RULES

[Cassie]

Wouldn't it be nice to not need any?? :wink:
However, it does seem that there are some grey areas atm.   I would like to address 2 issues here.
1. Posts about illegal activities
There seems to be no disagreement about the 'rule' that no one incriminate themselves or others.  Its a simple matter to police this as i have described in my other posts.  There is no way we can just go by american law here ... and my suggestion is for moderators to do as i have done in the past if they suspect a post of being incriminatory ... just ask the post-maker if the activity is legal where they are and if so - all good,  if not- edit or remove.
There will always be some posts that slip between the cracks, just like irl where legislation is pronounced for the general case.  Lets not sweat those specifics til they arise and then leave to moderator's discretion.
2. Hotlinks to vendors
The reason why this was not allowed before was because we had site sponsors who needed to 'get something for their money'. As yet we do not have any banners up here and hence no policy regarding vendors.  I would like to see us grow to the point where we needed sponsors (when Andy says we have to start paying something??).

These are my first thoughts on this, just to get the ball rolling ...

[Bushpig]

Sounds good cass  

I once gave Eddy some money for getting my banner put up just before he dissapeared.  Banner never went up...Eddy dissapeared.  So if it is decieded that SPF wants some sponsors I am still interested.  But thats only if we deciede banners are wanted.



Booosh

[TooStonedToType]

I think one thing that has set spf apart from some of the other site is the relative lack of spam.  If we start having sponsors and banners, that just encourages that sort of thing.  So I'd hope we could stay away from that as well as not allowing links to vendors.

[JRL]

I am with Too Stoned on this. Lets keep this commercial free as long as we can. If Andy needs money maybe we can solicit some silent benefactors or something.

[Avery L. Breath]

I don't know you guys.  Seems to me as long as we are not spammed to death with shameless self promotion, the occasional member who wants to promote their site should be welcomed.  Like fractanamist for instance.  Been around along time, is a straight shooter, willing to support the site and it's members, just getting a business going, I think people like him deserve our support....... as long as nobody goes overboard.

I personally think a little commerce stimulates participation.  Giving vendors a little (just a little) hanging room for free, works to the sites advantage in the long run.

[neonaut]

at edot vendors have to register, and can only post in specific forums, i like spiritplants cause there is no spam period!  But some venders like fractanamist and otheres who have been members b4 members should get special exceptions, just my 2 cents.

[Bushpig]

Well,


I am pretty easy either way.  I like the way Edot does it and I think i can work with Spiritplants.  I have been a long term member of SPF and would love to advertise my site here but at the same time am not looking to take SPF in a direction she does not want to be taken.  As the issue is upon us then what do all the mods and long term members think to it ?  I dont think it's going to result in spam if there are strict rules regrding it.  Banners to be paid, and no on-forum advertising unless it's decieded there should be a specific vendor forum where vendors can make new announcements.


Boooshpig

[cenacle]

why not simply low cost ads? something that would help offset andy's cost but remain apart from the actual forums?

as for the site, what i see here is an AMAZING lack of activism to *legalize* the sacraments we collectively and individually value...if people like us aren't in there making an effort, the zealot fuckheads who rule things right now will go on and on eroding our rights...legality is a shifting territory, and it seems like it mostly, though not completely, tends to move against us...but there are efforts that should be more discussed here...aside from bushpig's excellent posts about the UK shroom legality matter, i've seen no others...

i've noticed such timidity, some of it masquerading as caution but what i would call cowardice, regarding entheogenic freedom...do we really care about this? would any of us put ourselves on the line for it? nobody would get that idea coming here and reading what is posted...people are in jail by the millions for entheogen (including MJ) related "offenses."

whatever you are into, whichever chemical or plant, if you, me, everyone does not do something, speak out, legislation is being prepared to take it from you...wherever you live, not just here in ameriKKKa...

so talk of banners and spam is well enough...something we need to figure out, or at least discuss ongoing, but the larger issue, in my opinion, is what this site is for...is it part of a larger, age-old push for consciousness and freedom? or is it for skulking within what shadows remain to speak in timid tones of little hobbies?

[Avery L. Breath]

As far as a vendors forum goes, I don't know.  I mean, granted I like parusing vendor sections on other sites, but if yah do that, you'll not only be allowing vendors, you'd be attracting them......

[Bushpig]

Very good point Avery...I agree it will attract vendors.  As for whether that is a bad thing I guess it depends on what the members of SPF want from SPF.

Cenacle!!!!! Thank blooody god, goddess or whatever apparition or genitalia you may worship

About time someone brought that up.  It's been something I've noticed many a time at SPF.  I understand as I moderate my own website/forum that for ones own protection there is good reason for non incriminating posts but SPF takes it soooo extreme to the point I wondered whether it as mainly an american paranoia ? It strikes me indeed as cowadice or at least a lack of damn backbone..  We could all be doing so much more to promote this collectives views.  Of course the anti is that in doing so we threaten the freedoms of the board owner.


Booosh

[neonaut]

I agree with the fact of  pushing the legalization envelope, but i for one enjoy the esoteric underground that surrounds these plants.  but this is not what this thread is about.  someone should start an entheogenic freedom forum, where use and aquisition are not discuseed, only legality, grassroots, and political issues.

[cenacle]

we had one at the old SPF, maybe revive it, call it Legal Issues or Advocacy or some such?

[Cassie]

Doesnt all that 'legalise' stuff belong in 'The World'  :?:

[Cassie]

My preference in regard to vendors is this:
Right now we have no sponsors to protect, which was the reason Eddy banned hotlinks to vendors.  I think we need a disclaimer at the Tradewinds and maybe somewhere else that no vendor hotlinked at the site has any recommendation from the site and we allow totally open discussion of how good these vendors are.
We also have an understanding that spam is not acceptable and moderators/admins will delete as soon as they spot it.
This way we don't need any changes at all just yet.

[Syd]

I'm not a mod, but I agree fully with Cassie!