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Use this reply only if you are sure the post is indeed spam or unauthorized advertising.
This reply will always be available in the "Using the Forum" area of THT.
Thanks for making THT the best boating information website!
Wiley, that just doesn't suit my personality, now if it began with" You stupid, dumb#@%, ignorant, MF'ing"........" well, you get the idea....... I'll TRY to play nice...... When you gonna take a few days off again???????
The problem is THT has lost about 100 potential advertisers because members have made them feel unwelcome. I honestly believe a good percentage of first time vendor posts were made in error and not intentionally against the guidelines.
Although only a small amount of revenue is generated from THT advertising it is still an important part of keeping this forum online - especially with the new server fees!
Wiley, that just doesn't suit my personality, now if it began with" You stupid, dumb#@%, ignorant, MF'ing"........" well, you get the idea....... I'll TRY to play nice...... When you gonna take a few days off again???????
Yeah, what he said...
__________________ - Chris
Guess What?? I got a Fever.. And the only prescription is.. MORE COWBELL!
-2011 Blue Wave 2400 Pure Bay / Yamaha F300 4.2 with Command Link Plus
-2003 Sea Fox 195 Bayfisher - Mercury 125 Saltwater Classic (Sold)
-1994 Wellcraft V-20 Step Lift (Sold)
The problem is THT has lost about 100 potential advertisers because members have made them feel unwelcome. I honestly believe a good percentage of first time vendor posts were made in error and not intentionally against the guidelines.
This is a great point. When a company rep comes on here, identifies himself a such and makes a post that violates guidlines, this "cut and paste reply" is a great way to put him on the right track, without making him run for cover. When I think of what the vendor forums add to THT, I think it would have been a shame if they'd had dipped their toes in the water here, only to have them bitten off.
When I think of a "spammer" I think of the guy who signs in under some other name, and claims to be "consumer" who just happened upon some cool new product and wants to let us know about it. The deception makes it obvious that this someone trying to get something for nothing.
But when a company rep identifies himself, maybe after learning that his product has been discussed on the forum before, I agree it would serve the forum to take it easy on them and make them feel welcome while letting them know the rules.
Why would any businessman come back and subject himself to the torment and agita he receives after a mistaken "ad" post? More than that, why would he ever bother coming back if he's attacked for apologizing for the first post?
I almost always stay out of this kind of stuff... and will from now on. But thanks Wiley for saying what needed to be said and giving this sensible option.
Also consider that other boating forums are littered with refugees from this forum. They bailout in disgust of the thought-police that often dominate here. Or so they say.
I don’t think it easy to find the perfect balance between allowing members the opportunity to freely express themselves (you need the membership and posting numbers) and at the same time control inappropriate msg content. That’s why there exists forum rules, and moderators to oversee those rules are adhered to. It seems this forum is lightly moderated. This affording a greater opportunity for expression, a very good thing. But it’s also a greater opportunity for abusing the privileges here.
In the end it will boil down to individual maturity. I think everyone realizes owning a bunch of wheels and anchors does not a mature person make. On occasion, such a member might even make a complete ass of themselves by what the post. How can a moderator sensor those that are putting money in his pocket? THT is not the only forum with this problem.
If my livelihood were derived from the recreational marine industry (it is not), I would not pay to participate on this forum. I would come here and participate with everyone’s knowledge I represent company XYZ. I just wouldn’t advertise here. From time to time I have seen this happen here. And yes, I would then feel compelled to check the spelling of what I posted.
I think this board could benefit from another level of moderator participation. That’s what it would take for me to pay to be here. More activity by moderators could facilitate a culture of maturity in msg content. Maybe I am wrong, but I think that would attract more business. And it would likely preclude the necessity of this thread in the first place.
I think (SOMETIMES! ) that the "guidelines" for "advertising" and "for sale" items need to be MORE "out front" - maybe BIG "headers" at the beGINNING of ALL of the Forums!
You kinda' have to "search" for "specifics" on advertising & "for sale" guidelines - not easy for newcomers to "see".
Make them BIG and BOLD - then, nobody's got an "excuse"!
There are TOO MANY that violate these "guidelines" and KNOW dam$ good and well that they are doing it! They aren't "stupid" - they're just trying to get some free advertising or avoiding paying a boat broker - and a $29.95 "fee" to sell a $100,000 boat!
THAT"S PATHETIC and should NOT be tolerated!
I do NOT want to see folks making money off WILEY'S efforts withOUT supporting the Forum in the form of MONEY! And - as has been stated 1 zillion times before - it's not fair to those that DO financially support THT!
When you "play a new game", don't you LOOK AROUND for the RULES???
Replying to a spammer 
They aren't "stupid" - they're just trying to get some free advertising or avoiding paying a boat broker - and a $29.95 "fee" to sell a $100,000 boat! 
