Occasionally I see a photo of someone I'd like to know more about, but they don't have a TER profile yet, so the only way to learn more is to PM them, which for all I know they don't even know about the PM system. I'd like to learn more about them before actually making contact.
What is the harm of letting them put a link to their website or other on line connection?
I don't see much if any downside and it offers a value add to the customers (of TER and the lady). Should probably put in on the list of "nice to haves" for any planned upgrades.
by putting the URL on the photo. That used to be prohibited, but the list of rules published on the Photo Board has gotten shorter (I don’t recall when that happened, I think within the past 2 years) and now there’s no rule prohibiting it. And I have seen some photos with URLs on the Photo Board.
As for PMing the ad poster, that won’t work if the poster doesn’t have a TER profile and thus doesn’t have limited VIP, unless they’ve purchased full VIP.
I agree that it is a good idea but I wonder if TER uses The Rules to encourage more Providers to either (a) link their handle to their Profile in order to get the automatic "See My TER Reviews" hot link posted next to their name and free limited VIP (which includes PMs) or (b) to pay for VIP to accept PMs.
.
The Profile link option (a) would also encourage Providers to try to get at least one Review (and Profile) and to participate in TER on that level. If a Provider doesn't allow reviews she is supposed to be de-listed (and banned from posting? I don't know.) If a Provider asks to be de-listed from TER, maybe TER doesn't want her posted Photo Only as a free form of advertising.
.
The next Q would be "How much abuse would there be (free loaders using Photo Only as an ad but refusing to participate in TER in other ways)?" And then, "If there was abuse and it reached a level intolerable to TER, could they just change the rules again or tighten up enforcement?" The last Q for now is, "Is that enough Qs for now?"
Occasionally I see a photo of someone I'd like to know more about, but they don't have a TER profile yet, so the only way to learn more is to PM them, which for all I know they don't even know about the PM system. I'd like to learn more about them before actually making contact.
What is the harm of letting them put a link to their website or other on line connection?
It is a good point but I don't think it's a big deal either -- I don't think TER loses much if anything from providers that keep delisting but still want to post a pic and link to their ad/website.
PS posed the question a couple/few months back about TER's apparent change in policy regarding removing profiles for providers with a No Review policy on their sites. I don't know if that goes along with perhaps a new approach to the idea that they will not enforce a providers no review policy on TER (didn't take a look for that).
And, of course, the long held and often stated "Check the reviews and if there are not any move on" view here works against providers that would seek to game the change. In a sense it might actually lead to positively promoting TER as some of the less disciplined or reckless guys go chasing the pretty pictures even without reviews start posting (the unsurprising) bad experiences from many of such meetings. Certainly if the reviews are still allowed (even if there was a no review policy) then the value of TER becomes reinforced.