Topic: [ActiveMining] The Official Active Mining Discussion Thread - page 46. (Read 479317 times)

The engineer 'issue' is not uncommon but it is frustrating. Once you accept that he doesn't see this, you have to work out how to handle it without butting heads constantly since it's progress that matters, not getting your own way or being right.

I think that chip sales and an open source board design (VBS pointed this out) could be a good way to do it, as you're targeting a different group of people and can open different customer channels. Other chips are big and less flexible than eASIC's. Things like a website lacking in taste and complex ordering options are then far less relevant.

Purely personal opinion but I think Ken should be grabbing the Avalon audience and doing deals with all of them over this forum. Compared to selling units and boards, especially in the current market, it's much easier money.

If you're going to be techie, sell to techies. And, of course, do a lot of your own mining

I don't have the time nor the interest to go into this further. "No", simply meant, I acknowledge what you wrote, I disagree, and I have no interest in discussing it anymore.

I'm confused why you chose to take the time to post "no", then. Normally, if I see something and think "I don't agree with that, but I don't feel compelled to make an adequate argument to change their or anyone else's mind", I just go to the next thread, or go get some cheetos or something. I don't usually take the time to voice my unsubstantiative displeasure with a monosyllabic grunt. Then again, I usually try to add to the discussions I'm involved with, but I guess that's just my way of doing things. Sorry for projecting.

You are doing a mostly thankless job but many of us do appreciate the time you've all put in. I'm especially grateful that you were able to get the eAsic deal confirmed, as that was the biggest bit of uncertainty around this entire enterprise from my perspective.

I attended business school with a majority of engineers so it doesn't surprise me at all that Ken thinks that the marketing, website, and communication strategy are non essential at this stage of the game. As a marketing person, it's very difficult to understand this view, and incredibly frustrating when seemingly simple things are put on the back burner, but this company is run by an engineer, so his world view is going to prevail. Hopefully he sees the wisdom of bringing on people who can handle these things without diverting his attention from the product.

Obviously I think the website is "suboptimal" LOL, but I'm assuming it can effectively take orders? Oh and Ken may be attached to that old logo because it's on the side of his building.

I am a sick man. ... I am a spiteful man. I am an unattractive man. I believe my website is diseased. However, I know nothing at all about my website, and do not know for certain what ails it. I don't consult a designer for it, and never have, though I have a respect for graphic arts and designers. Besides, I am extremely superstitious, sufficiently so to respect web design, anyway (I am well-educated enough not to be superstitious, but I am superstitious). No, I refuse to consult a designer from spite. That you probably will not understand. Well, I understand it, though. Of course, I can't explain who it is precisely that I am mortifying in this case by my spite: I am perfectly well aware that I cannot "pay out" the designers by not consulting them; I know better than anyone that by all this I am only injuring myself and no one else. But still, if I don't consult a designer it is from spite. My website is bad, well--let it get worse!

Notes From Ken's Underground,  --A Classic.

Fortunately, I don't have to compel anyone but myself. I told you my thoughts, I also disagree with your view.

Quite a compelling argument you've got going there.

TO THE BUTTCAVE!

It's the Internet! I'm sure bob is great in person but people think that they can say stuff online that you'd probably get decked for in real life.

Going back to the topic in hand. Production management stuff is really down to what ken delivers. He either does that or he doesn't. That is, delivers eASIC devices and chips as specified. There is nothing you can ask for or do that will change this side of things, that's why it's frustrating seeing them brought up.

If you invested in ActM, you invested in the belief that he would deliver. easic came through so next is chip or board details. The ipo was only a few weeks ago really! Bitcoin is a crazy world where people have no patience (try investing in the real world, sheesh!). I'm not excusing the lack of information flow, once again, just the level of detail requested and the song and dance and insults over it.

Conversely, marketing discussions actually have a real point and could go somewhere. Marketing affects sales, simple as.

