To all members:
We have always had a policy against the posting of off-site links. However, we have not always been as strict as we should have in enforcing this.
This has changed in the last few months and I wanted to make sure that everyone knew where this was coming from and that this decision comes straight from me and is not negotiable.
Please do NOT give the staff a hard time if they enforce this rule on one of your posts. Be classy and just realize they are doing as I have instructed them.
I have updated the TOS today to add the following text:
[h3]Offsite Links[/h3]
Off-site links are not only discouraged but they are generally not allowed at SMF. If you post a link to another website, your own website or your best friend's website, it will probably be deleted.
We have sponsors who pay to post their links and promote their products and it is just not fair to them if others are allowed to use the SMF as a way to promote their own websites.
The link you post to another site may be something you are doing to be helpful but it is still highly discouraged and unless it is the only way to help someone with their problem or question, it will probably be deleted.
We have to be strict about this to prevent spam and if you can't deal with that, then perhaps this is not the right place for you to hang out.
One caveat to this is that premier members are allowed to post off-site links in their signature area. They are considered to be paying sponsors of the forum and pay for the right to do so.
I am also very touchy about members being disrespectful to the moderators and admins who volunteer their time and energy to help keep this forum clean and free of spam, smut, bad information and bad attitudes.
If we hear of this, it will be handled delicately. Enough said.
I sincerely appreciate everyone's attention to this and your understanding. If you have any questions or need something in this post clarified, please let me know.
We have always had a policy against the posting of off-site links. However, we have not always been as strict as we should have in enforcing this.
This has changed in the last few months and I wanted to make sure that everyone knew where this was coming from and that this decision comes straight from me and is not negotiable.
Please do NOT give the staff a hard time if they enforce this rule on one of your posts. Be classy and just realize they are doing as I have instructed them.
I have updated the TOS today to add the following text:
[h3]Offsite Links[/h3]
Off-site links are not only discouraged but they are generally not allowed at SMF. If you post a link to another website, your own website or your best friend's website, it will probably be deleted.
We have sponsors who pay to post their links and promote their products and it is just not fair to them if others are allowed to use the SMF as a way to promote their own websites.
The link you post to another site may be something you are doing to be helpful but it is still highly discouraged and unless it is the only way to help someone with their problem or question, it will probably be deleted.
We have to be strict about this to prevent spam and if you can't deal with that, then perhaps this is not the right place for you to hang out.
One caveat to this is that premier members are allowed to post off-site links in their signature area. They are considered to be paying sponsors of the forum and pay for the right to do so.
I am also very touchy about members being disrespectful to the moderators and admins who volunteer their time and energy to help keep this forum clean and free of spam, smut, bad information and bad attitudes.
If we hear of this, it will be handled delicately. Enough said.
I sincerely appreciate everyone's attention to this and your understanding. If you have any questions or need something in this post clarified, please let me know.