Re: Ads on rec.games.pbm, The Real Post

From: soliiigm@aol.com (Sol III GM)

Date: Sat, 14 Jun 1997 00:00:00 +0000

Greg Lindahl said:
>soliiigm@aol.com (Sol III GM) writes:
>> And as a final note, I had already discussed this with you
>> once in private e-mail, and was told no, I could only have two
paragraphs.
>.. because you didn't bother to explain why you wanted more space
>than eveyrone else has. If it's worth bringing up here, it should
>have been worth bringing up in email right then. I'm happy to listen
>to your arguments in email.

Greg, I think you are making my point for me.
  I sent you a very concise 4 paragraph description of the game.  You told
me that all you allowed was 2 paragraphs.  I am not the type to ask for
exceptions or special treatment.  Please note that in our current
discussion on ads on this group, I have not been saying, "My company
should be allowed to do this because:".  I have been saying "All games,
commercial or free, should be allowed to do this because:"
  I don't seek special treatment, entitlement, or anything else, I seek to
change the policy, not get around it.  So no, I would not have written you
back and asked you to give me an exception, especially since at that time,
there was a legitmate space concern with the list, since it was posted in
whole to this newsgroup on a regular basis.  Basically, I understood the
space restriction, and have never complained about it.
  I am thankful for the services you provide, and don't wish to overly
burden them.  This only came up when you stated that the PBM List was
plenty of exposure, and I pointed out that for some games, it does not
even allow a general description.  It was not a complaint, or a request
for special treatment, and I really feel it has been blown out of
proportion.

>>   Actually, it is not the way Usenet is.  I can think of several groups
>> that you and I both frequent that don't care if a vendor or merchant
posts
>> a periodic ad, or even responds to a request for more info with a
non-hype
>> filled ad.
>Nope. You're thinking of rec.org.sca, and ads are incredibly rare
>there.  As for responding to requests for more info, when have I ever
>argued against that? Never.

Um, Greg, the SCA newsgroup is one of 6 that we both follow that I know
about, although I tend to be a lurker, not a poster.  My schedule does not
present me with much time to post.  Yes, ads tend to be rare, but that is
because the merchants in that group are almost non-existant, and tend to
sell their wares in a totally different matter.  However, I see periodic
ads for pavilions, rattan, and fencing supplies.  And I see notices about
events to go to.  That counts as an Ad in my book.  However, the SCA is
another exception to a long list of Usenet Standards in that most of them
barely have E-Mail, let alone websites and on-line businesses.
  So, does this mean that if someone requests more info on Sol III on this
newsgroup, I can post a non-hype filled ad?  Keeping in mind that my ads
tend to be mostly description and bulleted fact lists, not PLAY THIS NOW!
type verbage.
  I ask this, because you most definaly have opposed this in the past, in
at least one case.  Mine.

>>   It still does not replace responsible ad copy reaching the readers
>> directly, however.
>Then buy a magazine ad. Usenet doesn't exist to give anyone free
>commercial advertising.

I'm not going to dispute that one with you, but I will state that the
current policy here allows some companies a LOT more free commercial
advertising than others.  And in any case, I am not talking about ads for
commercial companies, I am talking ads for PB(e)M games, commercial or
free.  Besides, I have done the math.  Magazine ads for an on-line game
are a good way to go broke at a rapid rate.

>>   The point, was that almost no one is opposed to ads, period.
>I am not opposed to ads, period. Quit beating that straw horse; it's
>dead.

I have no intention to beat a dead straw horse.  I much prefer live
ones.  So, not opposed to ads, period.  Shall we then discuss what is
acceptable and what is not?  From my frame of mind, this is not an
argument, but a discussion.

>>   Our disagreement is that with 241 games on the list, it counts as
>> information source, but doesn't do that much for letting games with
unique
>> features and attractions stand out.
>If you want to advertise your game, buy a magazine ad and explain your
>features on your web site. In a world where every gm thinks their game
>has unique features and should stand out from all the rest, posting
>ads on Usenet isn't the magic bullet to get tons of business.

Oh, you are right there.  However, I would like to point out, that every
PB(e)M game that has any longevity DOES have unique features and
attractions.  That's beside the point.
  You are right again.  There is no Magic Bullet.  I never said there was.
 Greg, I understand that over saturation kills a market.  An ad at the
right interval is welcomed and read.  Too many ads from the same company
result in an addition to the Killfile, or to marking a thread Read,
depending on your newsreader.
  I am not concerned about saturation bombing of the PBM players, but
rather, targeting an audience, and giving others a chance to do the same.
  This Newsgroup can be an effective tool, if used right, but it is not
going to make anyone rich.  For that matter, has anyone ever gotten rich
off of PB(e)M?

Eagle
Sol III Game Master
Sol III Play By E-Mail Role Playing Game
http://members.aol.com/soliiigm/

There is a certain freedom to being totally screwed.  It means nothing you do is going to make the situation any worse.

References

Re: Ads on rec.games.pbm, The Real Post
lindahl@pbm.com (Greg Lindahl)
Fri, 13 Jun 1997 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

Re: Ads on rec.games.pbm, The Real Post
lindahl@pbm.com (Greg Lindahl)
Fri, 13 Jun 1997 00:00:00 +0000