Messages

1

Living Room / Re: The Pricelessware Scam (Alt.Comp.Freeware)

« on: September 27, 2009, 08:21 AM »

I find this "discussion" quite the shame. Not one person has come forward to support thre exposure of Pricelessware, taken any steps to see if I am right or for that matter wrong. There have been posts giving advice for action...that has been already posted here as in action. There has been grumpiness, posters who claim I am being argumentative which is argumentative fo the poster.

Not one real patriot of freeware or licensing rights that I can see.

A real shame IMO and of course your POV can widely vary.

2

Living Room / Re: The Pricelessware Scam (Alt.Comp.Freeware)

« on: September 27, 2009, 08:18 AM »

Bloss:
DC is not a dictatorship. The spirit of DC implies that it's not only the moderator's opinion that counts here.

-jgpaiva (September 26, 2009, 05:49 PM)

Out of context. Only the Moderator can lock a thread.

Please lets not enter the "offense/counter-offense" field (as the discussions on this matter generally do) and try to reach an interesting discussion, or this thread will quickly end up closed.

See above and, of course, your comment was not only aimed at me, is that correct?

3

Living Room / Re: The Pricelessware Scam (Alt.Comp.Freeware)

« on: September 27, 2009, 08:15 AM »

If all of this is true, don't you think it would be more productive to contact the FBI or the BSA or some other official type of organization that can actually do something to put a stop to it?

-app103 (September 26, 2009, 06:02 PM)

This is being done by others. We each have our own ways of dealing with these Pricelessware frauds.

If they are in fact selling illegal software, then that would be a crime and you should be reporting it...not posting on forums just to badmouth ACF, and then arguing with the members of the community that you just invaded, in order to do it.

Now that you know, what are you going to do about it?

Since this is primarily a donationware site, I don't think it would be likely that one of our applications would fall into the category of being able to be pirated in the way you describe, so posting here is not an attempt to contact a particular developer that is being violated.

There are no freeware authors here? I find that impossible to believe.

And if it is true, these reportings should be done privately, not publicly, or else you could blow any chances of an official investigation being able to catch them and stop them. Posting about it publicly just would alert them that someone is on to them and they should "behave" for awhile, till you go away and forget about them.

Usenet is archived. Pricelessware goons believe they are inpenetrable. No worries.

So in my opinion, I see this as nothing but attempting to spread hate and rumors about ACF, which I don't have any dealings with and don't particularly care about. I am not involved with them, don't follow them, and their internal problems and issues with their members have not a thing to do with my life.

In other words, I really don't care and arguing with the members of this forum will not make me care.

Then move on.

4

Living Room / Re: The Pricelessware Scam (Alt.Comp.Freeware)

« on: September 26, 2009, 05:38 PM »

Now run along and scam again another day.

-Bloss (September 26, 2009, 07:02 AM)

This kind of remark (and others of yours) represent a discourtesy that is unwelcome here. If you cannot make a rational point without invective then it reflects poorly on you. I suspect that I might not be alone in this feeling, and ask you to think twice before making your responses in future. Alas, 'think before you type' never has been my own strong point, but it is a guiding principle that is worth bearing in mind.

-cranioscopical (September 26, 2009, 07:25 AM)

One opinion, not the opinion of the Moderator which in the end all is the only one that counts here.

5

Living Room / Re: The Pricelessware Scam (Alt.Comp.Freeware)

« on: September 26, 2009, 05:37 PM »

I am sorry that you and others feel as if you are being dumped on when the intent is to expose what I would have thought, an international freeware licensing, copyright and intellectual property scam, be of great interest to DC.

-Bloss (September 26, 2009, 06:57 AM)

I'm sorry, but that's a little disingenuous on your part.

-40hz (September 26, 2009, 03:12 PM)

I could care less what you think, go back to eating your popcorn and stay crawled up in your own little world.

