HeroQuest related eBay adverts and SPAM

[drathe]

We would like some community feedback on the subject of Wandering Monsters (visitors/non-members) posting adverts for HeroQuest related eBay auctions and other sales.

Normally we have a strict rule about SPAM. However, we do allow our members to post messages about goods they are bartering, looking for or found in the Market section.

A question arises from a recent Wandering Monster post in the Guest Book advertising a HeroQuest item they have for auction on eBay. I do agree with Sjeng that the Guest Book in not the place for advertising eBay auctions. At the moment, Wandering Monsters are not permitted to post outside the Feedback and Lobby sections of the board.

We have the following options we would like the community to vote on.

1. Delete them! - Innkeepers and Wizards will remove the posts when they are discovered or reported.
2. Move them to the Market section provided they are HeroQuest/Fantasy gaming related - Innkeepers and Wizards will move the posts to the Market when they are discovered or reported.
3. Allow Wandering Monsters to post in the Market Section - Innkeepers will alter the settings of the Market section allowing Wandering Monsters to post in that forum.

You may also reply with your thoughts and ideas on the subject.

[Derfel Link]

Delete them! Wandering monsters in need of promoting their goods should at least register and follow forum rules, instead of having others fix their own oversights.

[Goblin-King]

Delete them! Wandering monsters in need of promoting their goods should at least register and follow forum rules, instead of having others fix their own oversights.

I concur.

[LordZeke]

I'm good with deleting.

[tasoe]

I also agree to delete them.

What we have here is a community to discuss heroquest. I myself recently placed an ad totally unrelated to HQ but I did it on the proper place (the market) and I posted it with the same intentions I did it on facebook and msn. After all that's what the market section is for.
But I also don't think that they should post their stuff there neither because it shouldn't be free! This is not an advert site so anyone can place their ads. They can't take advantage of our community.

[cynthialee]

I figure as long as the merchandice is relavent to the high fantasy genre' then move it to market place.

[Daedalus]

We would like some community feedback on the subject of Wandering Monsters (visitors/non-members) posting adverts for HeroQuest related eBay auctions and other sales.

..."and other sales." What can that include, I wonder? If it's HeroQuest related, then it has general interest for the forum and should have some place here that is predictably reachable. The Market best suits the bill (perhaps a subforum for WMs?). I'm for choice 3.

I wouldn't want nonspecific fantasy merchandise to be allowed, however. Some sort of criteria should be established so we don't end up with unicorn auctions. drathe's post about suitable HeroQuest proxies is a good place to start, as it is well-considered and may include other members' replies as well.

Ignore all of the above and my vote for choice 3 if SPAM threat is increased by allowing Market access to WMs.

[Big Bene]

Well, I am a man of many interests and I often stumble into a "foreign" forum when I search the net for something. Sometimes such a forum seems quite the right place to ask my question, and sometimes I even can leave one or two helpful posts (being aready researching in the subject given). I'm always glad when the folks are nice and helpful to a stranger and do not require me to sign up just to contribute once to a single thread. Of course I then try to be as nice and helpful as possible in return.
Most forums, however, don't let me ask my question / give my contribute this way. When the question is really important to me, and I can find no answer somewhere else, I sign in, but with a bad feeling. It may cost me only a few minutes, but I still feel this an unneccecaary waste of time. I also often have to give personal information. And, above all other reasons, I feel like a betrayer, pretending to want to join a group of friends, when I really just want to get one information and go away again. I much prefer to honestly stay a "guest".

So, my advise would be: Make a sub-section of the market which is open to guests. All Wandering Monster droppings can be collected there, be it spam or valuable information. Heroes who dare to brave the spam may find some gems in between, and people who really can't stand reading the garbage of strangers can just stay out and only check the member's market.

My

[OrcsBane]

I'd say don't delete them if thay are HQ related.
You can never know what kind of treasure a wondering monster my
carry...
My also...

[Sjeng]

chose 3, but ONLY if they register and log in, and ONLY if it's HQ related.

(People can't post if not registered right?)

Add something in the registration form that makes it clear that they're not bots (a question) plus a mention that they may/can only post auctions in the trading forum.
And the sub-forum is also a good idea, but migth result in 100's of unwanted spam posts...