We've been running for over a year now with pretty much the same set of rules that have been patched to take into account various changes that were needed along the way.

We've now rewritten the rules, taking into account input from various members and from looking at problems that we have seen that have had a negative impact on the overall usage of the forum.

Please take a few minutes to read the new rules which are located here:

http://www.domainstate.com/misc.php3?action=faq

or you can click the button top of screen marked "rules & faq".

There are some new rules or changes to existing rules that members will need to be aware of - signatures for example - and although we appreciate there will need to be a transition period, we will be requiring adherence to these rules from all members. That's the only "cost" for you to use this site.

99% of members never cause us a problem, but we do have to have these rules in place to make sure that we have the tools to deal with problems when they arise that impact on the enjoyment of this site for its members and our moderators and admins.

Ahhh, took me a while, but my signature is now in compliance.

I agree and comply with new rules except :

"..To avoid wasting members' time, include the actual domain name (or first name if a list) in the title of a sales or appraisal thread..."

I wouldn't want my potential enduser customers visit this site a year after the post and after doing a quick search see how cheap I was willing to sell it a year ago.

zxc

The odds of that are pretty low, not many end-users come here. And if they did, what are the odds they would do a search for a name you sold them? Think about it.

Shaun

"I agree and comply with new rules except : "

You are free to express your views on this, and we'll certainly look at the comments you raise on it for future revisions - but as the rules stands compliance with the rules as written will be required.

Having the subject line have a relevance to the content is professional courtesy to the other members here - this isn't ebay where misleading/salesy subjects might get you more eyeballs, this is a domain community site where people are making informed decisions.

I appreciate that rule. It is a real time saver when browsing the forum. I don't think the entire membership should be inconvenienced (by having to click a thread to see what is being offered) to eliminate the very slight offchance that an enduser might stumble upon a name that was for sale a year ago.

As I read posts I notice many sigs need adjusting.

Thanks to those that have made adjustments already.

Matt

Okay, Matty, I get it! I've adjusted my sig.

As a note, I think "affiliate links" should be defined. Might seem obvious, but saying something like: "Affiliate links are defined as any link that contains information about the party linking to the destination--" and here's the questionable part "--for which that party is compensated visitors to that link". For instance, if I link to my own company's website, and in the link contain special codes that tell me where traffic is coming from, is that an affiliate link? Is it "any link that is not a simple domain name or non-parametered URL"?

I realize its not rocket science, but I thought I'd ask.

~ Nexus

I'd say an affiliate link was a link to a third party site that rewards the poster for traffic sent through it.

Current definition of affiliate link in the rules is...

An "affiliate link" is a link to a site not operated by the poster for which the poster receives revenue from traffic or referral purchases.

... so seems to me that a link to your own site would not be an affiliate link by this definition.

Oops. I guess I skimmed over the previous rule and missed the definition of "affiliate link" at the end. Thanks. Maybe a separate glossary page or pop-up with hyperlinks to the definitions in the... um, ok, ok... just a thought.

~ Nexus

Originally posted by Nexus
Oops. I guess I skimmed over the previous rule and missed the definition of "affiliate link" at the end. Thanks. Maybe a separate glossary page or pop-up with hyperlinks to the definitions in the... um, ok, ok... just a thought.

~ Nexus

no prob I should have put a smiley at the end of my message

hey, you may have an idea there! I can put hyperlinks in the rules to a separate site with definitions where I get paid 20 cents per visi... hmmm... no.... I guess that's not a good idea...

I'll probably start deleting sigs that are not abiding by site rules very soon, so please adjust sigs as necessary.

Matt

Bump

For those that haven't made the change please do as it will save us mods a lot of work.

Matt

With WebHostingTalk finally allowing 3 hot links in the sig and colors & 3 lines, I think the new rules are a step to the wrong direction. Two lines is too little. But it's ok, I first got banned on DNF because people didn't like my image sig - by the same mods that started DS.