The End Of The Xfactor Forum

[srumsley]

Yes, it's only the 1-2% that (try) to ruin a great thing for everyone, though I'm not trying to minimize the intimidation which that minority threw at you, John.
As my 2c worth, I met very supportive and helpful folk in the xfactor forum, including mods, that went out of their way to clarify things and jump in to assist me personally. A real warm community spirit, something little like a familiar little village where everyone has a common goal. Of course WF is great too, but it's more like a big city where it can be easy to get lost and confused.
C'mon John, let's not give the nasties a victory here. I'm sure they're all talk, though pretty ugly talk, I grant you. Noone could blame you for losing heart - I have children too - but you've got a big fan club here and we all know you'll find the courage necessary. Chin up!
Sue

[alice1202]

I'm confused. Is it going back up or not?
I am a lifetime member of the forum and was waiting anxiously for the videos. I don't have enough posts to PM privately, but please keep me on the X-Factor list.
Thanks,
Alice

[guest]

I'm sure 90% of johns forum members were upset when it closed down -

But if John had posted this on his announcement...

Originally Posted by XFactor

- I've had my home and family threatened by another previous banned
member of the forum. When a person like this emails me and says
they live "just around the corner" and says "Don't let me dare see you
or your kids in public" - that is enough right there!

Everyone would have understood the reasons for closing it


I hope you can find a way to reopen it john -- but knowing all the facts, and seeing all the problems you've had to deal with - i'd understand your decision not to.

[Vexo]

Best of luck to you John !
It only takes a few people to ruin something great for the rest.
Death threats comes from the lowest low in this world.
Hope you get this sorted out, but family first !

[1byte]

Originally Posted by XFactor

Hi Everyone,

I cannot reply to all posts here but I will say that many replies are the
typical types of mob-mentality posts that my forum worked VERY hard
to avoid - and it appears to have been successful in that department.


- John

John, With the exception of one very outspoken poster in this thread, I don't really see a "mob-mentality" here.

You've built up a business franchise which people have invested in by purchasing your books, videos, forum membership, etc. As paid members of your forum and course, people have a vested interest in what happens to this franchise. When pooof! - it just goes away without any recourse, people can become justifiably concerned, if not upset.

Please consider that your members have a right to express their disappointments, fears, and frustrations, especially seeing the way things were handled.

A "heads-up" email and/or posting more detailed info about your situation would have been nice right from the start. However, now that you have provided more details here, I'm sure most people can understand and sympathize with your plight.

I look forward to the reopening of the forum, and hope it will once again be that safe place where members can freely exchange ideas and provide encouragement to each other.

[svalegria]

Count me in on the new forum.

John,
Would love to see the old forum return with more rules. 98% of the group were great people that even the harshest rules would affect. Hope to see it soon.
Thanks.
Dan

[Roland]

I was a member of the old forum so please add me to any morph of the old forum unless John reforms the original one

[smartadspace]

I was also a forum member, would like to be notified of a new forum, but hopefully John opens up the old one again. I loved reading there each and every day and I feel a big loss at not being able to access it anymore.

I do sympathize with what you have been through John, that really sucks.

[XFactor]

Hi Again Everyone,

I do apologize if I cannot reply to every question or post on this thread.

That tends to create a sink-hole of Q & A that is very tough to get
any real work done

I'd like to address the 3 items that came up here that has to do with
my products & money.


1) Video Project Payments

I've tried so very hard to share the developments and changes about
this on my forum along the way - without whining in the process.

I'll keep this simple and brief because (as Terry Gorry mentioned),
several seem to think that my forum closing and anything I do that
involves taking payments are linked.

What appears on the outside is very rarely what is going on with
the inside (business, life and everything in between).

The project that I wanted to start 6 months ago was changed quite
a few times. I was never happy with anything that was put on video
and this has continued.

The video clips were recorded over approximately 14 weeks, 300+ of
them in fact.

They are crappy, without direction and all over the place. Anyone that
watches them 'as is' would be confused day after day, although my work
on the sites was how I normally work.

It was my first attempt at this, and quite honestly - it did not turn out
good. I failed - and like family that attacks most of us when we are
trying to start our own business, I've been accused, attacked and
slandered at somehow trying to scam people.

This couldn't be further from the truth, and anyone that thinks so will
not be welcomed in any new forum that I may (or may not) create.

Sorry - and I do respect everyone's opinions - but a forum is like
someone's house - or rented boardroom meeting - it's not a place
to enter if you really, truly hate or think the worst of someone.

But I digress.

The video clips are off to a marketing editor that does this stuff for
a living.

