NationStates Jolt Archive

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13333323&postcount=1

Advertising spam. The tasty treat that's oh so good to eat. And, as Ruffy pointed out, we were all having fun spamming and not reporting... but here you go.
:D

The thread has been closed, and quite rightly. Hope Esoteric Wisdom didn't get a ban, it was no big deal.

Just a couple of comments. OceanDrive2 posted a full description of what the fuss over at the other forum was about, making it unnecessary for anyone to visit it anyway. That forum is boring, I doubt many of the 188 K visitors will ever go back.

Secondly, the mod at that forum dealt with the poster who started a thread to promote his online gambling by closing the thread ... but then they opened it again and what ensued was protracted gloating at the expense of the poster, who had been banned and couldn't defend himself.

I hope that would never happen here.

I thought it was advertising spam too, when I first saw it, but reading through it, discovered it really was outstanding internet pwnage.

Ocean Drive 2 summed it up nicely:Some dude tried to advertise his poker website at some (fanforum) website and since he used his real name to register his poker website.. all his personal info got posted all over the thread.. turns out the dude was a convicted sex offender.
Good Job (fanforum). {(Fanforum) edits mine.}

I'm soft-deleting it because it's now mostly spam and I can't see anything likely to be added other than more "Onya!" posts -- besides which, kids who can't be bothered to read through it might conceivably be lured to the gambling site, and General has stricter PG-13 limits.

But I don't think the OP was advertising the other site, in the sense of "leave NS, it sucks, go here instead", and I think it's an excellent use of net resources by the people on the other site.

If you want a precedent, Reppy did some similar "advertising" in General when a (site I can't remember) went crazy with (I think) its fear of paedophiles and blocked loads of legit posters, including an anti-(whatever-it-was) group.

... but then they opened it again and what ensued was protracted gloating at the expense of the poster, who had been banned and couldn't defend himself.

I hope that would never happen here.

Damn you, NH, stop being more sensible than me! (There must be something in the OSRS about that... mutter ...)

No, it wouldn't happen here. Because the other players would catch it even before the mods did.

If you want a precedent, Reppy did some similar "advertising" in General when a (site I can't remember) went crazy with (I think) its fear of paedophiles and blocked loads of legit posters, including an anti-(whatever-it-was) group.I believe it was LiveJournal.

Ah I just PM'd you, Ardchoille, without having read here first :P

I don't mind that the tread was deleted, I'm just not entirely sure why.

I was accused of spamming and advertising. On the issue of spam, this is straight from the rulebook:
"Off-topic, irrelevant and multi-posts that clog the server. This includes posting lots of smilies which is known as Smilie Spam. Also akin to spamming is Post-whoring which is when a player posts anything just to increase the postcount. Going in and out of a region and hence filling up the regional events board with departing and arriving messages is known as Events Log Spamming and is not allowed. Spamming to the point where you get deleted is known as Klamathing. Spamming in the forums should be reported through the Moderation forum, and In-game, through the Getting Help Page."

I do not understand how my post was spam according to this definition? The only part of this definition which comes even close would be the irrelevancy bit. However, my post was defined by the link I posted, so how can it be considered irrelevant? It was MY thread. That is, unless there is some kind of absolute measure by which my thread is considered more irrelevant than any other thing that is posted on the general forum - which is, by definition, for largely random, non-NS topics. In other words, irrelevant in what way? It appears that it may have been a copycat thread upon reading here, however I did do a search on the general forum before I posted it and I did not see anything remotely related. I apologise if this was the case.

I'm soft-deleting it because it's now mostly spam and I can't see anything likely to be added other than more "Onya!" posts -- besides which, kids who can't be bothered to read through it might conceivably be lured to the gambling site, and General has stricter PG-13 limits.
I understand and accept this position. However, there is a distinction between me being accused of spamming and those who take it upon themselves to spam the OP (this is directed at those who made such accusations, which I do not believe you did).

Advertising spam. The tasty treat that's oh so good to eat. And, as Ruffy pointed out, we were all having fun spamming and not reporting... but here you go.
No, I was not trying to advertise the site. The link was posted on another board which I frequent by a member there. I am not a member of the linked site, nor do I own a NSX, nor do I care particularly for them (or afford one :P). However, the link I posted to that particular thread on that forum is legitimately a source of interest on the 'net at the moment. It has over 250,000 hits in a week because of what is commonly perceived as humorous content. I somehow suspect that my low post count contributed to the perception that I was trying to advertise. If this does not show that I am not trying to advertise, I defy you to prove your accusation.

Is there somewhere in the forum rules that says I cannot post links to 'competitor' forums? I can't find it anywhere. What exactly is such a forum, anything outside of Jolt? It's hardly a game site or anything even remotely related to NS. I was told to go back and read the rules, but if it's not in them then how is it a rule? Perhaps I've just missed it...

In summary, I'd just like to know why the thread was deleted so I don't do it again in future :) I also don't want to be labeled a spammer unduly ;)

Phew! You write almost as much as I do! Okay, bit by bit:

Ah I just PM'd you, Ardchoille, without having read here first :P

If you mean Jolt's PM function, don't, it's hopeless. If you mean you've TGd me on nationstates.net, I haven't got it yet. Likewise emails or PMs on the offsites I often visit. So I'm going on just what's here, mmkay?

Spamming: No, you weren't.

A bit of background. This is what the One-Stop Rules Shop says about advertisements:
Advertisements: For the most part, advertising threads are not allowed in NationStates. If you really want an ad here, contact the Jolt Admins, and purchase banner space. Til then, it isn't a good idea to try and advertise your forum on Max Barry's forum. If your advertisement involves itself along side NationStates, it is allowed (such as the GDP Calculators, and region ads in Gameplay), but advertisements, such as one that promotes your own forum for debate over the General forum, as well as an advertisement for a seperate roleplay forum (That does not involve NS; an example would be a World War 2 RP) within the Nationstates and International Incidents forums, are not allowed here, and will be locked.

In short, just as long as it has something to do with Nationstates, it is allowed, but trying to pimp your own forum on Max's website will not be tolerated.

Being the newest mod, I'm still prone to trying-too-hard syndrome. A few weeks ago, on the basis of the above, I deleted a link to a reasonable site that wasn't in competition with NS. It was gently pointed out to me that I was being just a tad over-protective. Unfortunately, by then other posters had read my comment and taken it to heart (or possibly, since I don't really think everyone reads every brilliantly crafted word I write, had misread it too). So when your post, with its link to another forum, was seen, people accused you of spamming.

In fact, they did it so thoroughly that they turned the thread into "mostly spam"; that's what I was referring to, not your post. Rather than try to vacuum your thread, I locked it.

However, there was still the point that the thread you linked to started out with an ad for a gambling site. We do get some kids on this site. Some kids do do stupid things. It seemed to me that gambling sites would come under the definition of the sort of site we don't want kids linking to. So, even though the link was indirect, I thought again and did a soft-delete so people couldn't go to the locked thread and click on the link.

This makes me feel a bit Net-Nannyish, but them's the breaks. (The effect, incidentally, is that the mods and admins, and Max too, will still be able to go to it and fall madly under the spell of the gambling site, so if you see any desperate financial appeals in this forum soon, you'll know why.:D)

Ah, the end of this post is in sight. "Competitor" forums would be other political discussion sites, other sites that permit free roleplay, other nation simulation sites ... that's "including, but not limited to", BTW.

Phew, again.

Ahh thank you for your clarity in your explanation of the rules there, Ardchoille. I accept and acknowledge that you've done a fine job. :D

Aha! My wordiness FTW!