Discussion About Rule #3, Please

[U2BMATH]

3. Do not paste links to other sites -- This means no referral links whatsoever

A rule that should probably be number one or number two on the list, because it seems to the be the one most broken. This forum is for FusionCash, not for you to see how many people you can get to your other site that you make money off of. It is not a forum for you to spam your link to your store, candle selling site, or any other site that you can make money off of others. If it is a video on YouTube, or a news story you wish to share with us, by all means share your link.  But you should not post links to sites that you own, or in which you have a vested interest. We do not need people sharing links that contains links to other sites where the original poster can gain money from other members. Any link found that contains referral links will be taken down immediately, and the poster will be promptly banned. If you have a link and you are unsure if you can post it, please send in a support ticket or an email to support@fusioncash.com and I will be more than happy to look it over and let you know.

I'd like to understand this rule in it's entirety, and so I'm going to take some time here to tear it apart. Why? Because in my reading here on the forum in the past month, I sense a genuine fear that what we might say, or do, may or may not be in violation of this rule, but we tend to err on the side of caution, and avoid taking chances. My hope is to have a LIVELY discussion here, with the hopes of us all gaining a greater appreciation and understanding of Rule #3. Kohler, I hope you'll participate in this discussion, as the "final" word rests with you and/or FC Staff. Let's begin.

1). Do not paste links to other sites -- This means no referral links whatsoever Okay, gotcha. Don't post links. Is the emphasis on the word LINKS? Are we saying it's okay to make reference to a particular site, so long as a LINK is not created to said site. One example. Old Buddy has made incognito mention several times in the forums that if you can find him, he's out there. But he won't mention where he is at. Would it be wrong for him to say he's on this social network, or that social network, with his username mentioned? So long as he doesn't post a LINK to his actual page, wouldn't he be okay in mentioning where he's at?

2). This forum is for FusionCash, not for you to see how many people you can get to your other site that you make money off of. It is not a forum for you to spam your link to your store, candle selling site, or any other site that you can make money off of others. Okay, gotcha. My understanding here is that you don't want people using the FC Forum as a way to SOLICIT sales of any kind, by posting links to their stores, selling sites, or other sites that make them money. But if their site IS NOT about making money, but rather is a resource for offering help, particularly as related to developing one's FC account, would a LINK in this case be ok? Or again as in point #1, if a LINK is still not allowed here, can a not-so-incognito reference be made on where you can find this particular page of helpful information? And I am anticipating a partial argument to be such help could just be posted here in the forum, but if the work is already available on someone's site, why can't we direct them there, rather than doing double work?

3). If it is a video on YouTube, or a news story you wish to share with us, by all means share your link. Okay, gotcha. This part grabbed me big time. LINKS ARE ALLOWED! If it is a YouTube Video, or News Story. Okay, I know there are HUNDREDS of videos on YouTube that are related to Fusion Cash. So, if someone has created a video on YouTube about how to build referrals for their FC account, would that be allowed to be posted in the Forum? My thinking here is YES, we can. If that video happened to also have made reference to a particular person's website, would THAT video be allowed, if the main purpose of that video was of an instructional nature in teaching the in's and out's of building one's FC account?

4). But you should not post links to sites that you own, or in which you have a vested interest. We do not need people sharing links that contains links to other sites where the original poster can gain money from other members. Okay, gotcha. Though, I must say, this is a little tougher. Are we saying absolutely NO LINKS to a person's site, or are we saying it's okay to post a link to a person's site, so long as it's not a site where's there a vested interest in terms of gaining money? Again, if a person's site is geared to teaching a person how to develop their FC account, and they are not selling anything, their not trying to make any money, they're just offering help and instruction, are we okay to post a link in this case?

5). Any link found that contains referral links will be taken down immediately, and the poster will be promptly banned. If you have a link and you are unsure if you can post it, please send in a support ticket or an email to support@fusioncash.com and I will be more than happy to look it over and let you know. Okay, gotcha. This statement to me, indicates that in SOME cases, you WILL approve a post with a LINK, and sometimes you will NOT. Which then begs the question, when is a LINK ALLOWED? And that's the nature of this post, to find out when a LINK is allowed, and when it is not. Because surely, when you tear Rule #3 apart, there is enough of an indication that a link is allowed in some cases.

"Jerry Springer Moment: Final Thoughts." My intention with this post is NOT to question the rule. I love rules, and I live by them daily, as I'm sure many of us do. But as I mentioned in the beginning of this post, it appears that there is a genuine FEAR that posting any type of link whatsoever will get us banned, and hence, we lose all the investment of time, and MONEY, we put into working with and for Fusion Cash. This is a HARSH result for taking chances, particularly when a rule which seems absolute, appears to have loopholes in it. Perhaps a revision of this rule would be in order to define more specifically that Links are allowed in these cases, and Links are not allowed in those cases. Thus, eliminating the fear that many of us have with following Rule #3.