If..... and that's a big if.... they turn out to be a quality, legible product
that is suitable for release upon the world - I'll release them.

If not - then I'll scrap it up as a failure (yes, even I do fail my friends),
and next time hire a professional video guy to work with day-by-day.

Refunds are going out even though my paypal account is still on hold
due to the break-in.

That's it - that is really all there is to that.


2) Coaching

I am coaching people one-on-one every day. It's truly a passion of mine
and I have a wonderful group of people involved.

I have talked to 95% of them on the phone, are back and forth in the
private coaching area getting them each to build up one nice profitable
website.

The coaching is for 1 year, or however long they need help on this one
project.


3) A New Forum

I REALLY am not ready to dive into this again, but as I said before, I've
gotten some good advisers emailing back and forth on what to do.

If I do open it up...

It will be from scratch - starting again at 0 posts.

I'll learn from my own lessons about involving anyone in "early discounts"
as well as refrain from talking about any courses or books to come until
they are actually here.

I'll also have to make some rules about entitlement to my private space
as far as coaching. I love answering emails and helping people, but paying
a small board-room fee to discuss with like-minded individuals does not
mean that I can coach you with every detail of your business outside
of the forum.

And I'll also have to distance myself from banning people, and have a
couple of my mods be the "boss" so to speak as far that is concerned.

- John

[erazer]

Originally Posted by srumsley

C'mon John, let's not give the nasties a victory here.
Sue

Totally agree with this. Trust you have forwarded those emails to the police and let the low-lives know. That's what our taxes are supposed to do for us in a civilized society. Don't allow the roaches any place to hide. I wish you had informed us of the seriousness of this earlier.

[Valerie V]

Originally Posted by XFactor

What appears on the outside is very rarely what is going on with
the inside (business, life and everything in between).
- John

Wow, I'm actually amazed at hearing that these types of things were going on in the background.
It really inspires even more appreciation in me for the way John and the Mods kept the place nice for everyone.
No whining and negativity - they just handled it. I understand how it could reach a point of being just too much.

My best to you, John, thanks for putting an end to all the speculation on the closure. And thanks to you and the mods for all you did over there.

I hope things can be worked out for the forum in some form. I believe there's much more
Light than darkness in all this - good can triumph, and all that, lol.

Valerie

[kevinflatt]

And I'll also have to distance myself from banning people, and have a
couple of my mods be the "boss" so to speak as far that is concerned.

- John

That is one of the points I was trying to make in my earlier post as per below:

Maybe you should allow your mods to act more like the ones here on the WF such as Paul Myers by taking a no nonsense stand when necessary and they can face the heat instead of always referring every issue to you as we did previously.

Kevin

[1byte]

Well, I'm confused now. Is the forum reopening or not? There was a note earlier that said it would be open in two hours, but John's last post said "If I do open it up..."

And if it does reopen, why start at zero again? There was a lot of really good stuff in there, so why delete it all and start over? I would like to print out some of the threads/posts myself for my own reference, and I know others have intimated they would like to do the same. Even if the threads are locked up and archived, I would still like to have access to them. Isn't that what my paid "lifetime membership" entitles me to get?

[mattb348]

Hmmmmmmmmmm I'd be happy just to see the new ebook

Don't care much about any of the other stuff (including the forum).

As far as someone being smart enough to hack into John's paypal account, but stupid enough to be using an IP address that he recognized? That is beyond me.

I never knew running a forum could turn into such a nightmare.

But anyways, back to the new ebook.

Basically all I want to get from that is a couple of things.

1st and most important thing, John said that he will teach us how to build authority sites. There wasn't much said about building an authority site in his first ebook. I'm interested to see how he goes about building an authority site. Probably common sense, but I am still curious.

The 2nd thing is that he says he will go over using some of the other article sites (OTHER than just ezinearticles).

If I remember right, he has said he uses about 10 article sites now (similar to ezinearticles), but he has never mentioned which ones these are (that I know of anyways). Also common sense stuff I'm sure, but I am still curious about this as well.

So why not just answer those 2 questions, forget about the new ebook, and call it a day?

Seriously, what else are we really going to learn from the new book?

P.S. I can't beleive someone threatened you and your family over a stupid forum (not like there is ANY good reason for that crap though). Thats pretty low, rediculous, and pathetic...

Heck, I admit that I was a little urked about paying $47 for a forum that was closed, but really, who CARES? As if FAR worse things don't happen to those who are into IM....

[Doug Miller]

1byte and anyone else that does not understand!

I really think that the (life time membership) refers to the forms life, NOT your lifetime. It does not matter if the form lives for 1 week or 1 century. You are a member only as long as it lives.

