A rule change about signature line links

Rich_in_Tampa · 08-20-2008, 05:03 PM

A Rule Change

Executive Summary: no more web site links of any type, and no commercial references in signature lines - use your member profile instead.

With a recent increase in commercial links in signature lines, the moderators have determined that it would be best to limit all standing links to the member profile alone.

While many signature line links were to personal and noncommercial sites, many others were basically links to commercial interests. It has become difficult for the mods to track all these down, and even then it is sometimes difficult to know what is commercial and what is not. Because signature links are in your face every single time a user posts, we felt this was the best policy in order to spare our members from constant self-promotion. The community rules have been changed accordingly.

We freely acknowledge that many such links had no commercial motives, but it has simply gotten too cumbersome for us to check them one by one. This will also enable us to filter out the "one-time wonders" (one post, one ad, gone with the wind) more efficiently for you.

So, for those of you whose signature line has any links, any commercial content, or any reference to commercial content (including such content in your own profile), please move them to your user profile at your soonest convenience. After a while, the mods will delete them as time permits or PM the user to do so.

We believe this will help both the readers as well as the posters, who can now post free of any question of ulterior motives. Thanks for understanding as we work to keep ER a spam-free zone.

The Moderator Team

SecondCor521 · 08-20-2008, 05:27 PM

RIT,

Thanks for doing this.

I might add that there is some switch somewhere which allows users the option not to view signatures. I have mine set so I don't see them.

2Cor521

Leonidas · 08-20-2008, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SecondCor521

I might add that there is some switch somewhere which allows users the option not to view signatures. I have mine set so I don't see them.

I didn't know that was an option until you mentioned it. Some folks signatures can be distracting and not seeing them neatens things up. Go to User CP, select Edit Options, and go to Thread Display Options.

**REWahoo** · 08-20-2008, 05:37 PM

Interesting: Two guys with sig lines set their CP so they don't have to see other's sig lines...

SecondCor521 · 08-20-2008, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo

Interesting: Two guys with sig lines set their CP so they don't have to see other's sig lines...

I don't really see the hypocrisy. As far as I'm concerned, anyone on the board can set their viewing options any way they like and can have signatures or not. For what it's worth, I have an avatar picture but I don't display those either. The reason I don't display avatars and signatures is that I can read the content of the board faster that way.

If you meant that in a humorous way and I missed the humor, I apologize. I've spent the last 24 hours on matters related to a reluctant lawsuit and the past week unsuccessfully battling a side effect of a medication and am therefore not in a very fine mood.

2Cor521
grumpy

**REWahoo** · 08-20-2008, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SecondCor521

I've spent the last 24 hours on matters related to a reluctant lawsuit and the past week unsuccessfully battling a side effect of a medication and am therefore not in a very fine mood.

2Cor521
grumpy

On behalf of my DW, I'll pass along a "poor baby" to you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SecondCor521

If you meant that in a humorous way and I missed the humor...

As long as you've been around this board and you think I was serious? That must be some nasty medication...

Rich_in_Tampa · 08-20-2008, 06:26 PM

Good point on hiding the sig lines.

Links in signature lines are a tried and true way for people to steer traffic to their web sites; that, in turn, increases revenue from click based advertising such as Google Ads. Every message they leave with such a signature raises the ranking in various search engines.

Overall, I like signature lines - adds a little local color and interest, as long as it is used for its intended noncommercial purpose.

OAG · 08-20-2008, 06:45 PM

Good Idea..... Guess someone is reading this stuff......

SecondCor521 · 08-20-2008, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo

On behalf of my DW, I'll pass along a "poor baby" to you.

Thanks...

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo

As long as you've been around this board and you think I was serious? That must be some nasty medication...

A small confession: For the most part, I engage in this board with little note of who is saying what. Some posters stand out to me at various times and in various aspects, but many do not. I dunno, maybe that's different than most people. At any rate, I don't keep track of individuals' senses of humor and other specific characteristics, so I was just trying to cover both bases.

