Please Read - No Referral Threads

[Kaa]

Hi everyone!

You will notice that several of the referral threads for ING have been removed. It is against posting guidelines to offer referrals. If you have any questions after reading the posting guidelines, feel free to email the webmasters.

[summerrluvv]

WOW that thread has been up for a month and now referrals aren't allowed? Interesting. Maybe it's because people were creating new threads and clogging up the board :confused:

So what about the ebay thread that has links to other people's auctions in it? That's referring someone to your auction with the hopes of getting something monetary out of it correct?

[ripleysmom]

Thank you, kaa. I was thinking about reporting them last night but figured that you guys would take care of it since it was getting out of hand.

[dolphincrazy]

Originally posted by ripleysmom
Thank you, kaa. I was thinking about reporting them last night but figured that you guys would take care of it since it was getting out of hand.


That's mighty noble of you, especially considering that everything was going fine and it wasn't hurting anybody, from what I saw everyone was helping each other out to make some extra money for their upcoming Disney trips I don't see how that can be a problem but, if it's not allowed then it's not allowed Thanks for being so on top of your moderating duties Kaa;)

[wdwdvcdad]

another arbitrary, lame decision. at least they're consistently inconsistent.

[gary4jenn]

If it hadn't been for the INg thread I wouldn't have known about ING and now I've earned enough for a 5-day pass. Isn't it the purpose of this forum to help give us ways to help us get back to Disney as frequently and cheaply as possible.

Besides, the referrals were given through personal emails- not on this forum. And tons of people have links to other websites on their replies that promote products/services which they found beneficial.

Not sure I agree with this.

[ripleysmom]

"That's mighty noble of you, especially considering that everything was going fine and it wasn't hurting anybody"

Actually yes it does hurt people. It hurts the people who put up their thread but aren't asked for referrals while others are asked for lots of referrals.

Also I don't know about you but I don't come to this board to see people begging. If I want to see begging I can go to the CB and fill up on begging the Tag Fair for tags threads.

Rather than blame the mods, you should blame the people who drew attention to the thread by separating out their referral requests.

Personally I feel as though the ING thread was better suited to the Rewards board. I thought that that is where earning money for Disney threads are supposed to go.....

[dolphincrazy]

Originally posted by ripleysmom
"That's mighty noble of you, especially considering that everything was going fine and it wasn't hurting anybody"

Actually yes it does hurt people. It hurts the people who put up their thread but aren't asked for referrals while others are asked for lots of referrals.

Also I don't know about you but I don't come to this board to see people begging. If I want to see begging I can go to the CB and fill up on begging the Tag Fair for tags threads.

Rather than blame the mods, you should blame the people who drew attention to the thread by separating out their referral requests.

Personally I feel as though the ING thread was better suited to the Rewards board. I thought that that is where earning money for Disney threads are supposed to go.....

I agree that some people did go a little overboard with asking for referrals, and maybe this was the wrong board to post the thread(I did not start it) I also agree some people may have gotten more referrals than others, it's not up to the person asking for the referrals who gets them, it's the person wanting one and it's their choice who they ask for one. I was hoping everyone would be fairly asked , as I said we were trying to help each other out
at least most of us were.

[summerrluvv]

I started the thread on the budget board and my intention wasn't to get referrals, it was to inform people about ING. Then people wanting referrals started posting to the board, and that's why I edited my original post to include my email address for the referrals. I would have put it on the Rewards board, but I didn't know it would turn into a referral thing and that is why I didn't.

Sorry for posting it, but your welcome to the people that benefited from it.

[wdwdvcdad]

don't be sorry, it was a great post & a great idea!

[always quiet]

Thank you for the wonderful thread about this bank. :D I don't want to question board policy, but this thread made me aware of this bank's offer....and made me $165.00 richer than I was before signing up!! :bounce: Seeing how it did indeed help me with MY budget, I feel the post was right where it belonged. JMHO ;)

[Lorix2]

summerrluvv - yes, thank you for starting that thread and I'm sure to be a customer of ING for a long time. Great way to start vacation savings, etc...

I'm dissappointed that I cannot refer to the thread anymore, because there was very useful info from customers who could provide information quicker than a phone call to ING.

I do have to agree, that in the end though, some people in particular didn't want to be "one upp'd" and would almost beg to send you a referral if they thought there post was being buried.

Everytime I opened an email notification, I was hoping for new info, but instead got more of "I STILL have referrals left", yes thank you, we knew the first 6 times you posted.

Sorry you're thread was pulled, thanks again.

[gravymom]

Thanks Sumerrluvv for starting the thread. I know that I am $175 dollars richer than before. Just sucks that there is not a place we can go to continue to spread the word. Also sucks that narrowmined people were itching to have a harmless thread pulled (believe me, I have seen many thread on these boards get nasty and still not get pulled.) Hope they sleep well at night.

