I thought it was against the WHT rules to advertise free web hosting. Apparently you can break that rule if you buy a banner.

http://juggler.inetinteractive.com/banners/Client3450/1114809437053_wanplanet_468x60_Apr30.gif

Apparently ;) You know money DOES talk , and go a long way :P
I've seen this one before though, too. iNet allows what iNet will allow, from "custom" banner spaces for one individual to fraudulent "unlimited bandwidth" banners to this. One wonders if they even read the same rules we do, or make 'em up as they go along.

Originally posted by linux-tech
Apparently ;) You know money DOES talk , and go a long way :P
I've seen this one before though, too. iNet allows what iNet will allow, from "custom" banner spaces for one individual to fraudulent "unlimited bandwidth" banners to this. One wonders if they even read the same rules we do, or make 'em up as they go along.

Interesting.. just reviewed:

http://www.webhostingtalk.com/misc.php?s=&action=forum-rules

and didn't see anything of the such. Can you point me in the direction of our rule we're violating? Please don't direct me to http://www.webhostingtalk.com/announcement.php?s=&forumid=4&announcementid=51 because that discusses posting, not advertising.

Thanks in advance!

The rules applies to posts, not the banners. If they did, many of the banners would have to be 86ed.

If rule A is going to be applied, then it must be applied everywhere, to everyone. Otherwise, you create problems, just like is being done here.

No "free" hosting offers are allowed, period. maybe to you that simply means posts, but it does not. It includes all, which means advertising as well as anything else. The rules must be enforced universally, including ad banners and posts.

Originally posted by linux-tech
If rule A is going to be applied, then it must be applied everywhere, to everyone. Otherwise, you create problems, just like is being done here.

No "free" hosting offers are allowed, period. maybe to you that simply means posts, but it does not. It includes all, which means advertising as well as anything else. The rules must be enforced universally, including ad banners and posts.

As I stated above, please point me in the direction of where the rule is. An advertisement (banner) is not a post. The rule you are referencing is under the heading: Posting Rules

You're missing the point here:

You can't say "you can't post advertisements for free hosting" and then allow advertisements for free hosting. It's a double standard that is being followed.

Eventually, you will get the poster that makes the free hosting post, which IS against the rules, but, since you, the corporation allow the advertisement, the poster sees this and thinks it's allowed, then gets all irate because his thread was deleted, because he posted what IS allowed in advertisement, but not in posts.

That's not exactly good for the community, now is it?

Yes, the area is grey, but it's really not. To expect the rules to be followed in one part of the forum, yet not in another is absurd and ridiculous, and will only lead to problems. The best answer is to apply the rules (even forum rules) around the table, evenly, even for advertisement, not allowing loopholes like this.

Originally posted by linux-tech
You're missing the point here:

You can't say "you can't post advertisements for free hosting" and then allow advertisements for free hosting. It's a double standard that is being followed.

Eventually, you will get the poster that makes the free hosting post, which IS against the rules, but, since you, the corporation allow the advertisement, the poster sees this and thinks it's allowed, then gets all irate because his thread was deleted, because he posted what IS allowed in advertisement, but not in posts.

That's not exactly good for the community, now is it?

Yes, the area is grey, but it's really not. To expect the rules to be followed in one part of the forum, yet not in another is absurd and ridiculous, and will only lead to problems. The best answer is to apply the rules (even forum rules) around the table, evenly, even for advertisement, not allowing loopholes like this.

We agree it's not a grey area.

iNET has a hard stance separating advertising and editorial. If we start censoring content of an ad, that crosses the line. I would say it is not a great idea for an advertiser to advertise free hosting on WHT based on the reaction they will likely get, but it is ultimately their choice.

We can choose to just disagree on this issue, and we have that right. My only point is that when people say we'll break rules for advertiser dollars, that is unfair, and untrue. Remember, we're currently in litigation with a company for failure to pay their advertising because we won't remove negative posts about them. And we're not talking a couple hundred bucks... we're talking a couple ten thousand dollars. If we were all about the bucks, as you suggested earlier, don't you think we would have said "Sure, we'll remove those posts for you, keep the checks coming?"

