POLL: Should affiliate links be allowed on BLF? ENDED: duplicate of http://budgetlightforum.com/node/26172/results

You can see the archived poll results on the Wayback Machine:

https://web.archive.org/web/20221220093741/https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/72660

I need help, pls explain what you mean by affiliate links. Thanks. :quest: :quest:

wiki

In short, it is a personalised url for a product that is tied to the posters account at an online store. When a subsequent purchase is made the poster is rewarded financially, usually by rebate point scheme. When the poster gains enough points they can exchange for discount coupons.

Discussion thread:

I voted “yes”. Haha… just kidding. Thats a definite Noooo.

BTW, would anyone like me to add some supportive comments to site the 4000 negative impacts of shilling… while using my fun new Dragon software? I talk, it types. :bigsmile:

This is getting beyond the pail. Enough already for #^%&s sake. Its SB’s decision, not yours, mine or whateverhisnameispilots. SB made a post, he stated his opinion, and even said why. Seemed very well reasoned to me. I have no idea why there is even a question still.

Ill say this though, both of you need to grow up. And no, I dont care how old you actually are. Opinions are one thing, taking them to this level is childish. Now if this keeps going, Ill turn this car around and no one will be going anywhere.

Relax, its all good! I'm a big proponent for the voice of the people. It's the best way to gauge something. Me and whateverhisnameispilots are having fruitful discussion.

I created this poll to gauge what BLF members really want, as it is the members after all that make this forum what it is.

Also, this forums is fastly becoming the most popular forum, because of the way it has been run. Changing a successful recipe that helped you get were you are, is not the best answer, and could actually hinder growth, if it is not the right change.

Thus, I say, let the member that made this forum get where it is, decide what they want!


"The voice of the people, will always ring louder than the voice of a few!"

- blfdemigod

Whoa there, more shilling for the Dragon software stuff! :slight_smile: Now I almost want one. What’s your affiliate ID?

[edit] …yada yada yada…

I voted doesn’t matter to me, because in all honesty, it doesn’t matter to me.
I do think however that if you are posting an affiliate link it should be identified as such.
I have no issues with giving people a little credit if they have done a little leg work to get the deal (as blfdemigod has from what I have seen in my newness here).

Good points, Jealous57.
I may reconsider my vote.

It’s getting too personal… (my bad too… :weary: )
But perhaps it is somewhat personal, as we’re all persons… :stuck_out_tongue:
It may well be ‘innocent’ overzealousness of some, annoying others…

Cast your vote and let the result speaks for itself.

Remember SB’s message.

I really couldn’t care less. If I find a light that’s a great price, I don’t care what kind of link it came from. If someone benefits by benifitting me, good for them.
What next. A BLF police force? Everyone take a Valium!

Did I miss something? Please go back and read again. Admins conclusion was, “So, my final decision is that I don’t know what to do yet.” The posts brought new information to light that many new shill situations now exist that we werent all aware of. This proved that the problem is actually far worse than it had originally seemed. We should strongly consider a vote to change the forum name to “the budget light shilling forum” to more accurately describe what we are doing here! I have no gain or loss in this matter, but I do feel some ownership in this forum and a need to protect it from greedy people that have proven to be more interested in putting a few bucks in their pockets rather than protecting the image of the forum. For whatever reason, I think most that are not sucking from the teets of an affiliate link system will agree that its a destructive self serving practice that has been abused. SB now has more to consider, as we all do. The facts are incontrovertible and hiding in a wet paper sack can no longer make them go away. How many times has this problematic subject resurfaced and still not been resolved? As always, we have excelled in sharing information, and this is just another fine example. Lets hope there is a solution this time.

It's ok. Follow your heart guys.... This poll was created to find out what BLF members want, which I believe will benefit BLF in the long run.

I also agree with Ouchy. This is basically my take on the whole affiliate thing.

Personally I don’t see why it makes any difference at all. As long as people don’t start spamming threads with affiliate links I couldn’t care less. If they post up a good deal or something of interest, it doesn’t matter in the slightest to me if they benefit out of it, especially when it often will let me know of something I may otherwise have not found. Good for them I say.

Oh and I voted yes… :stuck_out_tongue:

hmmmm, I chose one of three choices, now there are four ???
Kinda screws the results so this poll is not worth the bit and bytes its made of.

Free speech, voice of the people?? who said this is a democracy, because it is not, it is JB’s forum to do with whatever he wants, and with the popularity of these forums I think it is safe to say he is doing a good job of it.

What I think of affiliated links has no bearing on this post as this has gone beyond a discussion on affiliated links to a member trying to back JB into a corner and imposing his/her will on him, the owner of the forum.

blfdemigod, when this first started I thought that you were being hard done by and copping undeserved flak that had been building up for a long while, and still do, however I think you have overstepped forum etiquette in the way you are carrying on now.

Would someone please hand out the little green pills, one for everyone :slight_smile:

Cheers David

So…

If we all decide it’s appropriate to come over and kick you in the balls, that makes it okay to you?

The change was made very quickly, I believe only 3 votes were cast when I added the 4th option (yes - with full disclosure). So the poll will be off by a variance of 3 votes, which were all No. I doubt that will affect the outcome of the poll, as most polls have a 5%+- tolerance.

This poll was not designed to back anyone into a corner, and to imply as such is simply wrong. Its simply to offer statistics of what member's of BLF prefer to see regarding affiliate links. I don't think I overstepped any boundaries to say the least. Everything I have written has been POLITE and RESPECTFUL of my fellow BLF members. I also posted this thread in the correct sub-forum, "off-topic chatter". No reason we can't talk about these things. To not talk about them, and avoid them, would be wrong in my book, as the term "shilling" has been used very prominently in the past 24-48 hours.

Be it as it may, every person has a right to there opinion, as long as it doesn't encroach on another members right to have an opinion as well. You opinion that I overstepped forum etiquette, is just that, your opinion. We all have our opinion, and as such I appreciate your reply, even though I may disagree with the premise of your reply.

Dude. In case you haven’t noticed, the “solution” has been in place ALL this time!

Our beloved Moderator has it writ large across the breadth and depth of this entire Forum.

He’s just being demure when/if he claims not to know what to do. Just because he loves us and trusts us doesn’t mean he can’t smash us with his giant ban-hammer.

We ALL need to “grow up” a little and understand the reasons why this place is so attractive to us all.

I already put up a wall of words on the other thread, and I don’t chew my grits twice.

Oh, but as to Rule 5, if I don’t use rhetoric and blanket statements it might seem I’m violating Rule 2 by accusing someone in particular of some particular thing or another…

Just sayin…