ADDITIONAL MEANS OF PROTEST
If you're here, then chances are, you're just as disgusted with the new developments on the site as I am. We've gritted our teeth and ignored a lot of unsavory advertising schemes that have popped up on Gaia, but we can't just ignore it anymore. An MTV sponsored shop has appeared right smack at the front of the line in our shop lineup. It is clearly branded, and visible to everyone that goes shopping in the stores.
So you're angry, or disappointed. You want to do something. But what?
Well, as much as we may not like it, Gaia seems to speak only one language now: The language of money. So if we don't like what they've done, then we have to talk to them in their language. We need to speak with our wallets.
What this means is a boycott. For almost the entire time that I have been a member of Gaia, I have been a loyal donator/customer. I always bought the monthly collectibles, even if they sucked a little. And I, like many of you, have turned to the cash shop or Gaia cash to get some nifty items that I don't have the gold for.
But that ends now. Gaia will not be getting one cent from me until that shop is removed.
I encourage you to do the same thing.
What follows is a list of ideas to protest this shop. If you have any to add, please PM them to me, and if it sounds good I'll put it on the list.
Don't buy monthly collectables.
Do not use the cash shop.
Add a protest image to your signature, like the ones in the next post. Remember to mention that you are protesting with your wallet. That way, it will be easy to tell from a stroll through the forums that their declining sales have a reason: The customers are unhappy.
Sign the petition to remove the MTV shop.
Create a thread in site feedback telling Gaia why you're upset, and asking them to remove the shop. Keep the thread alive and on the front page as long as possible.
Gaia Online
P.O. Box 612680
San Jose, CA 95161-2680
This is the address you send your money to when ordering monthly collectibles. Send them a letter explaining why there's no money in it this month.
Do not participate in ANY sponsored quests. No matter how cool the item is. Do you know why people like MTV are banging on Gaia's door? It's because every time a quest comes out, thousands of users pull up the theater, mute it, don't even watch it, and then get the item. Remove the illusion that the corporations' messages are getting through to us. If possible, don't even BUY the quest items from the MP, since this encourages others to do the quest.
Do not go see the movies that Gaia advertises.
Boycott the companies that advertise on Gaia. Send them a letter or email explaining why. I have already done this with bebo--I deleted my account and told them why Gaia has cost them my business.
Adblock all the banner ads on Gaia.
Send an email or letter to MTV and Viacom telling them, in no uncertain terms, that they are NOT welcome on Gaia, and that you will be boycotting their products as long as their invasive advertising remains on the site.
Your idea here. Please post or PM it to me.
If enough of us work together on this, we CAN make a difference. Even if Gaia is contractually obligated to keep the shop for now, if we send a strong message they will think twice about adding such features in the future.