Ryan, have you considered bringing up with the mods the idea to re-do the rules?

Just merge the forum and forum-specific rules so people stop complaining about them, mainly since the forum-specific rules are additional to the general ones.

It would help clean up a bunch of this and give people no excuse to say "they didn't know." Additionally, you'll be able to clearly outline which rules apply to the forum, and which apply to posting specifically [moreso than it already is].

If you pay for it, why not?

Originally posted by Camp2Win
If you pay for it, why not?
Because it breaks the rules, that's "why not".
That's bribery, which, flat out is not acceptable, anywhere.
Like I said, a standard needs to be developed and lived up to. I'm all for Dan's idea here, have the mods redo the rules, and remove the "forum specific" rules, make them global rules, which is the smartest way to approach it anyways.
This way, there are no problems with stuff like this, there can be nobody coming up , later crying "But it was advertised!".

Originally posted by Ryan Elledge

iNET has a hard stance separating advertising and editorial. If we start censoring content of an ad, that crosses the line. I would say it is not a great idea for an advertiser to advertise free hosting on WHT based on the reaction they will likely get, but it is ultimately their choice.


So, an advertiser can put up a banner for a porn site, with full nudity in the banner, and iNET would allow it because you "don't censor ad content"?

I don't see a problem with this honestly.

I know free webhosting providers (being one helps with that) and for the most part banning the offers in the Web Hosting Offers was a great idea.

Paid banner advertising will keep out the bottom feeders which I am all for.

My question now is can we buy a paid sticky in that forum to advertise free webhosting? :)

Paid banner advertising will keep out the bottom feeders which I am all for.

Paid advertising is good, paid advertising which breaks the rules is not. It's a really grey area there, which is why those rules need to be touched up a bit.

My question now is can we buy a paid sticky in that forum to advertise free webhosting?
Thankfully, they haven't gone as far as allowing stickies that break the forum rules yet, so probably not :P

So, an advertiser can put up a banner for a porn site, with full nudity in the banner, and iNET would allow it because you "don't censor ad content"?


ROFL.. give me a minute..

Alright, first off, nudity in an ad around here isn't that new, nor is ridiculous ads. PingZine got 'pinged' for their missing of an ad from a company I can't remember, having a bit of boobage in the ad.. so slipups happen.

As for the idea that iNet will allow full blown porn here, is a bit.. well.. funny. It's not their demographic, and this isn't porn's demographic(even if you are a horny nutcase). Not to mention, most porn sites.. don't have to advertise. There are several 3rd party affiliate programs and so forth that tons of site use that are volunteerly placed.. I don't think inet is that desperate for ad space.. I mean, I'm sure they have more than enough people lined up to setup a campaign.

That was just funny though, good laugh.

On another funny matter.. anyone find it funny that a free host is paying for advertising? Maybe no one else sees the irony in that, but the free webhosting industry isn't the richest out there, unless you're like geocities and whatnot. I could be wrong, and that company could be highly profitable.

If a free host wants to BUY advertising to support a FREE community, which is comical irony, I say right on. I also say that it's a good thing, because they're help supporting the community, and not cluttering the 'FREE' offers/requests forums with their ads, and keeping it for the business owners who do not have a huge budget to throw at iNet for some banner rotation, or simply do not have the funds, nor want to for every special they may do.

So in those regards, I find it acceptable. However, I have had a couple oreos today, so I may be a little crazy.

I personally don't see the problem here.

We can all object... I did to the Site5 banner - I'm not bothered with this new one.

But, at the end of the day, if iNet breaks the rules it sets for its members (which they don't appear to be anyway) - so be it - they own the place... we have no legal say in its running.

We're here because we like WHT - and if paid advertising for free hosting helps keep this place open - it should be there...

The rules you are referring to are forum specific rules, and if you want to post about free hosting, you are encouraged to use freewht.com.

