Eco Business - A Separate Forum Section?

The Levellers - Battle of the Beanfield

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ld0RFYYZgOE

 

[RayB]

At least I havn't resorted yet to sticking sugar in their diesel tanks.

Newbury bypass guys taught me well.:redface:

Lol - but to win a debate such as this one needs all sides to buy in - and that is surely best done without a row

 

Yes yes yes yes yes, okkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk.

Ok, if we get this forum, I'm going to plant no less than five trees and dedicate them, name each one, after the central characters of the opponents of this discussion, just as soon as each of them makes their first post in the ruddy section.

And then, in 30 plus years time, I can hug each of them in turn.

And then I'll be happy.

Apollos watered but God kept making them grow, with a bit of love and nurturing care thrown in from my good self.

Mark, the unabashed tree hugger.

 

[RayB]

Mark, the unabashed tree hugger.

Yes, but a great and passionate one to have about the place

 

Chris Kaday - the prickly pear tree.

GoldCtrSteve - a magnolia.

Asonda - a fine english oak.

Who have I left out?

 

Was it Gillie?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, lets think about this - any suggestions?

Not something too gnarled please.

 

[RayB]

Can I just add, following on from Earls comment about traffic (= members) - this thread is already on page one for "eco business" - just for the title of this thread. This is out of 218,000 results (yes proper ones inside the "" marks for the SEO's here)

Wow - there is a massive audience for this stuff

 

I did a search earlier for something else too, can't remember what it was precisely now, but out of 2.2 million results, this thread came in at number 2 on page one of google.

 

when and if it is implemented I hope managment will think long and hard about the title ,or pay me a few bob to sort it out

I ain't sure they realize how much lolly could be made out of this site

Earl

 

[paulam]

Hi, Im an newbie, both here and in business, but I thought I would have my tuppence worth (incidently it was this thread which made me stop being a lurker and introduce myself as I wanted to have my say) .

I have voted yes to a seperate forum. I own a wedding stationery and greeting cards business and so far have to say I haven't been the best at recycling / reducing my impact on the planet. I have now started to realise that this is something I should be concerned about. I feel I do have to hang my head in shame because my realisation is not based on my new eco warrioresque status but rather than the realisation that I won't actual lose any customers over it but I would gain customers if I can state my green credentials. I think a lot of companies will be in the same situation, a growing number of the population are looking to lead an ethical lifestyle / appease their guilt, so would choose a company with ethical credentials above and beyond one without.
I have just started to look into being able to offer all my stationery ranges on recycled (at least to some extent) card and envelopes and have to say that the choice is very limited, the quality available is not on a par with the non recycled (if any one knows a good source I would be interested to know!) particularly with envelopes as the quality was just not as good.
I think that this would apply to a lot of businesses.
I have to say that, having read a lot of post about printing on this forum, the one company I have contacted for samples is raybs company alocalprinter mainly due to their eco ethics (and also due to several othe r companies I came across on the forum had gone off for a month for summer and shut shop!?), even though I am not naturally inclined that way, it makes me feel like I'm doing the right thing by using a company which openly states its green credentials. I think this may apply to a large range of businesses.
If there was a seperate forum for green issues it would be much easier for us "non-eco" business to dip into and gain some insight into what we should be doing. Im sure there are lots of simple steps I could do to make my business more green but don't because I'm not aware of them.
Not sure I helped the cause, but thats my opinion
Paula

 

[Cornish Steve]

Great - agreed - ethics and "green" could be rolled up into one area - brilliant idea

so would choose a company with ethical credentials above and beyond one without.

Aarghh! Would you guys please stop equating 'green' with 'ethical'. The two are simply not correlated. There are ethical and unethical green companies, and there are ethical and unethical companies of every type, and I'll warrant the percentage is the same is both cases. Referring to green companies as ethical is propaganda and psychology and, whether intended or not, a slur on those in other industries!

Having read through the thread again, I can see that it's dominated by some particularly avid enthusiasts. As you study the content in detail, it's obvious that we need a new forum. My vote for its title is not 'Eco-business' or 'Green issues'; it's 'The Cornish Forum!'.

