Why are HHO so grumpy about advertising?

Does anybody know why HHO are getting so mad about little adverts in peoples posts?! I mean, does it really matter?! And who's complaining about them? I can understand if its someone trying to advertise their business but the odd person putting a little bit saying they have a saddle for sale - who cares??!!
 
presumably because this forum is provided free of charge and they have a classifieds section in the mag/on the site. its the ads which keep the mag/site going and pay peoples wages. I find H&H quite lax compared to some other horsey sites i frequent.
 
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"money" perhaps

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But you can advertise items up to £500 free of charge on their website, so I don't agree with the 'money' arguement
 
I suspect it is to do with consistency - much easier to say 'no advertising at all' rather than to decide where to draw the line as to whether people can advertise horses, horseboxes, saddles, bridles, headcollars or two plaiting bands!
 
Because the forum would get cluttered, the posts are boring, and people would take advantage of being allowed to advertise smaller items by advertising horses in their sigs, thus resulting in loss of money for H & H.
 
I don't understand it but took my 'wanted 'off. People are frequently linking to adverts they have put on other sites , surely that is worse, as the opposition is getting the money. Still I love this forum and don't want to upset them in any way.
 

Unfortunately I think the innocent are having to suffer with the guilty here, but (speaking as a webmaster), I support H&H completely in this.

The internet is so big and to such an extent faceless, that there are always some not-too-ethical webmasters around who practice their 'SEO techniques' at the expense of others.

These are they who will join every forum around that is remotely related to their subject - not to make any valuable contributions, but only to up their total of incoming links. From prestigious H&H, a link is valuable.

Second to them are those who do not have the community interest at heart , but are merely out to point people to their own sites, whatever the subject may be.

These may be a minority, but unfortunately they are a noisy and muddy minority.

it is pretty much impossible for moderators - especially volunteers - to individually check every link in a forum this size.

So a general rule has to be made - and upheld.
 
As nuffield says, H&H reply on advertising in their mag to keep going BUT I know of two other chat forum that actually have free "for sale" sections for horses and tack etc. One of them is also a saddlers but obviously don't see the "for sale" bit as a threat . . . .
 
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