Chris Melanson wrote:

First thing I am not new here.

Depends on how you define "new". Some of the participants have been here
since the early '90s or before.

Second thing it is one thing if some one else referred his site than
if
he did. If he needs to advertise he should set up a mailing list in which
the recipient gives him his permission to be on it. He could very easily
do this by setting up a link on his site.

He could do that and probably does. That doesn't mean that he shouldn't
inform is "friends" on rec.woodworking that he's having a sale.

It should not mater if someone is a "member" of a group in order to
advertise on it.

Why not?

It is bad edict.

"Edict"? Earth to Chris, nobody has the power to enforce "edicts" on an
unmoderated newsgroup. It is established by custom that regular
participants may post the occasional advertisement.

This is a forum for questions and
answers and an exchange of ideas not to self promote your products.

Steve exchanges ideas and answers questions better than just about anybody
else in the newsgroup. He is known and trusted in this particular
community and he has earned that by regular and active participation.

Should everyone or every business start doing it?

Every business that is willing to post 20 on-topic and usually useful or
informative posts for each ad would be welcome to do it I suspect.

How would you like that if the borg started advertising there sales here?

If they were working at the same ratio of on-topic posts to ads as Steve I
think I and many others would be ecstatic--it would mean that Home Depot
had actually hired someone whose skills went beyond fumbling with a cash
register.

To me there is no difference ok.

To most of the rest of us there is a difference. OK.

Chris

--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)