But now I notice you're a Moderator Emeritus. You must have a sense of humor...

2Cor521

**REWahoo** · 08-20-2008, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SecondCor521

Some posters stand out to me at various times and in various aspects, but many do not.

Oh.

My ego may never recover...

Rustic23 · 08-20-2008, 06:54 PM

RW!
I'm shocked! You mean you have not been serious all this time..... I am going to have to re-think.

Notmuchlonger · 08-20-2008, 06:58 PM

Quality derail +5 points

SecondCor521 · 08-20-2008, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo

Oh.

My ego may never recover...

Oh trust me, you stand out.

I also have a tendency to miss humor sometimes just because I am 99% of the time an extremely serious person.

And remember, just because you're here, you're special

2Cor521

Leonidas · 08-20-2008, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo

Interesting: Two guys with sig lines set their CP so they don't have to see other's sig lines...

And I almost said the same to SecondCor right before I remembered some of the sig lines I've seen recently and decided "hey, that's not a bad idea!"

cute fuzzy bunny · 08-20-2008, 07:43 PM

Well this is a huge bummer. It was easy to spot the evildoers when you saw a brand new user with the sig web links to their newly released book on how to buy annuities through leveraged gold etf's and then trading them via a momentum scheme for giant wheels of beaver cheese.

Without this valuable tool, I fear we're all lost.

In proper deference, I should at this time admit to a certain degree of sarcasm.

Westernskies · 08-20-2008, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich_in_Tampa

A Rule Change

Executive Summary: no more web site links of any type, and no commercial references in signature lines - use your member profile instead.

With a recent increase in commercial links in signature lines, the moderators have determined that it would be best to limit all standing links to the member profile alone.

While many signature line links were to personal and noncommercial sites, many others were basically links to commercial interests. It has become difficult for the mods to track all these down, and even then it is sometimes difficult to know what is commercial and what is not. Because signature links are in your face every single time a user posts, we felt this was the best policy in order to spare our members from constant self-promotion. The community rules have been changed accordingly.

We freely acknowledge that many such links had no commercial motives, but it has simply gotten too cumbersome for us to check them one by one. This will also enable us to filter out the "one-time wonders" (one post, one ad, gone with the wind) more efficiently for you.

So, for those of you whose signature line has any links, any commercial content, or any reference to commercial content (including such content in your own profile), please move them to your user profile at your soonest convenience. After a while, the mods will delete them as time permits or PM the user to do so.

We believe this will help both the readers as well as the posters, who can now post free of any question of ulterior motives. Thanks for understanding as we work to keep ER a spam-free zone.

The Moderator Team

"A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow"

**Sarah in SC** · 08-22-2008, 08:44 AM

And lets get out of the way right now: no hiding links to www.buybeavercheeze.com in your user profile!

**Want2retire** · 08-22-2008, 09:29 AM

Good one, Sarah!!! Also, as another illustration of the new rules, no siglines like
"To learn more about me, go to buymynikes dot com!".

That is essentially a link, and commercial promotion, both.

Thankyouveddymuch...

08-20-2008, 05:03 PM	#1
Rich_in_Tampa Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Tampa Posts: 6,016	A rule change about signature line links A Rule Change Executive Summary: no more web site links of any type, and no commercial references in signature lines - use your member profile instead. With a recent increase in commercial links in signature lines, the moderators have determined that it would be best to limit all standing links to the member profile alone. While many signature line links were to personal and noncommercial sites, many others were basically links to commercial interests. It has become difficult for the mods to track all these down, and even then it is sometimes difficult to know what is commercial and what is not. Because signature links are in your face every single time a user posts, we felt this was the best policy in order to spare our members from constant self-promotion. The community rules have been changed accordingly. We freely acknowledge that many such links had no commercial motives, but it has simply gotten too cumbersome for us to check them one by one. This will also enable us to filter out the "one-time wonders" (one post, one ad, gone with the wind) more efficiently for you. So, for those of you whose signature line has any links, any commercial content, or any reference to commercial content (including such content in your own profile), please move them to your user profile at your soonest convenience. After a while, the mods will delete them as time permits or PM the user to do so. We believe this will help both the readers as well as the posters, who can now post free of any question of ulterior motives. Thanks for understanding as we work to keep ER a spam-free zone. The Moderator Team __________________ Rich Tampa, FL (10% retired) As if you didn't know..If the above message happens to contain medical content, it's NOT intended as advice, and may not be accurate, applicable or sufficient. Don't rely on it for any medical purpose whatsoever. Consult your own doctor for all medical advice.

