Linking policy

[deejayoh]

I received the following message today from the moderator of the forum:

Hello,
We came across a link that was posted in our forum. Please note users are prohibited from advertising.

We want all of our users to enjoy our forum community and only ask that guidelines be followed.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at anytime.

Thank you for your understanding.

I have seen others suggest that there is a "no linking" policy on this forum - but this is the first I have seen anything about it. I am guessing others have gotten this message as well?

Now, it is the choice of the forum to allow or disallow whatever they want - but I am pretty sure that noone on this forum would suggest that I have placed any advertisements. If I placed a link, it was to something relevant to a conversation. Guidance, or a place to purchase an item that someone needed (with which I had no affiliation)

This forum is only as good as the members and the conversation that is allowed. Linking to relevant content - which for this topic is often going to have some commercial context - is part and parcel of internet forums. Standard operating procedure.

I wanted to throw this out there for discussion. Seems to me that the forum runs fine and that linking is not an issue. The members can police the spammers with that little triangle icon. Oversight like this feels superfluous.

[Tscarborough]

Re: Linking policy

It appears to be for any external link at all. I was banned for a while because I inadvertently posted a couple, plus my sig (like yours) contained an external link. Commercial or not, that is the policy and it appears to be enforced.

[deejayoh]

Re: Linking policy

It seems to me to be randomly enforced. I agree that they can set whatever policy they want - but I think discussion of how reasonable or useful a policy this is should be open for conversation.

I don't think anyone on this forum would say you are a spammer or that you post ads. What purpose is served by banning one of the most respected members on the forum?

Edit: Wait, scratch that comment about the linking policy. Unless I am missing it somewhere else, the forum guidelines are quite brief and do not prohibit linking. They just state "5. Please don't promote any type of commercial venture or product."

So someone with moderator function interpreting links as commercial promotion, which is not at all productive.

[brickie in oz]

Re: Linking policy

And yet Eatingmorefood posts spam regularly and it never gets deleted.
Maybe hes one of them?

http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/6/st...tml#post140235

[cobblerdave]

Re: Linking policy

Gudday
Eatingmorefood is blatant and self serving adds nothing to the discussion and the general knowledge of the forum. I to have been guilty of adding a link to a product or knowledge of a product to someone else on this forum. And have seen a few more quite innocent ones. Blatant crap like eatmorefood should be real target.
Regards dave

[david s]

Re: Linking policy

It appears to be for any external link at all. I was banned for a while because I inadvertently posted a couple, plus my sig (like yours) contained an external link. Commercial or not, that is the policy and it appears to be enforced.

Exactly the same happened to me. I think the guidelines need to be a little clearer.

[Faith In Virginia]

Re: Linking policy

I have noticed the we have some new Moderators. I typically don't have a problem with moderators because the do serve an important service to keeping things running smoothly and friendly like. What I'm not real comfortable with is having the moderators so anonymous. Most places the moderator is the owner of the site or trusted long term members that take on the responsibility. The new moderators here have very low post counts yet post like they have been here all along and not like a new hire. It would have been nice for them to introduce themselves. I myself find it easier to accept corrections from people that I know, trust and respect. For example, I would follow instructions from a state policeman without resistance, but some rent a cop will not have it so easy. just my two cents...with (no links)

[moderator]

Re: Linking policy

Hello,
As mentioned to users in our forum, we ask users to please be mindful of links that are posted. Unfortunately, our system has been infiltrated a few times causing glitches that have affected moderation.

We ban users who repeatedly violate any of our guidelines. For example, "Eatingmorefood" was reported and has been reprimanded for advertisements.

The forum was created for users to communicate with each other and should be a pleasant environment for all. If posted links follow our guidelines, members are more than welcome to share information with each other.

We apologize if there was any miscommunication, and hope this clarifies any confusion. We appreciate your comments and hope you continue to enjoy our wonderful community.

Thank you.

[Faith In Virginia]

Re: Linking policy

Hello Moderator...your post is quite polite, cold, professional, political. But your lack of personality makes me feel like big brother is spying on us and not a part of the community. The warden, zoo keeper....pay no attention to the man behind the curtain...the cops on the other side of the two way mirror is how I'm feeling. I just put tape over my web cam lens because I'm not sure your if looking in.

But anyway thank you for allowing me to be a part of this wonderful community...when is feeding time?

thanks, ( signed) just one of the critters in the zoo.

[moderator]

Re: Linking policy

Hi Faithful,
Sigh...I've been hacked! Sometimes these machines have a mind of their own! There is a person behind this computer screen who really enjoys everyone's posts.

As I said before, we really want everyone to enjoy the forum and to continue posting to each other. Your ideas and ovens are fantastic. Keep up the good work!

We really hate to be so restrictive with links but our system was severely hacked last year and it caused many glitches that took some time to fix.

Always feel free to contact us with opinions, comments, and pictures of your ovens and food. The holidays are just around the corner and we're looking forward to the yummy recipes we receive every year...

Happy cooking!

The man in the yellow hat

[Faith In Virginia]

Re: Linking policy

Nice...

Trust me we understand and appreciate all that you do. Your last post was quite nice. I feel that there is a real person behind the "Moderator" placard on the door. I am a working person so I tend to stiffen up when I feel there is some corporate suit inspecting the place.

Thanks for the relaxed posture,

Faith

[deejayoh]

Re: Linking policy

Mod -
thanks for weighing in. I really do appreciate that Forno Bravo provides this wonderful space for us to communicate and share. I was just feeling that big brother vibe as well I guess. I think we as a community can do a pretty good job of ID'ing spam links - but understand the malicious content concerns. In the same way you can't post pictures until you have a certain post count, maybe some wait time for new accounts to post links would serve to protect from malicious intent? I don't think there is a big risk of folks with 4-500 posts knowingly posting malicious links.

[brickie in oz]

Re: Linking policy

Unfortunately for you Mr Forno Bravo the internet is made from external links, without external links the internet would perish along with your forum and your internet business sales.

Apart from the content on each site Google ranks each website as to their external links to other sites, the more external sites linking to and from your site the more your ranking is increased.

Most forums would not get a ranking if it were not from links.
If it were not for links to and from this website then Forno Bravo forum would not exist.

Delete the porners and spammers, but leave the well intended alone.

Edit: Also without links from other sites to here how would you attract new members?

[Laurentius]

Re: Linking policy

Brickie's Favorite Song.."Tell it like it is".

[moderator]

Re: Linking policy

Hello Brickie in Oz,
We do not dis-approve all links outside of the FB Forum. We remove all links that promote a product or a service or a commercial blog. We allow individuals to link to resources outside of FB.com -- photo sharing sites, and interesting and related web sites.

As mentioned in previous posts, we encourage our forum members to enjoy the forum. We only ask that guidelines be followed to promote a positive environment for all.