Clarification to those that need it(READ THE 1st POST BEFORE POSTING!)

[Tony_Bacala]

Hehe, ok, I guess I need to be more clear, since there seems to be some sort of riot going on around the net.

Links to other Joe sites, other news sites, etc IS ALLOWED, if done in the course of normal discussion here on Hisstank.

Example:

Thread: USS Flagg variantz!

--I have a Flagg variantz, yay!

--Me too, but my part is black, not gray!

--Hey look at the pic on YoJoe.com -> (Link to Flagg Entry). I guess the regular version is gray!

This is completely fine.

In the course of regular back and forth about a topic already being discussed, a site is linked to for reference, pointing out new/different info, that is 100% fine and allowed.

This has always been the case here. You can see examples here:

Links to YoJoe.com
Possible Upcoming Wave!!
Wave 9 Card Back
Ninja-Ku(Black Storm Shadow) Army builder or one person?
2003 Spy Troops Venom Cycle Tread Fire repaints
25th Anniversary Skystriker (Tiger Force)

Links to ToyNewsI.com
Upcoming Target battle pack Stalker
Updated Wave 7 (Hasbro Wave 3 2008) Images
New He-Man line

Links to JoeCanuck.com
Joe Meet in Hamilton, Ontario. Some Hasbro news.
Some Light Humor: Unlikey GI Joes
Canadian JoeMeet "Snowbank" figure has filecard by Larry Hama!
1986 Viper / TRU Viper Army Building...

Links to Multiple other websites
Hasbro's G.I. JOE Q&A Round One 2008 ANSWERS


You just can't start threads specificly to "PIMP YOUR/ANYONES ISH". Some people may not know the difference, that's fine, that's what mods are for.


Regarding news type posts. If YoJoe, JoeCanuck, CobraIsland, TNI, etc get news, that is not posted here on Hisstank, such as new images, interviews with industry folks, etc, then linking to them is allowed. We may even do so on our front page, and link to them for it. If it's news, and excluisve to them, then all links are on so to speak.

If we at Hisstank have the same news posted on our front page, since it was not "exclusive" to another site, whether it be before or after the other site's posting, we will redirect people to view the news at our site, and discuss at our site. That's part of site building, some or all other sites listed here do exactly the same thing.

TNI isn't going link to us for images Hasbro also sent them - just because we were 10 minutes first. And vice versa. Part of the game, completely fine. And both sites, of course, want their community to discuss this info at their site, to build their community. Also completely understandable.

What is disallowed, is the starting of a thread for the sole purpose of promoting another website, whether it be something like "Yay, look at this site" or "Yay, this site updated with non-news content". If a fan who doesn't know the difference does it - no harm no foul - mods will address the issue on a case by case basis. That's what they are for.

So to wrap up, links to these other sites, any of them or others not mentioned, ARE ALLOWED, HAVE BEEN ALLOWED, and will continue to be within these guidelines.

WE WILL NEVER BAN ALL LINKS TO ANY SITE.

Regardless of their treatment of our site within their own communities.

I will try to clarify if there are still issues. Just be patient.

[Agent-GHQ]

Its looking much better! Yo...... Joe!! FTW

[CharIJoe]

Originally Posted by Tony_Bacala

Hehe, ok, I guess I need to be more clear, since there seems to be some sort of riot going on around the net.

Links to other Joe sites, other news sites, etc IS ALLOWED, if done in the course of normal discussion here on Hisstank.

Example:



This is completely fine.

In the course of regular back and forth about a topic already being discussed, a site is linked to for reference, pointing out new/different info, that is 100% fine and allowed.

This has always been the case here. You can see examples here:

Links to YoJoe.com
Possible Upcoming Wave!!
Wave 9 Card Back
Ninja-Ku(Black Storm Shadow) Army builder or one person?
2003 Spy Troops Venom Cycle Tread Fire repaints
25th Anniversary Skystriker (Tiger Force)

Links to ToyNewsI.com
Upcoming Target battle pack Stalker
Updated Wave 7 (Hasbro Wave 3 2008) Images
New He-Man line

Links to JoeCanuck.com
Joe Meet in Hamilton, Ontario. Some Hasbro news.
Some Light Humor: Unlikey GI Joes
Canadian JoeMeet "Snowbank" figure has filecard by Larry Hama!
1986 Viper / TRU Viper Army Building...

Links to Multiple other websites
Hasbro's G.I. JOE Q&A Round One 2008 ANSWERS


You just can't start threads specificly to "PIMP YOUR/ANYONES ISH". Some people may not know the difference, that's fine, that's what mods are for.


