# Question my website selling something and the SDMB **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 27, 2005, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-my-website-selling-something-and-the-sdmb/292161 "2005-02-27T17:58:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2005, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-my-website-selling-something-and-the-sdmb/292161/1 "2005-02-27T17:58:54Z")
I’m putting the finishing touches a my new website and I always include a link in my sig. It’s a music site and one of the small links will lead to a page where you can purchase our CD. IIRC there is a policy on this board that you can’t openly hock your products, and I just wanted to make sure I don’t run afoul of that. It’s not that we’re selling all this stuff, just a secondary link to buy our cd for 5 bucks. What would be the best way to handle this? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2005, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-my-website-selling-something-and-the-sdmb/292161/2 "2005-02-27T19:12:07Z")
Best thing you can do is email Arnold(\<[awinkelried@earthlink.net](mailto:awinkelried@earthlink.net)\> ) for permission. He’ll probably give you an answer within a day or so. Have patience. My memory is that we allow certain quasi non-commercial things relating to the arts–music, books, especially if the poster is involved. We definitely don’t allow blatently commercial links. And posters who register for the sole purpose of hawking their album/book, would probably not get permission. But don’t take my memory as gospel. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2005, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-my-website-selling-something-and-the-sdmb/292161/3 "2005-02-27T19:34:05Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Best thing you can do is email Arnold(\<[awinkelried@earthlink.net](mailto:awinkelried@earthlink.net)\> ) for permission. He’ll probably give you an answer within a day or so. Have patience. > > My memory is that we allow certain quasi non-commercial things relating to the arts–music, books, especially if the poster is involved. > > We definitely don’t allow blatently commercial links. And posters who register for the sole purpose of hawking their album/book, would probably not get permission. > > But don’t take my memory as gospel. I send him an email, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2005, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-my-website-selling-something-and-the-sdmb/292161/4 "2005-02-27T20:33:51Z")
While I would be dismayed if commercial advertising (LQQK!! Ci@li$) were to suddenly be allowed, I have no problem with someone linking to their personal homepage that happened to have a link to buy something associated with a member (art, music, or literature especially). IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Spongemom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Spongemom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spongemom)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-my-website-selling-something-and-the-sdmb/292161/5 "2005-02-28T03:59:01Z")
I had an issue like this a while back. Let me just say that they REALLY appreciate it when you ask first, even if they ultimately don’t allow you to solicit your things. I was told that it was OK to have a link to my website in my signature which in turn has a link to my store. That’s when I remember to use my sig, anyway. I’m leaving it off this post on purpose, I don’t want to seem like I’m posting just to advertise. I just wanted to add my two cents. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-my-website-selling-something-and-the-sdmb/292161/6 "2005-02-28T04:18:50Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > I send him an email, thanks. If that means “I _will_ send him an email” well OK then. If it means “I _have_ sen[t] him an email” then I didn’t get it. I hope the subject line of your e-mail didn’t say something like “new low-price high-quality software” or “are you lonely? I want to chat :):):)” ---
**Author:** ![Duderdude2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cdc98d/32.png) [@Duderdude2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duderdude2)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-my-website-selling-something-and-the-sdmb/292161/7 "2005-02-28T04:26:46Z")
Yeah, because, you know, you um, couldn’t, just, uhhhh…answer the question here? /smartass ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-my-website-selling-something-and-the-sdmb/292161/8 "2005-02-28T04:35:53Z")
No way dude! I’d want to see the website first. What if the title of his CD is something like “Arnold Winkelried is a f##@ a\*\*#%@”? ---
**Author:** ![Duderdude2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cdc98d/32.png) [@Duderdude2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duderdude2)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-my-website-selling-something-and-the-sdmb/292161/9 "2005-02-28T04:41:51Z")
> [@Arnold Winkelried](#): > > No way dude! I’d want to see the website first. What if the title of his CD is something like “Arnold Winkelried is a f##@ a\*\*#%@”? Haha, touché. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-my-website-selling-something-and-the-sdmb/292161/10 "2005-02-28T11:12:18Z")
> [@Arnold Winkelried](#): > > No way dude! I’d want to see the website first. What if the title of his CD is something like “Arnold Winkelried is a f##@ a\*\*#%@”? And he got crushed in the stampede to buy it, and the Chicago Reader got sued for allowing him to post a link on this board, and the SDMB was forced to shut down? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-my-website-selling-something-and-the-sdmb/292161/11 "2005-02-28T12:35:42Z")
