Thread: What is your definition of "spam" versus marketing?

I had to look that one up:
IBTL: "In Before The Lock": An abbreviation posted to a thread on a web-based forum when the poster knows that any rational debate has long since been abandoned, and will shortly be locked by the forum administrator.

I hope I picked the right explanation.

Bart.

Originally Posted by jockeys

while I feel that YSD's sig is definitely a shameless plug, and even borderline tacky, it's certainly not spam in either sense of the word.

cornelius, all I have to say is: IBTL.

This is pretty much my position, it is tacky and shameless, no doubt. But I have to disagree with Cornelious, it is not spam. But then again I dont make the rules for SRP or any other forum, if Tam is in violation of any rules here or elsewhere she should modify or eliminate the sig or create her own forum. I do have to admit that I do not care for any non related marketing. This post is merely opinion and not meant to influence any member, moderator or SRP Policy.

Originally Posted by Cornelius

I consider it spam; this is a razor / shaving forum, and her signature line, or shall I say 6 signature lines mention weird and irrelevant stuff. I have a hard time deciding what's worse: a woman on rods, a woman that shaves because of it, a woman who talks about it publicly, or the 17 minute weight loss thing. Or perhaps the threat to "hand you your a** on a damascus platter back to you"? Seriously, this is most strange and somewhat aggressive. And off topic. Can't blame anyone for banning her from his forum.

Outta line man. Her sig line explains why she's here. No big deal. She's into fitness and has a product, and modestly advertises that with a short and to the point blurb down at the bottome of her sig. If it were against SRP rules, the mods would handle it.

If she has to shave a few hairs due to past roid use - so what? Who here hasn't done something unwise in their past? Now she's gotta shave a few hairs - I hear on SRP all the time how it gets the face smoother, and the hair stays gone for longer. If I were a woman and had to shave, that's exactly what I'd look for. Smoother, gone longer.

Tam makes good comments on the forum, compliments others, and has been on all accounts personable and kind.

She's open and honest about things. The whole damascus platter thing was more of a pre-emptive strike, I guess. It's kinda like a new kid at school saying "Call me fatty and I'll punch your lights out"..... I suppose it's meant to stave off verbal abuse.

I'm sorry that your post shows such intolerance and it disappoints me to read. She hasn't been rude, so be nice.

Originally Posted by Bart

I had to look that one up:
IBTL: "In Before The Lock": An abbreviation posted to a thread on a web-based forum when the poster knows that any rational debate has long since been abandoned, and will shortly be locked by the forum administrator.

I hope I picked the right explanation.

Bart.

yepper. also frequently posted in direct response to a post that seems so over the top it seems inevitable that the mods will appear and bankick someone for it.

I can't help but add that I do find the threat of having my ass handed to me on a damascus platter kind of offensive and very chip-on-the-shoulder-ish. Kinda like the short guy who tries to fight people who really didn't have a problem with him in the first place, just happened to be there when he was angry. The immediately following exhortation to play nice is totally contradictory, imho. Maybe it's just me, but the way I was raised you don't threaten a man and then try to shake his hand. That dog won't hunt.

Well, our sig lines do speak about us, but miss YesSheDoes didn't ask what we found about her sig line, so I'm holding my personal observations about it to myself. She did ask about spam and marketing, so I offered my opinion on that one.

I like to think about SRP as a gentlemen-like (m/f) place. Anything that distrubs my naive old-fashioned ivory perception of the forum, has a mild offensive effect on me. That includes impollite statements, spam, intelligence insulting marketing, among other fine examples of human's lower qualities. I have to deal with those plenty in everyday life, without having the need to have some more while participating on an internet forum. This thread somewhere took a weird turn.

Bart.

Let's try and stay away from a debate about Tam's signature line in this thread. I can see how it would be relevant to a discussion of unwanted advertising and how the tone could send different messages to different folks (some not desirable). I would like to hear more opinions on the initial question though and it would be nice if we make this discussion happen without any fallout. The members of this forum are more capable of reasonable discourse than anyone else on the web AFAIK. Let's exercise that good judgement here if we can.



-Rob

Now that Rob has put this back on track I'll answer and try and keep it there...
As some of you know I am a finance manager for a Ford Dealership, so I get 100's of e-mails per day at my work e-mail and here is my opinion...

If the e-mail is automotive related, then it is marketing, I don't care if I open it or not, most is total junk, trying to sell me some product, or feature, that I am not interested in....

If the e-mail is targeted to the lower regions of my anatomy, or some gal that is lonely and wants to talk to me via e-mail, or any other e-mail that is not automotive related, then it is by my definition SPAM...

So basically
Targeted = Marketing
Non-targeted = SPAM

So I just spent my 2 pennies....

IMHO, it's too bad that Tam has been treated so poorly that she has to put an explanation and defensive positioning in her signature to help ward off the wolves. I'm glad she's here, I love her posts, and hope she continues to participate.

The only thing I don't agree with is the advertising in her signature. IMO, that does border on spam, but I can certainly see both sides of the issue.

I think Tam's original post was that the knife forum people considered it spam. Whatever the legal definition is does not matter, it is their group and they call the shots. Pretty much the same on any group.

Some posted that they do not like seeing any adverts in the signature lines but that is up to what each group allows. Here at SRP it is allowed within limits. A simple text mention or link is allowed, large graphic banner sigs are not. I don't recall the rules concerning shaving related or not though and whether "off topic" signatures would be "spam" or not. To me it is. If you are getting free advertising on this group it ought to at least relate to the group topic.

I'm sure others are concerned with signature line adverts vs. the paid banners. I use both, a simple signature/link and a monthly paid advert if for no other reason to support our good cause.

Whether one agrees with the rules or not we are guests in Lynn's living room here and we should gracefully enjoy whatever is served!

Tony

very well put TM !!!