[wp-forums] Re: Forum post (ladydelaluna)

[Lara at Anubis Marketing]

Michael B wrote:
> When did we start doing that in the forums?
> 
> While I'll agree that his postings can seem suspect, I've seen 
> numerous other posts over the last year with people offering WP users 
> free hosting, and they were slapped on the back for being nice.  This guy
has a "company"
> and does it and he's evil?
> I can name at least one other recent poster who has a link to a 
> commercial site who's been quite "active" and that's ok because 
> they've not overtly offered services?
> 

>I would have preferred that we tell people to link to a blog and only a
blog. It was discussed and for reasons I understand it was rejected - which
leaves us open still to gaming.
>We could insist that unless it is a personal blog that it is a personal
site. We could insist that the link is not to any commercial site. Both the
above I like - but we would be going against established contributors. We
could leave it down to discussion here but we rejected it once and probably
would do again. As much as I hate to admit it, there is a hole in our rules
and for as long as that exists it will be used.

P.
---------
I think that some of the previously "erroneous" threads have already been
disabled, but this is nothing new with this user, miklb.
He's been told several times to stop trying to peddle his "services" and
it's quite obvious (as seen in many MANY of his other posts) that he'd
rather have people contact him privately. Up until today, he was posting his
email address in every other request for help he wanted.

What you might not've seen in the past, is that there was a thread where
someone was looking for a suggestion on a good hosting company. LOTS of
people responded with direct links to reputable hosting companies and listed
their plan prices, offerings, etc.  Then this guy comes in (his site was
still up at the time) and posts that he'd offer hosting to that person at
"very reasonable rates". After spencerp (I believe it was) checked his
website and saw that this "rate" was something like 25MB (!!) for $30/month,
he called him on the carpet about how NOT a "great" deal that was... And
BEFORE OUR EYES his site went "down".

I've been around a number of blocks in the business world, and this guy's
nothing but a grimy guy trying to garner business through "private help".
Sure, he might offer to fix a code or something for free, but then he'll
toss out all the "services" and "rates" he can, in hopes of throwing out a
fantastic sales pitch.

The fact remains that the majority of questions from people DON'T require
FTP access, they require taking the time to type out an explanation, and
hanging around the thread to make sure it helped. If it were someone who was
asking for help with an installation, and hyperactive-media had a GOOD
REPUTATION already, I wouldn't see a problem with it. But I've watched this
guy try to cover his ass all over the place, and try to play "innocent
little helper" all too poorly. 

He even took to emailing me today, thanking me for my "concern" but that it
was totally innocent, etc. Then I look at that thread and he's called me
ignorant and every other such thing? 

Sorry, but I can see a slimebag from a mile away... And this guy is their
leader.

On a side note about site links: I don't care if the guy has a link to his
professional site in his profile. If the person he talks to is given that
opportunity to check out his site and make an educated decision whether or
not to contact him VIA HIS SITE that's okay with me. (And no, not because I
have my commercial site in my profile either.) But having only been a member
for a short period of time, with his track record of disabling his site as
soon as he's called on the carpet, and then every other reply is an offer
for "private help"... Sorry, no dice with me. If he were truly a reputable
person, he'd stop wasting time on the forums and get to building up his
business site so he can at least LOOK like he's honest and knows what the
hell he's talking about. 

- Lara (ladydelaluna)