I've received some comments and complaints that hobbyist postings about providers that have links amount to "ads" for the provider.  After checking with GND, she has confirmed that these posts should be treated as ads, so henceforth I will.  What that means, for example, is that if Elmerina posts an ad on Monday and George posts a message on Wednesday that says "I took advantage of Elmerina's special, and wow, is she ever hot!!  No rules, $250, not a clock watcher.  Check out her site," the George post is going to be deleted because TER permits only one ad per week.

So, if you're a hobbyist seeking to promote a provider, you might want to check w/ her first, so you don't have a traffic jam and one of you gets bumped.

REMEMBER -- the best way for a hobbyist to promote a provider is not with posts on the board -- it's with REVIEWS.  

For the moment, this policy applies only to posts with links; I'm going to get further clarification from GND and post a more comprehensive statement shortly.

Thanks for your cooperation!

But sometimes, for traveling ladies a heads up is the best way
to alert the community to a great lady due to the day or two a
review takes to make it through.

fr

My question is, isn't what a guy posts more of a review than an add?

Suzy, you may have missed the previous discussion on this a few weeks back...

The problem is that third-party posts are quite often crossing the boundary...  There's been a lot of cases over the past 6 months or so where a hobbyist has posted more of an "endorsement" than a review.  Also, a number of local providers are now "rep-ing" other providers and those posts constitute ads.

In the previous discussion, I submitted that this was a non-issue because it's pretty easy to tell whether a hobbyist is posting a heads up or has crossed the line inot posting on behalf of the provider in lieu of an ad.  And of course, no sooner did I say that than the number of "crossing the line" posts skyrocketed over the next few weeks. virtually invalidating the point I was trying to make.

It comes down to this...  It's one thing to say "I'd see Suzy" in response to another person's inquiry, or "Suzy has hot new pics on her website."  It's another to say "I just talked to Suzy, she's going to be doing incall all next week."

These are easy examples to categorize...  it's the gray area in between where it gets sticky.

-- Modified on 7/22/2004 11:24:50 PM

I think every post should have links.  When I read something about a girl I want to be able to find her.  I think this is way too much censorship.  Let the hobbyists post!  And let them post links!

The ultimate tip you can give a provider is a review. Doesn't have to be lengthy.  

I have see it happen when a lady posts an ad, and then the guy posts a comment a few days later about his time with her & this ends up with the guy getting moderated. This has happened in NY and LA that I know of.

Why don't you guys arrange to meet in chat for 30 min, one day a week and then you can say all you want? Kinda like guys night out, shoot the breeze and gossip, and share info in real time.

See you all soon in a few days or so.

Ok that makes more sense.  You are correct I didn't see the previous discussion. So are you saying it is ok for the hobbyist to give opinions but not point out her schedule per say?

Yes, the one line that is ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS okay in any provider post is "Free BBBJs for OmegaZap!!!"

Besides that, not exactly...  The precise, pass/fail rule that you're asking about, or that GND is searching for, just isn't there...

I think what I was trying to say in the earlier thread is that that's OK...  we're not publishing municipal code here, or trying to hash out a corporate HR policy, where consistency is so vital.

I think here, it's really up to Turkana to look at posts and simply apply his own "smell test."  If it leans a little too much towards an endorsement, then it counts as an ad...  If not, then it's a review.  It really only becomes an issue when:

a. 2 or more posts smell a little too much like an ad in the same week, and

b. When it appears to Turkana that the poster is posting openly on behalf of the provider, (and thus is an ad, not a "heads up") and that ad has a link to a site that doesn't have the TER badge on it.

The point I was making was let's not try to make it perfect, let's just make it fun for all of us AND especially for Turkana.  

The one thing we can all do to help Turkana out, is to try to avoid posts that are in the gray area because this just puts more work on his back to mull over.  In particular, if you're going to post a link to a site that doesn't have the TER badge on it, then the post has to CLEARLY be a "heads up, fellow hobbyists" post and not an ad, otherwise he has to make a decision, post a reply, send a PM, etc.  Let's not forget he's a volunteer.

And just to be clear about the TER badge thing...  I think it's fair for TER to say "if our servers are going to house links that bring traffic, and thus potential customers, to your site, it's only fair that your site has a link that brings traffic, and thus potential customers, to our site."  I think it's a good policy.

-- Modified on 7/24/2004 2:03:43 PM

So if I just happen to be in the mood to provide a BBBJ I could make this post?

Besides what I had written above I had written what I thought was funny, but then re-read it and even with the just kidding guys it was TRULY an ad. So I think I understand more of what you are saying.  (but Omega I do happen to like BBBJ) lol