Companies on this forum

[j0hn0]

Morning All

I am a drummer (figures I hear you cry) and am present on a forum for that topic.

On this forum, there are many companies operating, masquerading as normal users and when someone defames a product, they get sent a private message asking them not to do it again, effectively silencing them. Some users reporting that really expensive equipment breaks easily are actually officially gagged by some companies.

I used to have a Brady snare and didn't like it and so posted what I thought. The next day I got a PM from Mrs Brady asking why I didn't like and all that gubbins. She basically should've just read the post

So what I am asking is that are there any marketing departments at work on this forum? Do you think that they would listen to complaints and take anything on board? Does anyone from the industry read our posts?

Or am I wrong to assume that the service industry cares about what its customers think?

 

[transportphoto]

I believe London Midland is on the forum - he only seems to read threads relating to LM. I am guessing that some comments are taken seriously cause otherwise the company won't let him act on behalf of them.

 

[Jordy]

Yes we do have some companies on here but I don't think we suffer from the PM problem thankfully, its good to have TOCs contributing to the forum

All the views in this post are myn and myn only!

You don't have to keep saying that, if the post it made by you its fairly obvious, put it in your signature if you really want it tagged on the end of every message.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

And it helps if you spell mine right!

 

[j0hn0]

Yes we do have some companies on here but I don't think we suffer from the PM problem thankfully, its good to have TOCs contributing to the forum

cool, I agree, and I'm glad to hear it

Will keep a look out for some posts, I know there are lots of drivers here and the wealth of knowledge on this forum is comprehensive, with TOCs on here too I guess this makes this my fave railway forum

 

[Wyvern]

It has been a problem on other forums (fora?) that rail staff posting contentious material have got into trouble, so it worth adding a warning to them here about what they put in their posts.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

In answer to the original poster, yes it has been known that companies do look and read what is written on here. It has been known though that they can be contacted and told exactly where to look to find a post because someone is nasty enough to stoop to reporting another member just because they do not agree with them.

There was a recent incident involving this site, where a member was reported to his employer about some comments made on here so, it would be wise for everyone who is an employee of a rail company to be absolutely certain that they cannot be identified from what they post, as one member very nearly lost their job.

The sad result of that was is now none of the railway staff on here are willing to be as open as they once were, and that is where we the laymen and the forum suffer.

 

[j0hn0]

In answer to the original poster, yes it has been known that companies do look and read what is written on here. It has been known though that they can be contacted and told exactly where to look to find a post because someone is nasty enough to stoop to reporting another member just because they do not agree with them.

There was a recent incident involving this site, where a member was reported to his employer about some comments made on here so, it would be wise for everyone who is an employee of a rail company to be absolutely certain that they cannot be identified from what they post, as one member very nearly lost their job.

The sad result of that was is now none of the railway staff on here are willing to be as open as they once were, and that is where we the laymen and the forum suffer.

shame

 

[Matt Taylor]

I know of at least one forum member at Railchat who lost their job with a TOC.

 

[yorkie]

I believe London Midland is on the forum - he only seems to read threads relating to LM.

To clarify, only admins/moderators can actually see what threads someone has read. Transportphoto does not have access to that information, and it is an assumption. Your post should have read "only seems to contribute to threads relating to LM" there is nothing to stop someone reading any threads although I am not going to look into who reads what and certainly won't comment here. (Sorry if that seems harsh Transportphoto but it had to be said as you don't/can't know what any other member reads)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

So what I am asking is that are there any marketing departments at work on this forum?

There are, definitely.

Do you think that they would listen to complaints and take anything on board?

Some definitely do!

Does anyone from the industry read our posts?

Right up to the DfT/ATOC.

Or am I wrong to assume that the service industry cares about what its customers think?

Some do see the railway industry as providing a service and do indeed care what their customers think, and there is evidence of that here!

 

[Dai.]

I would like to talk to someone from one of the train companies on here just to feel like they are down to earth and understanding about the issues in their companies. It'd do the companies more good than harm in the long run.


I do believe that companies are wandering around this forum somewhere which is a good thing.

I don't think that people should be disciplined for what they say on here though, it's an opinion.

To the OP's last statement, I don't think many companies worry about what their customers think, a majority of companies are in it just to rip people off (the design industry for example overcharge for some basic services).

 

[theblackwatch]

I know of at least one forum member at Railchat who lost their job with a TOC.

Losing a job in these circumstances is hardly confined to railways, here are examples:

Woman 'sacked' on Facebook for complaining about her boss after forgetting she had added him as a friend - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...book-boss-insult-forgetting-added-friend.html

Scots Labour candidate sacked over Twitter insults - http://politics.caledonianmercury.com/2010/04/09/scots-labour-candidate-sacked-over-twitter-insults/

Crew sacked over Facebook posts - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7703129.stm

 

[yorkie]

I don't think that people should be disciplined for what they say on here though, it's an opinion.

That statement makes no sense.

What someone says is not necessarily "an opinion". If it is worded as fact, then that is not an opinion. However stating an 'opinion' that your company is crap, or that your boss is rubbish, that's on very dodgy ground, whether stated as opinion, fact or anything else!

 

[j0hn0]

That statement makes no sense.

What someone says is not necessarily "an opinion". If it is worded as fact, then that is not an opinion. However stating an 'opinion' that your company is crap, or that your boss is rubbish, that's on very dodgy ground, whether stated as opinion, fact or anything else!

all the more reason to use a pseudonym on forums and not to join social networking sites

I very much doubt that vodafone top brass are reading this and so I would say that vodafone 360 as a social network/phone/website is an unmitigated failure

But it's OK, I have resigned and they would probably agree with me anyway!!

