After being a moderator on PPro now for a few months, I've come to understand the importance of mutual support between brand and forum. Sure one can exist without the other, but it's when you have them both that true benefits can be reaped on both sides. I am not talking only sponsorship support either, but idea support as well, of what it takes to make a forum truly engaging.
I completely understand the spectrum of feelings being expressed here about the closing of the forum and how it just doesn't make sense. Well for some, here is a conversation I often have with my 5 year old daughter that may shed some light...
P - "Did you play with your new friends today sweetie?"
N - "No Mama, they said I can't play with them."
P - "What? Why did they say that?"
N - "I don't know. They said I'm too little and I don't know anything."
P - "Well, that wasn't a very nice thing to say."
N - "Why did they say that Mama?"
P - "I don't know sweetie. They just don't know that you're not too little and know a lot of things. They just don't get it. But that's okay.
You don't have to play with them. You can always play with someone else that does want to play with you ok?"
N - "Ok Mama."