I'm not a regular visitor to the P3D Forum but when I saw a question about which version of P3D would be best to buy I did a bit of research and posted what I thought was a helpful reply.

 

There were a couple of replies which I thought were a bit abrupt and then Father Bill closes the thread. :rolleyes:

 

Is there a ban on this type of discussion because if there is I don't see any warning messages about it at the top of this section. If a moderator is going to lock the thread may I at least have an explanation as to why?

Any thread that either can or does travel into the "EULA Discussion Zone" is going to be locked.

 

What license people choose really is between them and Lockheed-Martin as the only difference between the licenses being offered for Prepar3D are their EULAs and pricing.

 

It's not open for discussion here, or in Lockheed-Martin's own forums.

And the question why it is not open for discussion here, isn't open for discussion here, either.     :rolleyes:  :ph34r:

Ed,

 

That seems draconian. I know this is a private forum but honestly, where is the harm in this type of discussion?

 

And if that's the case should a warning be plastered all over this forum so I and others don't waste our time?

 

A little civility when locking threads isn't asking much. I have made a few contributions to AvSim and it doesn't seem a very respectful way of treating members.

Hey Ray,

 

There is a code difference between the Professional Plus and the other version ... I recall reading about the differences (beyond just 2 licenses) but I don't remember exactly what they were (getting old).  Best to ask LM.

 

Sadly people use the EULA to get threads closed and/or have an agenda against P3D ... this has been going on for a while now so the threads get locked.

 

Cheers, Rob.

It's not draconian... having seen a EULA discussion happen... it's more like averting an explosive meltdown.

 

As for civility... I'm unclear as to how anyone's been uncivil to you. You were not called out, pointed at, derided, insulted, belittled or, in fact, even mentioned when the thread was locked. I posted a response in that thread that essentially explains the situation. Then it was locked by a moderator. I honestly don't see how that can be viewed as disrespectful towards you.

 

It's not even your thread Ray so your umbrage confuses me.

 

But... really, it's not about you... it's just to avoid the usual meltdown that occurs when EULAs come up in here.

Hi Rob,

 

I appreciate discussion about an EULA might get tricky but I didn't realise discussing what the different versions provided went into that area.

 

So according to Tom's warning that I've just seen in this section I can expect an immediate ban. :rolleyes:  More fool me for trying to be helpful. I suppose the original poster will also get a ban.

Is there a ban on this type of discussion because if there is I don't see any warning messages about it at the top of this section. If a moderator is going to lock the thread may I at least have an explanation as to why?

Ray, AVSIM banned EULA discussions last October 4, 2013. For months the post was pinned and locked, but evidently Tom thought it had served it's purpose and chose to "hide it" from view.

 

Since it apparently still needs to be visible, I've "unhidden it" and pinned it to the top of the forum.

 

I should point out that this decision was made based on a request from L-M themselves for what should be self-evident reasons.

Ray,

 

I think if you simply bring us a shrubbery... all will be right.

Ed, I'm annoyed because it seems my reply caused the thread to be locked. I try to behave myself so that kind of treatment is unusual for me.

 

I didn't know discussing different versions came under the EULA ban. Had I known I wouldn't have answered. Perhaps what constitutes EULA discussion needs elaborating.

So according to Tom's warning that I've just seen in this section I can expect an immediate ban. :rolleyes:  More fool me for trying to be helpful. I suppose the original poster will also get a ban.

No, that will not happen. Tom was - at that particular time - frustrated beyond endurance at what appeared at times to be a bloody battlefield, with some very ugly forum fights breaking out all over the place.

 

I suspect that was among the reasons he chose to "hide it," thinking that it'd served its purpose. However, since apparently it's still necessary to spell out the policy decision, there it is again.

 

Finally Ray, it was not your reply that prompted me to lock the thread. It was the direction the thread was inevitably going to take. I've answered the OP's question in a PM, along with the reasons for the thread lock.

When someone asks anything that has 'what license'... that's the path to the dark side.

 

The answer is always... "That is between yourself and Lockheed-Martin."

 

If someone asks what the difference is, the only difference (except the military version) is the EULA and a watermark that shows on the academic screen.

 

And really... expect the threads to get locked. But as long as you don't start talking about how 'bob' is violating the EULA, etc... in other words... don't discuss who can purchase what... you're really unlikely to get banned... or chastised.

 

But, I still want my shrubbery sir!

Ray, AVSIM banned EULA discussions last October 4, 2013. For months the post was pinned and locked, but evidently Tom thought it had served it's purpose and chose to "hide it" from view.

 

Since it apparently still needs to be visible, I've "unhidden it" and pinned it to the top of the forum.

 

I should point out that this decision was made based on a request from L-M themselves for what should be self-evident reasons.

 

Fr Bill. Thanks for the clarification. I rarely visit the P3D forum and saw the question on the list of most recent at forum.avsim.net. I honestly wasn't trying to cause a problem and answered as it seemed an innocent question.

 

I now see you've unhidden the warning. It definitely wasn't there 30 mins ago. Appreciate it's not AvSim's decision but the self-evident reason is, I confess, a mystery to me.

I think I also answered on this thread and was very careful not to get into any EULA discussion.  I think the OP was legitimately confused as to which version to buy and probably looking for a listing of feature differences, performance differences, etc.   I ended up sending him a PM asking for his email and took the discussion out of Avsim so I could properly answer his questions.  

Mark, thank you for your considered discretion. I need to emphasize that while no one in this thread "crossed the line," it was the potential for such that triggered the lock and the subsequent series of PMs as a follow-up.