Need a "Cool" club-zoa avator?

Azurel · Jul 23, 2006

This was my post a few minutes ago.....I really don't care at this point wether it ticks anybody off. they are cool with all of these other clubs and avatars but ours ......

quote:
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Recognizing that it is impossible to construct a definition which will satisfy every situation or circumstance, Reef Central reserves the right to determine whether or not a post violates the â€œintentâ€ of the â€œcommercial postâ€ policy or definition.
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If you read this I guess it comes down to a at the whim decision whether something is commercial.....I guess it was somebodies opinion of what Club-zoa.com is. The rule states that it don't have to be based on fact of commercial but what the people in "charge" deems commercial whether or not that it is in fact commercial.

Also if you go back through this thread there is no mention of what Club-zoa really is. Only Coral-nuts telling some one to PM somebody.....So see as how nobody posted anything about it either one of two things happened.
1. Somebody felt slighted and complained about it.

2. Somebody googled the name and found what it was....which to me if you have to go looking for something then it isn't necessarily in violation. I'm sure there are many post and posters that if you dig deep enough there might be a hint of violation. The question then remains what is the line that one crosses. The rule with in the agreement is truly arbitrary to those that deem to use it whether it is in fact appropriate or not. I have changed my avatar as requested, but that does not mean that I agree with the decision in part or in whole. I like the fact that also at somebodies choice a group of people all across the country came together in their fanatism about zoanthids found away to identify with each other and the hammer comes down.....I truly expect that all avatars that have Club references to be removed as ours have. If not then the user agreement will then be in violation also as the agreement cuts both ways. It is not just an agreement for us whom use the site but, also those the deem themselves in charge to also abide by that said agreement. One club cannot be in violation while others are not with whom also do the same thing.

Now that I have said my piece... I will let it rest and be what it be...
James

maroonytunes · Jul 23, 2006

I agree with the above stated.

jessiesgrrl · Jul 23, 2006

Or, 'Not Financially Contributing To Reef Central For Now'... LOL

I seriously had that on my to do list, to upgrade my membership... but when I read the note in my PM box, it threatened to remove my posting rights if I didn't remove the avatar immediately after reading the PM... or if I reposted that PM in any way.

I hate being threatened, directly or indirectly... and absolutely will not contribute money to anyone who finds it in their best intrests to do so to me. Honestly, I haven't really felt the need to go back since, either. I go there mostly for the Zoanthid forum and our local reef club... but it is in no way a *needed* thing. And if it ceases to be fun for any reason, it negates my purpose for being there.

I guess I'd like to have Zoa Patrol put on mine... but honestly I am not sure at this point if I am going to go back.

Laurie

maroonytunes · Jul 23, 2006

I go to " inserts website who URL here" the lounge and the zoanthid.

jessiesgrrl · Jul 23, 2006

Ok, so they replied and I sent this, because the mod said he needed to see that our website was more than just a message board (And therefore in competition to RC):

"Ok, hmm, I begin to see the issue.

The message board exists solely for the communication of the club members for education and fun (Although trading HTF zoas that aren't out for general purpose is also tried out- like people's Most Wanted lists, etc).

It (The site) makes money in no way- it does not sell advertising to sponsors, collect money from members- nothing. The guy who owns it even pays for it out of his pocket. We don't help. It's just like SWAM- only the people on it are not local to each other and therefore need a way to communicate. As a matter of fact, SWAM collects dues from it's members so technically it is more commercial than Zoa Club.

Zoaid.com is an educational website dedicated to the taxonomy of zoas and palys. Zoa-Club is it's sister site given totally to zoanthids. It is in no way in commercial competition with Reef Central, and more to the point, the members of Club Zoa give free advice to Reef Central members in the Zoanthid forums, and always have.

Also, the website is not advertised in the avatars- just a claim for membership because we like the fact that we are involved in something educational and fun. If we get Pm'd, I personally don't mind but we don't seek other people out to refer to the site.

However, I do note the number of threads where I have been asked to refer someone on Reef Central for a good place for buying zoanthids- and the answer to that is usually MarineFlora.com, etc... Not Zoa Club,I'm sure you have already seen that in the RC threads, though, in Zoanthid forums and the Vendor Feedback forums.

As for showing/proving.. I would simply invite you to go read through the threads as a guest.

I hope RC checks it out and will reconsider treating a educational site as 'commercial competition'. Otherwise, I would expect to see SWAM's site also be sanctioned.

