Off from posting on the message boards about serious business related topics?

A good example of this would be 3-4 years ago, almost every major program owner posted on multiple boards, Mark De and Becky from ARS for example posted on a whole bunch of different webmaster forums, giving affiliates and newer program owners some great information and advice.. Without asking for anything in return.

Nowadays however it seems that for the most part, affiliates typically only want to talk with a program owner when they want to bitch and moan about stuff (i can understand why they post on boards) but it seems like over the past few years as webmaster forums have become more of a soap box to rant and rave at program owners, the people who really matter, ie, the people who own and operate many of the programs we all promote (not just affiliate reps) have taken a major step back from posting on public forums.

Do you think this is because the boards have become to saturated by individuals just looking to bitch and moan about programs rather than wanting to understand how and why a program owner does something not to the affiliates liking?

I remember when ARS started paying affiliates less for console free tours, it seemed like everyone and their mother was up in arms about this, but nobody wanted to listen to the reason why they were getting paid less at the time, yet nowadays its standard practice to pay affiliates less per sale if the tour they are promoting doesnt have console in use.

Using just the above as an example, do you think the fact that affiliates have become much more vocal and opinionated as to what is 'good' and what is 'bad' for business has put off a lot of people from posting who actually could be helping us all make more money in the long run?

Your thoughts?

Regards,

Lee