Should Sam Memmolo Be Allowed to Write for the TDR???

[Des]

x

 

[Des]

The Details:

Should Sam Memmolo be be allowed to continue writing articles for the TDR?? Here are the details if you are unfamiliar with the subject:



1. Sam Memmolo, co-star of Two Guys Garage and formerly of Crank & Chrome and Shadetree Mechanic, used the TDR Website to advertise and sell his Dodge CTD pickup, "midnight"



2. Sam purchased or was "given" and Chevy Duramax, on which he performed upgrades on last weeks show.



3. Sam finished his last article in the TDR with the statement: "I Love My Truck. " I wonder which truck he meant??



4. The TDR is a magazine for those of use who own/use vehicles (mostly Dodges) powered by the Cummins Turbo Diesel and is writen by others who own and/or drive a Dodge CTD.



You be the judge. But remember this- Sam has shown no loyalty to the Dodge CTD, so how can we expect him to give us his honest opinion in the TDR?



I personally would like to see another celebrity write an article for the TDR. Possible someone from the Petty family? They may not drive a Dodge CTD but they have raced Mopars for years. At least they have brand loyalty.

 

[JFitzgerald]

Who needs celebrities anyway??

 

[TDRadmin]

Locked Thread

I'm closing this poll.



I've watched, and left open, the ongoing thread expressing dissatisfaction with Sam because of his decision to sell his Dodge, and purchase a Duramax. A number of users have expressed their opinions clearly on the above-mentioned thread. This poll just solicits more "bashing," an activity that serves no useful purpose.



I hope you will understand, and perhaps even appreciate, my attempt to eliminate excessive "bashing" of other individuals, businesses, etc. on this website. Thank you for your understanding.



Robin

TDR Admin



For those of you who would like to have his column removed from the magazine, please feel free to send a letter to the Editor expressing your concerns. He can be reached at:



Robert Patton, Editor

Turbo Diesel Register

1150 Samples Industrial Drive

Cumming, GA 30041



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Updated: July 18, 2002 - 3:54 p. m. EST



DES and I have talked via e-mail about my decision to close this poll. He thought it would be a good idea, and I totally agree, to post that dialog for those of you who may disagree with my decision:



1st e-mail From DES:



Robin,



I understand your concern with wanting to minimize the "bashing" of persons and business on the website. I fully understand the reasoning behind it. The TDR is in business to make money and threads that are negative don't help the image of the business. However, the TDR has a large following of dedicated members. Would it be possible to reopen the poll and not allow anyone to post a typed response, but allow them to vote? This would eliminate the "bashing," but allow the members to express their opinion through and anonymous poll. I think 5 votes out of thousands of registered users would be hard to extrapolate and use those extrapolated results to help the TDR Editor arrive at a conclusion. Just a thought... .



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1st Response From Robin - TDR Admin:



Des, thank you for following up with me personally. I am not trying to protect Sam for any financial reason. We pay Sam for the articles he writes just as we do all other writers.



My sincere concern is that our website is referred to (from time-to-time) at other websites as harsh, mean spirited, etc. Rather, we want to be a place where people come to give/receive candid, honest, accuracte information regarding their trucks and their truck ownership. It should be a fun place where candid feedback is provided, but bashing is avoided. It shouldn't be perceived as a place that actively seeks to harm others. Please understand, I don't want to inhibit candid information, but I do want to inhibit the excessively harsh delivery of information.



Please e-mail me with your objective with this poll. If it is to let the Editor know that there would be significant issues with continuing Sam's column, I am certain that has been made very clear in the thread that has been building. Is there something else that I am missing? I'll keep an open mind until I hear back from you.



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2nd Response from DES:



I was not worried about the TDR protecting Sam for financial reasons. I figured that the TDR paid him for his articles, after all, that is how Sam makes his living.



My honest objective with the poll was to put a number on the opinions expressed in the thread I opened earlier in the month. I was hoping to grab the attention of the editor to make changes to the Celebrity Column. I personally felt, and still feel, that Sam has no business receiving payment for writing articles for the TDR when he talked so highly of his new truck. If you feel that the overall opinion of the TDR membership has already been expressed in the previous thread, then I feel that I have accomplished what I set out to do.



Please understand that I did not intend to start a large scale bashing contest. I simply wanted to express my opinion on the matter after watching Sam's show. I suppose I should have waited until I had cooled off before I made my post on the TDR Forum. I still believe that the page or two dedicated to Sam's column could be put to better use.



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2nd Response From Robin - TDR Admin



I can assure you that Robert [Editor, TDR] is aware of this delimma. I'm not sure what his final decision will be, but he's a smart man. He knew when Sam sold the truck that this could become an issue. He's also a fair man, and I'm sure he's evaluating the value Sam might still bring to the table thanks to his access to so many manufacturers.



Please do not apologize for your posts. I have no problem with them. The first thread was needed. People needed to vent. I must admit, however, that people personalized this a little more than I would have expected. The poll was pulled just because I was trying to contain all of the related comments to one location rather than let them get going in multiple locations and grow out of hand. Absolutely no apologize are needed.



I will print your e-mail and provide it to Robert when he returns from meeting with Cummins this week. It was well written and conveys your point very professionally.



* * * * *



I feel DES and I have worked through this, and I will be sharing both the open thread, and this information with Robert when he returns to the office on Monday.



For those of you who may not be aware of this, Sam did sell Midnight (his truck), but he still has his Cummins 5. 9 Turbo Diesel, 275 hp in his motorhome. So he hasn't really abandoned us as some of the posts might make it appear.



Thank you all for your continued support of the TDR.



Robin

TDR Admin