Questions about the "other" boards

[SkipMagic]

@wring

You’ve still not given an explanation of why his linking to another message board was in and of itself considered spam.

This has been covered in this thread, already, so let me reproduce one of my posts from there:

@SkipMagic

@XJETGIRLX

So if someone were to start a thread asking what other boards have sprung up in relation to the SDMB, from a conversational standpoint, links to these other boards would be allowed?

I don’t see why not. We have one active thread going now with such links (the first link in your previous post), and as far as I can see, no links were squashed. There have been other such threads in the past, with links to Una’s board, Fathom, Elmwood’s refuge board, etc…

I’m just having some difficulty understanding the fine line between talking about another site/product/anything and “advertising” said site/product/anything. Regardless of whether it was a link or text or whatever, I didn’t see Baldwin’s post as advertising, I saw it as a casual mention in passing conversation.

I think repetitiveness is a good hint for whether someone is promoting a board versus merely mentioning it–especially if links are thrown in posts where they have no relevancy. In this specific case, as I mentioned upthread, Baldwin had already linked to the board twice before, with that second link being a clear indication he was promoting it. His third link–and the point in which I jumped in–may have been relevant (although, I personally disagree), but he had already shown that he had a promotional agenda.

In short, Baldwin was advertising another site without getting prior staff approval. It doesn’t matter whether the advertising is for profit; we ask that you get staff approval for it, period. As it’s stated in the Registration Agreement:

This message board is intended as a medium for public discussion. Do not post spam, including but not limited to advertisements, chain letters, pyramid schemes, solicitations, offers to trade or barter, charitable appeals, or other messages primarily intended to promote a cause, venture, organization, event (except Straight Dope-related events), website, or other entity or activity, whether or not money is involved. Do not post spam in your signature or send it via the SDMB’s “private message” feature. We allow exceptions for worthy causes (in our sole opinion) if you obtain prior permission from a moderator or administrator.