There is a very big problem here.....?

21 years ago

Hi friends,

This has really been driving me crazy, it may even be some kind of abhorrent loophole in the "right to free speech".

I have been participating here since April, with the sincere intention of helping others and learning from others.

Of late, whenever I post the words "african violets" I am unwittingly advertizing for Rob's Violets, which those of you who know me would know, I would never do after a dust-up horrible experience with the plants I've received from them.

Last night, I posted the words "soil" and "rooting hormone" and again found myself unwittingly advertizing "products", when I was only trying to give someone advice.

None of these products which manage to magically appear in my postings are anything I intended to endorse (even if I would have) and I am feeling violated by gardenweb. IF WE CAN'T DISCUSS THINGS HERE WITHOUT "ADVERTISING" PRODUCTS WE HAVEN'T USED AND SHOULDN'T BE ENDORSING, OR UNWITTINGLY ADVERTISE PRODUCTS THAT WE DON'T ENDORSE, !!!???(All because we like to use words when we discuss things!)

what kind of conversation can we hope to have?

Last night, I was so angry again, that I really wanted to leave here, and I still may, probably will. But gardenweb needs to rectify this violation imo. I suggest that if this situation offends you, as much as it does me, that each of you keep track of those green double underlined links that magically appear in your postings, and we all boycott those vendors.

Why?

Because it's just not right.

I want to talk with you all about growing 'african violets' without it having anything to do with "rob's violet's" unless I use the words 'rob's violets' and tell you what I want to say about them, the same goes for rooting hormone....and don't get me started about using the word 'soil' in a posting on "gardenweb".

What they are doing to our discussions is just WRONG. Us plebians may not be able to convince them of this, but we can check the links long enough to boycott the vendors, and then ignore the magic links in the future, and continue the discussion.

I honestly feel like I can't post here anymore, without reviewing my posted message, and then posting another message telling you about the products I do not endorse because it seems I did in my posted message.

There is a very big problem here. (And it's not Korina fawning over Senk, and sending people to his auctions to drive the price up, unless of course you've fallen for that..."fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, SHAME ON ME !!!")

Word to the WISE: If you're not the activist type like I am, WHENEVER you see a green double underlined word while you are reading here, make sure you don't hover your cursor over it, or the message of the poster has been lost. (AND never ever bid on a senk ebay auction that Korina or anyone else sends you to! from this board or any other auction for that matter, it's as stupid as following a green double underlined link.)

Russell

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

canttype
21 years ago
Oh Good! I thought I had some kind of virus or Adware that I couldn't get rid of! Phew! (I've had a problem like this before and it was a virus)

This is no way to advertize on Garden Web and I am, also, very annoyed by this! It's very distracting and has no place in our conversations.... the floating burgers and such are bad enough!!

Thank you sooo much for bringing this subject up and I might have to stay away too....

Diane

Just wast to see if another word will be underlined:-)

'SuperThrive' (Just curious if it's just key words...or any potential link?)
canttype
21 years ago
Guess it's just key words.... sorry
Diane
Related Professionals
Savannah Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Torrington Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Lebanon Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Eugene Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Santa Maria Landscape Contractors · Wenatchee Landscape Contractors · Lagrange Landscape Contractors · Pine Bluff Architects & Building Designers · Elizabeth City Architects & Building Designers · Athens Architects & Building Designers · Jackson Architects & Building Designers · Erie Architects & Building Designers · Concord Architects & Building Designers · Redding Architects & Building Designers · Longview Architects & Building Designers
lainielady
21 years ago
Hi,

Below is a thread under our Suggestion & Comments Forum which pertains to the problems being experienced with the underlining of certain key words and subsequent ads appearing. This is most annoying and is becoming a very unpleasant nuisance, and it will end up driving many people away.

Elaine

Here is a link that might be useful: Underlined words
james_ny
21 years ago
Why worry about underlines? You don't have to click on them. Maybe you'd pefer to pay a fee to post here? The site has to generate income to survive. I think people are smart enough to realize your not endorsing the products.
rujoanmi
Original Author
21 years ago
James,

In this day and age people naturally point their cursors on links. If it is not a link I posted in my message it is a problem.

Garden web, can post all of the links they want in messages they post themselves for all I care.

I already pay a few fee's for the priviledge of posting in quality forums. This is not about free or fee. This is about my postings being altered to include information that I don't want in my posting. If I were to post a link here it would not appear in bold green with a double underline, it would appear in puke blue at the bottom of my message!

This site needs members to survive, and if they think altering peoples postings for a quick dime is going to build their membership, then the people who run this site are plain stupid.

When I post a message, it's my message, even if I post it here. If they add anything to my message, It's abuse plain and simple. You would think they could be smart enough to generate an income with integrity and respect for their membership. Maybe their not?

sheesh
james_ny
21 years ago
Russell, I hope you weren't offended by my remarks. The underlines don't bother me but I can understand that others might be annoyed by them. If enough GW'ers feel like you do, I'm sure the site will change their policy. I feel this is a great site and hope you resolve your differences with the powers that be.
korina
21 years ago
You know, the Suggestions forum has a work-around; if you click on the link a box comes up with an option to remove the links from your screen (something like that). It'll take you to a site where you click a few things and as long as you don't clear out your cookies folder, you won't see the links. It has worked perfectly for me.

Otherwise they are a pain in the tushy! I *really* don't want ads popping up in the middle of my conversations; it's distracting.

Korina