Abusing Signatures

Rex_Mundi

I've noticed that a few people seem to use their signature to advertise their own goods or services. I thought this was expressly against the rules. I can understand the temptation, with over 33,000 members there is a possibility of reaching a very wide audience. Sometimes a discount is offered to MSE members. This to me is a very sly way of getting free advertising. At the end of the day the person who will come off best is the person who owns the buisness and gets extra customers.

Some of you will maybe think, oh it's not a problem. The problem is, if it isn't stopped completely then this could escalate out of control. We will end up with a situation where there are two parts to a message. The first part a legitimate response to a message, then an advert for the posters buisness. This surely can't be right? Martin has set up a fantastic resource for us all to save money and find free advice. I really appreciate the fact that Martin has decided to fund this himself and not fill our screens with flashing ads all over the place. By placing a link to a users own buisness or a direct email address in their signature is in a way stealing from Martin. After all it's his money that pays for the server that hosts the site and for the upkeep of the site. In a way it is also taking the mickey out of us all. It's the same rules for all of us, and I'm sure it's against them to advertise here.

Sorry to go on a bit. It just bugs me that some people are abusing this site for their own ends.

wirm

Have you reported any users that have a signature which breaks the rules to the abuse controller??

Rex_Mundi

Have you reported any users that have a signature which breaks the rules to the abuse controller??

Of course. It is an abuse after all. I think it's a shame that people try to take advantage out of someone elses goodwill.

m00nie

i think since the change of forums it has got worse, when we switched alot of members edited there signature, with the mix up and things and people have now put in the links


There was a thread Marting had put about it just before the switch also. maybe now you have highlighted it again Rex people will take out the links.

Edinburghlass_2

When the sites changed over a lot of people gained someone else's signature and if they are a new user they often don't realise they have it. I have noticed a couple who have inherited Martin's signature and possibly they think its the default signature of the site

Hit the report button on a post if you see a referral signature and Abcon will take care of it. They have been tightening up on signatures and are issuing warnings to the users.

Former_MSE_Controller2

Hi there,

Just to clarify the rules on signatures, please read point 4 of the forum rules. Martin has made it clear in other threads as well that there is to be no advertising in signatures. We have been working hard lately to reduce this as much as possible. I would encourage you all to report any signatures you feel break this rule to [Removed by Forum Team] and we will make sure they are all checked out.

Can I take this oppertunity to ask everyone to check their signatures and make sure they conform to the rules, any questions let me know.

The second point is that there are a few signatures that were incorrectly imported with the migration to vbulletin. If anyone finds any that look out of place we can remove them.

Thanks for your co-operation on this

payless

REX - I agree with much of what you say - I have sent you a PM to clarify my position

Murphy_The_Cat

while most people do seem to be following the guides / rules, there still seems to be a few who ssttrrreeetttcccchhh things as far as they can.

Perhaps the most regular abusers / rule stretchers are some of the people who post 'advice' in the travel section.

MTC