Hi everyone,

A gentle reminder to everyone that the new rules are here to stay, so if you haven't already familiarised yourself with them, please have a look at http://www.webhostingtalk.com/misc.php?s=&action=forum-rules

Some particular pointers :

1. Business avatars are no longer allowed.
2. Signatures must be no longer than 4 lines. The moderators have decided that the signatures cannot include colours. However, bold or italics is fine, font size below 3 is ok, and pricing will be allowed. More on this in the next week.
3. Referral/affiliate IDs are disallowed.

The rules are still being tweaked, so there is an additional week's grace for all. I will make a further announcement in the next week detailing any extra guidelines we may have missed in the meantime. Rules will be fully enforced by moderators beginning June 1st. I would ask everyone to comply with the rules now instead of later so that it makes the moderators' jobs far easier.

Failure to comply with rules after June 1st will mean an immediate removal of posting privileges until the user complys.

Thank you for your co-operation.

... the signatures cannot include colours.

:bawling: no problem *changes it* :D

BC, what about smilies in sig, is it ok?

BC...
1. few days before only I added color in my signature, any way no more color ;)

2. Business avatars - You mean I am having one right now. Please confirm and I will be glad to replace it. (Honestly I wish you say its fine)

3. Referral/affiliate IDs are disallowed ??? :confused:

I have a suggestion - why not we all remove our company name as user too... just normal name ?

Originally posted by HostAB.com
BC, what about smilies in sig, is it ok?

Smilies are ok if you feel so inclined.

Originally posted by m6.net
Business avatars - You mean I am having one right now. Please confirm and I will be glad to replace it. (Honestly I wish you say its fine)

Yes, if you could replace your avatar it would be much appreciated. :)


Referral/affiliate IDs are disallowed ???


Yes, there are affiliate programs out there which people can earn a commission off for directing traffic to the site - something like http://www.webhostingtalk.com?affid=350&refid=2 or something similar.

Basically if the referral/affiliate ID earns you compensation of any sort it is disallowed.

Hontestly,

This is really no fun at all, I starting feel like WHT is going to be very strict and stricter, is this an fun for all of us? I don't think so.

Course, some people breached the policy but your pushing too hard on this. I though it was freedom of speech.

Not anymore :(

This issue has nothing whatsoever to do with freedom of speech.

Presumably, you are referring to the First Amendment it the U.S. Constitution, though some other countries have similar laws.

Other than the fact that this forum is global and the administrator is not even in the U.S., "freedom of speech" does not apply here and you indicate a common ignorance of what it means.

The First Amendment in the Bill of Rights says, in its entirety:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a
redress of grievances.

No media is compelled to allow anyone to say anything they want anywhere, certainly not privately owned ones. This is no more a freedom of speech issue than any salesman having a right to come into your home or place of business to give a sales presentation. You have the right to say "not here". So too do the administrator and moderators of this forum and all others.

Every one of the freedoms Americans cherish and spout off about have their limitations. None is unconditional and most are misunderstood, perhaps none more than freedom of speech.

Originally posted by josephp
Hontestly,

This is really no fun at all, I starting feel like WHT is going to be very strict and stricter, is this an fun for all of us? I don't think so.

Course, some people breached the policy but your pushing too hard on this. I though it was freedom of speech.

Not anymore :(

Why is it no fun anyway? because you can't advertise like before?
And what does preventing users to over-advertise their own service have to do with freedom of speech?

This is really no fun at all, I starting feel like WHT is going to be very strict and stricter, is this an fun for all of us? I don't think so.


Please tell is what was originally fun about WebHostingTalk which you can no longer do? no general answers please had enough of them already today (been watching the UK general election)

Hey Matt, I want to make sure I properly follow the forum guidelines, my icon under my name =avatar right, so since this is my businesses logo should it be changed? Thanks.

Originally posted by ckizer
Hey Matt, I want to make sure I properly follow the forum guidelines, my icon under my name =avatar right, so since this is my businesses logo should it be changed? Thanks.

That is correct. If you could change it please it would be much appreciated :) Thanks.

I will take my down, I just need a new avatar,
I will comply

anyone who doesnt, let the mob handle it...