[dolphincrazy]

You know, I've seen other boards where they have a special area for referrals which is a great idea, why can't we have something like that?

[BethR]

A referral board might be a good idea, but it is not a decision that Moderators can make. That is why Tammy and Beanie (on the Rewards Board) have asked anyone who has any questions to contact the webmasters of the DIS.

Unless there is a change in policy here, I suggest that you get your referrals at the sites that allow them.

[dolphincrazy]

You know, I've seen other boards where they have a special area for referrals which is a great idea, why can't we have something like that?

[Lewisc]

Seems like everyone is "ganging up" on the moderators. I'm glad the referral threads are gone. The constant begging for people to use "their" paid links/codes really takes away from the board.

A suggestion, for "legit" referals; have a link on the board with revenue going to the board. I don't care if the $ is used to defray board expenses or even to provide income for Pete.

I'm sure these boards are (very) expensive to run. It really isn't fair for people to use them for personal financial gain. Pete takes care of the overhead and members think they should be able to financial gain. Doesn't sound fair to me.

[Hawk]

Originally posted by gravymom
Thanks Sumerrluvv for starting the thread. I know that I am $175 dollars richer than before. Just sucks that there is not a place we can go to continue to spread the word. Also sucks that narrowmined people were itching to have a harmless thread pulled (believe me, I have seen many thread on these boards get nasty and still not get pulled.) Hope they sleep well at night.

I think it "sucks" when people do not know the rules, fail to find out the rules, bend the rules to suit themselves or disregard the rules. A significant amount of this is going on lately. If you don't like the rules, either put yourself in a position to change the rules or lobby those in such a position to change the rules. It appears that there is a place for the type of posts you advocate. Why not use it! I would rather not see personal solicitations, "I have something for sale" posts or referral posts on these boards. Not that I have a problem with those types of posts, just that this isn't the place.

I hope your not getting down on the moderators, they have a job to do. Good job moderators.

Hawk.

[summerrluvv]

Originally posted by Lewisc


I'm sure these boards are (very) expensive to run. It really isn't fair for people to use them for personal financial gain. Pete takes care of the overhead and members think they should be able to financial gain. Doesn't sound fair to me.

So then you must have a problem with the ebay thread then too right? I haven't been keeping up with that one, but the last time I read it, people were posting their ebay usernames which would result in financial gain if someone from the board bid on their item correct?

I see this as being no different.

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by summerrluvv
So then you must have a problem with the ebay thread then too right? I haven't been keeping up with that one, but the last time I read it, people were posting their ebay usernames which would result in financial gain if someone from the board bid on their item correct?

I see this as being no different.
---------------------------

I think at some point the moderators specifically asked that we not do that.. However, people who are "new" to the thread may do it without realizing they shouldn't because the request from the mods is probably buried about 50 pages ago!! LOL :teeth:

[summerrluvv]

Originally posted by C.Ann
---------------------------

I think at some point the moderators specifically asked that we not do that.. However, people who are "new" to the thread may do it without realizing they shouldn't because the request from the mods is probably buried about 50 pages ago!! LOL :teeth:

Thanks for the clarification!! I sell (and buy) on ebay, but I just couldn't keep up with that thread!!

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by summerrluvv
So then you must have a problem with the ebay thread then too right? I haven't been keeping up with that one, but the last time I read it, people were posting their ebay usernames which would result in financial gain if someone from the board bid on their item correct?

I see this as being no different.

It's not up to me (or you) to make the rules. I'm not sure if the E-Bay posts are classified the same or not. I see some difference between a person letting you know they have a unique product for sale on E-Bay and dozens of people asking you to use a referral code BUT I'd have no problem if if the people trolling for E-bay bidders were treated the same.

People who want to use these boards to promote an auction should be listing the items with DISauctions.

I AM SAYING IT'S WRONG to slam the moderators for enforcing board rules.

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Lewisc
It's not up to me (or you) to make the rules. I'm not sure if the E-Bay posts are classified the same or not. I see some difference between a person letting you know they have a unique product for sale on E-Bay and dozens of people asking you to use a referral code BUT I'd have no problem if if the people trolling for E-bay bidders were treated the same.

People who want to use these boards to promote an auction should be listing the items with DISauctions.

I AM SAYING IT'S WRONG to slam the moderators for enforcing board rules.

I am in 100% agreement with you and Hawk on this one. Does anyone read the rules when they sign up for this board?

[ripleysmom]

Lord knows that I am not a mod kiss *** but, as I mentioned on Page 1, I am in total agreement with their decision.