08-20-2008, 05:27 PM	#2
SecondCor521 Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Boise Posts: 1,344	RIT, Thanks for doing this. I might add that there is some switch somewhere which allows users the option not to view signatures. I have mine set so I don't see them. 2Cor521 __________________ "At times the world can seem an unfriendly and sinister place, but believe us when we say there is much more good in it than bad. All you have to do is look hard enough, and what might seem to be a series of unfortunate events, may in fact be the first steps of a journey." Violet Baudelaire.

08-20-2008, 05:37 PM	#4
REWahoo Administrator Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Texas Hill Country Posts: 12,381	Interesting: Two guys with sig lines set their CP so they don't have to see other's sig lines... __________________ [Closed for renovation]

08-20-2008, 06:26 PM	#7
Rich_in_Tampa Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Tampa Posts: 6,016	Good point on hiding the sig lines. Links in signature lines are a tried and true way for people to steer traffic to their web sites; that, in turn, increases revenue from click based advertising such as Google Ads. Every message they leave with such a signature raises the ranking in various search engines. Overall, I like signature lines - adds a little local color and interest, as long as it is used for its intended noncommercial purpose. __________________ Rich Tampa, FL (10% retired) As if you didn't know..If the above message happens to contain medical content, it's NOT intended as advice, and may not be accurate, applicable or sufficient. Don't rely on it for any medical purpose whatsoever. Consult your own doctor for all medical advice.

08-20-2008, 06:45 PM	#8
OAG Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dublin, Ohio Posts: 1,930	Good Idea..... Guess someone is reading this stuff...... __________________ Proud Vietnam Veteran: Cu Chi 66, 1 Bde, 25ID & Pleiku 66-67 41st Sig Bn 1st STRATCOM - Army Retired Jun 1979.

08-20-2008, 06:54 PM	#11
Rustic23 Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Lake Livingston, Tx Posts: 1,104	RW! I'm shocked! You mean you have not been serious all this time..... I am going to have to re-think.

08-20-2008, 06:58 PM	#12
Notmuchlonger Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 3,222	Quality derail +5 points __________________ lemony

08-20-2008, 07:43 PM	#15
cute fuzzy bunny Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ... Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Losing my whump Posts: 22,527	Well this is a huge bummer. It was easy to spot the evildoers when you saw a brand new user with the sig web links to their newly released book on how to buy annuities through leveraged gold etf's and then trading them via a momentum scheme for giant wheels of beaver cheese. Without this valuable tool, I fear we're all lost. In proper deference, I should at this time admit to a certain degree of sarcasm. __________________ Many an optimist has become rich by buying out a pessimist

08-22-2008, 08:44 AM	#17
Sarah in SC Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 2,929	And lets get out of the way right now: no hiding links to www.buybeavercheeze.com in your user profile! __________________ "Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference." - Mark Twain DINKS, 38 and 46, plan for his ER at 50, mine few yrs later. Boy it sucks getting older and having to edit your sig line to reflect that!

08-22-2008, 09:29 AM	#18
Want2retire Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Orleans Posts: 6,430	Good one, Sarah!!! Also, as another illustration of the new rules, no siglines like "To learn more about me, go to buymynikes dot com!". That is essentially a link, and commercial promotion, both. Thankyouveddymuch... __________________ Dreaming of retirement....304 days " - - my greatest skill has been to want but little - - " (Henry David Thoreau, in Walden) Last edited by Want2retire; 08-22-2008 at 09:35 AM.. Reason: embellishment! lol