TOS Topic Discussion

[shelley1005]

Hi Ted,

I read that 20 something page thread....and didn't post anything, I got too stressed out just reading it, etc.

I don't like the new TOS and that it can dictate what we do in our posts that aren't PPP or next to PPP. I agree with other people that it is ridiculous.

But my main issue is how this will be enforced. Let me give you an example. I spend a lot of time on my website talking about weight loss and dieting. I often find new products, workout videos, etc...and I will review them. They aren't paid at all, but a reviewer may think it is a paid post from another company. So, then the reviewer rejects one of my posts...or says my blog might be suspended for violation the TOS, etc.

I have to wonder with the new TOS....how can I prove to the reviewers what is and is not a paid post? I mean...what if I say, that's not a paid post...and the reviewer says, "Well...I think it is." It's hard to prove that something isn't paid...I can't show you the paypal transfer that didn't come through.

I just see a big huge headache coming my way....and PPP's way as well.

And I will be honest, I would be less worried if in my experience...I didn't see PPP's reviewing as sometimes great, but also inconsistent and sometimes just piss poor. (sorry to be bluntly honest).

Thanks for continuing to listen to concerns...when the thread got closed, I was preparing to walk out the door. I know sometimes passion can turn into nasty, but I think open communication is so important.

Shelley

[Jules]

WHOA! Best Practices is the best idea I've heard today. This would be an awesome tool to build to help those posties who may have wandered off track.

Up above I mentioned about

What about "if your blog looks like a spam factory we will let you know. You'll get some guidance and direction on how to bring it back into line. You may or may not get some(predetermined amount of) time off to help you get it together."

Such a blog could be held to that more rigid Best Practices while serving their "probation".

And, yeah, I would love to help you work on that.

Speaking of that, I have another question about the statement you made on the other thread about community members vote on the quality of your content.

What does that mean exactly?

[skeet]

WHOA! Best Practices is the best idea I've heard today. This would be an awesome tool to build to help those posties who may have wandered off track.

Up above I mentioned about

What about "if your blog looks like a spam factory we will let you know. You'll get some guidance and direction on how to bring it back into line. You may or may not get some(predetermined amount of) time off to help you get it together."

Such a blog could be held to that more rigid Best Practices while serving their "probation".

And, yeah, I would love to help you work on that.

That would address another problem that quality posties have been very concerned about. There's an overabundance of splogs and blogs that are just of very poor quality. They reflect badly on PPP and on each of us who has chosen to associate with PPP.

[DeniseK]

Hi Ted,

I read that 20 something page thread....and didn't post anything, I got too stressed out just reading it, etc.

I don't like the new TOS and that it can dictate what we do in our posts that aren't PPP or next to PPP. I agree with other people that it is ridiculous.

But my main issue is how this will be enforced. Let me give you an example. I spend a lot of time on my website talking about weight loss and dieting. I often find new products, workout videos, etc...and I will review them. They aren't paid at all, but a reviewer may think it is a paid post from another company. So, then the reviewer rejects one of my posts...or says my blog might be suspended for violation the TOS, etc.

I have to wonder with the new TOS....how can I prove to the reviewers what is and is not a paid post? I mean...what if I say, that's not a paid post...and the reviewer says, "Well...I think it is." It's hard to prove that something isn't paid...I can't show you the paypal transfer that didn't come through.

I just see a big huge headache coming my way....and PPP's way as well.

And I will be honest, I would be less worried if in my experience...I didn't see PPP's reviewing as sometimes great, but also inconsistent and sometimes just piss poor. (sorry to be bluntly honest).

Thanks for continuing to listen to concerns...when the thread got closed, I was preparing to walk out the door. I know sometimes passion can turn into nasty, but I think open communication is so important.

Shelley

This is my concern also. I do a lot of reviewing of websites and blogs and many of my interim posts contain links, but they are not paid. I have wondered after reading that long thread about the TOS change if some of my post might be thought of as paid when they are not.

[murphman]

Ted, thanks for opening this dialogue, it means a lot to me.

