I was just looking at the poll results. I see that I've already voted! (I haven't). I backed away from promoting any of my wares here (except on occasion in the proper forum) after the last blow out over this type of thing. Aside from all the spam for everything from cheap drugs to porno which we're trying to deal with effectively, what brought on this most recent poll?

I think we should have a poll to determine if we should have polls.

Steve, I personally don't think that you have ever "promoted" your stuff. I think many were (are) interested in you products and what goes into making them, I know that I am. It has been fun to watch the progress on the plasma machine and building.

On the subject of spam, during the week, I get 6 to 8 a day, sometimes a couple more. I got two on Friday within 3 minutes of the posting. Kinda makes it a game to see how fast we can get rid of them. Some of them are really beyond any body's tolerance level. The drug ads are one thing, but the other is just way too much. I have never found any spam other that in the first post. They just drop it and run or the computer drops it and that is the end of it as far as they are concerned.

CPeter

Steve,

No reference to you was ever intended by the poll. In fact I'm one of your biggest advocates! I push your products whenever I get the chance. I feel the same way about Jim Guarino. You guys do not push your excellent products unless asked for information. I think most people would agree with me on that one.

What brought on the poll was the almost immediate lockdown of the post by aricab about Browning"s ongoing rant about the JD SM2000. His most recent rant did not contain his sales pitch at the end pushing his H website, book and goods. We have been down this road with him before and I thought the consensus was that we just get tired of the relentless promotion of JDHPUBS. As you well know if your product is up to snuff, people will spread the word better than self promotion ever could.

The major issue here is not that I take issue with Mr. Browning in general, I just don't like the relentless, shameless self promotion that he famous for. It is well known that F-I-T and I have had our differences in the past, but I have never had an issue with him posting links to his website and informative articles. That is because his sole purpose is to share his knowledge and experience with others without expecting any compensation. The SM2000 issue has been brought up by the same person several times with the same result every time. It is already in the archives and if anyone were to search on "SM2000" they would see all of the previous posts.

I just found it rather odd that when someone took issue with the aforementioned post that their post was immediately locked down. This one will most likely get the axe next if anyone else responds negatively.

You don't, but if you wanted to Steve I would have no problem with you promoting your business. The same goes for Jim. It's really not necessary because every time someone asks about a stack, muffler or wiring harness there are always at least five people jumping in to say the either you or Jim are the ones to talk to. If I buy a product from you and I am impressed/satisfied then I will gladly recommend you every chance I get. Some people don't seem to earn that honor and need to toot their own horn.

Thanks for listening to the rant and I apologize if you thought the poll was in any way about you.

No offense was meant by the lock-downs, and no one is being blamed. My only desire is that divisive arguments not compromise the good nature of this board.

Everyone is talking about advertising and self promotion. I for one would like to see maybe even ads on this page like at the top of the page, not a pop up or somthing in the middle of the page. Just a different banner at the top each time. It could raise funds for Byron. It could also inform the public without interupting the forum. I for one am thankful for the ads on a diesel site I have visited because I have found several good companies that I have got parts for my truck from that I would not have found otherwise. Maybe this could keep the advertising off the posts, but still present for all tractor restorers to be able to find good companies and be a second way of income for the site. Byron and others, where do yall weigh in on this at?

It could also bring in extra business for the advertisers that could have banners at the top of each page. Because not all newbies know that Steve Crum does exhaust or Jim Guarino does wiring harnesses or that Pat Browning sells books and manuals.

I can appreciate where your coming from Byron. Other than the original poster being extremely vocal about his opinion on the subject (who's not?) it didn't seem to be headed out of control just yet. Thanks for being attentive. I imagine it would have gotten ugly had you not headed it off.

I think the real issue is not that Mother Deere intends to defraud us out of our money by recommending the SM2000 but rather 99% of their employees today know about as much about two cylinder tractors as I know about quantum physics. Sometimes it's just plain old ignorance and not a diabolical scheme to take your money.

Guys, no offense or referance was taken, and I appreciate the kind words, I try to do my best. As far as the referances to product promotion< I really missed the punch line! Another board member PMed me and explained it. Duh.... I need to read these posts closer.
As Cpeter pointed out it is getting to be like a game whacking spam, some of this garbage is really bizzaar. Ever play 'whack the mole'? old Coney Island game probably with some mob heritage, but a riot to play at Chucky Cheese's with a clumsier than an ox 7 year old!
I still don't know how I managed to vote in the pole without knowing I did Mama often says I do some things so automatically that I don't realize I did them. Must be early onset dimensia.
Good snag Byron, that one had the potential of going way south in a hurry. I've knocked out several spams that I questioned if I should. Do we have anybody registered as 'Sweetbabe'? She didn't make any referance to green paint and smashed fingers, so I whacked her!

Hey Guys, just wondering if you noticed some of the 'handles" of the newly registered members? By the name it's hard to believe that they would be interested in tractors. This could be a back door way for the spam to get in if the site has changes.

QUOTE

This could be a back door way for the spam to get in if the site has changes.

Good thought!. It's been a long time since I registered.....does this site ask you for a validation e-mail address when you register? If yes, I wonder if there is a way that we can add an extra step or two to cause their spam-bot to hang up.

