No, when I posted this poll (8 months ago), it was originally to address a question from someone who wanted to post information not viewable by the MG organisation.
Creating a private forum is a trivial thing to do and so I did it for Premium Members to give them a place where they can discuss things out of the public view. Anyone who wants to register as a premium member can do so to use that forum.
I posted a reply here because it's a private forum which some people might be interested in.
Yeah, like Facebook groups which you have to request to join before you can see any of their content.
It sounds like you're not aware that speech is limited by the UK's law. The classic example from the US is
And on a forum speech is further limited. You can't use certain swear words on here, for example. So there is no such thing as 'free speech' in public. On MGEVs.com, it's about as free as it can be while maintaining something that most people will actually want to join in with, though.
The purpose of the private forum is different from the original purpose proposed here. Originally it was to share information which people preferred MG not to read. Now it's simply for Premium Members to use rather like an exclusive lounge at an airport.
The purpose has changed, so that's not a relevant consideration any more.
Ok, I really don't like it when people start to make assumptions about me that are so wrong.
As my signature states, I started the forum because I saw the ZS EV in 2019, I was impressed and thought that it would be a successful car. If I was going to start a forum to make money, I certainly wouldn't make it about one specific type of car (electric) from one specific manufacturer. Who is going to advertise? MG themselves, MG dealers and accessory retailers and manufacturers. Plus companies who want to appeal to people who would buy an MG. Rather than, say, a Tesla. That's it. A market that's so small, it's honestly not worth bothering with.
My other forum, AVForums.com has advertisers from the TV, home cinema, hi-fi and tech industries, both retailers and manufacturers. So I know full well that if I'm going to start a forum for money, it needs to be about something with way more revenue generation potential than the MG ZS EV (remembering that in 2019, there was no sign of any other electric MG coming).
Given the amount of time and money that I've already put and will continue to put into growing this forum, it's unlikely to make a profit for years, if ever. If my time is taken into consideration, AVForums.com didn't make a profit for maybe the first 8 years. Ballpark.
So do not start making assumptions about what my motivations are.
I'm growing this forum because I think the subject of the forum warrants a dedicated community and I'm enjoying it. Except when I read comments like yours
@Paulie68.
I wanted to let people know that there is now a private forum and, yes, I want you to pay for access if you want it as well as supporting the forum and the podcast.
It was probably a mistake to post a reply in this thread, since this thread is about a private forum with a different intention.