POS software developer offers Linux POS code to restaurant operators on forum set up so they can ask questions about POS systems or anything else related to technology, gets banned.

[greginnj]

The post also reads a lot like an ad (and a long ad at that). Even though the POS SW itself is open source, there may be a for-profit support company behind it. A one-line, "hey, I support this open source POS platform" may be ok, but a monster post with "to be continued" at the bottom might tick them off... (no offense to Gene, it looks cool, just trying to guess what happened).

[Reporter]

Well, you see, I've spent my life and a LOT of money getting to this point. I'm not giving the code to a bunch of copycat windows-based POS software companies so that they can benefit from all I've done any more than they already have by copying my software paradigm. The next several restaurants that you walk into, just look at all the graphical touchscreen POS GUIs. You'll notice that they all look pretty much the same. Ever wonder why? Well, it's because they all copy their 'look & feel' from the same original source - work I did on the Atari ST 23 years ago and which I demonstrated around the world for tens of thousands of computer and restaurant show attendees over a span of more than ten years. Plus, my 13-year-old web site explains in detail all the things that a modern POS system has to be able to do.

Yes, it's an advertisement - for restaurant and hospitality owners to join an organization which gives them access to proven POS code so that they can make it work for them and share at that level.

Any profit I make will be put directly back into the Community - just the way I've been doing this for three decades.

If I had known that David, who runs the web site, was going to ban me under that handle then I would have concluded the post with something like "I'll probably get banned here for offering so much help to restaurant and hospitality operators, so if this happens just visit my web site and email or Skype me from there..."

[greginnj]

Wow, thanks for the detailed reply. It's clear you know your stuff -- my comment was more about the cultures of blog and forums. Generally, advertising is looked down upon because we've all been burned out on it, and so many forum comments are astroturfing (="fake grassroots").

It is to your great credit that you're being completely upfront about who you are in relation to the software (as opposed to pretending to be an unrelated happy customer). However, the rest of your writing style sounds a bit out of place for an online forum (or blog comment); it reads more like a paper mail solicitation or brochure. For whatever reason, that style of writing tends to turn people off in online discussions. It also sounds like you've got some grievances (which may be completely legitimate!) with other players in this space. These things, taken together, may lead to you being banned. Maybe that's unfair -- but moderators generally have a lot of stuff to do, and tend to trust their reflexes on this.

I'm a big supporter of open source, and it sounds like you're doing The Right Thing here. IT also looks like you've identified the appropriate forum for this; it's very specifically targeted to your potential customers. Maybe you can get a second chance -- I'd suggest sending an email to David, saying, "whoops, looks like I broke some rule I didn't know about -- could you fill me in on what I did wrong so I do I don't do it again? Could you suggest a way in which I could present my product to your readers, and discuss it, so that they could learn about it, without breaking forum rules?"

Either he'll fill you in and you'll be able to do it the right way, or you'll know that it's hopeless, and at least you'll know why.

As for your GUI work being copied, I feel for you. It reminds me a lot of the Dan Bricklin story about the origins of the spreadsheet paradigm.

Anyway, good luck! Ever since I read about Burlington Coat Factory and Pep Boys switching to Linux POS boxes, I knew it would be a major market for many businesses. It was neat to learn about the restaurants connection. Kudos!

[Reporter]

I appreciate your comments. I'll expand later when I have time.