Thanks for reading, and taking the time to reply.
Mike

[bman88]

ok thanks

[oldbuddy]

The obvious solution is, "When In Doubt, Don't Do It".

[swogden]

I've gone by the rule don't post a link.

Referral links are the obvious no-no.  But it seems that you can discuss other sites if they add to the discussion -- but no sales pitchs to encourage people to find you and join under your referral link somewhere else.  I've discussed various survey sites, some of which have offers for joining on FC.  Figure the discussion will help people decide whether to join or not via FC's offer.

There have been plenty of links that I probably could have posted (the White Christmas song stands out in my mind), but I never bothered.  It's been around the internet since before last Christmas and I suspect most everyone who found it, enjoyed it at that time.  But all that and getting prior approval just takes too much time.  It's easier to follow Oldbuddy's advice, when in doubt, don't do it.

I accept the concept that on this Forum no one is allowed to advertise their sites, directily or indirectly  -- and I appreciate that -- since if you were, the Forum would be cluttered up with spam in no time.

[Administrator]

Referencing another site (whether a competitors of ours or not) is allowed.  E.g. "On huffington post I read..."

Giving instructions on how to contact you on a social networking site is a bit of a grey area.  "Find me on Google" is something we've let slide, but "I am JoeSmith on Facebook" goes too far.  This is forbidden because - lets be honest here - if you are soliciting contact from unknown people online, you are probably trying to sell something or trying to get them to sign up as your referral for something.

As far as actually LINKING to a site (i.e. including a URL in your post) - referral links are ALL forbidden.  Links to competitor's sites, whether referral or not, are also forbidden.  Links to news stories, videos, and other commonly-swapped links are permissible.  Linking to your own site is technically permissible, but only if you do not stand a chance of profiting in any way from the traffic.  So for a personal site link to be allowed, it would have to be completely free of advertising, and have no contact information.

If it seems complicated... well... it is.  That's why most members choose to just not post any links at all.  But those are the rules we try to enforce (we're far from 100% perfect, though!).

[rbudovec1947]

U2BMATH,

Thanks for posing the question. That has been on everyone's mind I'm sure, especially if we've noticed someone get perma-banned for violating that rule! Also, thanks to the Administrator for explaining that there are some grey areas here. I have to agree with Oldbuddy on this. I simply make it a practice not to post any links in the forum. Why take a chance? Why risk it?

I would like to suggest, U2BMATH, that I would seriously using your post as one of the three you submit for the forum activity bonus this month. It was well-thought-out, helpful, drew the attention of the Administrator, and was certainly long enough to qualify!  

[U2BMATH]

Referencing another site (whether a competitors of ours or not) is allowed.  E.g. "On huffington post I read..."

Giving instructions on how to contact you on a social networking site is a bit of a grey area.  "Find me on Google" is something we've let slide, but "I am JoeSmith on Facebook" goes too far.  This is forbidden because - lets be honest here - if you are soliciting contact from unknown people online, you are probably trying to sell something or trying to get them to sign up as your referral for something.

As far as actually LINKING to a site (i.e. including a URL in your post) - referral links are ALL forbidden.  Links to competitor's sites, whether referral or not, are also forbidden.  Links to news stories, videos, and other commonly-swapped links are permissible.  Linking to your own site is technically permissible, but only if you do not stand a chance of profiting in any way from the traffic.  So for a personal site link to be allowed, it would have to be completely free of advertising, and have no contact information.

If it seems complicated... well... it is.  That's why most members choose to just not post any links at all.  But those are the rules we try to enforce (we're far from 100% perfect, though!).

Hey All/Admin,

Thank you much for taking a look at my post from over 8 months ago, hehe. Not sure how it fell through the cracks, but I am happy it made it to the light!

Admin, thank you for adding your response. While everyone else's is appreciated (always!) I am particularly pleased you chimed in with your official word on the subject. I will always err on the side of caution. But I still want to pick your brain a little bit. Let's talk about YouTube videos, along with your comments made here.

Okay, let's say hypothetically, I create a YouTube Channel. I design my YouTube channel to teach how to get referrals on FC. In my video(s), I make NO reference to my website, no email address, no contact information at all. Can I post those videos in the Forum as teaching tools?

