HaynesCamilla wrote:I didn't mean to come across as impolite, it was more to generate an interest and thinking by posting 'new Thunderbirds Haynes manual out now' it would have been impolite. No? I chose specifically to post on here as it is a relevant product for comic fans, but I appreciate the different views - it is a very interesting discussion.
Basically, the issue here is, the actual content of your post was more or less irrelevant - it was the fact that you were
paid to post it which grates. You are an advertiser, no matter which way one slices it - and in most comics, advertisements have a disclaimer reading "ADVERTISEMENT" across the top.
As I said in the original thread, I don't particularly have a problem with advertisements, particularly ones relevant to the subject matter of this forum (or, as in this case, at least likely to be of interest to its general demographic). But I feel advertisements which are not clearly marked as such amount to, yes, deception. It's not 'impolite' to admit that you are not actually a genuine member of this forum - rather, it is truthful.
Considering that Comics UK and its forum are services which are provided for free, doubtless at a not inconsiderable cost to Al (the admin), I feel it's ethically dubious at best to use those services for the purpose of directing money at a for-profit company such as Haynes. I stand by my earlier use of the term "freeloading". No comic would provide advertising on its pages for free, and I don't think Comics UK should either.
If there is demand for promoting products on this forum - and the threads about the Haynes Thunderbirds manual and Microsoft's Brandon Generator promotion (which was much more deceptive and badly-behaved than HaynesCamilla's fairly open manner) suggest that there is - then it must be time to set up an official advertising mechanism.
My proposal is:
- Declare your interest to Al, pay him an agreed sum, and he'll activate your account as a member of a new "advertisers" group (which, for example, makes your username show up in a non-standard colour) and permit you to post your promotion.
- More than one promotion (not including non-promotional replies to community members asking questions/making comments about a previous promotion) will require more than one payment (so it's not an all-you-can-eat bargain).
- Any advertisers failing to comply with these rules may be reported as spammers by Comics UK's community and deleted by the moderators.
- Possibly, higher rates could be offered to make the promotional topic sticky for a defined period of time, thus making it more prominent.
- These rules apply only to people who are in the pay of companies (whether for-profit or not) to advertise the product being promoted. Anyone may promote a product if they are not directly being paid to do so (note that this doesn't rule out, for example, promoting your own book, as the publisher is not paying you to do so), and the self-employed (e.g. artists) or hobbyists (e.g. bloggers, comic traders) may continue promoting their wares as before.
- And if the marketer wishes to become a genuine member of Comics UK's community, they can always open a second account under their own name.
Anyone got any amendments to suggest?