Re: shares: I don't think there can be any money raising now, it's done (except for a very small number if shares). Not caring about share price at all could be disruptive in pr terms. I think there is a balance. I certainly think the lack of regular updates and eASIC timing contributed to some big sales on bitfunder.

I know, I'm a terrible person for wanting people to behave like adults on a forum!

No.

Share price helps "the company" in EXACTLY one way: they can demand a higher price when they dilute everyone's shares by offering another round of financing. There is NO other reason for a dividend-paying bitcoin company to care one bit about the market price. It's not like there is risk for hostile takeovers, because "shareholders" don't really have any real power in these things as it is - and it won't affect any future 3rd party buyout talks, because that always involves book value and future cash flow multiples.

So, if you are concerned about the share price for the sake of the company, stop it. It shouldn't matter to them at all - if it does matter to them, then you need to realize they are gunning for another round of funding. If, on the other hand, you're concerned about the share price for your own sake, just say so - there's no shame in that.

I think there is something quite endearing about Ken and how he seems to be bloody mindedly focussed on acheiving his specific goals at the expense of other important tasks.

He wants to building Bitcoin/buttcoin mining machines and that is his sole focus.  

We may be right in our criticisms however, at the end of the day if he delivers these machines to customers and to our mining farm, on schedule, then it doesn't matter how he got there, just that he did.

History will be his judge.

@E-Boab were you a lot of trouble at school?  Bet the teacher's loved you.

Stupidity?!

In all seriousness, it's because actually we see the same as a lot of you and want to do everything in our power to improve the non engineering side. That actually takes a lot more work than you realise. It's not too bad now thankfully but initially we had a lot of ground to cover. I can't go into details as that's not fair on everyone involved.

Ken's a really nice guy and very clever too. I'd underestimated him in many respects. When it comes to marketing though, we're not even close to being on the same page.

Lewicki prototyped a new site and we had written up content etc, but as yet Ken hasn't gone for it.

For the betterment of the company of course. Anything we can do to help can conceivably raise the share price.

Out of pure interest - and it's not my intention to insinuate anything by asking this - but why do you spend hours on this every day?

Firstly, if you want to be listened to then being rude is not going to make that happen. EB has been quick on the insults multiple times. If you treat people with respect then you'll get respect back. I have answered him multiple times now and only had nasty comments back. Whether he thinks I have answered or not, that is not how proper discussion happens.

That said, EB was asking for schedules/tasks/risks/details for the next couple if weeks. That's just not going to happen, however much you ask.

However, that is different from the lack of overall communication and lack if monthly financial reports. Those are fair game. We've tried with the former but it needs a proper paid PR guy. The latter is something that needs handling and I understand it's in progress, but progress needs a completion date. Again, we've done all we can. It needs internal manpower in our opinion.

Also, ken isn't ignoring us on everything and at least made some web changes at our behest. You have to understand that it isn't our company or your company. It isn't for any shareholders or advisors to tell a CEO what to do, it is for all of us to provide feedback.

He can agree or disagree with what he likes, all anyone external can do is communicate their ideas, queries and issues.

If you don't like the front page image, pm him and say why. Posting here won't change anything.

We're on your side in all of this, that's why people like eskimobob annoy me when they're rude and when they make requests which are just unproductive. We're putting a lot of time and effort in, and we're not teenagers with time to spare. It's been a second job that's got in the way of work, of family, etc. Unpaid volunteer work which actually costs us money.

The more shit we get as volunteers - outside of the obvious trolls - the less it makes people like me want to spend hours every day on it. Be careful what you wish for.

My feedback is this;   If Ken goes for the idea it should not be first come, first served.  It should be an offer made to all sharholders and that should be as a percentage of total shares held.

Imagine how hilarious this image would be in the future if ACTM turns out to be a massive scam. Would go down forever in internet history.

Edit: Initial investors "Nah guys, looks totally legit. Underground bitcoin mine."

I also agree with most of what EskimoBob said last couple pages, except for the rude stuff.
They are legit questions and concerns imo.

Maybe Ken is trying to tell us something...