Regarding news type posts. If YoJoe, JoeCanuck, CobraIsland, TNI, etc get news, that is not posted here on Hisstank, such as new images, interviews with industry folks, etc, then linking to them is allowed. We may even do so on our front page, and link to them for it. If it's news, and excluisve to them, then all links are on so to speak.

If we at Hisstank have the same news posted on our front page, since it was not "exclusive" to another site, whether it be before or after the other site's posting, we will redirect people to view the news at our site, and discuss at our site. That's part of site building, some or all other sites listed here do exactly the same thing.

TNI isn't going link to us for images Hasbro also sent them - just because we were 10 minutes first. And vice versa. Part of the game, completely fine. And both sites, of course, want their community to discuss this info at their site, to build their community. Also completely understandable.

What is disallowed, is the starting of a thread for the sole purpose of promoting another website, whether it be something like "Yay, look at this site" or "Yay, this site updated with non-news content". If a fan who doesn't know the difference does it - no harm no foul - mods will address the issue on a case by case basis. That's what they are for.

So to wrap up, links to these other sites, any of them or others not mentioned, ARE ALLOWED, HAVE BEEN ALLOWED, and will continue to be within these guidelines.

WE WILL NEVER BAN ALL LINKS TO ANY SITE.

Regardless of their treatment of our site within their own communities.

I will try to clarify if there are still issues. Just be patient.

thanks tony. you rock!

[HInsider]

Originally Posted by Tony_Bacala

What is disallowed, is the starting of a thread for the sole purpose of promoting another website, whether it be something like "Yay, look at this site" or "Yay, this site updated with non-news content". If a fan who doesn't know the difference does it - no harm no foul - mods will address the issue on a case by case basis. That's what they are for.

HS is still censoring the promotion of the community and hobby as a whole, but maybe the purpose of this site isn't to promote the hobby and the people who make up the community but drive traffic and make money. I understand you probably can't see it, but the rest of the G.I.Joe community, which this very site owes its existence to by the way, has taken notice. If you want your posters to remain ignorant of what's going on in the community more power to you.

[Tony_Bacala]

Originally Posted by meyerc13

I think you guys need to reexamine your policy when it comes to things like links to newsletters and reviews. I think a thread saying that a new newsletter from a major site is up is news, even if it is someone from that site posting it. If I post a thread saying their newsletter is up, even though I'm not affiliated with that site in any way, is that a violation too? Do you apply this policy the same way when GeneralsJoes posts that he has a new review up?

If a site does a review on a figure that hasn't been seen, is new, is rare, etc, then that is fine to link there and begin discussion. If the newsletter has new info etc, that is fine to link, quote the text that is new/groundbreaking etc, and begin discussion. But if the newsletter/review/site update is just a general thing, round-up, then it shouldn't be discussed here.

(BTW, I dont know what was in the newsletter that triggered all this, but the way it was done "Hey, its up go get it" was done in a way that shouldn't be allowed).

Originally Posted by Dream86

No thats away of alianating yourself from the rest of the community. You saying that you want "a place where folks can come and enjoy the content and fellow fans" but it's only your content on your board. The links your not allowing are from people creating content and sharing it with your members free of charge for your members benafit.

It's like a little kid who figurs out that he's not everyones favorite and takes his ball and goes home.

But I really should be thanking Hisstank now, you've managed to do someting truly unbelivable. You've rallied the membership at Joecanuck, Joecustoms, Yojoe, JBL, TNI, and Joedios to all agree to stop linking to Hisstank in boycott.

1. Links are allowed to other sites, often, and exist right now, please see my updated post.
2. Sucks that everyone reacted like that, but glad we could help!

Originally Posted by roboticplanet

Tony, I'll take your word that the linking policy here is the same as at TFW2005. If this is true, then they are not being identically enforced. I've posted many news bits over at TFW2005 in threads with the sole purpose of linking to the ACToys forums, TF08 forums and eBay (which does have fan groups, messageboards, etc). None of these sites are sponsors thus breaking the rules. In fact, the latest news story over at tfw2005 right now comes from another forum that submitted the news to TFW2005 themselves.

Without these types of links some news would never make it to TFW2005 and other "news" wouldn't be broken until sponsors or the deep-walleted members are able to acquire upcoming figures prior to release, weeks after their first appearance online.

My point is, if you're using TFW2005 as a model for the rules, then linking to other GI Joe communities for news purposes shouldn't be a problem here. Otherwise the rules are not the same, and one of these two forums needs to have them re-written to make this clear.

There is a difference between news and non-news postings. Please see my update. I think that covers your point.

And, overall, the sites are different, the rule sets aren't exactly the same. And on both, situations are handled on a case by case basis, depending on the mods. I was just mentioning this fact to explain that it's not a new concept, on site's Im involved in, and others.

[joshdahl]

Of course you are running a community and a business here, and you have to do it as best as you see fit.

