Nature of our community

[Dinoguy2]

It may be cynical, but I get the feeling that some people would rather have professional artists and company PR reps become members of the board so they can feel special and part of the process. In exchange, they're willing to turn this into a board of yes men where only positive comments are allowed because artists can't stand it when peoples sculpts are bad or they failed to do proper research.

Obviously this doesn't apply to everyone, but we need to be aware that boards like this are prime targets. Look at the tone and style of the rebor posts. They were not here to join the community and get constructive feedback. They were trying to market to us
. To them this board is nothing more than free advertising.

I mean, look, some of those mojo sculpts are just bad. That's not meant to insult the artists, who obviously know nothing about dinosaurs and are just hired to turn out a product that will sell to kids. If they were honestly looking for feedback to improve, nitpicky detail stuff would be welcomed by them. If in fact it scared them off, then obviously their social media PR team realized this board is more critically minded and were not a good marketing target so they went to put effort in places where people don't care about accuracy or well sculpted figures and will buy whatever stuff they are pushing. That's how business works.

And it's insulting to say people who nitpick details are just showing off. There are two kinds of dinosaur collectors. Those who will buy any figures because of kitch value, and those who buy figures because they want accurate representations of animals. I'm the second kind, and frankly 98% of figures coming out are a no buy to me because of some deal breaking error. Companies seem to genuinely not care about my whole segment of collectors. If they did, maybe they'd stop and count how many toes a Brachiosaurus has some time. But they don't, and if they're going to quit when I point that out, then having them here on the boards is pointless.

[tyrantqueen]

Those are some good points Dinoguy2.

[Federreptil]

Maybe the problem of different expectations is not really solvable.
I also wish perfect models of dinosaurs after the latest knowledge of science. I like the idea that even toys have an educational mission and it seems not to difficult to make a good sculpt than a worse one. But I think also, we are here at this forum an absolute minority and often not the base for a healthy business. So I wonder more about the good models of Kaiyodo, CollectA, Safari and Favorite and so an – than I would not understand the goals of Schleich or now Rebor. (I like the Rebor sculpts and I think they do a very serious work. Nevertheless I hope they will become even better.)
Yes, we are a marketing target of Rebor because how you will start a business with higher priced paleo-items if you ignore this forum? How many praise here e.g. Papo, so they are right with their attempt. And Dan LoRusso wants a discuss about his work and Rebor at this moment not really. Maybe it's very difficult to have here a conversation without a thick skin. The whole internet tends toward to short, rough and often hard sounding commentary. Most people talk here not so polite as with their neighbors in real life. So I think it's no solution to praise everyone for everything. And the well-meant advice at errors or other interpretations should be always allowed. But I try keep always in mind, what could be the intention in others work and share i with them the same goals, are our values comparable? And so I hope the most of my contributions here are good tempered and well balanced.

[Paleogene Pals]

I agree that scientific accuracy is important. But, for some mass-market toys, the idea is get the product out the door as soon as possible. If you're trying to eat, toys sitting around the warehouse or still in development ain't gonna help you.

But, there should be something with a reasonable price tag that is geared towards the collectors who demand the best accuracy possible. Maybe, I don't where I am going with this, but a healthy debate is good. But, Sideshow vs. REBOR-type debates remind me of the LOTR vs. Star Wars flame wars, a decade back.

[sauroid]

and i also notice new members just posting in the Rebor threads just posting pro-Rebor things, but not posting anywhere else in the forum. just saying.

[tyrantqueen]

and i also notice new members just posting in the Rebor threads just posting pro-Rebor things, but not posting anywhere else in the forum. just saying.

I saw that and thought it suspicious. I wonder if that one particular member who was recently banned was actually paid off by the company to post pro Rebor messages. They were that aggressive in their adoration for the brand.

I'm probably wrong but that's honestly how I felt.

[SpittersForEver]

and i also notice new members just posting in the Rebor threads just posting pro-Rebor things, but not posting anywhere else in the forum. just saying.

