Re: Rules for the Forum.

[AndyFrank]

just a suggestion that 'direct promotion' of one's business or another's business,
whether it be an address, phone #, directions, signature website link in a post
should not be allowed as well, as there are no 'unofficially official' sponsors here

Do you mean like the signature of MFG below?

Signature:
 Regards,
Jon and Sharon Garon
http://www.myfavoriteguitars.com
Store Line: 239-530-PICK (7425)
Authorized Taylor Guitars Dealer

[michaelw]

just a suggestion that 'direct promotion' of one's business or another's business,
whether it be an address, phone #, directions, signature website link in a post
should not be allowed as well, as there are no 'unofficially official' sponsors here

Do you mean like the signature of MFG below?

Signature:
 Regards,
Jon and Sharon Garon
http://www.myfavoriteguitars.com
Store Line: 239-530-PICK (7425)
Authorized Taylor Guitars Dealer

Andy, i had merely made the suggestion -
if there is a post or thread that you feel is in appropriate,
please feel fee to PM the administrator or one of the mods
thank you for your understanding

Jon & Sharon, i hope you & your staff & your families & friends had a VERY
MERRY CHRISTMAS ! !

[Ted @ LA Guitar Sales]

Although I had made one suggestion already I would advise not piling on too many rules right away, not until there are more members here. The last thing you want is to have a small clique decide the direction of this forum. The most popular guitar forum had but two rules for over a decade, be nice, and no pricing discussion. Something to think about.

[jjrpilot-admin]

Although I had made one suggestion already I would advise not piling on too many rules right away, not until there are more members here. The last thing you want is to have a small clique decide the direction of this forum. The most popular guitar forum had but two rules for over a decade, be nice, and no pricing discussion. Something to think about.

Ted, good point.  The rules that are in place are pretty much how I would want them to be anyways.  People here have been extremely considerate of eachother...which is amazing.  The members here on the UTGF, have been wonderful.

[dcarey]

A brief summary of all the rules:

Be nice
Be respectful
Have fun

[Ed422]

A brief summary of all the rules:

Be nice
Be respectful
Have fun

And IMO, Josh is always right.  We are in his house.

Ed

[jjrpilot-admin]

A brief summary of all the rules:

Be nice
Be respectful
Have fun

And IMO, Josh is always right.  We are in his house.

Ed

I'm not above the rules either friend.    I'm very glad to have all of you here!

[Cindy]

just a suggestion that 'direct promotion' of one's business or another's business,
whether it be an address, phone #, directions, signature website link in a post
should not be allowed as well, as there are no 'unofficially official' sponsors here

I'd like to get this out in the open because even I am a little confused as to what is and isn't acceptable. One of the forum rules states:

4. No dealers/companies advertising right now. (Actively trying to sell your goods to users.) At some point we may look at 
    sponsors etc.     UTGF is intended as a non-commercial forum for the entertainment and enlightenment of members. Posts 
    which in the opinion of the moderators call attention to the commercial activities of a poster are prohibited and will be
    deleted. Repeated violations of this rule may lead to account suspension.

Some people put info into their signatures which list company/business names, addresses, and phone numbers. In addition, the signature area of our profile is set up to accept hyperlinking to a web site. However, other forum members who we know sell guitars have not included any company names or links in their signature areas, and my guess is that they are just being respectful of the rules. I too was under the impression that no advertising was supposed to be allowed. Please note...whether it is or isn't allowed doesn't matter to me at all. I'd just like to see fairness for everyone.

So Josh, what is acceptable to you? It's a question that only you can answer. Is it okay for anyone to hyperlink their web site even if they do some type of selling (realtors, life insurance, car sales, etc.) providing their posts aren't pushing sales? Of course, if it's porn, forget it!!! I'd just like to have a little clarification please. Thank you!

[jjrpilot-admin]

just a suggestion that 'direct promotion' of one's business or another's business,
whether it be an address, phone #, directions, signature website link in a post
should not be allowed as well, as there are no 'unofficially official' sponsors here

I'd like to get this out in the open because even I am a little confused as to what is and isn't acceptable. One of the forum rules states:

4. No dealers/companies advertising right now. (Actively trying to sell your goods to users.) At some point we may look at 
    sponsors etc.     UTGF is intended as a non-commercial forum for the entertainment and enlightenment of members. Posts 
    which in the opinion of the moderators call attention to the commercial activities of a poster are prohibited and will be
    deleted. Repeated violations of this rule may lead to account suspension.

Some people put info into their signatures which list company/business names, addresses, and phone numbers. In addition, the signature area of our profile is set up to accept hyperlinking to a web site. However, other forum members who we know sell guitars have not included any company names or links in their signature areas, and my guess is that they are just being respectful of the rules. I too was under the impression that no advertising was supposed to be allowed. Please note...whether it is or isn't allowed doesn't matter to me at all. I'd just like to see fairness for everyone.

