Suggestion

[Chet]

While I like HH and support it as an alternative to some of the bigger forums, i think it needs to shake the ghetto feel that some posters add.

I see that you have cracked down on people bashing that other forum, that is excellent, this forum is good on its own.

But these constant and only - *********** hosting ads posted every 2 days - maybe it is just me, but it if I didn't know HH and Chicken from his other moderating, I would wonder if this forum is nothing but a bunch of hucksters and spammers selling their wares. I mean come on - one of the *********** hosters even has clearly ripped content from other sites, yet here he is given a space to advertise his site.

Chet

[Adam]

I understand + agree with you Chet, just may i ask something.

If you was in charge of forums like these, how would you handle the problem? How would you stop the problem?

Let me know your thoughts :)

[Adam]

Im asking the question above because as far as i can see, Chicken has made this forum with everything in mind. And by that i mean from what i can see he has done everything that users have asked to be done which in turn benefits the outlook of HHO.

So please please share your thoughts, its more than encouraged here :)

[Chicken]

Last week we started discussing it in the admin forum. At issue is that *********** hosting is just a term, and I don't really think it makes sense to ban terms. What is it was called Super Reliable Hosting -would we ban all hosts that post that? Seems fruitless.

So instead, I'd rather ban the problem, not the term. One of the changes will be a ban on unlimited transfer/bandwidth and/or space ads. I don't want these posted, though the URLs may be listed in signatures and in profile.

I'd like to hear any other opinions and comments or suggestions regarding offers though, rather than flat-out dictate what will and what will not be permitted.

[Adam]

It may not be a "bannable" offence or term but one thing i find extremely annoying and im sure many other people have seen this; is the exaggeration and over-use of the term "Holiday Special".

I mean its ok to haev a "Holiday Special" for Christmas or other times like these where its a true reason for giving more than receiving; or even Independance day. But heck, there's a holiday special for...

*valentines day
*bank holiday
*3 day weekends
*3rd sunday of the quarter
*ceo/presidents' sons' daughters' birthday
*tuesday..

...ok the last three were made up but im sure you see the poin im putting across.

I admit i haven't seen it so much over here @ HHO but many other forums i see it all the time and i just thought i should post this as an advance warning before any of it commences here.

Maybe not ban all "Holiday Specials" but instead just delete or edit those which do not fall under a true holiday.

[Chicken]

That's something I've not heard anyone else comment on in all my years on forums. Not something I'm personally worried about, nor would like to regulate in any way. If you make rules and guidelines too long and complicated, the (small percentage of) people who read and follow them will give up.

[Chet]

Well I personall do have an issue with *********** hosting, it is clearly saying - we are going to help you send spam. Spam affects everyone in this business by stealing resources.


Would you allow someone to post - "Click here for tools to rip off your host"?

Chet

[Adam]

Ok i understand about complicated rules :)

[Chicken]

Originally posted by Chet:

Well I personall do have an issue with *********** hosting, it is clearly saying - we are going to help you send spam.
Chet, you're going to have to help me clearly find it on the web site you're talking about. For any ad you have a problem with, I need to see it. Out of three *********** hosts that posted, one of the three seemed questionable in terms of their definition of the term, another seemed pretty straight forward, I can't remember what the third said.

I need to see (clearly), "we are going to help you send spam" -even in so many words, but it needs to say it. That will be blocked.

[Chet]

Lets say you hate spaghetti. You decide you will not allow any spaghetti ads here.

A restaurant comes along and runs an advertisement, All Your Favorite Italian dishes, including Pizza, Italian Wedding Soup,Stromboli, Lasagna, antipasti and all your favorite Italian foods.

Are they talking about spaghetti?

I guess all these *********** hosts are just offering hosting to those poor sad sacks who for reasons other than their own abuse are always having problems being hosted, so they need to pay 5x the regular amount to be hosted?

Chet

[markblair]

This was mentioned in the past and while I agree I don't like seeing ads from people that just post ads (especially those that oversell or offer unrealistic services), I can only remember a response Chicken had in that previous thread. If the ads aren't responded to, then more than likely those posters will go away. Basically, if someone is just posting ads and it's obvious they are offering something completely unrealistic, then not responding to their ad will probably show them that doing business here isn't working. It's just a thought and maybe it'll work. It would be nice if when choosing the 'Show all new posts...' link if no ad forum posts appeared.