This is a copy of the pm i sent to an administrator a few while ago. It went unanswered(I'm sure he's busy), so I'm reposting it here to hopefully get an answer. Thanks

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I recently started a Myspace group for abandonware.

I'm pretty sure if I made a topic directly promoting my group it would be considered advertising. Am I right?

Would I be ok if I made a topic asking members if they had Myspace and then sending those who said they did a pm inviting them to join my group?

I am a big fan of Abandonia. A section of my Myspace is dedicated to abandonware and states that Abandonia is the best site on the web for abandonware. I'm just interested in spreading the word about these great old games.

Thanks,
Tiberius

P.S. Also, is it ok for me to have a link to my group in my signature and a little text describing what it is? Thanks again

I just made the owner of the site (Kosta) aware of this. Hopefully he'll answer you soon.

Not all of the admins are online regularly. Some (like Tom Henrik) are currently preoccupied with real-life matters and just don't have time to bother with everything people ask them about in PM.

Yes - you would need a permission from either one of the admins or Kosta himself to do that; otherise it would be treated as unauthorised advertising, resulting in warn increase and topic removal.

No. That would be PM spamming. PM ability removal, warn increase, possible suspension or even a ban.

If it would be on a different subject, there wouldn't be much of a problem. Since it's about Abandonware, you would still need a permission - otherwise your signature would be toast an instant it comes within an admins' line of sight.

I'm a x3 Blah mod and I'd say that you're welcome to make your topic about the group here in this forum. It's not another site, it's relavent and something forumers might be interested in, and you're not a bot nor are you here on the forum just to advertise. Go ahead.

And Horseman:

Since when was sending specific people PMs that they want and asked for, spamming?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Havell @ Jun 21 2007, 12:03 PM) [snapback]295482[/snapback]</div>He's a strict interpreter of DA RUL0RZ. So...

What he said was about asking people if they have Myspace account and then sending all those who do PM's about the group.
I do not see any mention of anything about anyone agreeing to receive that PM.

Furthermore, that would still be unauthorized advertising.

I'll wait until I hear something from Kosta to be sure, because I don't want to be banned from the forums here.

I really think an abandonware Myspace group is a great idea. As I said, both my profile and the group point to Abandonia as the best place to get games. The group could serve as a bridge of sorts, helping people who are confused or uneducated about our hobby find out more before they jump into the community here.

I would do whatever it takes to make this group work in conjunction with Abandonia. I really want to get more involved with the abandonware cause.

about the topic and pming. but i guess it would be ok if he warned in the topic 'all those who have a myspace account and would like to join my group post in this topic and i ll send them a pm'

I believe that there is no need to PM. Open a topic with appropriate name and I believe all interested people will get involved if you put there enoug info

It would still be advertising = he would still need a permission.

Well, let's look at the rules.
Under the heading "Forum Conduct" section 5(d) it is not allowed to advertise in the main forum, doing so would be considered spamming.
Under the sections "Private Messaging" and "signatures" these same rules apply to PMs and signatures.

It would thus be considered spam on the main forum, PMs and signatures.

If I were you I'd wait and build up a bit of a reputation (as in, help the site in any way you can or just participate in the forum). The administration is unlikely to allow any new member to spread his site around, in whatever form.

Anyway...

Are there still any open questions considering this? If not this thread might get closed. No use in members disscussing their interpretations of the linking rules. Those who want to get to this myspace project our new member suggested can also contact him with questions about it and that's that. I think Kosta already made up his mind on this anyway, so...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sebatianos @ Jun 25 2007, 06:56 PM) [snapback]296319[/snapback]</div>No use? My dear Seb, arguing about the interpretation of rules is all I've been doing for the past year. Whether it's the Forum Guidelines or the Terrorism Act 2006, nitpicking about the rules certainly does serve a point!
Why, this thread could be seen as case-law clarifying the law and a link to this thread should be added to the forum rules thread. I call this thread 'Tiberius v. Abandonia.com'

Isn't it great? This forum is evolving so rapidly it nearly has it's own Judiciary! The lack of a separation of powers in forums has always struck me as odd.

OK, guess its about time I jump in :) I've thought about it and made my choice. Since advertising in the context of our rules is referring to promoting other sites, this case wouldn't necessarily apply. This would be a way to invite all people that have myspace account to join the abandonware group. Sending PMs to all new members is out of the question as that would be spamming, but as far as I am concerned I see no harm in having a signature that invites all myspace members to join this group. So there you have it, I hope that sounds reasonable :)

Thank you for your decision Kosta, and any decision you would have made would be fair considering this is your site after all. To make sure I have it 100% right:

A link in my signature is ok.

PMs, as I thought, would be spamming.

And a thread here in "Blah, blah, blah" would be ok? or not?

I couldn't quite discern whether this was about a thread or about the preceding sentence which approves of a signature.

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Haha, I like that.

I'd like to see the group "bridge the gap" between the regular gamer and the abandonware crowd. It will be infinitely easier with even just a few knowledgeable abandonians in the group to help newbs get up to speed.

This might be my favorite quote ever.

The way I understand it, Kosta has indeed allowed you to post a thread about your group.

Okay, I think I understand everything now. Apologies for my not posting in a while, but my brother broke his ankle and I am now tasked with running his delivery company. I have a couple things left to do to the group and then I will have a link in my signature and post a thread in this forum. Thanks again to all who helped out. :)