 

Aarghh! Would you guys please stop equating 'green' with 'ethical'. The two are simply not correlated. There are ethical and unethical green companies, and there are ethical and unethical companies of every type, and I'll warrant the percentage is the same is both cases. Referring to green companies as ethical is propaganda and psychology and, whether intended or not, a slur on those in other industries!

My vote for its title is not 'Eco-business' or 'Green issues'; it's 'The Cornish Forum!'.

Don't you think there's enough corn on here now ,without having a forum for it.

Earl

 

[RayB]

Aarghh! Would you guys please stop equating 'green' with 'ethical'. The two are simply not correlated. There are ethical and unethical green companies, and there are ethical and unethical companies of every type, and I'll warrant the percentage is the same is both cases. Referring to green companies as ethical is propaganda and psychology and, whether intended or not, a slur on those in other industries!

I dont agree with you definition, as I think ethical business and business ethics are 2 different things

I would say that green/eco IS a division of ethical business along with other areas such as Fair Trade.

As for business ethics - this I agree with you - as it relates to areas such as conducting ones business in a right and proper manner - which has nothing to do with green issues

Hi, Im an newbie, both here and in business, but I thought I would have my tuppence worth (incidently it was this thread which made me stop being a lurker and introduce myself as I wanted to have my say)

Hi paulam and welcome to the Forum. It is great that this post has stimulated you you join up - and your post embodies all the reasons why having a "green room" is a good thing to do - brilliant post - well done

 

[green mum]

Hi everyone

Have joined this thread pretty late and just spent about half an hour reading all the posts... some good issues raised here. Not much I can add really but I've voted yes. I personally agree that it should be a sub forum for general green issues so that it would be of interest to everyone not just for 'green' businesses.

Maybe we could also start our own version of freecycle within this sub forum i.e offer free items to UKBF members that we would otherwise throw away?

I agree that there are not a lot of people explaining why they are voting 'no' to this. All I can add is if you don't want it you don't need to use it. Why not just trial it for a bit and see how it develops. Can't do any harm

It's certainly a popular subject.... I'd better get back to what I was supposed to be doing now...

 

[Cornish Steve]

I dont agree with you definition, as I think ethical business and business ethics are 2 different things

So an ethical business could be unethical?! Whether or not it's in common usage, the term comes across as rather arrogant: "I'm ethical. What about you?"

If the new forum goes ahead, let's recommend a title such as 'green business' and not 'ethical business' - otherwise I'll switch my vote back to being a 'No'.

 

Do make up your mind, all this political correctness is driving me up the wall.

 

[Cornish Steve]

Do make up your mind, all this political correctness is driving me up the wall.

It's not political correctness. It's one group implying they are ethical while others are not - which is arrogant poppycock and rather alienating. For the record, here's the OED definition of ethical: "relating to moral principles". That has squat to do with whether a company is green or not. (This implied superiority of the green movement really galls me.)

 

[RayB]

Just to clarify, conducting a green business can be classed as an ethical business, but that same business could be guilty of deliberately late paying suppliers - which is bad business ethics. So I agree with you.

My point was that ethics could be discussed alongside green issues - but with hindsight I think you are right and would cloud the issue.

Certainly nothing to do with arrogance, indeed - I have no desire for any green business to take the "what about you" line - but it would be positive for more people to consider the issues - "every little helps" and the little things we can all do soon add up.

BTW - I'm quite liking the name "The Green Room"

So an ethical business could be unethical?! Whether or not it's in common usage, the term comes across as rather arrogent: "I'm ethical. What about you?"

If the new forum goes ahead, let's recommend a title such as 'green business' and not 'ethical business' - otherwise I'll switch my vote back to being a 'No'.

 

[dev99]

subscribing..got my vote

 

[Cornish Steve]

BTW - I'm quite liking the name "The Green Room"

Maybe the owners can use a green skin for that forum. It could start a trend: red and black for finance, and so on.

 

It's not political correctness. It's one group implying they are ethical while others are not - which is arrogant poppycock and rather alienating. For the record, here's the OED definition of ethical: "relating to moral principles". That has squat to do with whether a company is green or not. (This implied superiority of the green movement really galls me.)

