Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok... so I'm relatively new to these forums and don't have all the rules memorized. Anyway... I noticed something happen recently and I just have to ask about it. I think it was this forum that someone showed a picture of some home made snake hooks and someone else said it was an ad and it would probably be deleted. So what is the difference between someone showing some hooks that a friend made and someone showing a new litter of babies that they produced, or including a link to their website that has their snakes listed for sale? I'm confused by all this, so can anyone please explain it to me?

Thanks,
MissHisssss

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Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin

And,just requires a bit of common sense...blatantly replying to someones post,over,and,over,with a sales pitch,including prices,or,posting an animal,or,litter of animals,and,advertising them for sale,here on the Forum is a violation of the T.O.S.,you agreed to when you logged in....simply posting a picture of a recent breeding success,or,a favorite animal,is not a sales advertisment,and,neither is a link to your web site.(it's often safe to assume that you may email an individual to inquire about purchasing something they show,or,mention?)it boils down to the difference between having a little class,or,professionalism,and,not having any,at all,and,using the Forum as an "ad board",rather than a place to share thoughts,information,or,accomplishments,that relate to our common denominator...(keeping & breeding boas.)many times,I've posted pictures of animals I own,and,gotten replies asking if I was interested in selling the animal...I just politely reply,that it's not for sale. if I have something for sale I post it in the classifieds,or,contact an individual via email,because I'm not interested in conducting business here on the Forum.I don't post here to generate business,and,you'll never see me post an animal here,to gain interest,then see it pop up in the classifieds 10 minutes later either,(a personal "peeve" of mine.)certainly a post may generate interest,and,even lead to a sale,but,it shouldn't be conducted here,it's all about how it is handled,in my opinion.

Actually only parts of what you said make sense to me. What still doesn't make sense is the part about it's being wrong for someone to tell of a friends snake hooks, when snake hooks were being discussed in the thread, and yet it's ok if someone includes their website in their posts, or gives the name and contact info for websites of friends (or whoever), and/or the names of stores, that have products that are being discussed in a thread. Or that it's wrong for someone to show a group of snake hooks lined up in a row and yet it's ok if someone shows their new babies all lined up in a row (or pile), with thread readers knowing the poster doesn't intend to keep them all. Isn't that really just a sneaky/subtle way to advertise? Do none of the people that show their babies on these threads also advertise their babies elsewhere (and I'm not even sure if the hook guy advertised elsewhere, I'm just using him as an example of my confusion). Now I'm wondering if it's because I have a little common sense that all of this is still so confusing to me. Sorry. I don't mean to be a pain.

MissHisssss

To explain it really,but,you can re-read the terms of sevice agreement,and,perhaps contact the moderator(s) for clairification,they may be able to go into greater detail. I think when the person you mentioned didn't take a hint the first time a similar post was deleted,and,chose to make another post,mentioning that they were being offered for sale,this was seen as a sales promotion,rather than a substantial contribution to a discussion...that's just my guess?...in the end,it's really not whether you,or,I agree,or,understand,but,how it is interpreted by the moderator at the time. hope this helps

Nope, not a pain at all...it does get confusing sometimes. The situation with the snake hooks is actually in two parts. The first time they were posted in the thread about homemade hooks, the poster stated he was having them manufactured and listed the prices. The second time he stated that he was selling them and simply omitted the prices. Because he is the seller, he isn't supposed to make a post only stating that he's selling a product on the forums. If he had answered the question about homemade hooks and then just placed a link to his site, it would have most likely been fine. In regards to posting pictures of babies born, this forum is about keeping and breeding boas. As long as there's no statement about selling them or prices, but just a post showing what was born, it's okay because so many of us want to see those baby pictures - it's an accomplishment we like to share. The same goes for including links to your site in your signature - if you stick to the topic at hand and don't advertise what you have or the prices but just have a link to your site in your signature, it's allowed. You can also give references for places to purchase items or animals...most people that sell what a person is looking for don't reply to those threads however, they let someone else do the recommending. The same pretty much goes for discussions about a given product, usually those people who produce a product don't plug it on the forums. That is left to us buyers to discuss what works for us. There's a lot of grey area and the issue can get polluted. Most of it is covered in the TOS, but there's a certain amount of judgement call as far as the moderators go.

Does that make it clear as mud? lol

Raven

While I wasn't the one that pulled Bill's post about the snake hooks, I knew that someone might interpret it as an ad because he mentioned prices, etc., and then something to the effect of "let me know if you want more info"... The way it was worded, it was certainly like an ad. I personally didn't interpret it that way, but knew that others might.

As explained, there's a lot to be said for the way you word things. Posts can be made that are intended to interest people, as long as it's not worded as an ad. Most people post here to show off their gorgeous animals - whether or not they are for sale. As long as they don't say it, insinuate it, or imply it, it's fine. When they say anything that leads to the assumption that it is fishing for business, it gets removed.

Yes, it's a fine line. Yes, sometimes posts are borderline, and even the moderators may not agree. We do the best we can, and try to keep the most obvious sales posts off the boards.

PHScales
Kingsnake.com Moderator

These are all great explanations but it's still that gray area that is bugging me. Before I say any more though... I just want to make it clear that I do not know anyone on these threads so I'm not standing up for anyone, nor am I trying to pick on anyone. Now back to the subject.

I thought the hook guy was talking about his friend making the hooks, not himself... so I must have read that post wrong. Anyway, if they were his hooks and he was giving prices and the whole nine yards, I can see why some people would think it unfair that he could be so opened about what he had available while they have to beat around the bush about what they have available. I'm sorry, but even though I know why pictures of snakes are posted on these threads... I also know that when people post a litter of babies (and we all know that they have no intentions of keeping them all) that one of the reasons they are posting these pictures is for others to see what they have available. Which is advertising. So this is why that gray area that merely depends on how a post is worded, even though both types really mean the same thing ... still baffles me that one is allowed and the other isn't. I'm just glad that I don't have to decide who stays and who goes.

MissHisssss

Maybe you need to be in that situation, I don't know whether or not you have produced any boas...but it's something many of us strive for....I do know when I get a litter of boas I like to post my accomplishment....because that's what it is...an accomplishment...it's like being a proud parent showing pics of your newborns...I don't see how this line of thinking can be applied to snake hooks. There is also the factor that some salesmen in here have already been spotted and are therefore a bit easier for us to read between the lines when they attempt it again and again.
My thoughts anyways.
-dinopolis

Please understand that I understand why people put pictures of their snakes and litters on here, and that I have nothing against it. In fact, I'd do the same thing. I was just trying to find out why some things are allowed and some things aren't, when they appear to be the same thing except worded differently. Thanks for all the replies.

I LOVE these forums.
MissHisssss