Here’s what Dale/Rich wrote in the commercial posts policy:
“Personally, I don’t mind if a person who makes money by selling or making whistles posts an occasional message making us aware of something they have to offer. However, I think it is important that such a person can demonstrate that the majority of their posts are entirely non-commercial. In other words, they are contributing members of the board community. I also think it is critical that their be NOTHING competitive about the message. No “best deals.” Nothing that suggests any superiority over others’ products and services. Nothing that diminishes or belittles the work of competitors.”
I interpret this to mean that it is OK to have occasional messages from makers, the majority of whose posts are non-commercial, with nothing competitive or critical of the competition.
It is all about degrees. Occasional messages seem to be OK but, thankfully, we don’t get daily, automated messages from pipemakers reminding us of their offerings.
Even dropping the web name into the signature is pushing it a bit. Even eBAY does not allow web sites to be used in their listings.
But GOOGLE ads are allowed to reach this site, so that is an approved way.
My point, I guess, was that although I don’t particularly care for it, signatures (and the www link) are great ways for anybody (makers, philanthropists, um… others) to tell everybody else where there website is. I know that Davey (greenwood pipes) often lists items he has for immediate sale on his main page, and I believe his website is linked via his posts. Also, I am pretty sure that he (and many other makers of whistles and flutes) have also used their once a month post to mention items they have for immediate sale.
All in all, what I am trying to say is that there are many who object to even the slight (tiny) commercial nature of including a website in a signature, so you are sure to have a large group opposed to an entire other section devoted to commercialism.
Also, I am pretty sure that the servers Rich uses for this board have rules such that explicit commercial activity is not allowed.
Jim - certainly, daily updates would be intrusive and an abuse of this free forum, but I don’t think that’s what’s being suggested.
A lot of people, not just pipemakers, include their “commercial” websites with their signatures or they use the www icon. They advertise their groups, CDs, etc. No one complains about that. Personally it doesn’t bother me.
But daily updates is where it heads once the floodgates are opened.
Speaking for eBAY, web site addresses are not allowed and auctions are cancelled when web sites are noticed in the listing by eBAY. That, of course, does not stop people from stretching the rules for what they feel is OK.
Even when someone is selling something on a so-called personal and group level, you sometimes see that famous ‘bump’ to push their objective.
Commercial operations have other vehicles for their business to get the word out and, until those avenues are exhausted, I wouldn’t want to see an increase here.
I think that this, is a bit, of bear face cheek,because one takes part in a forum, dos’e not mean that one can bring his shop of merchandise in with him, most other members only give a link to a site regarding the sudject at that time, under dicussion, “but this” is full time advertising,every time a new member asks about pipe makers, all this member has to do is join in the forum dicussion, and his products is advertised right there! for a the new member to see, this also makes it look as this makers products have chiff & fipples approvel over other makers, there’s a big difference between some one needing a new reed,compared to some one selling his full merchandise, it has taking most Uilleann pipe
makers years to make there name,most full time pipe makers
do not have pages regardind help to Piping problems on there
sites, but if any do, these pages should be the only one’s allowed on chiff & fipple piping forum,only piping help page links, should be allowed in Uilleann piping forums,along with members own experiences, personal opinions of, makers,along with ones person experiences of products and instruments regarding a forum discussion, if one wants to make a name for
him self, and sell his products, earn it the right way, I am not just getting at this maker, there are also one or two more other makers who have got there name known threw chiff & fipple also. and because these few makers have been allowed,
it is only fair to (1) allow other new Pipe makers to make there
name this way, threw chiff & fipple, or (2) remove pipemakers & reedmakers pages with merchandise for sale on chiff & fipple,
you either have one or the other.
That may be, but if you are allowing forum members to click on a pipe makers personal web site with merchandise for sale, that is also allowing personal advertising, there is no difference.
most other members only give a link to a site regarding the sudject at that time, under dicussion, “but this” is full time advertising,every time a new member asks about pipe makers, all this member has to do is join in the forum dicussion, and his products is advertised right there! for a the new member to see, 
this also makes it look as this makers products have chiff & fipples approvel over other makers, 
there’s a big difference between some one needing a new reed,compared to some one selling his full merchandise, 
it has taking most Uilleann pipe
and because these few makers have been allowed,
