05-31-2006, 02:42 PM
Since this appears to be the venue for registering response to inserting link advertising into members' posts, I'll put my feedback here.
First let me say that I enjoy participating here. BFT provides a wonderful gathering place for fishermen and fisherwomen. I consider regulars here to be my friends. It is a high point in my day and I enjoy contributing. I hope to continue.
That said, let me add my protest to the practice of inserting ads into posts. A forum like this is a partnership. BFT provides the place to participate. In exchange, posters provide the contributions that supply the interest that brings people here and brings them back. Neither party could exist without the other so it is important that we all get along.
The BFT pages are already covered with advertisements. I count 16 separate ads surrounding me as I type this post. I have contributed to other forums and none of them have as much advertising as BFT. I am OK with this to a point - but the ad insertions into contributors' posts cross the line. The trouble with inserting the ads into actual posts is that it appears to be an endorsement by the poster. Yet we have no idea what will be attached to the links. The potential for communicating things the poster never intended is very real.
I hope this little experiment is over very soon. If it continues and becomes the policy of BFT, I will consider going elsewhere, though that would be a
decision to have to make.
zonker
[signature]
First let me say that I enjoy participating here. BFT provides a wonderful gathering place for fishermen and fisherwomen. I consider regulars here to be my friends. It is a high point in my day and I enjoy contributing. I hope to continue.
That said, let me add my protest to the practice of inserting ads into posts. A forum like this is a partnership. BFT provides the place to participate. In exchange, posters provide the contributions that supply the interest that brings people here and brings them back. Neither party could exist without the other so it is important that we all get along.
The BFT pages are already covered with advertisements. I count 16 separate ads surrounding me as I type this post. I have contributed to other forums and none of them have as much advertising as BFT. I am OK with this to a point - but the ad insertions into contributors' posts cross the line. The trouble with inserting the ads into actual posts is that it appears to be an endorsement by the poster. Yet we have no idea what will be attached to the links. The potential for communicating things the poster never intended is very real.
I hope this little experiment is over very soon. If it continues and becomes the policy of BFT, I will consider going elsewhere, though that would be a
decision to have to make. zonker
[signature]