Why is it that Sheffield Forum is one of the only forums that gets paranoid about users having links to others?

If the forum is as good as you all make it out to be then why be worried?.
Maybe its just a way for the moderators to flex their muscles and keep their minions in check.

Its not the only forum that does not allow this. I have seen plenty of forums that do not allow links to other forums.

Simple, Don't like the rules Don't post..

Rocket Science simplified..

i dont really know it could be something to do with money, maybe the more users they get the more money they get, and once they get a new user they would obviously want him to stay, and spread the word of mouth.

i've always allowed threads that go to other forums on a niche subject forum i have, even if it's the same subject matter. It enhances the users experience.

There and again it's only non-for-profit hobby forum. If a forum is soley there to make money then suppose seepage can't be allowed to occur.

Already been done here! (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=81238&highlight=protection)

I would have thought it was of benefit to all,its not like its all abit James Bond or anything.

Joe explained this a few times recently... It's because of all the problems we had with certain members creating multiple accounts just to spam the forum with links back to their own forum (can't remember name).

Links to other forums are still allowed but you'll have to get permission from either Tony or Joe before adding the link :wink:

permission wow were back in school yeah!!!!
na seriously its all goog, if its there forum let em do what they want.:gag:

Topman,

Indeed, it's Geoff's Forum and he can do what he pleases.

We have no problems with links to Forums provided that we are asked. Sometiems we will say No. Some Forums that people have wanted to link to are totally inappropriate in terms of language, images, being pornographic, etc.

As has been said, we have had problems with some users spamming the board with links to their Forum and so we simply applied a policy of 'Ask and we will consider.'

There's this really amazing site called 'Goog;e' which can be used to find all sorts of Forums..... :)

Joe

Originally posted by JoeP
Topman,

Indeed, it's Geoff's Forum and he can do what he pleases.

We have no problems with links to Forums provided that we are asked. Sometiems we will say No. Some Forums that people have wanted to link to are totally inappropriate in terms of language, images, being pornographic, etc.

As has been said, we have had problems with some users spamming the board with links to their Forum and so we simply applied a policy of 'Ask and we will consider.'

There's this really amazing site called 'Goog;e' which can be used to find all sorts of Forums..... :)

Joe

I hope you not refering to the other forum with nearly the same name as this one

Originally posted by spud
I hope you not refering to the other forum with nearly the same name as this one

Moi?

Surely not!

:D

Originally posted by JoeP
Moi?

Surely not!

:D

Then you need to remember that when this forum first started it was advertised in a certain news group which none of the members objected to seing as the Sheffield Forum promised to link back to it, this never happened and that is the reason why certain people spam this forum.

Spud, you may or may not be right in that statement, I don't see much point in us getting into that argument any more - Britain used to be at war with Germany once upon a time too - and I can cite stuff going back even longer when it comes to Usenet.

Where different communities develop I guess it's always going to change and grow in line with how people use it.

Over the years SF has developed with a 'family friendly' outlook that, in 2006 means that it has responsibilities to its members.

That includes taking care with things such as subject matter, language, links to unsuitable sites and the like. There is a place for unmoderated forums, and there is a place for moderated ones. Now one of the advantages with moderated ones is that the amount of slagging off that happens with other sites is at an absolute minimum, whereas it's a free for all on one that is unmoderated.

Let's get personal for a moment shall we?

An example: I recently removed a link from SF that somebody had posted that went straight to a snuff movie showing multiple deaths.

That is part of my responsibility as co-admin on SheffieldForum.

In doing so I assume that is what the majority of our members would want me to do. I was personally slagged off on another forum for doing that. Is that right and proper? Which bit did I do wrong exactly? Did I deserve slagging off? Those posts are now there for all time (theoretically), and to the uninformed reader it looks like I'm an utter "£%"£$%! if you believe what you read. Am I really?

Surely my resonsibility is to help protect our members from such things where possible. Do I deserve castigating in a place where there is no proper way to respond?

You see spud, it's not that simple as saying "so-and-so once said blahdiblah". If you clean up your own act then you might have a position of strength to speak from. As it is I just feel like calling my solicitor.