Unwittingly, I offended the "no linking in posts" rule in this thread (http://www.lissaexplains.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62641) yesterday--I was linking to my own sites in an attempt to show the user who had questions how I did certain layouts, and what those styles of layouts could look like. My links were subsequently edited out, which was fine, except that it made part of my tutorial, which referred back to the names of these sites, rather unintelligible.

This minor frustration aside, I understood why that action was taken--this site is not a plugboard. My question is, how do I link to my or someone else's site as a visual example, without it getting edited because of the link rule? I chose to link because I thought that a visual example would get the point across to the person in question much easier than a huge mass of jargon-crammed text about layout design. However, I don't want to offend anyone on the board by "advertising", even if I didn't mean to in the post. When I just want to help someone, and I want to appeal to their particular learning styles, I need to be able to link sometimes because some people won't understand until you show them an interactive example.

I hope I've made my perceived difference between advertising and tutoring clear enough with this example. Any further clarification/help with this would be greatly appreciated! :)

NO links to your websites are allowed! This is the rule. No one is allowed to post links to their websites, even if your provided information is helpful. You can post a link to someone else's site though, everything else is considering advertising.

OK...well, that was certainly a, um, forceful answer... Thank you for answering.

I understand the rule, and its unfortunate necessity on boards like these where people would take advantage of the space and advertise everywhere. But layout screenshots and explanations can only do so much for kinesthetic learners, unfortunately. I was simply trying to appeal to all learning styles.

I also apologize if I have offended anybody with even my innocent query into the situation--I didn't realize that this was such a hot-button issue around here. I hope that in my inevitable future errors, I won't deserve to be yelled at about it, since I honestly do feel like a spanked child right about now. :(

Anyway, I just wanted to learn how to make my communication better so it would better serve the community of web designers we have going here.

Aww, sorry if we offended you, Robin. :( Arwen wasn't trying to make you feel bad, she's just very ardent when it comes to her moderator position. Believe me, you really are a helpful member, and we do appreciate your trying to help.

Perhaps you could show screenshots and examples of your HTML code, if screenshots alone won't suffice?

Now everything is my fault, right? I only said what Lissa told us once... I tried to be nice... or is that because I forgot to post this > :) ?

Now everything is my fault, right? I only said what Lissa told us once... I tried to be nice... or is that because I forgot to post this > :) ?
Oh no, I wasn't blaming you - I just posted what I did because I thought Robin expressed offense at your response. Sorry if I wasn't very clear. :o

hmmm...
not only do i get much relaxing therapy out of webdesign. but i love a good challenge to my vocabulary :lolo: kinesthetic learners?
NICE! CLB... hadda look that one up. hehe

but the reason for my post is the originating thread topic:
How Do I Show Someone An Example of a Site Without "Advertising?"

I have a site i need some help with, due to browser differences (big blue E ~vs~ FF). i truly regret downloading IE7. Anyways... I have PayPal questions too.

So if I post my code in here, do i need to edit out the paths that lead to my site?

J~

Oh no, I wasn't blaming you - I just posted what I did because I thought Robin expressed offense at your response. Sorry if I wasn't very clear. :o

That wasn't to you spaghetti. :P

The other option when trying to help by sharing your site, would be to private message your link to the person you're trying to help. :)

Or, unchecking the box `Automatically parse links in text
box, in the reply page.
The web address won't appear as a link, unless it's still counted as "Advertising."

Whether it's a link or just text like site.com it's still considering advertising.

Eh, it's probably the one thing I don't like about this forum, but it's with good reason I suppose.

Are screenshots considered advertising? I was going to ask a question but I was pretty much put off by the fact that I can't show any examples. But I guess it doesn't matter that much anymore, since I just happen to be addicted to facebook now. *sigh*

Let me clear things up...

A link to an inside page (Lissa's main site, another forum thread, etc.) is NOT considered advertising and will not be edited out.

A link to a web site that is NOT your own creation is NOT considered advertising and will not be edited out.

A link to YOUR own web site to help someone (code examples, tutorials, etc.) is NOT considered advertising and will not be edited out. EXCEPTION APPLIES TO USER SUBMITTED TUTORIALS FORUM.

A link to YOUR own web site to drive more traffic to it IS CONSIDERED ADVERTISING AND WILL BE EDITED OUT AND YOU WILL BE WARNED.

A link to YOUR own web site to help someone (code examples, tutorials, etc.) is NOT considered advertising and will not be edited out.

