Backcountry Forum
Backpacking & Hiking Gear

Backcountry Forum
Our long-time Sponsor - the leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear
 
 
 

Amazon.com
Backpacking Forums
---- Our Gear Store ----
The Lightweight Gear Store
 
 WINTER CAMPING 

Shelters
Bivy Bags
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
Snow Sports
Winter Kitchen

 SNOWSPORTS 

Snowshoes
Avalanche Gear
Skins
Hats, Gloves, & Gaiters
Accessories

 ULTRA-LIGHT 

Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
Ultralight Shelters
Ultralight Tarps
Ultralight Tents
Ultralight Raingear
Ultralight Stoves & Cookware
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags
Ultralight Synthetic Sleep Bags
Ultralight Apparel


the Titanium Page
WM Extremelite Sleeping Bags

 CAMPING & HIKING 

Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Hydration
Kitchen
Accessories

 CLIMBING 

Ropes & Cordage
Protection & Hardware
Carabiners & Quickdraws
Climbing Packs & Bags
Big Wall
Rescue & Industrial

 MEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 WOMEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 FOOTWEAR 

Men's Footwear
Women's Footwear

 CLEARANCE 

Backpacks
Mens Apparel
Womens Apparel
Climbing
Footwear
Accessories

 BRANDS 

Black Diamond
Granite Gear
La Sportiva
Osprey
Smartwool

 WAYS TO SHOP 

Sale
Clearance
Top Brands
All Brands

 Backpacking Equipment 

Shelters
BackPacks
Sleeping Bags
Water Treatment
Kitchen
Hydration
Climbing


 Backcountry Gear Clearance

Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#172797 - 12/08/12 04:27 PM Announcing new backpacking-related book?
BrianLe Offline
member

Registered: 02/26/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Washington State, King County
I've read the forum policies carefully and tried to contact admin folk via email to ask this question (I forget now why that contact attempt failed). I hope I can get this answered here.

Let's hypothesize that a forum member has written a book that s/he deems pertinent to the overall community, and wishes not so much to "advertise" as to simply "announce". I.e., a one-time announcement that this new book is out there, briefly what it's about, perhaps a link to where it can be found. Placed in one and only one most-pertinent sub-forum (Backcountry Books I guess).

Is that "advertising" and disallowed? I've seen cases where it's clear that a friend is acting as a shill and thus bringing up someone *else's* book, but that's just an end-around to accomplish the same thing --- but a bit less honorably. I feel a bit awkward about this, recalling the famous Admiral Hopper quote (easier to get forgiveness than permission), but best is if policy allows what should be allowed and vice versa.

If there's simply no way to do it on this site, so be it. I would --- hypothetically you understand --- like to understand the rule here.

Ah, and one other question. Let's further hypothesize that this hypothetical eBook at some point is available for free for one, or perhaps two days only. Is it also disallowed advertising for the author to let folks know that the book is temporarily free to download?

Awkward questions, I know! Thinking of this from the perspective of a typical forum member, I guess my own reaction is that I can tell when something is over-the-line advertising/spam but I can't easily and crisply define the boundaries. If a one-time (and in just one place) announcement of a new book comes out (whether by the author or by someone else) and the book is clearly very relevant to the overall purpose of the site --- then I'd be okay with it, but not much more.

Thanks for any feedback on this.
_________________________
Brian Lewis
http://postholer.com/brianle

Top
#172800 - 12/08/12 05:34 PM Re: Announcing new backpacking-related book? [Re: BrianLe]
OregonMouse Online   content
member

Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
I'm just a relatively new moderator here, and Packlite, the administrator and owner of the site, has the final say. In other words, nothing I say here is 100% official. However, the following is how I've interpreted the advertising policy. Anything that seems borderline I refer to the other mods and Packlite through the moderators-only section of the forum.