6

Living Room / Re: The Pricelessware Scam (Alt.Comp.Freeware)

« on: September 26, 2009, 05:35 PM »

f0dder please don't make the situation worse by saying things that you know are going to make people feel defensive.
I think everyone has had their say now, and clearly this is something that people feel strongly about on both sides -- but i do think it's been hashed out as much as can be done from over here in the land of DonationCoder and we can should back to our regularly scheduled stuff now..

-mouser (September 26, 2009, 07:21 AM)

Thanks for your patience and forum, Mouser. 

7

Living Room / Re: The Pricelessware Scam (Alt.Comp.Freeware)

« on: September 26, 2009, 07:02 AM »

As both a DC member and someone who is intimately involved in ACF and the Pricelessware site, I have to agree the acrimony there is startling sometimes. I'm sorry such a genuinely civilized and courteous group as DC catches somes of the spill-over.

I don't know why Mr. Bloss decided to come here, spouting accusations and conspiracy theories. He has been in and out of ACF for about a month, demanding to know all about Pricelessware site operations. His demands are ignored because of his belligerence, as near as I can tell. He leaves me scratching my head in wonder.

-OldElmerFudd (September 25, 2009, 04:32 AM)

Ron you're full of it, some of the longest threads in ACF history are about the Pricelessware scam, the goons like you who claim to speak for all of ACF as if you own the place. You don't so pi$$ off.

I wonder why this subject upsets you and yours so much. Naw, no I don't, truth stings. Now run along and scam again another day. ITMT, to the rest of your skewed and deflecting commentary, I draw you back into the line of fire with this link.

https://www.donation....msg178389#msg178389

8

Living Room / Re: The Pricelessware Scam (Alt.Comp.Freeware)

« on: September 26, 2009, 06:57 AM »

ACF used to be quite good, there was no spam, everyone was (generally) pretty courteous, and the focus was on sharing information (like here).  Sadly those days appear to be long gone...

-app103 (September 24, 2009, 10:13 PM)

I am sorry that you and others feel as if you are being dumped on when the intent is to expose what I would have thought, an international freeware licensing, copyright and intellectual property scam, be of great interest to DC.

Other forums will be attended in time.

9

Living Room / Re: The Pricelessware Scam (Alt.Comp.Freeware)

« on: September 26, 2009, 06:53 AM »

What the link and the group have in common is it is overrun with frauds, thieves, felons (like Bear Bottoms) scammers and Ari Silversteinn types

-Bloss (September 24, 2009, 05:42 PM)

this pretty much sums it up, and (at least for me) the actual signal to noise ratio is now so low it's no longer worth the effort.

-Target (September 24, 2009, 06:42 PM)

Each to his own but I can empathize with you on this point. Except for running smack dab into this Pricelessware scam, the election of convicted felons and molesters to the highest positions of power, I have lost interest in any regular participation in alt.comp.freeware.

What to me is an amazing indictment of the group (ACF and Pricelessware) is that they continually beat to death old freeware. There are a gazillion new entries into the market yet they spend almost all of their time rehashing instead of reviewing.

Of course if you are trying to get "volunteers" to assemble CDs for "donations", you don't have time for paltry matters such as reviews.

Bear Bottoms claims to be the group's "Extraordinaire Researcher" (LOL), he's nothing but a two bit drug runner typical of the "talent" in SCF/Pricelessware.
[/quote]

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Living Room / Re: The Pricelessware Scam (Alt.Comp.Freeware)

« on: September 24, 2009, 05:42 PM »

** 40hz sits down next to f0dder, passes him a beer, and says: "Is this a rerun?" **

-40hz (September 23, 2009, 05:59 PM)

Yes, it's a rerun. See https://www.donation....msg142117#msg142117

ACF has to be the most dysfunctional group ever. Even the brawls on alt.atheism didn't have this much vitriol.

