Who is the forum owner or who controls it?

Burbank Optical Company. Whats up?

Can this forum be taken down by others who dislike some at this forum?

Lyle what is said at a forum is protected by "Free Speech" thus the forum it's self is protected by "Free Speech". However this forum is on a server owned by another company so yes it could be removed or dropped by them. However we have all the information at this forum stored on our store's computer which we can upload anytime to another server or one we own with our own domain name which may happen next year. Don't be worried you will still be able to post along with holding your account.

Keith Larkin, Owner
Burbank Optical Company

Have no fear, we do things differently here. I control things here.

Lyle do not be concerned by what you hear. Understand that the Astronomy community is small, so word travels fast an even faster by way of the forums. The telescope sales industry is very small thus making it very competitive which is the underlying reason why everything is going on. Forums are now a large part of the amateur astronomy community but are controlled by a rather small group of people which this forum exists as a response to the present situation at hand. So yes Lyle there is a Santa Clause.

Could not have said it better myself. YO

So where is this conversation going?

Can't you get into trouble here with posts like the asshole one?

Free speech!

Lyle as to the asshole's list, each has done things that have placed themselves on that list all of which if necessary can be brought up at a later date if needed. All of what is going on is like Bob said, competition between vendors. I have everything under control.

We are all assholes here just like many others that members and or control other astronomy forums are assholes. Really when you get down to it, what one considers valuable information, another might think it's promotional spam, so who cares?

Lyle take my case, I was banned from Cloudy Nights because I had exposed a misrepresentation that John Pons was engaging in as to a reflecting telescope but because he was more politically connected at the forum than myself, I was banned. When I joined both Astronomy.com and Stargazer's Lounge I was banned from both those forums because I held my ground as to views I had regarding several optical essays along with my views about several products an the rest is history.

Loron you were banned because you are a troll

Loron it sounds like some of the moderators along with forum members were probably getting kickbacks from the makers of accessories, ect. but like Bob said you are a troll.