So I had this post that linked to my blog containing a tutorial on how to put together backdrops using 2D images, but the MR Web staff deleted it because it violated the “don’t use this forum to promote your forum” rule. I don’t really have a forum. I have a blog where I share layout updates and tutorials on how I did things that I hope others will find useful. When I’ve posted links to my tutorials in the past, there hasn’t been any problem and almost all the follow-up comments get posted here in this forum not on my blog (which makes $0.00 each year in revenue.) There have been several posts complaining about the lack of “meat” in this forum recently. But when I try to add something of substance, it gets deleted. It’s not practical for me to post my tutorials directly into this forum. The ultimate irony may be that in my tutorial I highly recommend one of Kalmbach’s books. So if anyone was going to make money off my post, it was them. I’m just really frustrated by this. I don’t have a competing forum, a commercial company or anything else that threatens MRs online presence or revenue stream. I have a blog where I tried to share best practices, but I got squashed by the MR police. I don’t get it.
What’s not to get?
There’s a rule in place, and whether you knew about it or not, you violated it.
Although you may not have a forum, you do have a blog which allows comments. Unfortunately, that must meet Kalmbach’s definition of a “forum”.
I think its really great that you’re willing to take the time and post HOW-TO’s for people to learn from.
I’m not a moderator, nor can I speak for MRR, but here’s a suggestion that everyone might find acceptable to solve this problem:
Since the material is your own work (presumably), and you’re willing to post it here, why not simply copy-n-paste it into a post and fix up the image links so they correctly point back to wherever you have them hosted? And edit out any links that otherwise reference your blog.
Then you will have posted something directly into MRR’s forum. You will have helped everybody out with a brand new HOWTO (and one which I personally would enjoy reading). And all will be good with the world?
I think that would probably be a win-win for everybody.
Whaddaya think Moderators, would that be okay?
John
I have to agree with you, a blog is not a forum by any stretch, the comment feature hardly qualifies as a forum. If a moderator actually told you that, and your blog contained no advertising, whats the problem?
I (and many others), always paste links to websites, blogs, youtube etc, is that now a violation or is there more to this story?
My signature has a link to my blog, I haven’t heard any complaints from the powers that be. [%-)]
Links to blogs are fine; links to other forums are not. tshryrock, I’ll look into this to find out what happened.
Tom
FYI: Your thread is back in the General Discussion forum again:
http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/p/172673/1896921.aspx#1896921
Tom