in article s1U4b.623$ snipped-for-privacy@tor-nn1.netcom.ca, Julie C. at snipped-for-privacy@privacy.net wrote on 9/1/03 11:21 PM:
Speaking as someone who finds frothing-at-length about advertising much more objectionable than what's been called "advertising" (inaccurately, despite the poster's humorous use of the word in his subject line), I went and looked up the charter. here it is:
"Discussion relating to tea, the world's second most consumed beverage (after water), made by infusing or boiling the leaves of the tea plant (C. sinensis or close relatives) in water. Discussions of herbal teas (e.g. chamomile, sassafras, etc.) are also approved, but this newsgroup should NOT be used for advertising herbal tea products or discussing tea as anything other than a beverage. Tea-as-medicine discussions should take place in misc.health.alternative."
It looks as though the only advertising banned by this charter is for herbal teas. And it's because herbal teas are off-topic, not because advertising is unwelcome.
I like learning about new sites and companies. I believe that having clearly-identified representatives on a newsgroup or message board is always of clear benefit to the group. As long as they're not sneaking around, pretending to be satisfied customers, who the hell cares?
Furthermore, it's been my experience that companies reveal their true natures through their reps. It's also nice to be able to rake them over the coals when the company does something wrong--and when a rep is around to politely answer questions when asked, well... where, exactly is the down side here?
On every message board I've ever been on--and I've been online for over 20 years--this is a self-regulating problem, never because a few people take it upon themselves to police the community, but because posters who are not recognized as part of the community are largely ignored. Somebody who just drops in out of nowhere, announces a product, and never posts again doesn't generally get much of a response.
Let the guy post about his new favorite shop. The fact that he's sticking around and having a conversation about it would make him part of the community, even if he hadn't already been posting here--which he had, as recently as late July.
However, if this is all just because we enjoy bickering, I move for the creation of rec.food.drink.tempest.teapot.
Keith