Advertising free hosting is not against those forum specific rules which deal only with posting. I stand behind Ryan here. He is right in his stance that it is not a violation of the rules.

And remember, I am a mod, it is my job to interpret those rules... :)

Nobody wants to sell me a sticky! :bawling:

I try to buy on on FreeWHT.com.. not for sale. :bawling:

I ask about one here and no response.. :bawling:

Hum, I did get some free advertising at FreeWHT, but that was when it first opened.. I am suprised that they don't sell space there when there are ads. :)

Originally posted by maxhest
Hum, I did get some free advertising at FreeWHT, but that was when it first opened.. I am suprised that they don't sell space there when there are ads. :)

I don't want banner advertisements.

I want a sticky. :stickout:

Some people really need to grow up.
A banner advertisement is not a post.
Therefore it is not against the rules.

Why were you guys not complaining about the host quote feature? You are not allowed to promote your company in the forums but if you paid a fee you could promote your company to people requesting through host quote. Difference?

Originally posted by LP-Trel
. . . I want a sticky. :pimp:No sticky for you!


Well, not here.


Well; not here offering free hosting.


I think it'd take a week for it to drop off the first page at FWHT. Not sure a sticky there would do much good. But, don't know why they wouldn't sell you one if you contacted them.

Originally posted by blue27
Why were you guys not complaining about the host quote feature? You are not allowed to promote your company in the forums but if you paid a fee you could promote your company to people requesting through host quote. Difference?

The difference is that the main forums are not for sales pitches while the host quote feature is. When people ask for host recommendations in the forums, they want the opinions of clients and not hosts promoting their own companies. The host quote, OTOH, lets people invite hosts to promote their companies. After getting quotes that they like, they can then research those companies in the forums. The two types of information work best when kept separate.

Lois

Having a rule prohibiting discussion on free web-hosting but allowing it in Paid Advertising is hypercritical to say the least. Personally I can't see what is wrong with discussing and or promoting free web-hosting. Surely any web-host worth his salt won't be threatened by that.

Now could Inet or the Mods or somebody send me a PM informing me of the starting date of this new "Nude Banners" so I can enable banners and Java script please.

Doc

Originally posted by TheDoctor
Now could Inet or the Mods or somebody send me a PM informing me of the starting date of this new "Nude Banners" so I can enable banners and Java script please.

I heard a rumour that those banners will have only men in them. :stickout:

Lois

Originally posted by writespeak
I heard a rumour that those banners will have only men in them. :stickout:

Lois

Lois. Now you have spoilt the surprise. I wasn't going to mention that until everybody had seen my photo. The way it was explained to me was that they need some graphical content to entyice more ladies to the forum. You might say a variation on Vertical markets. :cool:

Doc

BTW. I see your still in the top five.Hottest Members (http://www.whtfaces.com/index.php?f=hot) congratulations :banana:

Originally posted by TheDoctor
>> Lois. Now you have spoilt the surprise.

Hey, don't blame me for that. You're the one who brought your name into it. But it's a good thing you did. I'm sure a lot of people will appreciate the warning, er, advance notice. ;)

>> BTW. I see your still in the top five.Hottest Members (http://www.whtfaces.com/index.php?f=hot) congratulations :banana:

The congratulations go to you for holding on to the #1 spot. :) My cat gets the credit for #2. I didn't have voting enabled until I uploaded his photo, and now look what he's done for cats all over the world by being #2 to only you.

It's gone to his head, though. He thinks his celebrity status makes it OK for him to constantly demand attention at any hour of the day or night. I tell you, after living with a celebrity, I don't think I want to be one. How do you handle it?

Lois

Originally posted by writespeak
The difference is that the main forums are not for sales pitches while the host quote feature is.


If you follow this logic then advertising banners should only be shown in the advertising forums.

Ain't going to happen.

Originally posted by blue27
If you follow this logic then advertising banners should only be shown in the advertising forums.

I disagree. My logic is that information is categorized:

- Main forums
- Other forums
- Host quote feature
- Advertising banners

You look in different places depending on what you want to find.

Lois