I saw that and thought it suspicious. I wonder if that one particular member who was recently banned was actually paid off by the company to post pro Rebor messages. They were that aggressive in their adoration for the brand.

I'm probably wrong but that's honestly how I felt.

I don't really understand what you're getting at here, I could only find one of these members who wrote this comment which I copy and pasted.

I haven't posted much, maybe never, not sure, but this thread blew my mind.  Some of you guys actually suggested that people capable of producing a sculpt as beautiful as this REBOR animal should ASK YOU before producing their product.  Who exactly are you guys?  The Dino cops?  I couldn't believe the arrogance of some of the statements.  For $40, good luck finding something as beautiful as this model.

As far as the paint...I find it absolutely realistic looking.  Giant animals are rarely brightly colored...doesn't help hiding much. Just because large therapods MAY have had vestigial feathers doesn't mean they looked like parrots.  In fact, the LSD paint jobs being puked onto most new releases these days are a mile over the top for me.  Parasarolophus with bright colors?  Triceratops?  Styraco? C'mon...it's just silly.  Can we quit...please?

Someone insulted their paint, and then offered as an alternative some God-awfully repulsive teal and white scheme that at first I thought was a joke.

Anyway...sorry to rock the boat...but it had to be said.  REBOR's first model is amazing (finished) for $40.  They obviously didn't need anyone's opinion to create a gorgeous sculpt.

REBOR...how bout we give therapods, sauropods,  et al, a break and makes something different and viciously cool, like Erythrosuchus, Eryops, Postosuchus, or a perched Dimorphodon?

Peace

Thats the only one. Other new members commented only on the thread and they were not pro REBOR.  This post by smashtoad does seem a little odd though since it's his/her only one.

[Gwangi]

Tyrant Lizard Queen is the member they're referring too. She was a frequent poster in the REBOR T. rex thread and when she did post in other threads, it was usually about REBOR. Now there is a member named Petebuster1 who is noticeably absent from threads aside from those concerning REBOR.

[tyrantqueen]

Tyrant Lizard Queen is the member they're referring too. She was a frequent poster in the REBOR T. rex thread and when she did post in other threads, it was usually about REBOR. Now there is a member named Petebuster1 who is noticeably absent from threads aside from those concerning REBOR.

Correct.

[amargasaurus cazaui]

Tyrant Lizard Queen is the member they're referring too. She was a frequent poster in the REBOR T. rex thread and when she did post in other threads, it was usually about REBOR. Now there is a member named Petebuster1 who is noticeably absent from threads aside from those concerning REBOR.

Correct.

She also was using profanity laced tirades until I complained....

[SpittersForEver]

Ok it does seem a little strange but it's probably just a coincidence. What are profanity laced tirades?

[Manatee]

I am getting the same impression that some of you guys have in terms of REBOR and their marketing. Obviously, if you look back at their first ever thread, they unveiled a SCALY YUTYRANNUS model under the name "Y-REX". I mean, really? Naturally, although some people did overreact, we criticized that sculpt and mentioned how inaccurate it was; REBOR's response? "Screw it, we're just going to continue on with our plans of making a scaly version of a dinosaur known for being feathered. Why not?"
Spitters: We're not implying that REBOR should ask us before making a model, but they should at least pay attention to our feedback to their models rather than turning a blind eye and only ever posting when revealing a new product. In response to your most recent question, she was lacing her posts with profanity in response to anybody criticizing REBOR.
While I don't want to insinuate that these members in question in the T. rex thread are/were associated with REBOR, I do find it suspicious that every last one of petebuster1's posts are in that thread.
Even though it must be admitted that REBOR's sculpts are of utmost quality, they clearly don't care about scientific accuracy or feedback from our community. If they have an issue with our criticism of their models, then they should either attempt to make an accurate model or leave here. We are a critical community, and that's not going to change to accommodate them.

[tyrantqueen]

Ok it does seem a little strange but it's probably just a coincidence. What are profanity laced tirades?

