Please explain the "no advertising" rules on CD forums

[jecc]

The forum rules strictly prohibit advertising. When I was new here, someone posted asking about massage therapists in my area. I responded with a recommendation, and a moderator deleted the info. So I never again recommended a business or service provider by name.

I usually hang out in the New Mexico forum, and right now I see all kinds of posts mentioning businesses by name in response to people asking for good vets, hair dressers, RV parks, doctors, restaurants, and so forth.

Is this not advertising? If it's OK, then why was my post deleted way back when? Have the guidelines changed?

I don't mind that there's a policy. I'd just like to know what it is. Can a moderator or admin please explain?

Thanks.

[Administrator]

We did not have any set recommendation rules before Feb. 2008. Here is the thread with our new rules: http://www.city-data.com/forum/about...tions-not.html, specifically http://www.city-data.com/forum/2884010-post41.html.

[jecc]

Thanks for the link to this:

<<We decided to allow recommendations by posters that have at least 10 posts. One cannot recommend himself/herself. The only area where recommendations are not permitted is real estate, however general responses, such as "we have many helpful and knowledgeable real estate agents on this forum - just DM them" are fine.>>

Sounds good to me. Could this be added to the Terms of Service somehow? It's pretty clear and easy to go by, but only if people can find it.

[Katie1]

That funny With the new up grades I am seeing a lot of people adv their business!!
I early on adv my girlfriends house in ads & got slapped [so to speak] by YAC!!

[the painter]

I too am abit confussed, yesturday a guy was tooting his horn and gave out his website, now today it has disappeared, at least I can't locate it... lol But what about todays post about I have a house for you and then the contact info??? It's very simply to me-it says no advertising. No means No not yes

[jeannie216]

Originally Posted by the painter

I too am abit confussed, yesturday a guy was tooting his horn and gave out his website, now today it has disappeared, at least I can't locate it... lol But what about todays post about I have a house for you and then the contact info??? It's very simply to me-it says no advertising. No means No not yes

if you see something that appears to be advertising, please feel free to use the report button.

[sunrico90]

From our TOS, this applies to all: Real Estate Agents and other businesses will not advertise their services nor solicit business in their posts.

[Katie1]

I have seen ads in Public Profiles & on Blogs since this started!

[jecc]

Originally Posted by jeannie216

if you see something that appears to be advertising, please feel free to use the report button.

This is not really the point of my question. I want to know what's OK for me to post as just an average Joe forum member. I'm not so interested in policing other members, unless there's a really bad violation.

[jeannie216]

Originally Posted by jecc

This is not really the point of my question. I want to know what's OK for me to post as just an average Joe forum member. I'm not so interested in policing other members, unless there's a really bad violation.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/about...ons-not-5.html