Do you allow PM advertising on your forum?

[Heatman]

I have noticed that some members on forums take their advertising on forums to other's private messages when it's clearly against the community rule to advertise publicly on the board either with link or any other means.

Do you allow for such strategies to be used behind the scenes through PM or do you frown at it and set up report button for members to report such PM advertising if they get such messages?

 

[Kane]

Even though I have rules where I discourage people to send ads through PM and I ask members to report such messages, I am not very strick on this issue unless someone starts complaining about it

 

[eenya001]

I don't see anything wrong in sending private message to a member of a forum you both belong to, it only becomes bad when you are trying to market something to the person which is not proper.

 

[Shortie]

PM advertising is not something that I would encourage although I do not mind it. I am not one for allowing someone to come on the forum and spam members with a link to their sites in a bid to get traffic that way and I know that my members wouldn't appreciate that either. Things such as asking for a link somewhere and it is shared in a PM are something I don't mind. I know that members will report any spam advertising PMs though and I will deal with them accordingly if it is needed.

 

[saoussen57651]

PM advertising is not something that I would encourage although I do not mind it. I am not one for allowing someone to come on the forum and spam members with a link to their sites in a bid to get traffic that way and I know that my members wouldn't appreciate that either. Things such as asking for a link somewhere and it is shared in a PM are something I don't mind. I know that members will report any spam advertising PMs though and I will deal with them accordingly if it is needed.

This is not true, so if you receive a PM from BMF Staff means this is paid PM advertising but if from regular member then report it this is because staff member are paid for pass an advertisement and for this case it is not spam by private advertisement.

 

[Imran_Noori]

In my opinion it is not ethical to PM your advertisements to someone because for some people this is an offensive action, I think there should be a report button for such PMs.

 

[Kennysplash]

Many members actually abuse this option because many types are usually receive p.m. to do one task to another. So I believe it should not be allowed, at least not for all members.

 

[saoussen57651]

In my opinion it is not ethical to PM your advertisements to someone because for some people this is an offensive action, I think there should be a report button for such PMs.

Except if the forum is monetizing this activity means the forum is offering PM advertising for money and then you will not receive PM from member but staff member after this member pays money to the platform what we call sponsorship.

 

[Jonaville1]

I have noticed that some members on forums take their advertising on forums to other's private messages when it's clearly against the community rule to advertise publicly on the board either with link or any other means.

Do you allow for such strategies to be used behind the scenes through PM or do you frown at it and set up report button for members to report such PM advertising if they get such messages?

I don't think there should be anything wrong in sending private messages to people but the person should not spam people by sending too much messages or by trying to promote a website all the time

 

[Aaron]

I don't but if it happened once I wouldn't be too worried but if that member did it more than once and I got several reports I would have to take action.

 

[Kane]

I don't but if it happened once I wouldn't be too worried but if that member did it more than once and I got several reports I would have to take action.

What potential risk do you think would rise if you let members advertise through PM? For me spamming other members is the main issue. Abother issue is scams.

 

[Aaron]

What potential risk do you think would rise if you let members advertise through PM? For me spamming other members is the main issue. Abother issue is scams.

It's just a matter of other members finding it a nuisance and not enjoying it. If a member wants to advertise on my forum I have an advertisement section and members can do it through their signature.

 

[Kane]

It's just a matter of other members finding it a nuisance and not enjoying it. If a member wants to advertise on my forum I have an advertisement section and members can do it through their signature.

That's what I think. Why not advertise on the proper section instead of advertising through PM? Furthermore, these members might also be promoting scam offers.