Is it just me ?

[algale]

Saying 'It wasn't Scott' wasn't responsive to comments regarding the extent to which this is commercial use of the forum. Virtually every post contains information about how to help monetize MGR. Does that suggest 'yes it's wrong, but only if Scott does it himself?' Not to me.

- David

I have to agree. I'd add that it turns out Chad isn't just a forum member who happens to like and post Scott's videos; he's listed in the credits at the end of Scott's videos as one of My Growth Rings' "Chairmen of the Board." I initially assumed that was just a tongue in cheek reference to group of Scott's friends, but Scott says in some of his videos that there are in fact monthly meetings where he and the "Chairmen of the Board" sit around and talk strategy about about what's next for My Growth Rings.

So, was Chad's strategy discussed, vetted and approved by Scott as a way to drive more forum members to his YouTube channel? If so, the claim that Scott didn't post these videos, Chad did, would be a meaningless distinction and an example of "astroturfing" -- the practice of masking who is really driving the message while making it appear to be a grassroots effort.

That's not to say that there isn't a lot of good information in Scott's free videos or that he's not entitled to monetize his YouTube channel. It's just that using someone else as a stalking horse to aggressively cross-promote a monetized YouTube channel on the forum rubs me the wrong way.

Suppose I have a friend with an ebay store that sells used Shopsmith parts who asks me to post a new link to the forum's "heads up bargain available" thread each time my friend lists a Shopsmith part for sale in his ebay store? That might be a terrific benefit to a member who is looking for a particular part who wouldn't otherwise know of or visit my friend's ebay store. But it also would seem to be not in the spirit of the forum and whatever loose and admittedly unwritten rules exist against using the forum to promote commercial sites.

[edma194]

But it also would seem to be not in the spirit of the forum and whatever loose and admittedly unwritten rules exist against using the forum to promote commercial sites.

Is there such a rule unwritten or otherwise? We avoid selling in competition with Shopsmith but Scott is promoting their products, I don't think they mind. This should be a topic discussed on the board in a general sense for any posted content but I don't see any rules broken here, merely a minor and temporary disturbance in the force which is now over.

[algale]

At one point commercial use was strictly prohibited:

quote=Nick post_id=3272 time=1177189748 user_id=1533]
Here you go, Dusty:

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With all good wishes,
[/quote]

[Hobbyman2]

I believe this rule has been broken by nearly every one here , how many times have we seen post of tools or use of them that did not carry the SS name ? same with finishes ? just saying .

[reible]

So how would folks like it if I were to say post 50 posts a day that linked back to a previous thread of mine? Like it? Not? Or I could link back to another members posts with 50 more posts, you know just to bring them back to the top of the list here?

I think the fact that we know now this was no matter how you look at it a bad precedence to be setting and allowing, well unless you really want me to start doing the 50 links a day for a while to see if that makes everyone happy.......... Would this be a miss use of the forum? Think about it.

Ed

[Hobbyman2]

JMO,, if you put it under a topic of yours and you have nothing better to do , sooner or later you would see there would not be too many that read them ,, I have seen a lot of post that link to festool and other tools that I have no intention of buying regardless of how good they are ? I would imagine festool likes the free publicity ?? just saying . this should be in the community threads . but it isn't ? jmo

[RFGuy]

So how would folks like it if I were to say post 50 posts a day that linked back to a previous thread of mine? Like it? Not? Or I could link back to another members posts with 50 more posts, you know just to bring them back to the top of the list here?

I think the fact that we know now this was no matter how you look at it a bad precedence to be setting and allowing, well unless you really want me to start doing the 50 links a day for a while to see if that makes everyone happy.......... Would this be a miss use of the forum? Think about it.

Ed

Ed,

Apparently with a thick enough skin, no one here will mind the annoyance of 50 reposts a day on the forum...

[DLB]

JMO,, if you put it under a topic of yours and you have nothing better to do , sooner or later you would see there would not be too many that read them ,, I have seen a lot of post that link to festool and other tools that I have no intention of buying regardless of how good they are ? I would imagine festool likes the free publicity ?? just saying . this should be in the community threads . but it isn't ? jmo

I'm thinking you missed the point. Ed is not saying everyone should do this, he is saying no one should. And we do have a Woodworking Tool Review forum here: "(Shopsmith brand or Non-Shopsmith)." Festool isn't my thing either, but they have some cool ideas and fit the description of Non-Shoopsmith Woodworking Tools.

- David

[Hobbyman2]

JMO,, if you put it under a topic of yours and you have nothing better to do , sooner or later you would see there would not be too many that read them ,, I have seen a lot of post that link to festool and other tools that I have no intention of buying regardless of how good they are ? I would imagine festool likes the free publicity ?? just saying . this should be in the community threads . but it isn't ? jmo

I'm thinking you missed the point. Ed is not saying everyone should do this, he is saying no one should. And we do have a Woodworking Tool Review forum here: "(Shopsmith brand or Non-Shopsmith)." Festool isn't my thing either, but they have some cool ideas and fit the description of Non-Shoopsmith Woodworking Tools.

- David

--------------
Thanks David
Festool was just the first to come to mind , I agree with your post ,, that is why I said this conversation should be in the community heading . 50 post is a lot , and I imagine it took some effort and quite a bit of time . reading all of this has been non productive . as far as Chads motive only he knows why he posted the videos , maybe he was just bored ? if he had put them in the community section with a question on the reality and reliability of the information they contain to start a conversation my guess is he would not have broken any rules ?

[edma194]

COMMERCIAL USE OF THIS FORUM IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

I don't think the restriction on commercial use of the forum was intended to prevent linking to external websites, even if those website's primary function is not promoting the Shopsmith product line.