Help...I keep getting banned on forums for placing a signature

@Kay:

"This isn't some war where IMers gang up to try to change "behaviors" on sites they don't own. You say your only reason is to promote your site - that becomes clear quickly on the forums."

I didn't say my only reason was to promote my site. I also aim to get backlinks. I do try to contribute and it is obvious from my posts that I am no spammer. I haven't even made a plug for my products.


"If you want respect for your views, you need to respect the views of others."

I do this indeed. I just don't appreciate being attacked like that and being falsely accused of something I didn't say or advocate. I can't help it if other people misunderstand what I am trying to say.

Hi Myles.

"What do you have in mind that would alienate all the forum members?"


A: I guess I mean by banning people from placing a link/signature by invoking the excuse that it is "spam". They can do it by all means, but if you are an ordinary Joe trying to get involved and get a backlink for your efforts, would you be pleased? Wouldn't you choose the forum that would give you the right to use a signature? I would for sure.
An example I often refer to is the use of nofollow blogs. I have heard the reasons why they have it, but have read good arguments for having do follow blogs. Obviously if you're a marketer it is in your own self interest to prioritise blogs that allow do follow comments. There is still a benefit to commenting on "no follow" blogs but obviously it is more in your interest to comment on "do follow".

"That's great that you feel that way. However, if the day comes that you run a forum, you might find that circumstances leave you no choice but to impose rules and limitations on members."

A: This is a valid point and you are right in many ways. There are often good limitations and I agree with a lot of them. I am just saying that if you want to be a tyrant and tell people to go bugger off if they give you a suggestion or tip then don't expect people to warm to you as a forum or blog owner. Arrogance doesn't pay. I joined "blogcatalog" because I was told I could submit my blog and I took the time to type in all the fields only to be told 4 days later that i had been rejected because it was deemed "commercial content". It is just information on a blog that is linked to my site so I wasn't impressed. If I had been told clearly beforehand I wouldn't have wasted my time.

"I'm not sure why you believe that site owners (forums) think they live in a bubble? I would imagine that most forum owners know that to have a successful forum, they need an active forum with lots of participation."

A: Not many of them I have come across but just a few that I have and these are the ones I refer to. It is more for blogs that I am referring to. The ones who lay down the law unneccessarily are the ones who think their actions do not have consequences. I cannot think of a good example off the top of my head other than one when I was on a blog. I commented on a blog and they let everyone else use their link but me because I was in the "wrong niche". I couldn't work out why my comments weren't published so after a little while I found out after emailing them. Suffice it to say I got the message and never went back.


"Forums are giving something. A platform for people to exchange ideas, discuss, teach etc.,
What else do you have in mind?"

A: Yes they are. I just disagree with a hyper vigilant mentality as those who are doing the right thing can face unwarranted ire if you get what I mean. I was just responding to what the original poster said and I felt that it was an example where they can accuse of something that you didn't do (intentionally) and you have no recourse because it is their forum. Like google banning your website because they make the rules. All I say is that people with power seek to make fair rules and not wield the big stick because they are drunk with their own influence and angry because a few rotten apples are spoling things.