Thanks to everyone for your thoughts. I think there may have been some confusion about my first post.

I am talking about coming to the forum, STARTING up a NEW topic, and then posting an outside link to your Blog or discussion.Nothing else in the post, just the link. In other words, the subject matter can be found at the link, not at SCF !
Quote:
I wasn't going to reply, but hang the expense
On a newsgroup some time ago, an Israeli collector
would pop on every month and leave his blog link, with updates on stamps of Israel.
All well and good.
Several times I responded by asking a question about his stamps
yet never once had a reply.
I then felt he was just using the NG as an advertising medium.
It did not endear me to the practice.
So I kinda side with you LB.
Rod, thanks for your reply. This is the kind of thing I am talking about and I also know an Israeli collector who does this ! [Maybe one and the same].
But your reply was most interesting for me because of your initial few words.
You wrote "I wasn't going to reply". Last night on the other group, only the poster gained support from 2 or 3 others. However, they did not say I was wrong. No one came out in support of my views publicly, like Rod did, but privately they wrote to me and agreed , more or less, with what I had said !
Why ?
Why not write it publicly?
Are they ashamed?
Are they afraid to speak their minds?
I have asked a couple and am awaiting replies.
I have always found this subject interesting, sometimes annoying too.
I am not against using links to information websites,catalogues,shops,ebay etc etc.
But it seems most absurd to me that someone can post a link to their private site on another forum, and then call that link a Blog !!
It is not.
In all or most forums there is a Links section. Links to personal Blogs should be left there along with other informative websites.
I believe this is how it should be done. Is the 'nice' way.
If one joins a forum, any forum, be prepared to read and write. That is what they are for.
But to join Groups/forums as a means of 'advertising' one's personal Blogs is more than a little cheeky. When that blogger does nothing else, then it is extremely selfish.
I belong to many groups, some do not allow it at all, others in moderation or with permission. Others it is only via the links section.
What is the norm here at SCF ??
I have asked the same question at the group where the discussion took place yesterday and have not had a reply from any of the moderators as yet.
Maybe I have opened up a can of worms !?????
Londonbus1......Yuck, and I'm eating breakfast too !