However, I feel that you might be shooting yourself in the foot woith policies like these.

Naturally you want to favor your sponsors, but in teh long run you are not really helping you or them by limiting traffic in or out from your site.

First, once this becomes common knowledge, it sends a wave of doubt rippling through your community. Now they know for a fact that they might be getting the latest and hottest Joe news. There could be great deals or who-knows-what-else that tbey are missing out on. Just this little glimmer of doubt will have them checking other sites for news and sales before they settle in here for the forums etc. And once they get comfortable looking elsewhere....they might not come back. Especially if they find a realibly unbiased source for news.

Second, Google and other search engines count clicks in and out. By limiting your out clicks, you are limiting your google standing.

It is really the Macy's Vs Gimble's thing you are dealing with. You might lose a few hits to sites like The Terror Drome — Daily G.I. Joe News and Discussions but you gain a lot of reliable return traffic from the good faith that you engender.

Whatever way you guys end up going, I wish you well. You have done a lot for the Joe community and I really hope that you can be there with us for a long time to come.

Josh Dahl

[Tony_Bacala]

Originally Posted by HInsider

HS is still censoring the promotion of the community and hobby as a whole, but maybe the purpose of this site isn't to promote the hobby and the people who make up the community but drive traffic and make money. I understand you probably can't see it, but the rest of the G.I.Joe community, which this very site owes its existence too by the way, has taken notice. If you want your posters to remain ignorant of what's going on in the community more power to you.

If that site has relevant, useful content to the community, and their update or news posting is related to that content, then it would fall under "being allowed", and there is no conflict. I guess the problem here is just the way it's done.

If TNI gets a redesign, or JoeCanuck adds 20 vintage characters to their database, which have info already seen/archived here, at YoJoe, etc, then that isn't anything groundbreaking or new, and a new thread shouldn't be started just to pimp that out. Those are just loose examples, to show general theory, since I guess the reasoning behind all this is whats ticking people off.

[roboticplanet]

Thanks for the clarification Tony. It was indeed helpful and covered my point.

I would strongly recommend an addendum to the linking policy regarding news. Taken at face value, linking to other forums even for the purposes of news does appear to violate that policy. I'm glad this isn't the case.

[Tony_Bacala]

Originally Posted by joshdahl

First, once this becomes common knowledge, it sends a wave of doubt rippling through your community. Now they know for a fact that they might be getting the latest and hottest Joe news. There could be great deals or who-knows-what-else that tbey are missing out on. Just this little glimmer of doubt will have them checking other sites for news and sales before they settle in here for the forums etc. And once they get comfortable looking elsewhere....they might not come back. Especially if they find a realibly unbiased source for news.

Second, Google and other search engines count clicks in and out. By limiting your out clicks, you are limiting your google standing.

It is really the Macy's Vs Gimble's thing you are dealing with. You might lose a few hits to sites like The Terror Drome — Daily G.I. Joe News and Discussions but you gain a lot of reliable return traffic from the good faith that you engender.

Whatever way you guys end up going, I wish you well. You have done a lot for the Joe community and I really hope that you can be there with us for a long time to come.

Josh Dahl

If it's news, it's here, whether it's from us or not. Either on our front page, or discussion started by fans and continued with fans in the N&R forum.

Links to any other site is ok, so long as it's within constructive discussion, and not for the sole purpose of pimping, done purposely or indirectly.

So, links to

Yo Joe! | The 3 3/4" G.I. Joe Collector's Site — With Daily G.I. Joe News and Discussions,
JoeCanuck.com - A Canadian based message board and virtual HQ of the Canadian Joe Meet,
ToyNewsi.com - Your #1 Source for Batman, GI Joe and All your Action Figures News,
CobraIsland.com,
http://www.theterrordrome.com

are fine, or any others, as you can see, I just did it. Since it's relevant to this post, ok to put them here.

Stores, if in the course of discussion about a new-release, or even replies to sponsor updates, another store is referenced by a fan without intention to just constantly plug the other store, is pointing out a deal lets say, that is even allowed. Pure pimping is what is disallowed.

So there is very little being edited by the mods other than what we feel is either piggy-backing on the traffic here, or pure "pimping" of other sites/stores.

Hope that makes sense.

[smoke bellew]

I find this all humorously ironic considering how Hisstank began building up its member base in the first place. I used to be a poster over at JBL, Joe Sightings and others (yep, I'm an old-timer around the boards) and I seem to remember a parade of posts by someone named "Hisstank" that all directed readers to this site. Seriously, it verged on spam. So I think the policy is highly hypocritical. You used self-promotion (including promotion specific posts) on other sites, built up your membership at the possible expense of other communities and now you're concerned about the same happening here. Nice. Sauce for the gander and all that.