If no, and of we added a step, like when you register you get a system assigned password that you use the first time you come to post, and then you have to come back and enter the assigned password, then choose a new password, and re-enter it. That's what we do on large commercial/government sites and most 'bots don't have the alternative loops in their logic to jump through that many hoops.

But....I would if I were an admin, I would visit the new member list every day and kill everything that looks suspect. If you force some true tractor enthusiast to have to come and ask why he can't join, that won't happen once compared to the thousand spams you will avoid before they can even post. Or have the new member list require at least one admin to approve a prospective membership subscription before it will complete validation. That's profiling, and it works.

I mentioned this to Byron last week, he e-mailed me and said we'd talk about it when he got back in town. He's been busy and I've been busier than a one armed paper hanger so we just have not connected up. One new registrant 'Viagra-store' caught my eye. Wonder what color his tractor is? Probably the best way to deal with this type of back door approach is to let it ride until a name like this posts, then read the post over close it should be tractor related, if any links bar the name from the board, if not tractor related quiz the poster a little, no response or an un-tractor related response and he's gone! Am I being a hard a**? or is everyone else a little fed up too?

Should one be able to promote their product on this board? There are several points that I would take into consideration: Does the promoter add anything to the board, such as offer advice or try to answer a question? Does the product actually "fit" into the discussions on the board? Is the offering of a product done in such a way that it is meant as an assistance to those whom might be searching for this product? I appreciate the kind words of referral from 720Deere and others for my products, and I will continue to offer help when I think it fits the discussion. I know that some readers have a problem with any mention of a product or service, but I find it informative to know who has what product available. If "someone" posts that they are looking for "X", and I happen to make item "X", should I not advise that I have the item? If the somone does not register, and is a "guest", there would be no way of contacting them by any other means.

Steve:

I registered with a test handle. You can delte that now. I just wanted to refresh my memory as to the registration procedure.

Steve, I would kill those suspect members straight away. If you have a group of "approved" members just sitting there on the roster, their "mother ship" could decide today's the day and send out a "drop a virus bomb" command and then you are faced with all of those back doors flying open faster than you can kill them off. I trust you guys to know the difference between "Getting-it-on-My-Dear" and "Getting on my Deere". You'll make your spam life so much easier, and you won't have a viral sleepers just waiting to wake up. Kill 'em when they're larvae. That's my motto.

QUOTE (F-I-T @ Jul 30 2006, 11:20 PM)

Steve: I registered with a test handle.  You can delte that now.  I just wanted to refresh my memory as to the registration procedure. Steve, I would kill those suspect members straight away.  If you have a group of "approved" members just sitting there on the roster, their "mother ship" could decide today's the day and send out a "drop a virus bomb" command and then you are faced with all of those back doors flying open faster than you can kill them off.  I trust you guys to know the difference between "Getting-it-on-My-Dear" and "Getting on my Deere".  You'll make your spam life so much easier, and you won't have a viral sleepers just waiting to wake up.  Kill 'em when they're larvae. That's my motto.

Byron, Rummy, Brandon, CPeter, What Frank is saying makes a lot of sense. What do you think? Time to clean house?

It probably is a good time to see who is registered. Also, the idea of checking the posts of questionable registrants is good. As Jim said, if some has a product or service that is asked for and wants to jump in, I don't see a problem, but it they are pushing a product or service unsolicited, that is a problem.

CPeter

Steve;
I agree with Frank - if it look's like a duck kill it. That's what i look for before i click on a post. I look at the topic & the poster - it work's. As Frank mentioned a legitimate new member prospect can alway's send a message to the administrator if they feel they should be added to our rank's.

As far as the (peddling) go's, i think it's alway's approiate for a vendor to jump in with usefull information. We have a lot of knowelagable guy's that happen to make a few buck's selling stuff for our old Deere's. I like knowing who they are when they offer a good product & helpfull advice. That's the kind of folk's we want to do buisness with. What i would really like to see is a seperate link set up for them to list their member name & buisness - kind of a family link if you will.
M-MAN

hi guys...
allow me to say hi.
and thanks for providing a place for newbies like me to learn the way down the Deere road.
the information found on your site is second to none.
i dont have a John Deere tractor ...yet but i now beleive that when i am ready to make the purchase i will be well informed and know the availability of any parts i might need.
i have asked some questions about painting and repairs and gotten eccellent info to help me.
i have already restored a 77 powerking tractor and everyone that sees it is impressed with it.
even put it the local parade.
i couldnt have done near the job without the help i have found here.
as far as advertizing goes ,when you have someone like Steve (ill use him cause im a big fan of his work)selling a known quality product i dont have any problem at all with him telling us about his work.(i read a lot of posts about his product ,and everyone is happy with it.
nobody has ever said anything bad about his stuff that i can find.
so if its a product that can help a person like me to restore or even refurbish a classic tractor then i say by all means allow a banner or something.
i also registered the second time i viewed this site. i dont often sign in but im here looking around atleast twice a day .
if you need to make registration a bit more difficult to help get rid of spam then im for that.
but what ever you do ,please know that people like me appreciate this site.
im a small engine mechanic here in nova scotia so only a small part of my trade has anything to do with the larger tractors found here ,but a good bit is familiar to me and im learning.
thanks again.
Chris

Taking this discussion to the Board FAQs, admin feedback, and testing forum. Thanks!