DANGIT!! Man that sucks...I gotta agree with Duster on something for once....hehe

Freedom of Speech pertains to the U.S. Government and it's laws, not privately owned websites. You have the freedom to say that the U.S. Government sucks and it should be torn down and rebuilt without all the political pricks. However, you do not have the right to come here saying whatever you want (such as spam or advertising) since there are different rules that apply here..

I don't mind any of the rule changed... instead I believe that strict rules will help us to keep this forum alive and more productive.

The only rule which I found unnecessary was change of avatars :bawling:

MattF,

Why it is no fun?

1) No more business avatars? It sounds like your trying to make this site limited for all of us and other users.

2) I realized some username has thier own custom avatar name even under 500 posts, which I read it requires over 500th post mark.

3) Users had been flaming this board in while and I know Mod's are doing the job but too much, though

4) I do not like sig's in color, period. 4 Lines is way too much, I suggest 2 lines max 100 words or less and allow have a link for their website. If they want email, use the email icon enabled.

Also I suggest WHT to be rescrited to users/mods/admin only which means all people MUST register to view the WHT to prevent spamming so that means when you access WHT site, it will ask you to register or login, so more protection to WHT.

Other than that, point is useless as well

Thank you

Originally posted by josephp
MattF,

Why it is no fun?

1) No more business avatars? It sounds like your trying to make this site limited for all of us and other users.

There is no such thing as a business avatar. It is an oxymoron. An avatar expresses some facet of an individual. A business logo expresses nothing of the person other that they do not respect the principle and purpose of an avatar.


2) I realized some username has thier own custom avatar name even under 500 posts, which I read it requires over 500th post mark.
No. Some users have a title they chose themselves. It has nothing to do (at a technical level) with the avatar they chose.

3) Users had been flaming this board in while and I know Mod's are doing the job but too much, though
I disagree, as do many others. There are a few hosts whining that they can't use their logos anymore, have detailed plans and advertising and their sigs, and can't subvert the purposes of many of the options presently offfered.

If this forum seems less fun because a host can't subvert those rules and advertise inappropriately, tough.

In fact, some of us think the new rules are too lenient in allowing prices in sigs. That goes against the idea of them being just for contact information and turns them into a form of advertising.

The fun for me, and I suspect most of us, is in communicating with others, sharing, learning and helping. Im having just as much fun as when this forum ran on UBB and earlier versions of VBulletin because my fun is not predicated on being able to use a business logo in place of an avatar or turn the sig lines into an advertising banner.

4) I do not like sig's in color, period. 4 Lines is way too much, I suggest 2 lines max 100 words or less and allow have a link for their website. If they want email, use the email icon enabled.
An e-mail address is much more direct. It makes sense. Four lines has been decided on as the limit. It too makes sense.

Also I suggest WHT to be rescrited to users/mods/admin only which means all people MUST register to view the WHT to prevent spamming so that means when you access WHT site, it will ask you to register or login, so more protection to WHT.
It has nothing to do with spamming. You're thinking of plugging. Requiring registration has been discussed before. It won't stop people from plugging their companies and may deter some people from posting.

Well to tell you the truth i don't even have a avatar and i think the new rule kind of sucks. Sorry but i have to say what i think just me.. :)


To me the avatars can only be one size so what the problem with there little logo there. I do like the other rules but this one i see no need in and kind of over done as far as i can see.


But could care less about the avatars since i never took the time to make one i guess i want now.. :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Vortech
Well to tell you the truth i don't even have a avatar and i think the new rule kind of sucks. Sorry but i have to say what i think just me.. :)


Actually I kind of agree with you on that point. I understand the principle on the why's and why not's on all the rules though and won't kick a stink about it.

Usually I just scan over Duster's posts and move on, but as an example, the avatar I was using is actually an avatar. The fact it's been built out into a fully functioning 8 megabyte website and a logo is not in spite of being an avatar, but an extension of my own preferences for something I felt defined me and what I hope to achieve both on a personal, as well as a business level.

In my own case I can see the confusion it would cause. It's gone, and I'm back to following the rules. I'll do with out an avatar though as it's apparently just a logo with nothing of my individual personality in it.

Greg Moore