So Josh, what is acceptable to you? It's a question that only you can answer. Is it okay for anyone to hyperlink their web site even if they do some type of selling (realtors, life insurance, car sales, etc.) providing their posts aren't pushing sales? Of course, if it's porn, forget it!!! I'd just like to have a little clarification please. Thank you!

Sorry for the confusion all!  Guitar dealers are more than welcome to post their dealer website in their signatures.  The key area of focus for right now is the phrase "Actively trying to sell your goods to users."  Dealers can't say "Hey John Doe, I have that exact guitar in stock, buy it from me etc." 

I want dealers to feel welcome as well, to interact on the forum, but not pester people for business.  I think in mid to late January we will look at having sponsors.  We'll probably create a sub-forum just for dealers to post about their sales etc.  We'll probably have small, non-intimidating banners squares on the forum to the side etc.  Even future possible sponsors will be held to the same rules that are in place now...the only difference is that they WOULD be allowed to advertise within their own sub-forum...but not anywhere else.  So normal UTGF users wouldn't be "spammed" for business in all the other areas of the forum.  If UTGF users wanted to see specials etc...they would have to click on the specific sub-forum for dealers. 

Is this all set in stone?  Nope.     Are having sponsors set in stone?  Probably, since it will accomplish 2 things.  Help pay for the website itself, and it will also direct others as to where they might purchase their new Taylor.   

[dcarey]

Things will work themselves out as we progress. Hold off on "rules" as long as we can and base activities on "suggestions" and common sense.

[Ted @ LA Guitar Sales]

One of my clients told me a story of two guys who started a business together and the only agreement they had was "Harry and John are 50/50 partners in this business" written in pencil on a piece of wood which was nailed to the wall of their office. That "agreement' held up for sixty years. Sometimes less is more.

[Cindy]

Josh, thanks for the clarification! Back around the first day I think someone asked about advertising, and you said you wouldn't allow any so I wasn't sure what was acceptable now.

One of my clients told me a story of two guys who started a business together and the only agreement they had was "Harry and John are 50/50 partners in this business" written in pencil on a piece of wood which was nailed to the wall of their office. That "agreement' held up for sixty years. Sometimes less is more.

Ted, I agree that less is more.

[Ted @ LA Guitar Sales]

Josh, thanks for the clarification! Back around the first day I think someone asked about advertising, and you said you wouldn't allow any so I wasn't sure what was acceptable now.

Same here Cindy. I actually put a link to my site in my profile after I noticed another dealer do it but wasn't sure about anything else until I spoke to Josh. Honestly at this point I'm pretty sure everyone here knows who I am anyway. 

[dsamuel24]

Hey all... one thing I would like to ask, both of the Owner of this forum, and the few moderators that have signed on, is that deleting posts and merging threads be done VERY discriminately and in very rare doses, please.

One of the BIGGEST problems I had with another forum was that 1 or 2 of the mods over there deleted many of my very poignant posts that were very valuable to several discussions and all of a sudden they were just GONE... it was as if I didn't exist. They also merged a thread of mine that was totally different from another thread, but b/c THEY found it similar, they merged it and ruined it for me and those wanting to discuss my thread topic only (and not a deluge of other, however similar, ideas). And after I voiced my frustration with the mod's decision to merge by posting a response on the merged thread several times (trying to get somebody's attention) the thread was just locked. What a waste. Please don't make a rule that we can't question moderator decisions (that happen in public, on threads) in public (by posting a response on the thread). Give us some credit as adults, and as EQUALS to the mods.

Yes, if there's cussing, explicit/violent/threatening language, berating, or other blatant disregard for the rules, delete away. But, please, please, if there are grey areas in YOUR mind, let them go and see what happens... let us self-moderate and self-correct. Please don't merge threads that are similar, but obviously different, and please don't delete a post if it makes a joke in a vaguely crude way (I do have an example if you want to hear it)... just let us find our way without the overbearing mod presence of the AGF. I, for one, would GREATLY appreciate it!! 

Uh-oh, this post may be gone soon, as it appears to BEND rule #3

3. No bashing of other forum boards, or guitar companies.  After all...we all love Taylor!  What more do we need?   

If you all have any feedback feel free to post your opinions!

I don't mean to "bash" the AGF, but I do want to clarify (and feel it is appropriate to do so) what I feel was the main thing that makes that forum less than Utopian. We need to learn from their mistakes to make this the best place it can be. Fair enough?


edited to remove specific reference to another forum

[Cindy]

Uh-oh, this post may be gone soon, as it appears to BEND rule #3

3. No bashing of other forum boards, or guitar companies.  After all...we all love Taylor!  What more do we need?   

If you all have any feedback feel free to post your opinions!

Just wanted you to know that frankly I don't know how to merge posts...at least not yet...so you are safe from having me do that at this time! LOL!

Now where oh where did the Delete key go??? Just kidding!!!