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Poll Option

Votes

Graph

Yes - always (spam)

Yes - only if someone requests product information

Yes - only if someone requests product availabilty

Yes - both 2 & 3

42%

Yes - but only by Personal Message function

17%

Yes - only if sponsorship is disclosed in reply

34%

Topic Date User

Advertising or Information? 13-Jul-2005 At 4:30:07 PM manacubus

Message

For the record, I’m sponsored by Pinnacle Sports. I’m definitely a pretty average climber, but I love climbing and do a lot of it, and that’s why they decided to sponsor me. I get shoes, a rope, and a set allowance that I can use to buy some of their products each year. I don’t get money. This is my second year of sponsorship.

I am also the webmaster of qurank.com and have been for longer than Chockstone has been alive. I rarely censor posts, and have never had cause to censor a commercial, climbing-related post. Mountain Designs have never logged on to qurank to post their latest specials. I tend to believe the so-called flood of climbing-related spam you supposedly have to deal with doesn't exist.

I much prefer to believe that Chockstone has its back to the wall in a sponsorship arrangement that leads to members posts being edited or deleted in a Nazi-style manner if they contain anything that might "be in conflict with the site sponsor". That’s why I have declined all offers (and there have been many) of sponsorship for qurank.

I have never to my knowledge plugged a product I didn't fully believe in, or given bad advice on a forum. My reputation is solid and has been built up over years of posting. Why should I not be able to talk about climbing products on a climbing website, regardless of if I buy the products or receive them from a sponsorship? Incidentally, I talk just as much about products I purchase (e.g. Aliens).

Am I the only one who finds censorship of genuine posts distasteful? The good old concept of free speech comes to mind.

Jac and I both are long-term, positive contributors to Chockstone, and it’s our reputations that are at stake for making any comments we make. We’re well aware of this. Most people realise this and would rate the worth of our comments accordingly. This is the case with any Chockstone member.

Bottom line, as long as it’s on topic, each of us should be able to say anything we like on Chockstone. As soon as you start implementing rules on who can say what and when, we’ve entered a dictatorship.

Edit: I am perfectly willing to include in my User Profile that I am sponsored. I have chosen not to because it sounds dicky!