> [@Arnold Winkelried](#): > > No way dude! I’d want to see the website first. What if the title of his CD is something like “Arnold Winkelried is a f##@ a\*\*#%@”? Five bucks? Sold! ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-my-website-selling-something-and-the-sdmb/292161/12 "2005-02-28T13:19:43Z")
> [@Arnold Winkelried](#): > > No way dude! I’d want to see the website first. What if the title of his CD is something like “Arnold Winkelried is a f##@ a\*\*#%@”? Wait a minute…the truth can’t be libel, can it? 🙂 I’ve always avoided linking to my projects that generate dough for just this reason. I’d be interested in hearing, too. Not that I’d pretty much bother to change my sig but I avoid even bringing it up in conversation if I can. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-my-website-selling-something-and-the-sdmb/292161/13 "2005-02-28T18:14:10Z")
> [@Arnold Winkelried](#): > > What if the title of his CD is something like “Arnold Winkelried is a f##@ a\*\*#%@”? too difficult to rhyme. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-my-website-selling-something-and-the-sdmb/292161/14 "2005-03-01T20:04:49Z")
> [@Arnold Winkelried](#): > > No way dude! I’d want to see the website first. What if the title of his CD is something like “Arnold Winkelried is a f##@ a\*\*#%@”? Whoops, I better change the title then. 😛 Actually yeah, I was doing all the coding and then was going to send you the link so you could see for yourself. I should be done with it tonight or tomorrow. Also just so you know, I never intend to mention “CD for sale” in my sig, just “check out my website” or “check out our new (free) song” ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-my-website-selling-something-and-the-sdmb/292161/15 "2005-03-02T11:40:47Z")
I have a tangential question. Is letting people know your band has an upcoming gig verboten? I figured it is, since it’s direct advertising, in a sense. But in a way, it’s just letting your peeps know what’s happening. What if it’s a free show? Would it be permissable to say something like “Hey, MADs, my band has a gig soon. Email me if you want info.”? Since I’ve not seen such posts, I guess it’s probably not O.K., but I had to ask… [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-my-website-selling-something-and-the-sdmb/292161/16 "2005-03-02T22:01:04Z")
> [@Arnold Winkelried](#): > > “Arnold Winkelried is a f##@ a\*\*#%@”? My l33t is not that good. Can somebody translate f##@ a\*\*#%@ for me? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-my-website-selling-something-and-the-sdmb/292161/17 "2005-03-03T01:04:17Z")
> [@An Arky](#): > > I have a tangential question. Is letting people know your band has an upcoming gig verboten? I figured it is, since it’s direct advertising, in a sense. But in a way, it’s just letting your peeps know what’s happening. What if it’s a free show? > > Would it be permissable to say something like “Hey, MADs, my band has a gig soon. Email me if you want info.”? > > Since I’ve not seen such posts, I guess it’s probably not O.K., but I had to ask… > [/hijack] **An Arky**. I’m hereby giving you official permission to mention that your band has an upcoming gig. While it’s advertising, you didn’t register here to promote your band. You’ve been here quite some time. I don’t think your lifestyle will change, due to the amount that dopers will spend to see your group. 😃 This is not general permission for anyone but you. These things are usually decided on a case by case basis. We’re more relaxed about approving things involving the Arts. If anyone else wants approval, email a mod or Admin. Just don’t ask if you can link to your eBay site, or other commercial, money-making-only endeavors. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-my-website-selling-something-and-the-sdmb/292161/18 "2005-03-03T02:18:24Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > My l33t is not that good. Can somebody translate f##@ a\*\*#%@ for me? fhsha a\*\*s%a Hope that clears things up for you. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-my-website-selling-something-and-the-sdmb/292161/19 "2005-03-03T12:10:55Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > **An Arky**. I’m hereby giving you official permission to mention that your band has an upcoming gig. While it’s advertising, you didn’t register here to promote your band. You’ve been here quite some time. I don’t think your lifestyle will change, due to the amount that dopers will spend to see your group. 😃 > > This is not general permission for anyone but you. > > These things are usually decided on a case by case basis. We’re more relaxed about approving things involving the Arts. > > If anyone else wants approval, email a mod or Admin. Just don’t ask if you can link to your eBay site, or other commercial, money-making-only endeavors. Wow! Thanks! I’ll do that when it’s closer to the date. I’ll also make it clear that I have permission, etc., and I won’t be a shill about it. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-my-website-selling-something-and-the-sdmb/292161/20 "2005-03-03T13:09:49Z")
> [@Arnold Winkelried](#): > > What if the title of his CD is something like “Arnold Winkelried is a f##@ a\*\*#%@”? > > > [@wring](#): > > > > too difficult to rhyme. Nah, just use alliteration… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-my-website-selling-something-and-the-sdmb/292161.md?page=2)