Should there be a limit on how often someone can post "very similar" offers to the advertising forum? Right now there seems to be an informal poll going on here (http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?threadid=9384) with a couple of people on each side.

Basically the arguments (as I see them at least) are

Yes, there should be a limit, because otherwise the forum becomes clogged up by people posting the same thing over and over again, and

No, there should not be a limit, the entire point of the advertising forum is that it exists for people to post their offers without censorship.

A few people have made their opinions known in the thread I referenced above; what does everyone else think?

Just out of curiosity, how do you get a pole going?

When you start a new thread there is an option at the bottom "make this a poll".

Originally posted by vizi
Just out of curiosity, how do you get a pole going?

I read that and the filthiest thought just jumped into my head.... I'm sorry... maybe I need to get out more..

Greg Moore

Originally posted by akashik


I read that and the filthiest thought just jumped into my head.... I'm sorry... maybe I need to get out more..

Greg Moore

Tisk, tisk, tisk

It shouldn't be limited, if people want to post the same offer 5 times and make there company look desparate - if they want to look desparate then who are we to stop them, they will learn the hrd way.

One thing I do think about the Advertisements forum is that post counts should be turned off. - just my £0.02

My vote is definitely for not limiting it. When it comes to advertising, let the customers decide.

I actually object more to the public criticism of repeat advertisements, as it seems to do the advertiser an unjustified level of harm. I would think a better means of commenting would be either to e-mail the advertiser directly, or contacting one of the moderators who can contact them more neutrally on your behalf - "Some of our users have voiced concern over the number of advertisements you have been posting at WebHostingTalk recently".

I think it depends. I can see a strong argument to be made for limiting, but how limited do you want to make them? Is once a week too much, once a month, or some other length of time?

Yeah, it depends. it is ok to advertise once in a while but I don't think it is ok to adv more than 6 times within 2 days.

I would say they shouldn't be able to post like 5-10 ads in just a couple days.

If a limit were to be put on it, I think a fixed limit seems silly, because it would require more moderating than its worth. If you're going to put a strict limit on things, you have to moderate it strictly also.

Perhaps just saying advertisers are limited to a "reasonable" number of advertisements, and that any excessive advertising will attract unwelcome attention. Even if it is ambiguous, it just shows advertisers that they have to be sensible in what they do.

But I still don't like the idea of a formal limit at all. The odd advertiser whose a little excessive can be dealt with, surely we don't need a hard rule on it.

I think it would be a nightmare for the moderators to have to baby site the advertising forum...

It is there so they don't trash the rest of the place, so let them get it out of their systems... :rolleyes:

It would be nice to have some light rules though, just stating that over posting in that area will make you look bad to others...

Tim L

Yes but it abs. rediculous, fo a host to advertise 10 different hosting plans in 10 different posts, put them all in one freaking post!!!!!!!! And for you who do put it 7 different plans in 7 different posts, you like like idiots.

THe only limit I think should be set it for those who post say maybe more tha 3 ads a day, I mean if your going to post in there put all your specials in one thread, it keeps it clean and you dont look like a desperate fool.

7 ads in one day is rediculous no matter how you look at it.

Is the purpose of an additional post to gain space on today's listing? If so, are there not other ways to bring a post to the top, e.g. reply to your own post without starting a new thread, edit your post (?).

Is this a wide-spread problem? Or is this practice just by one of two people. If just one-or-two let us not have a rule that greatly inhibits the rest.

Maybe, if possible, just one post (thread?) per member that can be edited/updated at any time. Think of it as a billboard.

And,

Maybe we should not be allowed to respond/argue with an advertisement. I do like real questions/answers but not disguised flames.

Anyone can find something about a plan that is not the cheapest, not the most, not the etc. Not even a brick-front store offers every product at the cheapest price, ever product of the highest quality in the market.

Maybe the advertisements should be free-from-flak, unless illegal or a scam or etc.

Whoops, my topic shift alarm is going off. I will stop.

Gary