Personally, I would like clarification on what "sponsored" is, so I'll use some scenarios as illustrations:

1) My friend owns a lighting company and he pays me 10 bucks to mention it a post.
2) I am an Amazon affiliate and I mention a book I read, with a link to Amazon.
3) I write a post about local news, but it's got that Kontera bubble stuff in it.
4) Complete stranger likes my blog, wants me to write 3 posts a month for them and pays me $50/month.

Are all these sponsored per PPP? Any of them? None of them?

And yes, please give at least a 30 day window when implementing changes like this.

I think these are very compelling scenarios. To me #1 and #4 are sponsored posts. #2 and #3 are contextual links. In the end I don't know how much differentiation there is here. It's a tough call and thats were we get into this subjective area that nobody likes. That's why we have to look at each issue on a case by case basis.

My question to all of you is how do we institute a quantitative rule that can apply to everyone to ensure a minimum level of quality, original content.

[ms. kat]

Apology accepted. Let's keep it above the belt (literally)

That's my problem Ted.
I take a $5 opps for an advert, he paid for that opp and basically an interim on either side of it. He did not pay for any other posts I do anywhere else in my blog. I own those parts which are not paid for by an advert.

You are definitely entitled to this opinion, you have made your position on this clear and I recognize I will not change that opinion.

However, as a long time advertiser and someone who regularly deals with our advertisers I will tell you your opinion here differs from the people paying that $5.00. As I posted to Cass the advertisers take the entire blog into consideration when deciding if they will repurchase on your blog or use PPP again period.

179 opps, 27 votes.
It would be nice if the adverts who are telling you these things, would take the time to tack rate (tell us) these things.

But a best practices guideline would be far better than the new old ToS.
You are aiming for quality control the wrong way.
We have been begging for quality control, but this wasn't the issue. It had to do with other things, like spelling, grammar, the English language, back to back PPP opps.

I didn't make a below the belt comment. The circle jerk is so not what I was thinking, but nice to see where your mind wandered ...LOL
I meant it in circular logic terms. hahahah

[murphman]

I just thought of another question:

Won't most of the issue about quality be resolved by Argus? If so, why not just wait till then, instead of making sudden changes to the TOS?

And for me, one of my main issues *is* the sudden change. I would probably be just as concerned if there was a sudden rule that we all had to use purple font once a week.

Fair enough, I can understand that.

[murphman]

But a best practices guideline would be far better than the new old ToS.

Ok... now we are getting somewhere. Anyone else want to chime in here?

[murphman]

WHOA! Best Practices is the best idea I've heard today. This would be an awesome tool to build to help those posties who may have wandered off track.

Up above I mentioned about

What about "if your blog looks like a spam factory we will let you know. You'll get some guidance and direction on how to bring it back into line. You may or may not get some(predetermined amount of) time off to help you get it together."

Such a blog could be held to that more rigid Best Practices while serving their "probation".

And, yeah, I would love to help you work on that.

Ok... this is good input.

[armymomnj]

Something like Best Practices would be much better than what we have now. I don't like being told what I can and cannot do with my posts that are not PPP posts. I was feeling as though my blog was not my own...

[cassdarrow]

My question to all of you is how do we institute a quantitative rule that can apply to everyone to ensure a minimum level of quality, original content.

My answer is still "you can't" unless you want to start counting paragraphs or words. You really don't want to do that do you?

Remeber (I'm sure I've said this) what Chief Justice Holmes said about porn: "I can't define it, but I know it when I see it." Quality is the same way.

[murphman]

If they want quality blogs, make them pay for it! Raise the minimum offer to $7.50. Limit them to one link per opp. Remove the 300-word minimum option. Do something to help posties out.

Because, honestly, it's not fair that advertisers can demand all that for $5 a pop.

Do you see what I'm saying?

Amen to that. Some of the opps are ridiculous!

We are doing our best to bring the best quality advertiser we can into the system. At the end of the day we can either turn lesser quality advertisers away or let them through it out there and see if there are any takers.

You should see what we DO turn down.