-CWuestefeld (September 24, 2009, 12:18 PM)

I wouldn't say the group is entirely dysfunctional, there is good advice given and archived everyday. Btw, thanks for the link, I know Ari Silversteinn personally and can say he is a passionate yet stunted a$$clown.

What the link and the group have in common is it is overrun with frauds, thieves, felons (like Bear Bottoms) scammers and Ari Silversteinn types.

11

Living Room / Re: The Pricelessware Scam (Alt.Comp.Freeware)

« on: September 23, 2009, 07:14 PM »

alt.comp.freeware confuses me for all sorts of reasons.  i don't really understand the details of some of these controversies.. i wish one of the reputable online tech magazines like Wired would do a real investigatory story on ACF and explain some of this stuff to the rest of us.

-mouser (September 23, 2009, 05:56 PM)

I fully support the investigation by Wired or any such non-police organization into the affairs of ACF as you have proposed. I do so with the fullest conviction (pun intended) that every statement I have made to be found completely true.

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Living Room / Re: The Pricelessware Scam (Alt.Comp.Freeware)

« on: September 23, 2009, 02:59 PM »

As a regular poster and long-time subscriber to ACF, I find Mr. Bloss's accusations and representations at best, inaccurate. He first started posting on ACF in mid-August and immediately developed a chip on his shoulder.

-OldElmerFudd (September 23, 2009, 02:04 PM)

My disposition soured when I find that ACF was being abused by a handful of people who are running a scam. Regardless of your attempt to undermine my message, my statements are accurate to the nth degree.

REM is "Treasurer" and charged with paying hosting fees, etc. which originate as donations from the group.

He is also the keeper of records for a "non profit organization and after having been requested many, many times to post those records for ACF and IRS review, has refused to do so.

All software that is included in the annual CD/DVD created to disseminate these programs has been approved by their authors for distribution.

Then there should be no trouble in posting these approvals yet that also has been refused to be accomplished. Why the secrecy over so many important matters?

I can personally attest to that.

How?

There is NO FEE charged for anyone who wants one of the volunteer burners to create one. Some burners ask for postage and/or CD replacement cost, but no more than that. The CD/DVD's are NOT FOR SALE.

The people who distribute the CDs can and do charge whatever they wish and Pricelessware goons know this and allow it.

Furthermore, to the best of my knowledge, there is no "ongoing Federal investigation" into any aspect of ACF. I find that claim ludicrous.

I have clearly posted on ACF regarding this matter, if you missed it, go find it.

Finally, I encourage a visit to alt.comp.freeware if you feel so inclined.

hth

Ron Moore aka 2 penny Ron

I agree, go and seek the scam out.

13

Living Room / The Pricelessware Scam (Alt.Comp.Freeware)

« on: September 23, 2009, 12:52 PM »

  

Many of you are aware of the Usenet group ACF. Many of you are not aware of the ongoing scam operated primarily by Ron May, Craig (who refuses to give his last name and their appointed Treasurer "REM". Yes, that's right, a Treasurer.

Pricelessware members have refused to provide the list of authors approvals for the distribution of their freeware. The posting Member of ACF "Q" who was responsible for this has disappeared once confronted with the truth. The truth is that there are "donations" being accepted (fees) when CDs are distributed. These CDs contain illegal software, intellectual property and licensing violations. In short, the entire operation of Pricelessware is illegal, all or in great part, and is a scam.

The original leader, John Fitzsimons, was found to be a convicted fraud and a Nazi-styled torturer of elderly woman. Fitzsimons was widely supported until this revelation (thanks to John Stubbings, former ACFer who was runoff byt threats from the Pricelessware group).

ACF has been a frequent and vocal critique of DC throwing around accusations of license violations and phony member websites. I find none of these but what I do find is a very tarred pot calling a shiny kettle blackened.

Beware; there is an ongoing Federal investigation into the criminal activities of the Pricelessware goons which will include co-conspirators and those who by choice or mistake associate themselves with their money-grabbing, copyright violating schemes.

Jeffrey Bloss