A long angry speech with lots of swearing.

[Gwangi]

Although the recent arrival of members hell bent on phrasing REBOR seems suspiciously high I don't think they have any direct ties with REBOR. Like others have pointed out (and some have said from the beginning) REBOR is not here to make friends or listen to suggestions and criticisms like Doug or Dan. They're here to advertise their product. I doubt we will ever see them contribute to anything other than their own threads which they appear to ignore after starting. They're not invested in us so I doubt they would waste their efforts by sending someone to defend their product, especially someone like Tyrant Lizard Queen who seemed far too mean spirited and ignorant to have actually been sent here by REBOR. 

[stargatedalek]

I don't think that Tyrant Lizard Queen had any affiliation to REBOR either, but a few of these others (especially the single post members) are just too suspicious for me to assume otherwise at this point. Not that its of great consequence(?) either way, since it doesn't seem like they are causing any problems.

[Paleogene Pals]

Yeah, I think some of these posters on the REBOR thread are very zealous. I don't know how many, if any, are plants. However, notice how you don't have guys like PaleoWorld Studios, Jason Carriere, Shane Foulkes, Sean Cooper, Brandem, etc... pursuing the same tactics. They make very good products that speak for themselves.

[SpittersForEver]

Ok it does seem a little strange but it's probably just a coincidence. What are profanity laced tirades?

A long angry speech with lots of swearing.

Thank you for the explanation. Maybe they are second/third/fourth accounts created by REBOR in which case someone should try to find out.
If this is the case I wouldn't see why they would do it, If people have already made up their mind about the figure then why try to persuade them with accounts saying how amazing and detailed they are.

[SBell]

Ok it does seem a little strange but it's probably just a coincidence. What are profanity laced tirades?

A long angry speech with lots of swearing.

Thank you for the explanation. Maybe they are second/third/fourth accounts created by REBOR in which case someone should try to find out.
If this is the case I wouldn't see why they would do it, If people have already made up their mind about the figure then why try to persuade them with accounts saying how amazing and detailed they are.

Because that has been a marketing trick in every field and for every product since marketing was created. And it's almost always heavy handed and unsuccessful.

[DC]

Professionals working to use viral advertising to promote products should not log onto blogs or forums to promote products.  That is a big no no.  There was a scandal a few years ago I think it was for Subway sandwich's, where advertising staff logged into sites using multiple accounts to post positive reviews.   Amateurs certainly are tempted to do this but as a rule the backlash when caught
   is painful. So most companies will not directly post as they are advised against it.  I believe that if anyone is doing sentiment analysis on the web for their products  the forum is included.   The way it works is an application using a process called map reduce counts the number of positive and negative posts from the sites for key words, for the pages that have been scraped.  they are not reading your personal opinions or hearing your ideas. This is number crunching that would include twitter, face book and other social media.  By volume the forum is swamped.  I know several people from companies that do lurk as they ask about things in emails.  If you want people to hear your ideas you need to sound rational, polite and friendly.  Get classed as a flamer no one reads your posts.  The opinion seems to be the forum has a European bias so doesn't reflect North American market, and the age group is on the lower end.  When you get people like Forest, Dan, Anthony or Dave to post.  I would advise you ask questions and offer few opinions because they are the only source into the processes that we are interested in learning about.  They have information that you will not get from anywhere else. If you scare them away then what you get is a bunch of people posting nonsense about design and production issues when they have no context for how things really work.   That can be fun but is really of no value.

[DinoLord]

Thanks for the insight Randy. I agree that the forum does have a heavy international presence, though that is one of the things I have always liked about it (and many of the foreign collectors on here are heavily collecting North American brands and artists). I agree that the average age has decreased over the years, but then young age and maturity in discussion are not necessarily mutually exclusive. I agree that maintaining a rational demeanor is important. The involvement of people like Dan and Doug in the forum is something I and many others really do appreciate and hope will continue.