412 Dear Lightstalkers, The famous Rob Galbraith forums have been bought last week by a couple of wedding photographers(!) who have decided to change the financial model and in doing so, removing from free access all the archives, contributed by thousands of photographers (including myself) for the benefit of all to see. This is outrageous to say the least. Here is a cut and paste copy of my post to this new management: "Hello to all, I am shocked by Drew and Melissa 'brutal' and 'dictatorial' changes in the policies of this much respected forums. I want to thank Rob and Mike very warmly for their passion and dedication in making these forums so open and useful to thousands of photographers, professional, amateurs or otherwise beginners during all these years. While I understand and respect the need for a different financial model, I can't understand or as a matter of fact begin to tolerate the arrogance and pretention with which this new management is appropriating to itself, not the forums and the work they will have to accomplish to make them better, which is fine and legitimate, but the actual PAST CONTENT of the RG forums and REMOVING that past content from the reach of the very people who created it. This content was created in all openess by thousands of dedicated people who wanted to help and share with the entire community, for free. This historical content doesn't belong to the 'owners' (present or future) of this forum, it belongs to the community in its entirety. Rob and Mike always put the community first, now Drew and Melissa want to act otherwise, this is fine with me, but please don't 'steal' the archive of this community. I believe you have no legal right to do so. In posting in a 'free' forum, we have contributed to openly help and devellopp the photography techniques of this time, I resent and refuse absolutely that under the pretense of a new financial model, this new management confiscate this wealth of knowledge and effort for their sole commercial profit. I refuse categorically to have any of my past posts part of this commercial venture (not only my name, but the actual content as well) , and I strongly believe my position is shared by many members of this community. I repeat, I refuse that this new management makes a single word of my past posts (except this post...you have my blessing!) part of their 'pay per view' vision of the photographic community. I have nothing personally against Drew and Melissa, I wish them good luck in their venture, however I urge them not to cut the branch on which they are seating by adopting this new 'model'. I have nothing against paying a nominal fee to post in such a rich series of forums, but the posts themselves (past, present and future) SHOULD be free for everyone to access. Also I believe $25 per year is a hefty fee when multiplicated by the several thousands of members, and it should be clear that it won't grow every year in the future, unlike what some of Drew's posts seem to imply. I feel sad and sorry for the probable loss of what was an invaluable source of knowledge and experience, as well as the inevitable dispersion of so many generous and talented contributors. Bruno Stevens, Photojournalist, Brussels, Belgium bruno@dada.be" 26 2006-04-23T06:11:51Z 0 2008-03-12T12:54:28Z true 5203 false 4291 2006-04-24T16:56:19Z home in Brussels true false the-end-of-rob-galbraith-forums-20060423 1 2008-03-12T12:54:28Z 2228