Bp2go's Conflict of Interest in Hat Aw ards

“At backpacker.com, Rodale, Inc. has a promotion called “Hat of the Month” Award for the best post on their website for the month, and the forum moderator, Bp2go has been given sole discretion in awarding “The Hat” each month. On June 1, 2002, November 1, 2002, and on December 1, 2002, forum users were reminded that the award goes to the person with the best post of the month. Well the January, 2003 Hat of the Month Award went to Desert Dweller for his trail report on the Arizona Trail. Well, unfortunately for the published rules, Desert Dweller’s post was neither on backpacker.com nor in the month of January, 2003. Desert Dweller’s Molino Basin Trail report was posted February 7, 2002 on another commercial web site, the ArtDoc. The ArtDoc is not affiliated with Rodale’s backpacker.com.

Why would BP2go secretly change the rules and award the January 2003 Hat of the Month Award to post at another site over a year ago? First, the other site, the ArtDoc, is Bp2go’s own private commercially run website advertising his business ventures and other products. Bp2go stands to benefit by having increased hits on his own commercial web site, both in personal prestige and perhaps in advertising revenue too. His web site The ArtDoc also promotes specific products, like what every backpacker needs, a $119 hand held anemometer. Isn’t this a conflict of interest handing out Company Awards that helps you make a profit on your own personal business?

Second, for the month of January, 2003, two of the most outstanding posters at the Rodale site were thebackpacker.com’s own Buddha Bear for his January 15, 2003 outstandingly humorous post “Backpacker Question” and Mapleleaf for her January, 2003 report of her first winter solo backpacking trip. Instead of handing out an Award to either one of them, he chose to hand out an Award to someone for posting a trail report on his own personal commercial web site.

Do you feel that Bp2go runs backpacker.com “a cut above the rest” as he boasts, or do you feel that Bp2go has a conflict of interest?”

“From his actions, it's obvious bp2go also works for our Federal Government!”

“Poor, poor prosecutor.

Mebbe we can hook you up with a beenie.”

“Prosecutor, I see it as not only a conflict of interest, but also involving a serious lack of ethics.

Bp2go obviouly used property entrusted to him (by backpacker/Rodale) for his own (ArtDoc) gain.”

“Talking behind people's backs... not too classy, folks. It doesn't surprise me coming from you though, Ed. As is often the case with things like this, it really says more about YOU: petty, vidictive and SMALL.”

“WTF????”

“i stayed up all night worrying about this event too”

“well the man was a good point!!

~sniff~ I want a hat :(”

“I love hats..
never knew this.”

“I dunno Tilt, if prosecutor posted this to backpacker.com as well - I think he has every right to say it over here. I agree that you should be willing to say this kind of stuff to someone's face - but once you have - it's alright to take it elsewhere.

I dunno what the truth to the story is or what prosecutor has said on backpacker.”

“Who cares about a free freakin hat?”

“well the man was a good point!!

~sniff~ I want a hat :("
mapleleaf
08:33:45 AM
02/07/03

LOL I meant
"well the man has a good point"

I still want a hat.

Ped, drive safe!!”

“here's WTF....

It seems pretty obvious to me Chili. Mister Prosecutor has gotten into some running snit with bp2go and apparently thinks he should spread a bunch of crap around on other sites.

WHATEVER the 'merit' of his argument, either he takes it up with the man himself and Rodale or he's just a gossip. It's a low-life move.

Maybe we SHOULD take up a collection and buy him a beanie...and a pacifier.”

“I don't know or care what this is all about, but why would anyone care in the first place about a post-of-the-month award? Of all the lame, cheesey, peurile gimmicks...”

“Binks, the issue isn't about a hat.
What do you know that the rest of us don't Tilt? It seems to me that prosecutor makes a good point. Do you think that bp2go would allow such a thread on his site???”

“ok what part of I WANT A HAT you don't understand???



ok i'll take a beenie.”

“I sort of see it the same way as FG.

I know prosecutor, he has never seemed to be rash or unreasonable to me.

I don't always agree with him, but I have never seen him to be vidictive.”

“This is just the latest installment, Ped. Ed's nose got out of joint and he's throwing a tantrum, picking up whatever slime he can sling hoping something will stick.

Check the other site. Now he's suggesting that bp2go disagrees with him on drug policy because he's a pot smoker. Like I said... Class Act There, Ed.”

“Prosecutor, care to defend yourself???”

“that will do..”

“bp2go has allowed a thread on drug policy??? WTF is going on over there?

I better go jump in!”

“NO stay were you are mister!!”