Get over it!

[warbar]

John,

If you do decide to open things back up again, can you offer a period of a few days access to the old forum? There's so much material there that's of significant value to many forum members. Locking the threads should eliminate any additional headaches for you and it would really be a big help to your members.

After the specified period of time, start the new forum at zero with your mods in control of the operation. Any reason why this wouldn't work?

Also - what are your thoughts on the update to your book? I know you've worked on it for months and that it sounded like it was virtually completed. Seems like it would be a waste to throw away all that work when there are so many folks that were looking forward to its release.

Thanks and I hope this period of down time is allowing you to relax and enjoy life for a bit.

[Radix]

Seriously please before this gets out of hand again. We're trying to work something out that pleases the majority of folks.

[1byte]

Originally Posted by Doug Miller

It does not matter if the form lives for 1 week or 1 century. You are a member only as long as it lives.

Get over it!

Sure, a "1 week 'lifetime membership' " is something I've been looking for.

Sign me up!

[Radix]

Originally Posted by 1byte

Sure, a "1 week lifetime membership" is something I've been looking for.

Sign me up!

Have you contacted John about a refund? I believe he was issuing refunds for anyone who joined within X amount of days.

[fulltimer]

Hi all! I am so happy to see some of the old forum members posting here! I was gone for two months taking classes and got back to find the forum locked. It felt like my favorite local hangout got shut down and I had no way of contacting the people I've come to respect over the last year. I was seriously bumming...

And I happen to love Timbo's avatar - reminds me of a certain rock band...

Please keep me in the loop if something new opens up, or even better yet, the old is reopened!

[smartadspace]

I'm also sad about not being able to access all of the old posts again. There was some really good stuff there and I really want to have access to it again. A new forum would be good, but starting from scratch is wrong.

[guest]

Originally Posted by smartadspace

I'm also sad about not being able to access all of the old posts again. There was some really good stuff there and I really want to have access to it again. A new forum would be good, but starting from scratch is wrong.

I agree exactly.

In fact -- i would rather have the old one put back up and locked -- than have a new forum to start all over again in.

The old forum did away with the need of a new ebook - any member who did not learn how to use other article directories, new methods, and create authority sites -- either...

a) Did not read the forum.
b) Only just joined before it closed.
c) Did not believe anything others said - and kept waiting for johns official word.

Forum members who followed johns book - found ways to make improvements / found new ideas -- and shared them on the forum. People should have tried copying these, instead of waiting for a new ebook.

The old forum should be made available to all old members - and that should be the "new ebook". Everything that can possibly be said about micro niche sites was said in there. It may need some working out to find the good info, but it's all there in places.

Just like the original xfactor thread here on WF -- all the info was in that post, but the ebook just put it into a nice easy to read format. Everything you needed to know was on the thread.

If the forum started from scratch now -- almost all members are making money, so there would be no real good posts to read about getting started

A lot of the early info would not be reposted, as im sure stats and figures would be unavilable. And ideas that had been tried and failed would have to be tried all over again.

[Banshu Ben]

Originally Posted by guest

I agree exactly.

In fact -- i would rather have the old one put back up and locked -- than have a new forum to start all over again in.

The old forum did away with the need of a new ebook - any member who did not learn how to use other article directories, new methods, and create authority sites -- either...

a) Did not read the forum.
b) Only just joined before it closed.
c) Did not believe anything others said - and kept waiting for johns official word.

Forum members who followed johns book - found ways to make improvements / found new ideas -- and shared them on the forum. People should have tried copying these, instead of waiting for a new ebook.

The old forum should be made available to all old members - and that should be the "new ebook". Everything that can possibly be said about micro niche sites was said in there. It may need some working out to find the good info, but it's all there in places.

Just like the original xfactor thread here on WF -- all the info was in that post, but the ebook just put it into a nice easy to read format. Everything you needed to know was on the thread.

If the forum started from scratch now -- almost all members are making money, so there would be no real good posts to read about getting started

A lot of the early info would not be reposted, as im sure stats and figures would be unavilable. And ideas that had been tried and failed would have to be tried all over again.

So are you suggesting that the Old Forum be for existing members, and therefore be considered an Advanced AdSense Forum, whereas the New Forum will be for new members for anyone who is just getting started with Micro-Niche Sites and AdSense?

Will the Old Forum be a monthly subscription for New Members?

[warbar]

Originally Posted by guest

I agree exactly.