 

[MrC]

I don't think that people should be disciplined for what they say on here though, it's an opinion.

Depends what they say :roll:

OTOH my contract of employment states I can't mention the name of my employer in media such as this forum, and others may have similar wording in theirs. This doesn't stop me posting on forums but it does make me a bit careful of what I write.

 

[Pumbaa]

My employer likewise, as were both of my previous big employers. It doesn't stop me posting, but I don't use my real name and I don't post anything stupid that will get me into trouble.

If your contract states that, then there no reason that if they are found, and their employer doesn't like what they say, then fair cop. I can remember of at least one case with a TOC employee on a rail forum where they pretty much put their own sword out in front of them. It wasn't surprising that they were pulled up and heavily dusted down, but still regrettable.

 

[455driver]

In answer to the original poster, yes it has been known that companies do look and read what is written on here.

Ralph do we really need to go over this again, surely as long as people are sensible there doesn't need to be a repeat performance.
As the saying goes, if you wouldn't say it to their face don't write it on a forum!

PS ta Yorkie.

 

[37401]

I believe London Midland is on the forum

I believe the MD of WSMR is on here too, that said you can't say for sure if someone is who they claim to be, anyone could make a username like FGW and go about passing off as a representative

 

[Metroland]

That statement makes no sense.

What someone says is not necessarily "an opinion". If it is worded as fact, then that is not an opinion. However stating an 'opinion' that your company is crap, or that your boss is rubbish, that's on very dodgy ground, whether stated as opinion, fact or anything else!

Indeed, most companies have a 'must not bring the company into disrepute' clause in the contract. Railway rule books also very tough on staff 'talking to the media', which would include 'new media' like the web, especially as so much is picked up from it by the traditional media.

Posts on the internet, are essentially like standing up in front of people and giving your opinion. The audience ranges from a large hall to millions of people These days, we're all the media. There have been comments on twitter and facebook that have ended the careers for many.

 

[Geezertronic]

I don't tend to reveal details about my work as I am contracted not to, but I do have to say:

Woman 'sacked' on Facebook for complaining about her boss after forgetting she had added him as a friend - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...book-boss-insult-forgetting-added-friend.html

Silly cow, serves her right

Scots Labour candidate sacked over Twitter insults - http://politics.caledonianmercury.com/2010/04/09/scots-labour-candidate-sacked-over-twitter-insults/

Dozy idiot, serves him right

Crew sacked over Facebook posts - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7703129.stm

Well they are just thick, serves them right too

Problem is that the Internet is a powerful tool, you can find out about someone even from their handle depending on whether their handle is a semi-unique phrase and what info they have put into websites

 

[Donny Dave]

Having been a maderator and admin previously, I've seen some of the email addresses used when an account is created. There is quite a few "work" email adresses being used (for example, a TOC or business domain). While some of these are active members, there are quite a few people registered using a work email that just lurk and read what's written. It's these you have to watch, as more often than not, they are the top brass or industry insiders checking what's being said.

 

[Geezertronic]

Having been a maderator and admin previously, I've seen some of the email addresses used when an account is created. There is quite a few "work" email adresses being used (for example, a TOC or business domain). While some of these are active members, there are quite a few people registered using a work email that just lurk and read what's written. It's these you have to watch, as more often than not, they are the top brass or industry insiders checking what's being said.

But being an admin or a maderator (or moderator even ) you wouldn't abuse your privileges and spy back on them would you?

 

[Donny Dave]

Not guilty !

Besides, the only way we could see what topics they were reading was by looking at the section saying "who viewed this topic" (viewable by mods/admins only). Quite a few "names" only looked at topics in the National Rail section.

 

[yorkie]

Anyone can read the site without registering or logging in, so anyone from any TOC could have read any topic.

 

[transportphoto]

Anyone can read the site without registering or logging in, so anyone from any TOC could have read any topic.

Yep, the only threads I have noticed which you can't see not logged in are in the forum meets section.

TBH I wouldn't have joined if they were not viewable!

 

[starrymarkb]

Its a standing joke that to find out which Ministers/Civil Servants/MDs read uk.railway you just have to ask them if HS2 should go through Middlesborough, if they crack a smile or giggle they are readers of the newsgroup.

Mind you contributors include Roger Ford, Tony Miles and the guy from Rail who I've forgotten.

 

[yorkie]

Its a standing joke that to find out which Ministers/Civil Servants/MDs read uk.railway you just have to ask them if HS2 should go through Middlesborough, if they crack a smile or giggle they are readers of the newsgroup..

Ah yes, that's a reference to the person who also believes that London-Scotland trains on the ECML are "nearly empty" between Edinburgh and Newcastle When I asked which service he boarded or what evidence he had, I failed to get a response.

 

[leewoods60019]

Having been a maderator and admin previously, I've seen some of the email addresses used when an account is created. There is quite a few "work" email adresses being used (for example, a TOC or business domain). While some of these are active members, there are quite a few people registered using a work email that just lurk and read what's written. It's these you have to watch, as more often than not, they are the top brass or industry insiders checking what's being said.

Its good there doing that in a way. I wish Northern Rail would clean up there act of terrible service

 

[87015]

Anyone can read the site without registering or logging in, so anyone from any TOC could have read any topic.

But as we know from the rantings of 313103 and his RMT 'brothers', management are all complete space wasters and wouldn't possibly work a minute over the contracted hours and as most if not all IT depts will block everything forum related they couldn't possibly be looking could they?

 

[Mvann]

It's not just the railway companies that monitor these sites. The hmri monitors you tube, and probably a few other sites as well.