“Oh great, another boarding party... lemme see if I can find my hook and my eyepatch, LOL, I mean, ARRRRRrrrrrrrr!”

“LOL,,,I don't go looking for trouble Tilt,,,it seems to find me after a while.

Just a little humor there...lighten up some.”

“It's just gossip.
Or, more specifically, "detraction.”

“I don't fathom this at all. "whadafuh" to it all! First of all, how do you know bp2go has his own website called ArtDoc?? I don't post over there... does he blatantly promote it, or what? (Or is it a little blurb thingee, like what I do on freelance pieces "lizs is also a reporter/photographer at the Republican-Leader newspaper, as well as setting up and traveling on motorcoach tours for Hawkeye Stages........ ONE of those things??)

Third, why is Tilt calling Prosecutor "ed"??? You guys special buddies? (wink, wink... hehehe)

I need to spend more time on the "other site," I see.........”

“I'll chip in a buck for a beanie and a passifier, but you have to add a tissue so he can wipe the tear in his eye from not winning the hat.”

“I guess I'm more attuned to it after someone thought it'd be fun to spread some crap around about me a while back. Unfunny in a Major Way, doncha know.”

“I searched backapcker for "artdoc" and found only one hit (a url with "artdoc" in the address) - I don't see any blatant promotion. BTW: where does he anounce his "hat" awards?”

“Yeah, I think you need to really be looking for this stuff to put it all together.......”

“UUmmm Tilty, is unfunny even a real word?


yes Ed, has gotten me ticked off more then once. he email bp2go about me saying that i was infringing (sp) on someone personal rights (or something like that)
but I voiced a little and got over it. But my question is, why dont Ed post it over there?

right now, im not on bp2go I Like LIst!”

“OK.. I got more when I looked for "theartdoc" but I don't see lots of blatant promotion. (It's funny that he has THEartdoc, when there is an "artdoc" elsewhere).

If Bp2 isn't getting paid to do the forum, ain't it possible that Rodale is OK if he does a little bit of promotion for his site? Maybe even gave permission?”

“Exactly Maple - BP2Go should have a chance to explain or rebutt.”

“hehehe ped said REBUTT”

“Maybe prosecutor is channelling Jim Garrison.

By the way, I'll bet Jim Garrison never took a dog into the backcountry, since dogs don't belong in the backcountry.

LNT = LDH.”

“MICAH!! my buddy how the hell are you??”

“Jeez Micah, you've been awfully active the past few days. Mommy told you no doggy again, didn't she. Poor Poor Micah.”

“Hey persecutor, a backpacker magazine hat can't cost all that much. I'd think a hard working, dedicated, conscientious public servant like yourself ought to be able to cough up the requisite $10-$20.

Me? I prefer my TT tee. Has more character, and I paid for it myself. No conflict of interest there. I can't imagine mixing my TT tee with a backpacker magazine cap. That would be conflict of interest.”

“I just can't turn away from this JFK-esque conspiracy that prosecutor has put together.

Geobeet, you're a smart guy from Pennsylvania. Maybe you can come up with a modern day "magic ball cap" theory. Or something.

And, of course -

LNT = LDH.”

“Well, I just posted a link to this thread. Perhaps bp2go Will decide to rebutt (hush maple!). I believe he deserves that opportunity.

"unfunny," <G>”

“Why should bp2go feel any need to rebut anything?

Unless someone accused him of taking a dog into the backcountry, where dogs don't belong.

LNT = LDH.”

“This begins to sound more like a Seinfeld episode than the JFK conspiracy.

The hat Nazi.

No hat for you!”

“Hey, G-beet. I know a few of those Philadephia Lawyers, but they're all the corporate type. I think we need the criminal defense variety with Federal experience... 'hats crossing state lines' and all that.”

“OMG, which sitcom was it that did the Kennedy conspiracy?? Wasn't it a Seinfled episode????”

“HOLY CRAP BATMAN
am I the only one blown away by Micah today.

you go dude, let it all out. its nice to see you chatting away, I knew we could bring out the best in you (I pat myself on the back)”

“You posted a link at Backpacker Tilt? Under what title?

If it will help smooth things over, I’ll award my TT t-shirt to prosecutor for http://violinbackpacker.tripod.com/homepage.html" target="_blank">his amazing post on my web site.”

“Did some buddy say "stinky butt"?”

“you are a FUC$%ING MORON DUMBASS!!!”

“Hey, G-beet. I know a few of those Philadephia Lawyers, but they're all the corporate type. I think we need the criminal defense variety with Federal experience... 'hats crossing state lines' and all that."
Tilt
10:11:40 AM
02/07/03

Somebody called?”

“Pottymouth.”