Well, don't get looking at me, I didn't say it. I'm steering well clear of that one.

You've already got me in enough trouble as it is for one day, blinkin' cousin jacks.

So anyway, you like the idea now for a new section, I'm ever so glad we won your heart over with our sound reasoning techniques, good on you!!

 

Maybe the owners can use a green skin for that forum. It could start a trend: red and black for finance, and so on.

My goodness me, noooooooooooooo ...

Can you imagine it, the forum would end up looking absolutely awful, what a dreadful suggestion. Look I used to be a picture framer, I should know.

If we are to have various 'mounts', borders, black and gold will do just fine.

 

[RayB]

Maybe the owners can use a green skin for that forum. It could start a trend: red and black for finance, and so on.

Oh, I dont know - it could catch on.

How about bright pink for the SEO section (with a blood splatter background for artistic effect)

 

With a splash of aeneous for the main border, brunneous for the next line in, a dash of chrysochlorous, hyacinthine, leucochroic to even them all out, for the background, isabelline.

Or if you don't agree with that, how about ... main border, ochroleucous with a softer hue of phoeniceous thrown in for good measure with matching thin line borders in smaragdine and zinnober and an overlay of pyrrhous.

Should look most fetching.

Mark gets his easel out.

 

[Eco2You]

Groovy - I agree - hence I have endeavoured to answer each point in turn - even the ones I think are daft

The point is - some people will raise genuine concerns, and others will say stuff some of us will think of as daft - either way, lets have a debate and respect everybodies views (and accept that sometimes the "other side" of the debate might have a valid point)

To me it seems your tiptoing around, albeit for a "greater good", empathy might be a great tool, but don't bite the hand that feeds you.

 

[Eco2You]

It's not political correctness. It's one group implying they are ethical while others are not - which is arrogant poppycock and rather alienating. For the record, here's the OED definition of ethical: "relating to moral principles". That has squat to do with whether a company is green or not. (This implied superiority of the green movement really galls me.)

Please define this "group", I've aplogised in public for making that statement.

You either eaccpet that aplogy or don't, either way you can't keep blaming me as a reason not to have an eco forum.

 

[GiftGirl]

I can't understand why 23 pages and several days have been spent arguing about whether or not to do it. Why not just try it, and if it works, great, and if it doesn't, let it go?

 

I can't understand why 23 pages and several days have been spent arguing about whether or not to do it. Why not just try it, and if it works, great, and if it doesn't, let it go?

If we did not argue there wouldn't be a bleeding forum

Plus its supposed to be one of them democracy things every one gets there say,only 9,750 members to go

Earl

 

[Cornish Steve]

Please define this "group", I've aplogised in public for making that statement.

You either eaccpet that aplogy or don't, either way you can't keep blaming me as a reason not to have an eco forum.

Oh goodness. I moved on from there ages ago. I wasn't implying you at all, so please don't take it that way. Apology was accepted, reciprocated, and long forgotten.

 

[RayB]

Hey Steve,

I think it has been a good debate, and I'm thanking you for presenting the objections in an balanced way - I agree - we have moved on.

Still, always have some passions run high with debates like this

Oh goodness. I moved on from there ages ago. I wasn't implying you at all, so please don't take it that way. Apology was accepted, reciprocated, and long forgotten.

 

[RayB]

when and if it is implemented I hope managment will think long and hard about the title ,or pay me a few bob to sort it out

I ain't sure they realize how much lolly could be made out of this site

Earl

Earl, based on your other thread, here is a starter for 10:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&rls=GGLD%2CGGLD%3A2005-18%2CGGLD%3Aen&q=eco+business+forum&meta=

Brace yourselves - if this is implemented it will go large

 

[Chris Kaday]

I can't understand why 23 pages and several days have been spent arguing about whether or not to do it. Why not just try it, and if it works, great, and if it doesn't, let it go?

I agree although it has to be said that a fair few of those 23 pages have been generated by around 60 posts from just one member.

Chris Kaday

 

[RayB]

I agree although it has to be said that a fair few of those 23 pages have been generated by around 60 posts from just one member.

