Forum Moderators: open
I posted a url (it did have my affiliate link in it, which I know is agaisn't some TOS agreements on some boards) and a moderator deleted and told me we cannot post URLS and gave me a warning which included "do not waste me time". Which is another argument right there. If he is the moderator, then he should have time, or give up the job.
Before you bring up the TOS argument, keep in mind no one gives a crap about anyones TOS agreement except for the site owner and no one is going to read it escpecially webmasters who have seen them all before. They want to get to the posts not read a TOS agreement. Also I have subscribed to hundreds of boards, I did not read or memorize any of them. But I do know one thing, most of them let you post URLS. So why would I even think that it would be agaisn't a sites TOS if I came accross this one after signing up months ago.
Anyways, this is just my 2 cents, no need to get crazy on me.
Someone complaining that we don't allow him to spam us. And he's getting serious replies, including from mods. Incredible!
I see two options with this thread.
1. Delete it and see people complain of 'censorship'.
2. Give real answers, and when someone else URL drops in the future - we'll have a good thread to point them to as to why it's against the TOS.
I'd rather see one thread live so that other's like it don't have to be started.
eWhisper <--likes just linking to relevant threads instead of repeating self.
I can't tell you how many times I've searched G for some info, clicked through to a post on another forum, only to find that in order to see what the poster is describing, you have to click the link, then you click the link and get a 404 page! A thread that will help others only so long as you keep your free yahoo personals page active isn't much use.
Not to mention that most URLed posts are noticably lacking in descriptive content. Posts on other forums literally read...
"Can't get my menu right. The blue overlaps the red in #menubar. Can you fix it?"
...followed by a URL. Even if the link WORKS, that's a not exactly the smartest way to ask for help. Forum members aren't on your payroll. If you want help, give them the information they'll need to help you.
Long live the TOS!
Someone complaining that we don't allow him to spam us. And he's getting serious replies, including from mods. Incredible! :)
As a relatively new poster and lurker here, I really appreciate that this thread is here, and I appreciate the serious replies.
When I saw the TOS, I wondered about the link thing, thought "it probably just has to do with spamming" and moved on. But it's nice to come across some serious and well-thought-out rationale to confirm it.
-Moz
I've got a forum where I encourage *on topic* commercial postings. If it's a decent product, people will note it. If it's garbage, the community proceeds to feed on their bones like piranha on a wounded cow. It works.
Another example would have been flights to vegas. I'd like nothing better than to have a thread where I can shop from all the travel affiliates to find the cheapest flight.
But, you can't have everything - I suspect in this case the cure would be worse than the disease.
I know most of time I just need to be pointed in the right direction, which is easier and faster than asking someone else to go find the exact URL.
- Authoritative links. We want to link to the W3C on matters of html and do not want to link to Joes-Easy-Site-Clinic.com for a tutorial.
- Manufacturer links. Similar to the first one, but we want to link to Microsoft for words about IE and to Intel about Pentiums.
- Highly respected News Sites. We want to link to CNN and AP news stories, and not to Mickies blog and forum.
- Ground breaking news or research articles on respected sites.
- Non duplicated links. We often get 3-4 stories on the same issue. Some times even the author will drop the link. We want 1 quality link to start the story.
Whoo-hoo, I'm a someone because I
1) give a crap
2) read it
This is one of the things that separates this forum from all the others. It's not about self-serving here, but about serving the best.
<aside> No progress today </aside>
I'd say there's magic in that aspect of this forum. And not since I am not a master magician or a wizard with divine powers, I know better than to mess with magic.