Actually it IS. I asked Lissa about that and she said it's NOT allowed. :P

And screenshots?:)

As far as I know screenshots are allowed.

Ok everyone....just cool it already! Some people didn't need to be so harsh, and this topic can be answered in a more passive manner. She took the time to ask, let us take the time to answer thoughtfully without rashness.

The advertising rule pertains to self-promotion in all forms. You say "Come to my site!" or "I have great tutorials on my site [link]" is part of self promotion. If you have a tutorial you can either directly quote it, or tell the member to visit your homepage. Lissa has allowed for the opportunity of advertising in every post you make, just by clicking the username a home page link comes down from the menu. Don't link yourself but just say visit my homepage or something suggesting that. Yes it's hard to deal with especially if you have the answers in your own website, but it's still self-promotion and there are other ways of helping like I mentioned. I apologize for the tensions in this thread, if you have any further issues you should directly contact Lissa through private messaging. Any problems or issues pertaining to forum rules should be settled in private! :)

The reason self-promotion isn't involved in general is probably because some people pay to advertise through this website. They would be losing their money when members could freely link to their own websites, helpful or not.

Ok everyone....just cool it already! Some people didn't need to be so harsh, and this topic can be answered in a more passive manner. She took the time to ask, let us take the time to answer thoughtfully without rashness.

The advertising rule pertains to self-promotion in all forms. You say "Come to my site!" or "I have great tutorials on my site [link]" is part of self promotion. If you have a tutorial you can either directly quote it, or tell the member to visit your homepage. Lissa has allowed for the opportunity of advertising in every post you make, just by clicking the username a home page link comes down from the menu. Don't link yourself but just say visit my homepage or something suggesting that. Yes it's hard to deal with especially if you have the answers in your own website, but it's still self-promotion and there are other ways of helping like I mentioned. I apologize for the tensions in this thread, if you have any further issues you should directly contact Lissa through private messaging. Any problems or issues pertaining to forum rules should be settled in private! :)

The reason self-promotion isn't involved in general is probably because some people pay to advertise through this website. They would be losing their money when members could freely link to their own websites, helpful or not.

Actuelly, if you contact lissa by pm, she won't answer your questions, until her Internet is fixed somehow.

So long as you are not in any way advertising your site I see no problem in posting a link to help someone.

Should we let this thread die now?

There isn't a use anymore; we'll let Lissa decide.

I just think you shouldn't advertise your website. It's the best thing to do. My website is really bad so, no one can see.
HEHE. < 33

Some people didn't need to be so harsh, and this topic can be answered in a more passive manner.

Why don't you just say my name? I wasn't harsh, I only said what I heard from Lissa. If you can find an offensive word in my post, please tell where it is. I don't want to quarrel with you guys, just please don't tell me I'm harsh if I forgot to post a smiley.

:)

Maybe its best if we continue this in my thread in the mod forum?

Why don't you just say my name? I wasn't harsh, I only said what I heard from Lissa. If you can find an offensive word in my post, please tell where it is. I don't want to quarrel with you guys, just please don't tell me I'm harsh if I forgot to post a smiley.

:)

There was no ofensive word in that post, but it looked a little sharp.

There was no ofensive word in that post, but it looked a little sharp.

Okay, now can we let it die?

I'd like to mention this to you guys:

The incident that caused CuriousLittleBird to post this thread was something in the HTML Help forum. I PMed her and explained to her why I took the action I did. She responded and said she understood.

I would also like to add that it's really a non-issue anymore, as far as this thread goes. Isn't something to get worked up about. My suggestion is to close this thread [and continue it in the mod forum if you wish] or just let it die, because I really don't think it's going to do anything but cause misunderstandings.

I think we should abandon it, and let it die.

NO links to your websites are allowed!

^ Is that harsh? I just tried to make that clear for her and I didn't mean that only links to her websites are not allowed. I thought she (and everyone else) understood that... Believe me or not, I DID NOT want to sound mean when I posted that post.

If anyone else thinks I'm a monster feel free to PM me.

Thanks

^ Is that harsh? I just tried to make that clear for her and I didn't mean that only links to her websites are not allowed. I thought she (and everyone else) understood that... Believe me or not, I DID NOT want to sound mean when I posted that post.

If anyone else thinks I'm a monster feel free to PM me.

Thanks

No, we didn't mean that.

And that's what Bourdelson meant by missunderstandings!
(Bad typing day.)