 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-04-08 14:39
One of the posters asked me to clarify the "gray areas" when it comes to posting on the BBoard. While I told him that if I could clarify then it wouldn't be "Gray" anymore, let me expound a bit on what happens when I read a posting here for advertising content.
First, the easy ones. Those are the ones that are pure advertising copy. They're either deleted without comment (in which case very few people ever know it existed) or the content is deleted (in which case I'll explain why it was deleted).
Then there's the ones that are a bit more subtle but still advertising - and where people are trying to "cheat". eBay postings got that way. People were asking for "information" on eBay items but actually were the ones selling the items. Now you know why I don't want eBay items on the BBoard. It takes me way too long to find out what the realities of the situation are. If someone wants to use an eBay posting for information, please wait until after the item is sold. There have been a number of variations on this one (not just eBay) and I keep watch ...
Then there's the "slip in a pitch" while giving out good information. Most of the time I'll write someone a private email telling them that I noticed and to please keep it inbounds (business information should be travelling via a different route than the BBoard). I'll normally not even edit the post if it's a really small thing.
There's also the "write a technical discussion but there's no way I can't promote my product at the same time". Difficult one there. Sometimes it goes too far & I let the poster know, sometimes it gets edited, and sometimes the value of the information is too great to do anything at all. Very gray ...
Then there's the grayest of all - service techs writing about what they do. Good information for all, but inherently self-promoting. As long as the discussion stays within some undefined ("I'll know it when I see it") parameters, I stay uninvolved, other than asking questions like "I see you like XYZ brand. Do you sell them?". If the service tech doesn't sell any instruments but is just recommending based on experience, it stays. If they also sell, it's deleted and the poster is asked not to mention that particular experience anymore. But, all in all, service techs are treated on a case-by-case basis.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-04-08 15:18
TKS, Mark, very well explained, reasonable, "gray-area" "rules" Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Todd W.
Date: 2003-04-08 18:45
Speaking of eBay . . . DANGER! DANGER! . . . a recent listing was headed: "Premium [brand name] Clarinet + VERY SHARP +"
Perhaps not the best description.
Todd W. :+)
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Author: icecoke12
Date: 2003-04-18 06:54
Hi
Isn't it a waste if the posters don't get to discuss about where to buy the cheapest clarinets, accessories etc...
(thought that's part of the fun of participating in online forums,
even though it may sound a bit like my neighbours discussing about where to buy the cheapest vegetables and which supermarkets have sale going on...)
but of course its difficult to draw the line on whether someone is promoting his/her own products/services (recommending people to your store)
or the poster truly knows of a good deal/offer and hopes that more people can gain from the knowledge.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-04-18 14:16
icecoke12 wrote:
> Isn't it a waste if the posters don't get to discuss about
> where to buy the cheapest clarinets, accessories etc...
Posters can and do discuss where they find good buys, etc. Sellers can't advertise, that's really the point.
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Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2003-04-18 23:09
I try not to "self promote", just offer adivce. If it appears that I am, I'll discontinue posting.
jbutler
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Author: Karel
Date: 2003-04-19 02:51
Jbutler, no you don't come over as self promoting, just helpful.
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Author: R13A
Date: 2003-04-19 04:08
relax, John. I'll do your promoting for you.......for a small fee , of course
![[happy]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley12.gif)
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2003-04-19 04:41
To jbutler: I just wanted you to know that I have always found your advice to be extremely informative, useful, insightful, and enlightening.
In all of your posts that I have read, I have never even detected a "hint" of self-promotion.
It is the sharing of valuable information by repairpersons of your high caliber that make this BB so important to so many people (like me) who need edification.
I wish you would post more often.
If you should discontinue posting, I would consider that be a tremendous loss to the Woodwind.org "family".
Keep them coming, John. The more you post...the more I learn.
Sincerely,
Dan Shusta
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