Commercial Use of Site ?

A question ~~~

In the General Discussion Forum, a member is having a contest. The prize is some plants. The member has a plant business. The prize comes from the business.

People could have various opinions about this. I say it is advertising.

Is this appropriate participation in the site?

I would be glad to read others' comments about this.

Thank you.

Adam.

I hope you just didn't switch the cooker on...

In my opinion, it's a fun way to get a name for own nursery, what would be better way than get opinions from other gardeners?

Adam....It is just a fun thing...and I was the one that suggested it to a new member...we've done it before with other members...so no commercialism intended...just good fun. Come on, suggest a name!! Jo

I seen nothing wrong with this whatsoever.

I think it a great way for a paying DG member to get a little help from some friends.

Its a fun thing to do.

Paul

WEll, I guess I'll go first...
Sometime back I posted that I was interested in starting a Scif store (webstore space that dave has offered the Universe)...and asked folks for potential names for the site. (Got lots of response! And am grateful, folks!) I didn't offer any "prize", but I sure rec'd a lot of input. Also, I've notice other people have asked us folks to come up with names for other things, varying from names for their farms to pets to potential market names (business).

From what I read the person you are referring to is hoping to start a plant business (doesn't have one as yet) and seems to be simply offering a "gratitude" to whoever "wins". (I also remember the post to read "whether I pick the name or not, I'll send a plant to whoever comes up with a name I like"..or something to that affect.)

As for advertising? Perhaps, perhaps not (especially since there is no business to advertise, yet.) In other posts I've seen mention of what people do, what business they are in, what they WANT to do, what their goal is, and mention of their websites. Is that advertising?...or sharing? (however subtle they come across)

As for rewards (as in the above mention of offering a "plant for the best name", we have contests here at DG several times a year. Perhaps this is another one...we've certainly had them offered in the past (whether they be for a farm name, biz name, prettiest Brug, Most Wonderful Garden, whatever) and more often than not there is a prize offered. They are actually fun! And many many of us get involved in them! (And by the way, this time of year is the best time for them!) (Can't get out and dig in the dirt, plant, harvest, brag!) ;>)

(Gardenwife here, logged in under her mom's account)

I didn't take it as advertising at all. I guess it's not different than people mentioning their businesses, the fact that they've opened a SCIF store or sell on eBay, linking to their websites on their DG member pages, etc.

To me, anyway, it seems a different category than saying - "hey, so-and-so, you say you want such-and-such and I sell those! Go to my website at dot.com and see". It can be a touchy issue, though, I know.

Thank you for your input..., YOU TOTALLY CHANGED MY MIND.

Much appreciated.

;~)

WHEW! Thanks, Adam.... LOL

A happy end :) (?)

Well, some smart guy once said to me...

"Kid, ya can't understand the present, if ya don't know the history."

If it makes anyone feel better, I (putting on my administrator's hat) read the post about the contest and the post where a contest was suggested, and came to the same conclusion that others did - it wasn't intended to be an advertisement for the business, but an appeal for help.

It's a judgment call we have to make on a fairly frequent basis, since we do have a sizeable number of business owners here. What crosses the line? It's difficult to define, but "I know it when I see it", as the saying goes...

NOT advertising at all, there is no money to be made from the members, and it is not even a mail order business. TOTALLY appropriate. Glad you changed your mind, Adam.