Allow Commercial Posts? - Page 3

TortoiseAWD · 08-03-07, 07:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackElantraGT

It's as simple as that. Don't clutter this site with more, unwanted hype. We already have enough of that to deal with.

Well, in theory, giving the commercial posters a place to hawk their wares should cut down on the clutter in the main forums. That's the idea, at least. Trying to chase the spammers and shills all over the forums is like playing whack-a-mole. You smack one, and two more pop up out of different holes. If we can corral all (well, most) of the moles into one pen where no one whacks them, maybe they'll stay there and leave the rest of the yard to us. (Sorry, got carried away with my mole analogy

)

The moderators would still work to keep the main forums clear of spam and shills, so the Autopia you're used to really wouldn't change much as long as you don't wander into the marketplace.

FWIW,
Tort

DavidB · 08-03-07, 08:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danase

Coming from a paying vendors point of view...if I was allowed to post for free I would not pay for my own private Autopian forum.

You would not have to pay, as it would be free for you to do what you are doing now.

DavidB · 08-03-07, 08:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by zingyginger

Sounds like it's going to be a tough call.

David. And thanks for being broadminded enough to start this poll.

How 'bout some form of limited exposure, say, one thread every 3 months for nonpaying entities? And the same unlimited threads for the current sponsors.

It is a tough call, that's why the Mods and I decided to put it out to the community.

Also, people should not get the idea that the forums would be a free-for-all. NO WAY! The change is simply to designate a single area as "commercial content safe". All other forum areas are off limits for selling and marketing.

The Mods and I discussed the fact that there may be people who simply can't control themselves. We understand, so we will place a limit on how many threads a seller can start in a period of time. It will be reasonable.

db

ZaneO · 08-03-07, 09:16

I'm just not sure how it would prevent "shilling" and similar actions.

qballjr13 · 08-03-07, 09:28

I say no. I use the little button that says "new posts" a lot and if they are costantly throwing junk up in that section of the forum than those are the only posts I will be seeing. I say NO....its just a bad idea!

DavidB · 08-03-07, 09:28

Zane,

Today we manually search our IP database when we suspect a shill. If a Shill suspect is using a proxy to mask their true IP, we can detect that, too.

With the next upgrade of our software, we have a new tool that will do what we're doing now as a regular process and send me an email with the results (nightly). The shills will be busted, banned and the community will be better for it.

What this allows is a new level of interaction between sellers and consumers. I like that. It brings some excitement back to the community.

Personally speaking, I am the only "potential looser" in this change, as it directs people away from my stuff. I'm not stupid enough to believe that everyone wants my stuff or even wants to buy from me. That's the way it should be.

awahl63 · 08-03-07, 09:34

In theory it sounds great but I think it would be overrun with all sorts of hype. I prefer to keep Autopia "mild" and rather laid back.

I vote no.

a.k.a. Patrick · 08-03-07, 10:02

Quote:

My focus is Autopia, UDM, Ultima and Sonus... not much else will exist in my professional world for a while.

Geeez David, fill your plate a little higher why dontchya!?!?!

Quote:

is like playing whack-a-mole. You smack one, and two more pop up out of different holes.

Tort, activate your anti pop up! You have way too much free time!

My take:
Maybe interested PARTICIPANTS who have products they wish to discuss be granted permission to enter such a commercial forum area. Maybe a simple application which a retailer would fill out, & mods and David review for proper content? Then they're granted a yeah or neah? I dont think a"free for all" is appropriate. There has to be limits and restrictions. Anything out of the commercial arena, is simply deleted.
What makes Autopia succesful is its differences and indifferences. This would be one more item of uniqueness. Give it a 30/60 days review period, and make the rules as you discover improprieties within that time. After 60 days, a decision should be made.
I think as with all topic areas, this too needs "filtering".

DavidB · 08-03-07, 10:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by a.k.a. Patrick

Geeez David, fill your plate a little higher why dontchya!?!?!

It's the curse of being ADD!

SpoiledMan · 08-03-07, 10:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by a.k.a. Patrick

My take:
Maybe interested PARTICIPANTS who have products they wish to discuss be granted permission to enter such a commercial forum area. Maybe a simple application which a retailer would fill out, & mods and David review for proper content? Then they're granted a yeah or neah? I dont think a"free for all" is appropriate. There has to be limits and restrictions. Anything out of the commercial arena, is simply deleted.
What makes Autopia succesful is its differences and indifferences. This would be one more item of uniqueness. Give it a 30/60 days review period, and make the rules as you discover improprieties within that time. After 60 days, a decision should be made.
I think as with all topic areas, this too needs "filtering".

David, I like this idea. How about something where only those that are granted permission can even start threads in this area?

DavidB · 08-03-07, 10:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by a.k.a. Patrick

Maybe interested PARTICIPANTS who have products they wish to discuss be granted permission to enter such a commercial forum area. Maybe a simple application which a retailer would fill out, & mods and David review for proper content? Then they're granted a yeah or neah? I dont think a"free for all" is appropriate. There has to be limits and restrictions. Anything out of the commercial arena, is simply deleted.

Interesting. Let the Mods and I discuss this. Maybe we can find a way to make it work in an automated way that makes sense.

Thanks, Patrick!

TortoiseAWD · 08-03-07, 10:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by qballjr13

I say no. I use the little button that says "new posts" a lot and if they are costantly throwing junk up in that section of the forum than those are the only posts I will be seeing. I say NO....its just a bad idea!

No worries on that . . . certain forums can be excluded from the "new posts" processing, so advertising wouldn't clog the new posts list.

If this works as intended, Autopia members won't notice any change in their regular browsing other than the addition of a new forum. Spammers and shills will still be chased out of the main forums with pitchforks, torches, tar, feathers, cudgels, etc. As long as you steer clear of the commercial forum, your forum browsing should be unaffected.

Tort