I think the board's spam rules (or rather, the reaction of the board members and moderators to spam) should be modified.

I have felt this way ever since TipuseiHarim's Billboard topic about a service he provides was (in my opinion, unfairly) closed.

A wiser policy toward spam would be a one time PM to the member in question, explaining the spam rules and requesting that they be followed, along with encouragement to join in other board discussions. Repeat offenders could get warnings or banned or whatever, but I don't think the immediate reaction to spammers should be so severe.

Knock it off accolade!

You know these professional spammers couldn't care less about "private PM" and rules. Half the time they are bots anyway. Why are you being foolish? What is this Adar?

Oh and for the record you realize the mods could warn you for "reopening" a closed topic.

We get numerous spam bots trying to register each day. These people are not interesting in participating in the h.com community, rather trying to post their message on as many websites, blogs and message boards as possible. They use their software to sign up wherever they get through, post (sometimes multiple times) their message and move on to the next website. We do not need to be the soapbox for every Viagra, free MP3 downloads, and order your free King James Bible website on the internet.

If someone is offering a service that is of interest to the Jewish community, then yes, their post may stay in the proper section.

Don't you think we should at least hear them out?

There's a difference between a regular poster and someone (or something)'s first and only posts being spam.

I hear that. Spambots, as opposed to people, really don't deserve a chance.

In that case, can we readdress the issue of known members posting about valid services they provide to the community which posts here? Say, like, the issue of TipuseiHarim's omerbuddy service (the treatment of which was, I believe, a part of the reason he left this site).

Wow, now that you mention it, I think we should make a special Spamers Forum! We can put all their P0rn and Viagra and Nigerian money orders links there, so we can review it at our leisure. We can even make H.com mets in Indonesia to hang out with our new friends!.

If you have unlimited free time it doesn't mean h.com has unlimited web space...

Plenty of members post links to their products and services in their signatures. I'm not sure that it's all that appropriate to post topics soliciting customers, even if the service has a jewish slant. If the service is free, it's one thing, but it's a slippery slope when people start using the Billboard to advertise their businesses. It also seems rather elitist to say "YOU can post your business-related topic, but Joe Shmoe here can't". If I'm interested in giving business to a fellow h'er, I'd rather just see their link in sig, follow it, and PM them if I have any questions. As an alternative, I'm sure H is more than happy to sell some ad space to folks who'd like to hang their shingle here.

Indeed and we might even impress our dates with some of the kosher dishes we can now cook.

I disagree with you. Firstly, the billboard area is specifically for business-type topics. Why have the area if the site forbids business-type topics? If you don't want to visit it, that's your prerogative. Secondly, I think there is nothing wrong with a one time (not bumped) topic that has a well-written summary of the type of business or services provided, which is something that there is no room for in one's signature.

Actually, I see the billboard more as a jobs, tehillim, freebies, etc forum. It does NOT say it is "specifically for business-type topics". It says "Sales, Rides, Listings, Real Estate. Strictly Business". I take the "strictly business" to mean, "this is not bull session. This is a billboard for posting announcements that don't fall within our other forums. Please post accordingly." Not a "let's advertise our business for free" forum - though I think it would quickly become that, if selective spamming were allowed. There is plenty of space within one's signature to give a rudimentary description of the business. I know that LTL is selling a kosher cooking DVD, BatyaD sells soda makers, Adiel's wife had (has?) an online maternity store, and so on. If I'm interested in finding out what kind of dishes are on the DVD, or how much the soda machines are, or what brands of maternity are being sold, all I need to do is click on the provided link or PM them for details.

Okay. We disagree.