whats the point

But having it there has definitely made people contact you for work, hasn't it?
Do you honestly think this is fair for the people who pay to do business here?

 

Perhaps it would be simplest not to have any profile...? Don't tell, don't ask.

 

I wouldn't say that at all. A profile is a good way of introducing yourself, of letting people know where you're from, and what your interests are. What the vBulletin software doesn't take into account is that Bladeforums has gone to member subscription financing. This has brought us to setting permissions for different activities. Advertising may fall into this area.

 

Not that I care but the rule says:

Discussion threads
Signature
Home page listing in user profile

It doesn't mention occupation at all. If that's the rule then someone needs to rewrite the rule as written because it doesn't say occupation nor does it imply occupation. The part about if a rule is unclear then the stricter rule applies is irrelevant. The rule as written is not unclear. It lists 3 things non paying members cannot do. Add a fourth prohibited action to the list and there can be no argument.

 

I understand what you're trying to say, but we sort of expect that if a person is smart enough to use a computer and smart enough to make knives....that they are cognizant enough to understand that you don't advertise your work or products here without the proper paid membership level. We can't possibly list absolutely everything that is a violation. We expect that our members have enough honesty and integrity to recognize right from wrong and do the right thing.

 

I'm looking at this with a different view point:

1) I've been a paying member here since Spark started memberships, went to the Craftsman/Service provider when it was required. For well under the price of any advertisement out there I get great coverage and if I pay three years at a time I get a little forum of my own. I cant even imagine a less expensive way to get my work out there.

2) I cant understand why you would not want to promote a great service like the one you do.

3) Stumbling upon your profile and seeing you did said service would actually prompt me to ask as I get occasional inquiries from my sheath customers on refinishing their knife. oops, yea.

Through working with most of the sheath makers here I've seen a few with your viewpoint, why pay to play when its so easy to get the word out through roundabout means. Now that is unfair to those of us who play by the rules here.

I am willing to bet that this thread alone has brought business in, or at least got the word out a little farther. Free advertising. Even controversial press is good business.

No plus or minus from me just some observations, I pay for a membership, but I also volunteer my time as a moderator. Both are a lot of work in addition to what I do for a living.

 

I'm saying just what I wrote, however, if you wish to imply or infer it otherwise. I can't and won't stop you.

 

jforbush, I've heard enough from you. Your language is intemperate, your attitude towards Karda is insulting. He isn't singling you out. There's a thread in Shop Talk where bladsmth, the forum moderator, explained this policy to the knifemakers posting there: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-If-you-are-a-Knifemaker-then-be-a-Knifemaker

Karda took over from that point, instructing members with links to a business that they needed to upgrade their memberships. This is a forum rule that Spark set up in support of the paid membership system. If you don't like it, you don't have to pay. But then you don't get to play, either. Now that your homepage lists Occupation: something I can't say, I think we're finished here.

 

Do you really think publishing your business email and phone number on an open forum would not be advertisement for yourself?
Trying to help is no excuse and you should use better Judgement.

Why would you get a service provider membership?
Because if you had one, I wouldn't have said a word to you.