Hope you have a better day,

Laurie"

I hope they take me up on perusing the site, because I feel ZoaID.com is a great educational site, and there is nothing wrong with a educational site having a club, imo, especially when there is no money made anywhere.

I am witholding judgement until I see what their response is. If it continues to be negative, I will no longer help their newbies at the very least, and will not upgrade my membership.

Laurie

Shultz · Jul 24, 2006

Tbh this sucks, classic case of the big guy stamping on the little guy for no reason.....

If they uphold this then we should all stop posting on RC?

**EDIT**

I've jsut replied to the PM since I'm a few hours behind you lot ovber the pond....

Quote:

"Hi George,

Could I ask in what respect this is advertising please? I don't mean to be funny, but its not the full URL & unlike RC, clubzoa doesn't ask for donations, membership fees or indeed any other fees?

It is purely a specialist board for those who like Zoa's?? Tbh this action seems a little heavy handed to me? Could I ask have you checked out clubzoa to see what threat it is?

Also again not being funny I see many companies mentioned in your own Zoa forum (amongst others) which are not site sponsors & in my humble opinion this should be moderated rather than a few avatars about a free club???

No offence meant by the above comments, just trying to understand RC's position about this?

Cheers Shelton."

Cheers Shelton.

jessiesgrrl · Jul 24, 2006

Well, my fine British friend... Geo came and checked out the site, and he says it is a message board only; and therefore that's all it takes to never get our avatars back again.

Which leads to my electronic version of the Rosa Parks sit in with the poll and the 'open thread' after they closed ours.

Besides, what's up with beerguy closing that thread in this forum anyhow? He's not one of the three mods who are in charge of the fourm... You know, listed at the top of that page? He must have drawn the shortest straw to become the 'heavy'...

Laurie

cardgenius · Jul 24, 2006

Watch out for beerguy, he'll hit that ban button without thinkin twice.

twon8 · Jul 25, 2006

beerguy is one of the big three mods

Shultz · Jul 25, 2006

jessiesgrrl said:
Well, my fine British friend... Geo came and checked out the site, and he says it is a message board only; and therefore that's all it takes to never get our avatars back again.

Which leads to my electronic version of the Rosa Parks sit in with the poll and the 'open thread' after they closed ours.

Besides, what's up with beerguy closing that thread in this forum anyhow? He's not one of the three mods who are in charge of the fourm... You know, listed at the top of that page? He must have drawn the shortest straw to become the 'heavy'...

Laurie

He came back to me stating it was a form of advertising & therefore banned! He did thank me for removing the avatar though :roll:

I was thinking of paying for a premium account on RC as I thought it seemed a fair forum?? Won't bother now, for the record I use this same Club Zoa avatar on 2 fish forums here in the UK & niether has got excited about me "advertising"??? :wink:

Be interesting to see whether they clamp down on non-sponsors being mentioned or linked to????

Cheers Shelton.

maroonytunes · Jul 25, 2006

Shelton you got banned??? We should all change our avatars to zoa club, it wouldn't be advertising to any message board directly???

Shultz · Jul 25, 2006

Who Me? Not to my knowledge? I was just asked the same as the rest to remove my avatar & I asked the questions as posted here, got the same answer as othres in basically RC have decided its advertising thus not allowed?

Cheers Shelton.

maroonytunes · Jul 25, 2006

Ok, when I read your post, I thoughtis said you got banned.

jessiesgrrl · Jul 25, 2006

LOL I removed my own avatar and replaced it witha Rest In Peace My Avatar is Dead and they deleted my new one ... unfair, cuz my new one didn't violate any of the rules.

Laurie

maroonytunes · Jul 25, 2006

Yes, that was uncalled for, you didn't violate any rules, now if only I could get that avatar that you posted to work.

jessiesgrrl · Jul 25, 2006

Bah, I wouldn't bother, fair or not they'll just delete it.

I will probably only go there for my local club now. Anything else is pointless if it is THAT censored that I couldn't have the second avatar just because some mod decided he didn't like it- not because it was against any of the rules.

I found a new board anyhow- allthingssalty.com. I'll probably just use it in place of what I used to use RC for. This sort of thing is dumb anyway- most of us post on more than one board because it allows you to network with more people that way. So they really aren't in direct competition- I can choose to go to more than one and it doesn't hurt anyones chances of me also posting elsewhere...

Laurie