let you know.
Talking of High' - Since 2004(ish) he's someone I consider a friend,
he's never ever let me down and much more importantly than any of that,
he's someone that I admire the way he moderates and connects with people
here. He'll do an excellent job and after the initial set up (next 3/4
weeks or so) I'll be less active and High' will be the driving force,
much in the way that madison was for many a year. Talking of madison - I
have to thank her formally because I'd not be in a position to even be
able to purchase the forum without her giving me the opportunity on the
mod team many moons ago.

We have loads of fresh ideas and initiatives to try and build on the
forum's success - I absolutely welcome any emails/PM's of any
suggestions so please bear with High' and myself because at the minute
that's all they are, ideas and thoughts.
I can though confirm the following will happen: All previous banned
members are free to return **Please though do not mail me to ask "when"
or "how" because honestly, I don't know right now but it WILL happen**
The reason for this is simple really, it's a fresh start for everyone
and I feel that should be consistent throughout this process. To that
end, all warnings will be removed as well. I do though add this; there's
clearly been a reason why you've been warned/banned and similar
episodes are likely to end in the same result, no? So please be
respectful and I promise you'll see the same in return. Also, any
returning member who either publicly, or privately is seen to be mocking
a current mod who may had warned or banned then, will be go back on the
warning trail and (depending on the severity) banned. I can't open the
doors and allow people to run amok - respect runs down a two way street
I'm afraid.
Supporters - Anyone who has donated to the forum in Eric's time here
will continue their current benefits - It would be harsh and unfair to
basically scrap that process and in that regard, I feel continuity to be
the best policy and I hope you agree. Supporters benefits: This is
another area I want to change for the better (dramatically), as I
honestly believe anyone who donates money to the forum deserves better
'options' that you currently have. Again, an opinion.


OK sorry this is the boring stuff but I want complete transparency and I feel I need to be honest.
Putting the costs I've undertaken to purchase the forum (incidentely the
costs of purchase have been financially supported), I solely will pay
for all monthly outgoings. Depending on a number of factors, I would
estimate that in 12 months time that if the forum has a really
successful period in terms of donations and other possible income
avenues that I will still be in a deficit, absolutely no question about
that at all. A poor/average year will result in significant losses -
losses that I can't just plug every month and god forbid, I'll be in the
same position Eric was 4 weeks ago. I have a family and I work really
hard and I can't just bank roll everything, I'll be happy to make the
loss on the purchase on the forum if I can get even near to level on the
monthly costs in 12 months time, fact. Any donations are greatly
appreciated in this regard and I mean "any". I respect if you either
don't want to or can't afford to, no problem what so ever but equally if
you love it here and see the changes we'll be making here (we hope for
the better!) then if you are in a position where you can that would be
great and you'd be helping the forum's security, fact.
The donations page will change in due course but for anyone interested
and who wants to help and donate, the forums donations email address if
you have a pay pal account is: paul.mygnrforum@gmail.com
Again, NEW donations will carry more benefits (in time once we've got
things settled down). I apologise in advance if any of that seemed wrong
but so many members have asked for honesty and transparency and that's
how it is currently. Also, we would like you to see a visual of 'actual
live forum costs' because we feel it gives you a better idea of how the
forum is funded, thoughts guys? would you like to see that? I can state,
as I did 12 months ago, that as soon as I earn $0.01 from this forum
you will get to know, you have my word :-)



I would say we'll be changing things (some big things, some not) every
day/week/month and both High' and I appreciate your patience in this
regard. This forum is about you, the members and we want you to have fun
and to continue to enjoy the positive changes and functions that we
want to make around here. Finally, I've got a lot of messages guys -
every single one will be answered, feel free to send me as many as you
want! but give me a few hours etc to reply and respond.

Any ideas or thoughts you want to share with me please feel free to PM me anytime.
Really excited. Next step tonight/tomorrow is to contact current mods -
after that, potential new mods. I'll be back in touch shortly. Thanks
everyone!

Soulmonster wrote:Hmm. Well, I'd be happy to let them come here for a temporary haven until newgnr is up and running again. It is a bit worrying, though, 2 weeks of downtime may be the straw that breaks the camel's back for that forum, it's been rather quiet there lately