# Is advertising ok?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-advertising-ok/60144
**Category:** About This Message Board
**Created:** [March 30, 2001, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-advertising-ok/60144 "2001-03-30T18:17:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@PeeWee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeeWee)
#### Post date: [March 30, 2001, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-advertising-ok/60144/1 "2001-03-30T18:17:52Z")
I notice a lot of people who’s signature includes a link to
their website. I can’t find any real rules on this site other than what’s in the FAQ. Is advertising acceptable on SDMB?
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### Author:  [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)
#### Post date: [March 30, 2001, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-advertising-ok/60144/2 "2001-03-30T20:31:18Z")
No. The registration explicitly states, “Advertisements, chain letters, pyramid schemes, and solicitations are not permitted on this BB and will be deleted.” Had you read the agreement when you signed up, you’d know this.
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### Author:  [@PeeWee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeeWee)
#### Post date: [March 30, 2001, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-advertising-ok/60144/3 "2001-03-30T20:54:25Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Had you read the agreement when you signed up, you’d know this.
Geez! Who pee’d in your cornflakes? I signed up 7 months ago, and I’m sure I DID read the agreement. Excuse me for not remembering it word for word. Didn’t realize I’d entered the Pit by mistake…
In any case, I don’t know what the moderators consider “advertising”, but if a link in a signature to someone’s website counts, then it does not seem to be enforced.
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### Author:  [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)
#### Post date: [March 31, 2001, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-advertising-ok/60144/4 "2001-03-31T01:10:08Z")
If I were Uncle Beer, I’d say you were being ‘duplicitous’.
(Hey, Unca!;))
:::ducks, and then runs:::
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### Author:  [@tshirts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tshirts)
#### Post date: [March 31, 2001, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-advertising-ok/60144/5 "2001-03-31T01:24:44Z")
I think most sites and even most links are technically commercial, because even the free personal pages carry ads.
But, since the whole point of the Home Page is to let people know what you do, I can’t think they care if your home page links to a commercial site. It’s not actually on the board if you have to link to see it.
But I’d guess any links that would not be allowed in the threads would also be subject to removal - things like hate sites and porno.
Some things can’t be thought of in advance. If you tried to list every known bad site in the FAQ, someone would suddenly have an exception promoting a hunting trip for endangered pandas.
So, there’s just the generic instruction really needed: The Reader has the right to edit anything on the site.
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### Author:  [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)
#### Post date: [March 31, 2001, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-advertising-ok/60144/6 "2001-03-31T01:50:57Z")
My esteemed colleague **UncleBeer** answered your thread title question. _Advertising_ is not allowed on the SDMB.
But putting a link to your own, non-profit, non-rule-breaking (no swastika pictures, nekkid women, heroin production instructions, you get the idea), homepage in your sig is not a problem.
I think that pretty much explains the difference, right?
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### Author:  [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)
#### Post date: [March 31, 2001, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-advertising-ok/60144/7 "2001-03-31T10:50:32Z")
> [@](#):
>
> …your own, non-profit, non-rule-breaking (no swastika pictures, nekkid women, heroin production instructions, you get the idea), homepage…
Damn. You mean I have to go back to the _old_ version of my homepage?
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### Author:  [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)
#### Post date: [March 31, 2001, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-advertising-ok/60144/8 "2001-03-31T17:10:46Z")
My personal opinion:
If you’re pointing only to your personal website, then put it in your profile! People can access it by clicking on the charming house icon that appears under each of your posts. You won’t be adding more text to “clutter” the appearance of the thread, and even if you forget to include your signature, the link will be available.