03-19-2007, 08:01 PM
Wow, just thought I'd check in here again. Good to see that both magazine and myself are being flogged. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/dry.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />
Most magazines do indeed make money by selling ads, but there is something else that must be considered -- something that a lot of magazines forget: Readers first. If you do not have the respect/following of your readers, you will not have the circulation numbers to "sell" advertisers.
The fact that we're willing to offend 968 owners (though it gives us no joy to do so) should tell you something.
Next, Excellence is a rare magazine in that we actually DO make money on subscriptions instead of subsidizing circulation with cheap subs. So each and every one of them matter to us. And I'm very sorry to see a few of you go to overseas competitors, but then that is every bit your right to do so.
All of the accusations prompt some questions:
-How many voices did we have in that $20k shootout?
-Wasn't Jarrod's weighed the same as the other three, despite his lack of professional testing experience?
-Should the 968 have won in both of these comparos? Were you there, did you drive all the cars? Or are you speaking from 968-only experience? Or bias? (I recognize some of you are, and some of you aren't)
-Did or did not Excellence highlight the pluses and minuses of ALL cars involved?
-Could it be possible that, when 911s have won comparo tests, they have done so on merit?
-Could it be that there actually is a reason why 911s keep charming people despite all of their inherrent disadvantages?
-Could it be that Excellence has called non-911s the better car in the past (916 vs. 911 RS 2.7... Boxster vs. 911...)? Sloniger was outspoken in his preference for the 968 in its time...
-Should Excellence cover every model perfectly equally down the line, page for page? Can it? Have you considered all aspects of charting such a direction? Authors? Subject material? Impact? Etc.?
-Could it be that it makes no sense whatsoever to try and please one group over the other?
-Could it be that, by introducing the "double-blind" concept (which has its merits, to be sure), you end up with a lack of skilled pilots and/or worthwhile observations? Liabilities? Representative sample: 5, 25, 100? Those editor for a day tests in some books are really next to useless....
-Could it be that the logistics and liabilities involved in putting one of these things together are more involved than you know?
-Could it be that you forgot/didn't know all the unfortunate circumstances leading up to the way the 968 for the $20k shootout was chosen? Some were my fault, and I owned up to them in print, at rennlist, at PP, and here -- and apologized for them. Are we beating a dead horse? I guess there is no forgiveness here. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />
What I won't do is hang out for a not-so-friendly character assasination or a nice lumping into the "journalist type" mold. As for my personal integrity and professional objectivity, I'm not going to convince you one way or another here. But perhaps my actions over the last decade will speak for themselves:
-Wrote/published an article calling out an advertiser's claims, only to find out they were false.
-No free product accepted.
-Continued criticism of new models when criticism was due. PASM, RMS, eGas, and the list goes on.
-Personally naming a Mercedes SLK 55 the winner over the Boxster S (987).
-Putting out all of the information to be considered/sniped at when publishing comparos.
-I suppose there are others...
But, perhaps none of this matters. I've instead been accused of coming with "nice language" and "pissing in your boots."
Despite this, I wish you well. But perhaps it was a mistake to come here. I certainly meant no ill will...
pete
[quote name='Beachboy' post='32786' date='Mar 19 2007, 11:06 AM']In any event the magazine publisher doesn't give two hoots about letters to the editor. Want the answer? Follow the $.
Why does it bother us. It's just simply dishonest.[/quote]
How can you say this?!? I'm not going to lose sleep over this, but you are wrong.
pete
[quote name='SDDave' post='32691' date='Mar 18 2007, 02:45 PM']But when you are told by numerous people that your bias is showing, I think you need to just explain the reason behind the 911-centric concept, and take it from there.
If ten women break up with you because they say you're a jerk... you very well may be a jerk. In any event, it's probably not them.
And coming off with "You guys crack me up" may not be the right response. You have multiple readers stating publicly that they will not renew their subscriptions to your magazine, and this "cracks you up".
Dave
San Diego[/quote]
-Because just because they say it, it doesn't make it true. And because we don't have a 911-centric concept. There is already a magazine for this...
-Not sure that this is a fair comparison/analogy/etc. to apply.
-My statement was an attempt at levity, and one misinterpreted here by applying it as you have. Also before the thread turned nasty. Nothing about losing readers "cracks me up."
pete
[quote name='VGM911' post='32510' date='Mar 15 2007, 10:28 AM']To the Editor of "Excellence"
Having read the three-car comparison piece (986/911/968) as well as the most recent May article (964/968), I found both stories to be fair appraisals of all five cars. The writers' comments and observations were, for the most part, "spot on" and provided much insight into the capabilities (and shortcomings) of each car driven. In that sense, it matters less to me which car was pronounced the "winner."
The energy in this forum stems from the pride and passion we have for our 968s. Does it sometimes blur or color our objectivity? Yes, for sure, and you'll find similar pride and compassion in the various threads on the Rennlist boards...the 993 owners, the 996 owners, the 986 owners, etc. But in the end, I suppose it's good that Porsche has such loyal and devoted owners of Porsches, in general, and of each model, specifically.
Thanks for connecting with 968forums again and for sharing your thoughts and ideas about how you approached each article. Your interest in talking to 968 owners will not necessarily convince everyone about the validity of the results and conclusions of the tests, but you convince me that you are a "stand-up" guy doing the best you can, and that "Excellence" represents one of the two finest periodicals that I read, the second being "Hemmings Sports and Exotic Car." Thanks, Pete.[/quote]
Thank you. I/we deeply appreciate these words.