The old forum did away with the need of a new ebook - any member who did not learn how to use other article directories, new methods, and create authority sites -- either...

a) Did not read the forum.
b) Only just joined before it closed.
c) Did not believe anything others said - and kept waiting for johns official word.

Forum members who followed johns book - found ways to make improvements / found new ideas -- and shared them on the forum. People should have tried copying these, instead of waiting for a new ebook.

I'd not equate wanting an update of the book to not paying attention to what was happening in the forum. I read the threads, implemented many of the ideas and had a good bit of success in doing so. However, I'd rather have everything in one place and not have to hunt around the forum to get an answer to a question I may have. It's why I bought the book in the first place. Could have simply read the thread here and saved the $77. But the $77 was worth it because everything was set up in an organized fashion.

I do have several of the threads from earlier times saved in Evernote, but as I'm sure is the case with many folks, I simply don't have the time to be cutting and pasting threads all day.

[guest]

Originally Posted by Banshu Ben

So are you suggesting that the Old Forum be for existing members, and therefore be considered an Advanced AdSense Forum, whereas the New Forum will be for new members for anyone who is just getting started with Micro-Niche Sites and AdSense?

Will the Old Forum be a monthly subscription for New Members?

What? lol

No -- i'm really suggesting either opening the old one - or not having a new one at all.

Not many of the old members would get anything out of a new forum for months. Too much info would have been lost. Members that had running "success blogs" with how they started - what they tried, and how they progressed. Would it really be worth their time trying to "re-explain" everything they had done - or would they just start from where they are now. All the good info on how they started will have been lost for new members. They couldnt read back and see what they had tried.

@warbar -- exactly, we all paied the $77 to get the info cut-down and concise. The ebook really saved reading all that thread, and put it in a good order. But the method was in that thread for free.

All i was saying is -- if john decided not to release a new ebook (free or otherwise) - at least letting old members view the forum, would let them get the info they needed to expand on the original book. It may not be in a nice set-out way. But if no new book was going to be made - it would really help people move on to more advanced authority sites, without having to go through all the mistakes others had already made/tried.

P.S -- i wont add any more of my opinion - i dont want it to see like i have anything against john or anyone else. So please don't read it like i'm getting at anyone - I'm just showing my love for a forum where i actually posted less then i have here on WF -- but i did learn a lot. Lurking and learning

[dfrerking]

Originally Posted by XFactor

Hi Again Everyone,

If I do open it up...

It will be from scratch - starting again at 0 posts.

- John

Why bother?

[superassassin]

As long as the forum returns I don't care if everyone starts at zero posts or not. I thoroughly enjoyed the community there, and it became my #1 favorite forum. It weeded out all the bull (exactly the crap that's seems to be consuming a chunk of this thread).

Even though a proposed replacement plan was in place before Xfactor stepped in with a couple posts, I know it wouldn't be able to hold a candle to the original. I would much prefer the original re-open, regardless if we start from scratch or not. Sure we might not have the old posts to reference, but the community will still be quality - and doesn't take long for good stuff to emerge from a group like that.

[goldenopt1]

I was a member of the XFactor Forum also and I have a question.

Can all the threads be locked and people could only read them and not post?

This would let people read the posts they like without causing any more problems.

Phil

[CanuckWarrior]

Why is it not be possible to do both?

Make the original site an archive read-only by locking all threads. And then create a new one starting at zero posts. Whether it's started by the mods or John himself?

Although I agree that it wouldn't take long to get quality posts with the same group of people, like someone else pointed out, there was a lot of useful information that could never be recovered.

Personally, if I had advanced warning the library was going to be burned down, I would have copied some key threads, posts and links I used to reference.

[1byte]

Originally Posted by CanuckWarrior

Personally, if I had advanced warning the library was going to be burned down, I would have copied some key threads, posts and links I used to reference.

My sentiments exactly.

[Radix]

Please IM your xfactor handle to me.

[Banshu Ben]

Originally Posted by CanuckWarrior

Personally, if I had advanced warning the library was going to be burned down, I would have copied some key threads, posts and links I used to reference.

Due to my short-term memory I have the bad habit of printing out threads/posts from the forum to review over and over again just to make sure I understood what was being written.

Now I have tons of pages all filed away in folders in my stack boxes for quick and easy access... it may be one of the best decisions I've ever made if we start from scratch again.

[secretjustin]

I can vouch for Radix . Send it your old ID's

And if you don't know who I am, then you must have been sleeping at the wheel. :P

-Peace

[mjbaker]

Originally Posted by secretjustin

I can vouch for Radix . Send it your old ID's

And if you don't know who I am, then you must have been sleeping at the wheel. :P

-Peace

We know who you are.

