I'm not sure exactly how I feel about this, but I've noticed more and more "commercials" on the boards for particular shops. While I appreciate the desire of merchants to market their wares to an appropriate audience, I'm worried that this will turn into just a junk board with too many advertisements instead of discussions. If we're not careful, this may turn into the Home Shopping Network of trains. What do you think? Ed Harrison
Totally agree, if they want a space for selling they should ask for a separate area for retailers etc...
There is a post for yellow pages on Trainboard. That is where all commercial threads should be. It is up to administrators to watch for any commecial threads anywhere else. I have no complaint for the banner at the top of Trainboard because I am sure, they pay for the service and that helps to keep Trainboard free. A dedicated service with no ads of any kind could mean member fees and who wants that. ------------------ Robin Maberly and Tayside
Ed Harrison said... >>>I'm not sure exactly how I feel about this, but I've noticed more and more "commercials" on the boards for particular shops. <<< Well, perhaps I've been asleep, but I hadn't particularly noticed any. Could you point me in the direction of some that are commercials so that I can decide for myself if they really are. I have noticed a tendancy for many modelers to think that a shop or business owner is posting a commercial when they really are letting you know where you can obtain a product or service that you may have just been asking about. Would you really want to lose that input? Roger Roger Hensley - rhensley@anderson.cioe.com === Remember, Model Railroading is FUN..! === [This message has been edited by rhensley@anderson.cioe.co (edited 16 August 2000).]
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by rhensley@anderson.cioe.co: Could you point me in the direction of some that are commercials so that I can decide for myself if they really are<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I don't want to point fingers, but in the N Scale section, there is at least one store that says, "Hey, Kato is coming out with new stuff, come to our website and we'll tell you what it is." They also said, "Kato's got this new engine coming out, come to our site and make a reservation." And then there's, "Atlas is coming out with a new DCC power pack, we've got the best deal and we know what we're talking about." Of course that was followed with, "Oops. Maybe we were wrong about that one." There are shops all over the place that will take my reservation. Why can't they post the Kato new releases on the TrainBoard as a service instead of a commercial to go to their web site? I'm all for discussion about new products, and debate about quality. When the posts turn into commercials, it makes it harder to determine which evaluations are hype, and which are real. What keeps someone from registering all of their employees and friends as members of TrainBoard, and having each of them leave comments as independent testimony as to the quality of their store or product? If I saw a hundred posts about how great this piece of crap is, how long would it be until I wanted to buy that piece of crap for myself? I'm only suggesting that we keep commercial posts to the yellow pages section of the TrainBoard and leave the boards for legitimate postings. Ed Harrison
Ed, you're right. "Spam" should be on the Yellow pages. It doesn't belong here or on the N-Scale site. I haven't seen this yet, but if it is still on the N-Scale board, I'll move it to the Yellow pages or have it removed with a friendly reminder. ------------------ BNSF RAILFAN-TO-THE-MAX! Brent Tidaback, Member #234 and a N-Scaler to boot!
WHAT ABOUT CRAIG MARTYN'S BLMA STUFF?GET IT OFF N SCALE TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11 ------------------ those who know me know my sense of humor,dont take me seriously. bnfan99
after checking some things i noticed that the one who is complaining is also doing spamming of his own.if you notice who does the web page stuff for blma it is ed harrison.just wondering how this is? ------------------ those who know me know my sense of humor,dont take me seriously. bnfan99
Oops! I certainly didn't intend to start or get in the middle of a flame war. I have nothing more to say on this topic. Roger Roger Hensley - rhensley@anderson.cioe.com == http://cid.railfan.net/eci_new.html == == East Central Indiana Railroad ==
i guess mr. martin should be moved elsewhere also. along with ed harrison's update page for blma's stuff too. also if you're going to complain make sure you're innocent of what you are accusing!!!!!!!!! ------------------ Norfolk Southern The Pack Mule of Transportation Mo-Pac RULES Heritage N-Scale Group, Joliet, Il.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by makinbaconline: i guess mr. martin should be moved elsewhere also<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I completely agree! That is why when I built Craig's web page (in exchange for a custom painted shell), I set him up with a message board of his own. I didn't, and still don't think it is appropriate to make TrainBoard a commercial site. Ed Harrison
<font color="3333cc">As someone who has had products discussed in the N scale forum, I also think that discussions on the merits (or otherwise) of any product is ok, but when it is blatent advertising, it should be in Yellow Pages. If I wish to advertise any new items, I put them in YP. Even some discussions about products can be bordering on advertising, which makes me feel uncomfortable. Everyone is entitled, indeed encouraged to comment on anything produced which may be of interest to others, but please let us keep advertising in it's place. </font> ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.ac-models.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery Alan's European Gallery Alan's British Steam Gallery
Dear Friends; This will be the official statement regarding this discussion. Please do not continue in an argument over this matter. If you have an opinion regarding site operation, you can post a comment in the Administrative Contacts Forum or e-mail us. We have attempted to create an environment where people can have fun. The rules here are not too stringent. We don't go nuts like some sites and jump all over people when they post in the wrong forum or make a mistake. But, we try to run a clean board. Careful attention to this site is given each day by a fine team of Moderators. This site is intended to be fun. We do transfer topics that we feel are in the wrong forum. We have a paying advertiser - InternetTrains.com - http://www.internettrains.com We don't mind other folks who are in business posting from time to time. If it were too much we would delete it and ask the person not to do it. Craig Martin has so far confined his posting to a single thread. I would prefer that took place in the Yellow Pages but have left it to the Moderators of the N Scale Forum to make that decision. There are several comments in this thread that could have been said another way. Some of you are acting hateful and that is not the way to be. Every time we get one fire put out someone starts another one. This causes a lot of work and the e-mail starts flying. I get a lot of "I'm going to quit if you do this (or that" e-mail. I see that comment posted again in another thread regarding this same situation. If you don't like a thread, e-mail and tell us. Don't start a fight. That isn't fair to any of us. If you see a post with advertising and you don't like it, hit your back button. If we see too much of that, we will delete/move it. We are trying to handle things as they should be: not too strict one way or the other. We do e-mail people from time to time with suggestions on their posting habits. Please, just use some common sense. This is an administrative matter and this is being moved to that forum. Charlie