And I agree about the passion and pride reflected in this forum, to better and worse ends. I understand about loving particular cars. And even those other people don't "get"... 914, XR4Ti, WRX, 986...
pete
Most magazines do indeed make money by selling ads, but there is something else that must be considered -- something that a lot of magazines forget: Readers first. If you do not have the respect/following of your readers, you will not have the circulation numbers to "sell" advertisers.
The fact that we're willing to offend 968 owners (though it gives us no joy to do so) should tell you something.
Next, Excellence is a rare magazine in that we actually DO make money on subscriptions instead of subsidizing circulation with cheap subs. So each and every one of them matter to us. And I'm very sorry to see a few of you go to overseas competitors, but then that is every bit your right to do so.
All of the accusations prompt some questions:
-How many voices did we have in that $20k shootout?
-Wasn't Jarrod's weighed the same as the other three, despite his lack of professional testing experience?
-Should the 968 have won in both of these comparos? Were you there, did you drive all the cars? Or are you speaking from 968-only experience? Or bias? (I recognize some of you are, and some of you aren't)
-Did or did not Excellence highlight the pluses and minuses of ALL cars involved?
-Could it be possible that, when 911s have won comparo tests, they have done so on merit?
-Could it be that there actually is a reason why 911s keep charming people despite all of their inherrent disadvantages?
-Could it be that Excellence has called non-911s the better car in the past (916 vs. 911 RS 2.7... Boxster vs. 911...)? Sloniger was outspoken in his preference for the 968 in its time...
-Should Excellence cover every model perfectly equally down the line, page for page? Can it? Have you considered all aspects of charting such a direction? Authors? Subject material? Impact? Etc.?
-Could it be that it makes no sense whatsoever to try and please one group over the other?
-Could it be that, by introducing the "double-blind" concept (which has its merits, to be sure), you end up with a lack of skilled pilots and/or worthwhile observations? Liabilities? Representative sample: 5, 25, 100? Those editor for a day tests in some books are really next to useless....
-Could it be that the logistics and liabilities involved in putting one of these things together are more involved than you know?
-Could it be that you forgot/didn't know all the unfortunate circumstances leading up to the way the 968 for the $20k shootout was chosen? Some were my fault, and I owned up to them in print, at rennlist, at PP, and here -- and apologized for them. Are we beating a dead horse? I guess there is no forgiveness here. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />
What I won't do is hang out for a not-so-friendly character assasination or a nice lumping into the "journalist type" mold. As for my personal integrity and professional objectivity, I'm not going to convince you one way or another here. But perhaps my actions over the last decade will speak for themselves:
-Wrote/published an article calling out an advertiser's claims, only to find out they were false.
-No free product accepted.
-Continued criticism of new models when criticism was due. PASM, RMS, eGas, and the list goes on.
-Personally naming a Mercedes SLK 55 the winner over the Boxster S (987).
-Putting out all of the information to be considered/sniped at when publishing comparos.
-I suppose there are others...
But, perhaps none of this matters. I've instead been accused of coming with "nice language" and "pissing in your boots."
Despite this, I wish you well. But perhaps it was a mistake to come here. I certainly meant no ill will...
pete
[quote name='Beachboy' post='32786' date='Mar 19 2007, 11:06 AM']In any event the magazine publisher doesn't give two hoots about letters to the editor. Want the answer? Follow the $.
Why does it bother us. It's just simply dishonest.[/quote]
How can you say this?!? I'm not going to lose sleep over this, but you are wrong.
pete
[quote name='SDDave' post='32691' date='Mar 18 2007, 02:45 PM']But when you are told by numerous people that your bias is showing, I think you need to just explain the reason behind the 911-centric concept, and take it from there.
If ten women break up with you because they say you're a jerk... you very well may be a jerk. In any event, it's probably not them.
And coming off with "You guys crack me up" may not be the right response. You have multiple readers stating publicly that they will not renew their subscriptions to your magazine, and this "cracks you up".
Dave
San Diego[/quote]
-Because just because they say it, it doesn't make it true. And because we don't have a 911-centric concept. There is already a magazine for this...
-Not sure that this is a fair comparison/analogy/etc. to apply.
-My statement was an attempt at levity, and one misinterpreted here by applying it as you have. Also before the thread turned nasty. Nothing about losing readers "cracks me up."
pete
[quote name='VGM911' post='32510' date='Mar 15 2007, 10:28 AM']To the Editor of "Excellence"
Having read the three-car comparison piece (986/911/968) as well as the most recent May article (964/968), I found both stories to be fair appraisals of all five cars. The writers' comments and observations were, for the most part, "spot on" and provided much insight into the capabilities (and shortcomings) of each car driven. In that sense, it matters less to me which car was pronounced the "winner."
The energy in this forum stems from the pride and passion we have for our 968s. Does it sometimes blur or color our objectivity? Yes, for sure, and you'll find similar pride and compassion in the various threads on the Rennlist boards...the 993 owners, the 996 owners, the 986 owners, etc. But in the end, I suppose it's good that Porsche has such loyal and devoted owners of Porsches, in general, and of each model, specifically.
Thanks for connecting with 968forums again and for sharing your thoughts and ideas about how you approached each article. Your interest in talking to 968 owners will not necessarily convince everyone about the validity of the results and conclusions of the tests, but you convince me that you are a "stand-up" guy doing the best you can, and that "Excellence" represents one of the two finest periodicals that I read, the second being "Hemmings Sports and Exotic Car." Thanks, Pete.[/quote]
Thank you. I/we deeply appreciate these words.
And I agree about the passion and pride reflected in this forum, to better and worse ends. I understand about loving particular cars. And even those other people don't "get"... 914, XR4Ti, WRX, 986...
pete