I would consider an up-front announcement just fine. We do it for others (such as posting "Cottage manufacturer XYZ has just come out with a 20*F sleeping bag that weighs only 0.2 ounces" laugh ). Wandering_Daisy made a one-time-only announcement here when her Wind Rivers guidebook was available (several of us had been asking) and, as I recall, she provided the URLs for the websites. Such an announcement, in my mind, is information, not advertising.

We also get the occasional new product "startup" trial balloons in which we are asked for feedback (not counting these "Survey Monkey" things which we've just taken steps to ban). To the best of my knowledge, we've encouraged these. Once the product is actually for sale, though, continued promotion of it by its manufacturer in the forums would be considered advertising.

Continued free advertising in the forums is a no-no because it deprives this site of advertising revenue needed to keep it going. This would need to be negotiated with Packlite.

I don't see anything wrong with a one-time announcement of a free deal or reduced price, either, but that would also be a Packlite decision.

We have occasional feedback from manufacturers such as Tarptent responding to questions asked in the forums about their products, and that, IMHO, is great. I've never seen Franco or Henry wander off into advertising their products when they do this, and they do state their connection with Tarptent.

Of course nearly all the forum advertising we get is pretty blatant, if not downright automated spam, and that gets zapped pretty quickly. There is some that falls into a grey area, and we've treated that on a case-by-case basis. If you have a question about something you see, hit "Notify" and we'll look at it. If you have a question about something you want to post that might be interpreted as advertising, then PM Packlite.

OK, personal question: Are you writing a book? If so, I'd love to read it!


Edited by OregonMouse (12/08/12 05:41 PM)
_________________________
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey

Top
#172803 - 12/08/12 07:40 PM Re: Announcing new backpacking-related book? [Re: OregonMouse]
BrianLe Offline
member

Registered: 02/26/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Washington State, King County
Thanks, OM! I've sent a PM to Packlite.
I have written a book but --- seriously, if it isn't okay with him (?) to talk about it here I really won't, but can PM you separately if that's the case.
_________________________
Brian Lewis
http://postholer.com/brianle

Top
#172942 - 12/11/12 09:35 PM Re: Announcing new backpacking-related book? [Re: BrianLe]
sarbar Offline
member

Registered: 07/15/05
Posts: 1453
Loc: WA
So what's it about? grin
_________________________
Freezer Bag Cooking, Trail Cooking, Recipes, Gear and Beyond:
www.trailcooking.com

Top
#172944 - 12/11/12 09:57 PM Re: Announcing new backpacking-related book? [Re: sarbar]
packlite Online   content

Admin

Registered: 12/22/01
Posts: 2687
Loc: Pullman, WA, USA
I hope we'll get an announcement soon - maybe in the Backcountry Books forum ?
_________________________
" Not all those who wander are lost ! "
J.R.R. Tolkien

Top
#172950 - 12/11/12 11:26 PM Re: Announcing new backpacking-related book? [Re: packlite]
OregonMouse Online   content
member

Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
It's already there!
_________________________
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey

Top

Shout Box

Highest Quality Lightweight Down Sleeping Bags
 
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags
 
Lite Gear Talk - Featured Topics
Backcountry Discussion - Featured Topics
Make Your Own Gear - Featured Topics
Featured Photos
Spiderco Chaparral Pocketknife
David & Goliath
Also Testing
Trip Report with Photos
Seven Devils, Idaho
Oat Hill Mine Trail 2012
Dark Canyon - Utah
Who's Online
0 registered (), 160 Guests and 0 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Noodles, McCrary, DanyBacky, Rashy Willia, WanderBison
13240 Registered Users
Forum Links
Disclaimer
Policies
Site Links
Backpacking.net
Lightweight Gear Store
Backpacking Book Store
Lightweight Zone
Hiking Essentials

Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:

Backcountry Forum
 

Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!
 
 

Since 1996 - the Original Backcountry Forum
Copyright © The Lightweight Backpacker & BackcountryForum