The Future of PTR?

There was an interesting discussion at the GetPaidForum today, that started out arguing about whether it was ethical for program owners to delete the accounts of other program owners who have ripped off their members. I hadn't really thought about this happening, but apparently it does. The owner sends out lots of ads for other programs, builds great downlines, then closes down their own program (wouldn't want to have to pay for all those ads they sent), and then continue to make money from the efforts of the very members they screwed over. Wow, being a conniving, heartless scumbag must be fun sometimes.

But gradually the discussion changed, and ended up being about all sorts of things, from the difficulties with membership upgrades, the sustainability of point systems, the need for some sort of escrow service to hold money for paying members should a program collapse. The need for some sort of Industry Association and/or self-regulation. As usual, it ended up everywhere covering a lot of ground. And then the thread quieted down, and nobody will do anything and in a month or two, we'll do it all again. And then the next time there's a crisis, we'll do it again. And again. And again. But nobody ever actually does anything.

So I keep tossing up whether I should do something. I'm thinking about buying a new domain and starting a forum that is specifically for discussing the problems facing the PTR industry, and possible ways to fix, or at least minimize, some of those problems.

I'd also like it to include ideas for how to help more PTR members become PTR advertisers. By providing them with ideas, and probably step-by-step instructions for how to set up a small business online, build a website, etc. I can't understand why more PTR owners don't help their members. Maybe they know something I don't. Maybe they already know it's a waste of time. I hope not.