If that makes me a narrowminded person...well....I think I can deal with that. Heck I can even spell it!! :smooth:

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
I am in 100% agreement with you and Hawk on this one. Does anyone read the rules when they sign up for this board?
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Believe it or not, I agree as well! I don't have my ebay user name on the ebay thread that I started and when people have PM'ed me for it, I have declined to give it out - unless it was someone that I considered a personal friend..

When I started that thread it was to show people "how" to earn extra money for a trip to Disney - not to "promote" their own auctions - and I will never personally condone that..

However, if the occasional ebay user name makes its way into a post, it's usually by a newcomer who isn't aware that it's a "no-no"..

And let's face it - there's NO way that a moderator could keep up with that thread to stay on top of any infringements because it simply moves too fast.. :teeth:

[CarolA]

I am amazed at some of the things I see here.

These boards are a business. The reason they are FREE to you is that the owners make MONEY from the advertisers. That gives them the right to control the adverstisers. IF the bank in question wants to buy and add, then they can. Basically, if you are soliciting for ANYTHING, you are in competetion with the business Pete and company might get on the board.

People think the interent is "Free". It's not, bandwidth is expensive. I think that gives the sponsor the right to control solicitation. They have made it perfectly clear that selling things is against the rules. So what is the difference between selling and solicitation? And if you don't like the rules, you can always leave.

[summerrluvv]

Good grief, maybe this thread should just be closed now. It's going to end up to be 35 pages long with everyone adding their take on the situation. I'm not replying anymore :sunny:

[DMRick]

Occasionally, as C.Ann says, a newbie to the eBay thread will give her eBay name, and usually someone (um..that would prob be me) will let them know we aren't suppose to post our eBay names to promote our sales. Sometimes, they get by, because someone may have a problem, and wants help..and they can only be helped if we can look at the auction. I don't post my eBay name, unless it's to someone privately that I feel comfortable with..and I think most do it through PM when they do. As far as posting on the Dis Auctions, I've also tried that, and it's very limited in categories, and buyers!

And in any case, if the mods/owner decide some things can be said and others can't, well, they own/run the board..I'll go along with whatever they decide.

[Lollipop Mom]

I was active on the thread here and on the rewards boards. I'm not sure why there is so much hostility here towards the moderators? Yes, it's a great opportunity but if it's against the rules, it's against the rules. I'm sure the rules are in place for a reason, more than likely to keep the bickering and constant bumping to just make sure your name is the most recent one from burying threads on other topics. It's not like a specific rule was created JUST for this thread. There is no reason to fuss at the moderators about it. I've been a moderator at another site and it can be a thankless job.

I'm sure the idea of a referral board has been passed on to Pete. If it's something he agrees with, then we'll see an anouncement soon. If not, then we have to deal with that and be thankful for the money we were able to accumulate to date.

As for the ebay thread, I don't see it as the same thing at all. I've read (most) of it and have posted a few times. The reason I don't see it as the same thing even if people DID have their user names posted is that in a lot of cases it's not just about "advertising." A lot of people posting and lurking there are very new to the idea of selling on ebay. The user names may be posted to give an example of setting up a template for your auctions, or how to word your TOS. Several other things. This is of course unless it was blatant "I just listed an XYZ Widget cheap on Ebay. Item # 123456 Stop by and check it out" If that thread became nothing more than "check out my auctions too at www._____.com" then it would be a problem but a quick skim through the thread shows that is FAR from the case!

That's just my humble opinion...you can feel free to disagree if you like.

[Gillian]

Thanks for letting me/us know the rules! I didn't think that it might be against board policy and honestly, didn't bother to check. I'm sorry!

I would be nice if there were a way to get some of that helpful info back up without the referrals. I know on other boards the mods will delete out referral info or requests for PMS but leave the post & thread. But that would be a lot of work for the mods.

[gravymom]

Hawk,

I was not bashing the moderators. Just the folks who sound like tattletales.

And Ripley, I can spell - that was obviously a typo due to a wiggling toddler in my lap.

[BethR]

Some of these posts are ridiculous! Sounds like a school yard fight. :rolleyes:

I think that everyone now knows that asking for Referrals is not permitted on the DIS. It is like solicitation.
We do not currently have a "Referral" type of board. The decision to have one is up to Pete and the other Webmasters.
The Moderators are volunteers here and sometimes are not "on top" of every post or thread.
We have the "Report This Post" feature, so that if there is a questionable post or thread, anyone can alert Moderators of that fact. We get an e-mail that gives us a link takes us directly to that post. Using this feature does not make anyone a "tattletale" or a Moderator kissbutt.
Some of the posts on this thread are sounding personal. If you have something to say to anyone personally in this thread (or ever), please make use of e-mail or Private Messages.

Thank You!