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

Spam has come to be a general term that's widely applied. There is also a legal definition of spam. Including a link in your sig on a forum board would probably fall under the former. Note that it wouldn't have to be strictly commercial. Might be religious or political in this context. If it was a link to your personal website where you have your autobiography and pictures of the family it probably wouldn't draw that term. So for the loose definition it's an unwanted imposition on your attention.

On forums such as this with paid sponsors/vendors it's going to be a subjective call by the owners and/or mods acting in their behalf. They may have it in the guidelines or TOC and they may not. It's a private board so they can run it like they want. There was a thread/announcement about that not to long ago where it was reiterated that, in general, commercial links in sigs were not going to be allowed unless you were a supporting vendor. It seems to be applied subjectively. There's always grey areas so it will always be generally defined. Bodybuilding for example. On the surface it wouldn't seem to conflict with vendors on a shaving forum. But lets say you had a couple of body oils or skin care products, then maybe, right?

So it might be called spam as a general term for an unsolicited promotion of anything. It really doesn't matter if it's labeled "spam". If you're being prosecuted in court then it would matter.