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

[Tony_Bacala]

Hey Everyone,

I was alerted to some things that were posted here and around the net today regarding links to other sites. I would like to clarify things to our members so that no confusion occurs as to whats allowed and why.

We do not allow threads to be started solely for the purpose of promoting any website, contest, store etc. This is done for several reasons, and is done on TFW2005.com as well. The reasons are as follows.

This is a community, we are trying to build a place where folks can come and enjoy the content and fellow fans here. If threads exist solely for the fact of sending them elsewhere, that is counter productive. That's a semi-selfish point of view, but part of community building IMO.

However, we understand that there is a world, and Joe fandom, outside of Hisstank. So, in order to balance out the development of the Hisstank community with this fact, the way we encourage others to promote their sites/stores/etc, is to put links to them in their signatures. By posting in threads constructively, properly, and often, you are able to alert the fans to your sites and projects, it's a free billboard. This is allowed for other Joe sites, other non-Joe sites, or stores. That gets them exposure, and our community grows with the postings.

There is a stipulation here which I think is the cause of all the drama, sponsors. Fans may start threads discussing the sponsors which help support this site. Since they are kind enough to do this, we allow the extra "pimping" by them or for them in the form of threads.

I hope that helps clear things up. If folks still don't dig it, then there isn't much I can say or do. But thems the rules.

Later!

Update:

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.

[Alyosha]

Seems to be very reasonable. I'm on board with it.

[RBPRX1204]

KK, np. Just thought peeps were looking for Rattlers, but no problem. I have no love for Target, or Wal-Mart for that matter, and really hate the idea of exclusives, but Target has all of us over a barrel if we want an aircraft besides the small ones. Just my two pennies.

[Roadblock Recall]

One thing that's not clear though. I understand the part about not creating threads solely for advertising other sites. But what about in a thread that already exists such as "wave 12 at BBTS for pre-order" or something like that...would someone be able to post within that thread a link along with "such-and-such site has that same case for 2 dollars cheaper, and cheaper shipping"?

You make it clear that starting threads for other sites is not permitted, but I'm still foggy about making individual posts withing existing threads.

Thanks for clearing all of this up.

[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?

I can understand not wanting links to non-advertisers stores, but I think that posts about reviews and newsletters is actually extra content for your site. There are two things I like about Hisstank, news and high activity. If you aren't going to have news about fan newsletters, blogs, reviews, then you are losing a large chunk of the content that attracted me and I'm sure many others to the site.

[Dream86]

Originally Posted by Tony_Bacala

This is a community, we are trying to build a place where folks can come and enjoy the content and fellow fans here. If threads exist solely for the fact of sending them elsewhere, that is counter productive. That's a semi-selfish point of view, but part of community building IMO.

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.

And it goes with out saying that Hisstank started hotlinking images and news from other sites.

Originally Posted by Tony_Bacala

We do not allow threads to be started solely for the purpose of promoting any website, contest, store etc. This is done for several reasons, and is done on TFW2005.com as well. The reasons are as follows.

And here is a little tip, in the G.I.Joe community outside of Hisstank, no one gives a rats ass what TFW2005, or any other Transformers site does. I'm glad it the sister site and all, but Joes fans just really don't care.

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.

Thanks for bringing everyone together! (gives a big thumbs up)

[Agent-GHQ]

Ah.... FFS! This is horse shiets! Community in common interest would include posting links in the effort to help others aware of cool and new things such as sales, pics, promotions, etc.

Just because this is the inter-web, doesn't mean our 1st amendment rights is limited or restricted to a degree.

Sorry, but I don't buy this. IMO, I think there's something going on behind the back stage. Perhaps, its monetary influenced!?

[zarana]

So it would be wrong to begin a thread about my Broca Beach time shares? they are very reasonably priced and we have only a slight problem with the Headman drug cartel.

[sharke]

^ lmfao

[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.