Chris Kaday

This thread has had a lot of traffic, and a lot of input from one member (me) as the thread starter to keep the debate balanced and on topic, whilst respecting all views.

Once you have started an important thread as such as this, which evokes many emotions and much heated input (that needs chairing), you will have earned the right to have a sarcastic dig.

In the meantime, I wish you well with whatever your agenda is

 

[Darren Falkingham]

I can't understand why 23 pages and several days have been spent arguing about whether or not to do it. Why not just try it, and if it works, great, and if it doesn't, let it go?

I understand completely, but if we made every change that everybody mentioned, as soon they mentioned it, we'd have an utter mess on our hands!

Another two days without a new forum won't hurt the previous years without one - it's important to let members have their say, let thoughts develop (as they always do over a few days), and then we'll put it in place.

I really like 'The Green Room' - is it good SEO-wise? 'Green Business'? 'Green Issues'??

<awaiting barrage of rotten fruit / used tea bags for mentioning forum names>

Earl, based on your other thread, here is a starter for 10:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2005-18,GGLD:en&q=eco+business+forum&meta=

Brace yourselves - if this is implemented it will go large

Too right - I've seen threads on UKBF indexed on Google within 15 minutes!! (admittedly for a very specific search phrase!)

 

[RayB]

Hi Darren:

I understand completely, but if we made every change that everybody mentioned, as soon they mentioned it, we'd have an utter mess on our hands!

Another two days without a new forum won't hurt the previous years without one - it's important to let members have their say, let thoughts develop (as they always do over a few days), and then we'll put it in place.

I agree, rushing would be bad, the debate needs to run its course and you guys (Sift) need to consider the right move. For sure a "trial" does not work with Forums, you either do it or not

I really like 'The Green Room' - is it good SEO-wise? 'Green Business'? 'Green Issues'??

Whilst "The Green Room" has a ring to it (and would be great for part of the title) I know loads about hot "eco business" search phrases and could assist you with a fuller optimised title if you want to go ahead (SirEarl may even chip in for free as well)

<awaiting barrage of rotten fruit / used tea bags for mentioning forum names>

Best to recycle your rotten fruit and tea bags

 

Too right - I've seen threads on UKBF indexed on Google within 15 minutes!! (admittedly for a very specific search phrase!)

I think a bit of care may be needed here ,as there is of course the possibility to use the forum to spam both the forum and the engines ?


Earl

 

[RayB]

I think a bit of care may be needed here ,as there is of course the possibility to use the forum to spam both the forum and the engines ?


Earl

Indeed, no point making the place too popular, too many membership fees to quickly can only be a bad thing.

PS - Seriously, I agree - "Green Room" is a great name for users - but dont optimise for it (especially if Big Brother is on telly)

 

[Rusty]

Well, I am still not convinced that a seperate forum is the right way to go with this eco business issue but if we are going that way then we should really make the most of the seo angle to pull in as much interest as possible.

Don't get me wrong I am a great believer in being as eco as possible, I drive Tin mad with all my recycling, I would just rather see eco issues discussed in the mainstream forums because there is still far too much apathy about and I just don't see us being able to change the world inside a forum section.

On the other hand if we have a forum title that is very seo friendly then maybe we can conquer the whole of the world not just the members on UKBF, think you are beginning to convert me.

 

[Darren Falkingham]

I think a bit of care may be needed here ,as there is of course the possibility to use the forum to spam both the forum and the engines ?


Earl

True - and by the same token, the 'Report post' button needs care too, to keep the spammers out.

PS - Seriously, I agree - "Green Room" is a great name for users - but dont optimise for it (especially if Big Brother is on telly)

Cool, anyone got any reservations about 'The Green Room'? As with all the other sections, it would have a description too, something like: 'Discussion on eco-friendly business practices and corporate social responsibility'.

Yes, I know CSR is a bull**** bingo acronym, but I think this is where the real value of 'green business' lies - it says exactly what it means, in its own rather flowery way.

 

OK but for gawds sake don't title it"behind the green door" or your servers will start smoking

Earl