A heads up...

Saw this on the front page.....

http://www.hipforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2067856#post2067856

I know a lot of people in here have ads in their sigs...

 

i don't like this. i like checking out what others are making and i always remember to do it when i see their signatures... i am way too lazy to go searching through profiles. i think it's very sad that people who do this will now automatically be labeled as spammers, because i don't think that's true at all

too bad. i know a lot of the crafters on here do not make enough to pay for advertising, but do amazing work. i think it's ridiculous that i can come to a hip community site and be spammed by allposters.com and nudist friends banners, but when it comes to promoting and supporting each others (in most cases very) small businesses, we can't. i have really never been to a board that doesn't allow that, and to have it be here of all places, i just don't get it? not the people in the craft forum, anyways (which is where i spend 99% of my time btw)

oh well, just wanted to vent that. i believe i am still entitled to my opinion.

 

WHAT THE FUCK!!!??! man this sites getting silly with the rules that are being layed down. maybe it should be made that members who have payed towards hipforums could put links in their sig?? that way it prevents spanmmers but means the beautiful mamas on here could still keep their links. im like you i only remember to check their sites due to their sigs

 

Well, at least we have the sticky in here for web sites...

 

Just because we don't see the problem with it doesn't mean it hasn't caused some kind of problem in the forums in general. There has probably been others that have caused some problems and issues outside of this tiny corner of hipforums.


I liked having the mama's links at my fingertips too but unfortunately you can't say this rule applies only to some of the people. It has to be everyone or no one.

sarahstar....how do you think Skip should raise money to keep this site going? Raise the cost of the supporter donations or how about make it a paid membership only site....if you think the operating costs are covered by the few measly ten bucks he gets from us here and there you would be way off the mark and that doesn't include being paid anything for the time spent cyber babysitting this lot too. It is an aggrivating and mostly thankless job that can only be a labor of love and after all this time I'm suprised he hasn't snapped from the steady stream of stupidity that many of us don't even realize happens on here.

....guess I vented too.

 

Yeah I see the point. I will miss the signature links. Maybe there is some way people could pay for an advertising signature or something.

 

My lazy forgetful ass will miss em too! But there are reasons for things we may not see the whole picture of...

http://www.hipforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=138824
This is what Skip said in the above thread,

Looks like I need to remind you good people that we don't allow adverts, banners, outside links, etc. in your signatures and posts on this site. Only links relevant to the subject of the thread are allowed.

If you want to link your personal site, you have a field in your profile for that.

If you really want to promote something, you can purchase a banner on this website, or just go to:

http://hipplanet.com/links.php

to add a website to our search engine (free).

If you try to promote other websites here, you are just a spammer and subject to banning and post deletions.

If you currently have a URL in your signature you should remove it, or we will remove it for you and consider you a spammer.

 

I don't think that's fair at all. Most of our member's sites are just a little link in the signature, they're not being obnoxious and making tons of posts irrelevant to the subject, or starting tons of threads just to promote their site. Plus, the links are too small businesses that aren't competing with the site... hipforums doesnt sell handmade clothes or jewelry, how is etsy taking business away from hipforums? its not the same market. i'll comply with the rule but i really don't agree with it.

 

yea whats wrong with promoting handmade goods?

 

Skip has to be fair, you can't do for some and not for others.

 

lame

 

i think that having the option to pay for links in sigs would be an affordable option that skip could tap into to raise more money for the site. good idea, ydnim

 

i am speaking as someone who tries her hardest to support small businesses, whether local to me or the crafty people of this forum. i am also speaking as someone who has been running a small business for quite a while, and i realize that we *all* start somewhere, and for most of us, we weren't ready to shell out extra bucks for the advertising. hell, i've seen a couple of you ladies start right up in this forum, pretty much. NOW you could maybe afford the banner ads and all that, but what about then?
maybe i took this statement wrong:

"It takes A LOT MORE work than just adding a link to your sig, to promote a website. I suggest all of you who are SERIOUS about your business to learn how to promote it properly without spamming other websites."

i have to say again that i really don't think that the crafters in this forum are spamming. at all.

the only reason i replied at all is that i was responded to directly, and i don't want this to come off as me simply whining and saying 'that's not fair'. i know there are reasons for doing this, i just think that in the process a big, vital part of our community got overlooked. i'm not saying i'm right, i'm just saying that's the way i see it.

 

i like the links in the sigs. its more pointful than most sigs..

its not like i'm being forced to follow any links. if i'm interested (especially in the clothes) i follow it.

 

i agree with maryfairy. its not like theres links to porn sites or "free ipods" or whatnot. it allows us to see other people's handmade work and what they are selling and stuff. that how alot of people recognize each other, through their sigs. how would someone know you had a site unless they went and clicked on your name and then found the site (which people forget exists)

 

i see where you're coming from. but if you read what's being said i don't think most people are saying 'please let me keep linking to my site'. most people are saying 'i like checking out other people's sites'.

i for one have already said how lazy i am and don't look through profiles for links. i also don't go looking through that sticky unless i am really looking for something.

i just really enjoy looking at everyone's work, and that makes it easy for me. you should check it out, a lot of the people in this forum do AMAZING work.