Why should we send Radix our ID's?

And in many cases it's not possible. Many people don't have PM privileges here on WF which would allow it. Including myself.

[thegreatwarrior]

Originally Posted by bcmwp

Thanks for coming by and discussing things, John.

Maybe if you don't decide to reopen the forum, you could just lock all the threads, delete the "buying/selling" forums, and prevent future posting. That way, we could still use the old forum threads as a resource, without you having the headache of running the forum.

This is a really good idea, in my opinion. Yes, I'd be in favor of a forum where you can post, but still...this is really good.

[johnnyborga]

Originally Posted by mjbaker

We know who you are.

Why should we send Radix our ID's?

And in many cases it's not possible. Many people don't have PM privileges here on WF which would allow it. Including myself.

same here, I dont have enough privileges to send pms here. I've been a member of the xfactor forum, just would like to ne able to access the old threads if possible

[Gav567]

Yep, same here. You should know my ID anyways!

[susb8383]

Radix, please include me in any update about the Xfactor forum reopening or a new forum being created. I have been a member since its inception (I also can't PM yet).

John, I apologize for calling your selfish for closing the forum in my email. I had no idea of all the crap you had to deal with.

But I really hope you'll make the old forum available as read-only. There's a goldmine of information in there.

[ScottR]

It would definitely be cool if the Xfactor forum were to reopen in some form. I was able to dramatically increase my Adsense income by implementing some of John's concepts into my new sites (albeit with my own twists). I think it would be fair to say that, aside from the War Room, the money that I spent on his forum and ebook was by far and away the best single investment I have made in my IM business (and I have re-invested many thousands over many years).

Sure, John has delayed his free ebook update and the video series, but he has always been, first and foremost, an actual online marketer whose IM course is but a side business. That for me has always been his appeal - he practices before he preaches, as opposed to so many who preach without ever really practicing.

It's too bad there are so many nutjobs online. Fortunately, they are in the minority. But that is little consolation when you receive a scary email from one of them or from an attorney representing them.

Well, again, I definitely hope the forum is revived. Until then, we are probably all better off spending less time complaining and more time actually working on our online portfolios.

And PS - if you can't PM on here, you really should join the War Room - I believe doing so enables you to PM immediately, and, well, it's really a no-brainer of an investment!

[mekus@mekus.com]

How Exciting! OK - I have to go and pack my bags. There may be a grand re-opening that I intend on going to - the Xfactor forum. Don't want to miss it.

[inter123]

I never joined the forum. I want to now having read on this thread what a fantastic place it is. How does one join up when it gets underway again?

J

[lucifero666]

Hi Radix,
if you'll "reopen" the forum, my Id is the same as the one on the old xfactor forum....what a waste..damn...there was a goldmine in the forum...and the presence of John was Great...John please, reopen the forum!!!....the camaradism in the forum was really AWESOME...everyone posting his own experience....this help me a lot during my growing online business....tnx again for this...and now it's time to make a rebirth for all this..i hope you'll make THE RIGHT CHOICE: open a new warm house where everyone can grow inside again and in the WEBmarketing...good evening all.

[scrapgirl42]

I hope I am already on the list, but if not my user name is the same here as it was there.

I hope this pans out - I really miss the information I got from that forum. Although I will say I have got a lot more work done since I am not spending all my times reading the posts

[nbt321]

Please add me to the list. My user name is ths same here as it was there also. The forum was a great place especially for a beginner like me. I would love to see it open up again. Either way, thank you John and all the members that were in the forum.

[Chris Hunter]

Please add me, too. chrishunter

Thanks!

[Radix]

We will be opening the new forum tomorrow.

All of those who have sent me an IM with your previous handle, thank you. The few who responded with silly stuff like, "you should know my handle," I would say you're SOL.

[Chris Hunter]

Originally Posted by Radix

We will be opening the new forum tomorrow.

All of those who have sent me an IM with your previous handle, thank you. The few who responded with silly stuff like, "you should know my handle," I would say you're SOL.

LOL!!

That's awesome!

PMing you my proper info, Radix. Thanks!

Chris

[Gav567]

Originally Posted by Radix

We will be opening the new forum tomorrow.

All of those who have sent me an IM with your previous handle, thank you. The few who responded with silly stuff like, "you should know my handle," I would say you're SOL.

I can't PM you so my handle is the same as my Warriorforum handle (gav567). Please add me to the list.

Gav.

[wavey]

I also can't PM you, but please add my xforum handle which was davec

Thanks

[Seanpo]

Hi Radix,

Unable to PM you as well. My xforum handle was seanpo.