#21270 of 21277 greasykid1 by denverm Nov 12, 2002 (1250 pm)

For lots of discussion on tires for the 300M, click here

PAT'S EMAIL TO ME:

Dear denverm,

I apologize if you did not get the word, but it is no longer okay for the 300M Club to invite TH members to your site. In fact, it has been contrary to the Membership Agreement for quite some time; I just have not exactly been doing my job of enforcing the rule up until now.

I posted a message a week or so ago explaining that henceforth messages linking to the 300M Club would not be allowed, in keeping with the term of the Membership Agreement as explained below.

Therefore, I removed the recent message you posted in our 300M discussion.

Thank you for your understanding. Please feel free to reply to me here if you have any questions. You may also email our Interim Community Manager, Sylvia, if you have any questions about the Town Hall policy. You'll find her cc'd on this email.

Here is your form letter

Thank you for your participation in Town Hall; however, your message copied below from the Chrysler 300M discussion on the Sedans Board is a violation of our Membership Agreement, which you agreed to when joining the Town Hall community. We value you as a member of our Community and realize that you may not be aware that you have violated our Membership Agreement. For your future reference, "Member Agreement" can be found on the left navigational bar on each page within Town Hall. Also, for your convenience, I'm including a direct link to the Membership Agreement for further clarification Member Agreement.

Your specific post has violated our policy on Unauthorized Commercial Activity regarding Solicitation/Promotion

"You agree that, except with Edmunds.com's prior consent, you will not solicit or promote any products or services, nor self-promote (either in your Postings or in your profiles) for personal gain within Town Hall…You agree to not promote other auto forums that provide message boards or chats."

#21270 of 21277 greasykid1 by denverm Nov 12, 2002 (1250 pm)

For lots of discussion on tires for the 300M, click here http//pub88.ezboard.com/f300menthusiastsclubfrm6

We appreciate you understanding our desire to ensure Town Hall is an enjoyable experience for all of our members. Any further posted messages violating our Membership Agreement will be removed and your participation may be prohibited from Town Hall. We value all of our Town Hall members and thank you in advance for adhering to the Membership Agreement.

Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board
Town Hall, Edmunds.com

MY REPLY TO PAT:

Dear Pat,

Actually, I think my post was entirely consistent with your statements on Nov. 4 and 5, which I did read at the time

#21176 of 21277 by pat HOST United States of America Nov 04, 2002 (0138 pm)

Hi folks,

I need to point out that the Membership Agreement asks that you not link to other message boards for the sole purpose of getting the Town Hall participants to join in.

#21188 of 21277 by pat HOST United States of America Nov 05, 2002 (0304 pm)

We have no problems with links posted merely as informational -- you'll find them all over the Sedans board. And I've never objected to the 300M Club business that takes place here until now.

The messages that prompted mine were saying, in effect, leave the Town Hall and spend your time at this other site. That is why I had to say what I said. Please note, I have removed not one single message.

My personal 300M web page lists Edmunds and the Club site as the two best 300M sites http//btjdesign.com/300m

As one of the people who helped build the Club's site, I made a point of prominently featuring Edmunds as the first link on the page of 300M links http//300mclub.org/sites.htm with the legend, " (great place to share info with other M owners!)"

I respectfully submit that your deletion of my post was taking this policy too far. Note that I used HTML so that the post as it appeared to any visitor did not even mention the Club site. Only if someone was interested in the tire issue and clicked on the link would they find out that it was another site and another message board. This certainly was NOT a post promoting another message board. [Your copy of my message, below, does not accurately portray it; the words, "click here" were a link to the Club site. The Club's URL did NOT appear in my post.]

Again, I have PROMOTED the Edmunds board at all opportunities. However, if indeed the deletion of my post is representative of Edmunds' new policy in this regard, I will probably stop visiting Edmunds, as that policy would represent short-sighted protectionism at the expense of sharing valuable information.

I continue to think that there is room for both boards, and that each has its benefits. However, if you tell me that your deletion of my post is now Edmund's policy, my opinion will undoubtedly change.

Brent

MY FURTHER REPLY TO PAT:

Dear Pat,

As I have thought further about this, and as I have re-read your messages of Nov. 4 and 5, I strongly believe that the removal of my post was inconsistent with your own posts, which said

1. " . . . not link to other message boards for the sole purpose of getting the TH participants to join in."

2. "We have no problems with links posted as merely informational."

3. "Please note, I have removed not one single message."

Brent

SYLVIA'S REPLY TO ME: (I never did hear back from Pat)

Dear Brent -
I stand by Pat's decision to remove the post in question. It was an invitation to view/join other discussions on another board which does violate our Membership Agreement.
If you have any additional questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.
Kindest Regards,
Sylvia L. Marino
Town Hall Manager
Edmunds.com