Here's why I must ask the question before doing it. Every video on YouTube carries with it the ability to load the video on the YouTube site, rather than playing wherever it's embedded. That leads to going to the Video Owner's YouTube Channel. From there, contact can be made in the form of comments on the channel, or personal messaging, etc. While no contact information is within the video itself, it can lead to direct contact with a person(s).

That potential contact could then lead to the person giving their website address, email contact, and whatever else they want to give out. Is Fusion Cash okay with this as there was no initial contact information to begin with. But there is yet, that slightly open door that someone could walk through.

Mike

[oldbuddy]

I hate to say it, but you guys are going to beat this drum until the door gets slammed on all of it. Just read the rules and follow them, or message support if you have a question.

[U2BMATH]

I hate to say it, but you guys are going to beat this drum until the door gets slammed on all of it. Just read the rules and follow them, or message support if you have a question.

Hey Oldbuddy, as I think I'm the only one beating the drum, I'll take responsibility for it. I'm not trying to get any doors slammed. I always follow the rules. But let's clear up a couple misconceptions.

1). I did contact support, and I never got a response from support!
2). The message I posted originally was over 8 months old. I did not resurface the topic. bman88 responded 8 months later, and you responded immediately after that. Let sleeping dogs lie would apply here, but someone woke them up. I got a right to pursue what I originally asked feedback on.
3). I would love the ability to use YouTube videos to answer many of these questions on the Forum that I tend to answer with longwinded replies. But I want to be clear they are allowed before my investment in FC is abruptly ended, because certain rules were vague. After I make the money, I got a right to protect it.

Man, why are people so quick to snap at each other around here this week? I thought the idea of a Forum was to discuss. Why, when a meaningful discussion gets started, someone is quick to shut it down? Sheesh!

Mike

[oldbuddy]

The dog was asleep . . . shhhh!

The admin has not been complaining when people send others to YouTube, but if you keep pointing out that he is missing something he could change his mind. All I responded was if it is in doubt, don't do it. Let the dog go back to sleep.

[U2BMATH]

The dog was asleep . . . shhhh!

The admin has not been complaining when people send others to YouTube, but if you keep pointing out that he is missing something he could change his mind. All I responded was if it is in doubt, don't do it. Let the dog go back to sleep.

Hey Oldbuddy,

You know I respect you, right? I've got no beef with you at all. I just wanted to mention that before we get too much further in our "discussion".

I don't know anything about whether or not the Admin has been, or has not been, complaining about people sending others to YouTube. In the 8 months since my initial post, I haven't seen any YouTube videos on the forum. That indicates to me that either the Admin has posted somewhere that I have not found in 8 months his disapproval of them, or that everyone is too scared to ask the question for permission. I'm asking!

All I'd like is a response, and with all due respect, from the Admin, please.

I promise this, though. Should I get that response clearly enough from the Admin, I will indeed let the dog go back to sleep. Remember, it wasn't me who awoke him

Mike

[oldbuddy]

Just scroll up to the menu and click on Search, then enter "youtube" and click the Search button.

Good Night Doggie. 

[Administrator]

I'd call Youtube videos a bit of a grey area for the reasons you wrote about -- contact is possible.  Generally speaking, if you reply with a link to a video and it is relevant to the question and genuinely helpful, I wouldn't have a problem with that.  I always try to evaluate the INTENT of a post... if it's clear that you have good intentions, I am not likely to cause a fuss.  If it's clear that you have selfish intentions, I will probably bust out the edit and/or temporary ban button.  If I'm not sure, I will err on the side of caution.

It may seem like I'm not paying attention, but although I don't read every thread, I've got a good idea of how the forum is doing overall.  My moderation strategy has always been "less is more".  I prefer to assume FC members as adults who can act in a reasonable way.  Certainly, nobody is perfect, but if you consider the vastly different demographics of FC members, I think we all get along pretty well.  You see, most forums are centered around a particular topic (e.g. cars), or cater to a particular demographic (e.g. teenage boys).  But here we have members of all creeds, stripes and colors from all 50 states.  Sometimes the two people chatting back in forth in a thread have nothing in common.  But overall - it works!

[U2BMATH]

Okay, well said, Admin. What I like most about your post are the words "TEMPORARY Ban Button". That being said, I'm going to work on a few things this weekend, and probably next week, I'm going to make use of YouTube the way I envision (according to the rules as I understand them). I'm sure you'll be eager to monitor what I do. If you approve, we're good, and nothing needs to be done. If you're disapproving, hopefully, you'll use that TEMPORARY thing, with possibly an explanation of what I did wrong, so I can get it right. Okie Dokie?

Okay oldbuddy, the doggie's sleeping again.  

Mike

(Admin, feel free to lock this baby up. I think we're done here).