FreeLunchRoom - The #1 Freebie Trading Forum on the Internet! » Getting Down to Business » Member Tutorials

[monksmom]

I truly hope this all sounds very familiar to all of you. If not, stop, read, and remember, please:)

1. You may NOT self-promote yourself in post responses - especially posts where folks are new and with questions...That means you canNOT say "pm me, I'll help" in any way, shape or form outside of your trade thread.

2. The Status Line is for just that...status as in you are 'online now' or 'will be back soon' or 'taking a dinner break'...or even just silly stuff like 'roaming the rooms'. It is NOT for self-promotion of any kind.

That would include using stuff like "here to help", "needing referrals", "PPD mentor", phone numbers or anything of that nature. Think first...would it attract someone to you? Are you TRYING to attract others to you? lol...if so, then it ain't status....it's self-promotion:)

3. You MAY use the Location section of the "About Me" section and your avatar to self-promote, though...within reason and in good taste:) I know the distinction between the two is slim, however, it is what it is and the sections are separate so each has its own set of rules.

4. You may NOT self-promote in the welcome thread. So far, the mods have been nice about not banning for that...however...that's not going to last and if you have noticed, the outside rules do say it is a ban offense.

5. You MUST quote a new person if you are posting in the welcome thread.

6. You may NOT quote person after person in single quote posts. Back to back postings or more than two on a page constitutes spamming the thread, which is not allowed and is also a ban offense. Learn to multi-quote using the "+" sign under each post you wish to quote. The only deviation from this is if a really new person (as in JUST posted, check time stamp) posts right after you have posted welcome for someone else.

7. Your trade thread MUST contain the sites you carry AND what you pay for each site. NO referral link allowed!!!!

8. Repeat: Your trade thread canNOT carry any referral links (view offers is fine) and you may NOT have an outside link in your signature or anywhere else.

9. You may NOT post your trade thread onto another trader's thread.

10. You may NOT put post on visitor pages of new folks...who have NOT contacted you first.

11. You may NOT email, pm or make any contact with any new user that has NOT contacted you first. THAT is spam!!! It is NOT ok to say things like "I see you visited my page"...visiting and looking is NOT first contact!!!

12. You may send a birthday greeting - BUT this IS at your own risk! Folks will...and do...change their minds and although these things are great, fun...if it is reported by the recipient, it then gets viewed as spam. Read this one carefully and proceed with great caution.

13. There is a 3 strike rule here with bans and infractions. First there is a friendly slap type pm from a moderator. Second offense, a warning. Third time? Ban. Infractions are what are left on your profile/record each time you are banned. Play by the rules and this will never be an issue.

14. You may NOT self-promote in your blogs or on anyone else's blogs OR in your replies to your own blog comments. Blogs are exactly the same rules as the forum. NO EXTERNAL LINKS OR REFERRAL LINKS!

15. You need to give jumping the fence time to work for you, anywhere from 3-6 weeks. In that time, post around the forum, share your experiences, ideas, thoughts...in a positive manner. Let others see the real YOU!

16. You need to have fun with this, once you've got the do's and don'ts down. Humor improves a positive attitude and toss in a little realistic expectations and patience and you'll do fine:)

17. If you need more information, read this - Updated Simplified Version of Trader Rules.

18. If you find yourself going to do something and you are saying 'I THINK this is right', stop....and ask a moderator. Ask two if it makes you feel better - they ARE here to help! Find them here---> Free Lunch Room - Show Groups.

19. Cover your ass-ets at all costs. No matter what others may tell you, you are the one ultimately responsible for YOUR actions. We have a bad habit of playing "monkey see, monkey do"...yet unfortunately, the first monkey is not always right....think about it:)

--->>20. TRADERS and everyone else... the process for Lunch Theft is to contact a moderator and let them know what's up. They will direct you from there, just be ready to supply a screen shot of the red or failure to pay, whatever the issue and make sure you've tried to contact the other person several times...with read receipts:)

IF you are NOT involved with a Lunch Theft posted issue or do NOT have valid information to add about the trade partner involved - do NOT reply to that thread! It is a ban, they will enforce it as folks are just not paying attention and it's enough work and worry for the mods to make sure everything's taken care of without having to weed through well-intentioned "sorry this has happened to you". Great thought, wonderful sentiment, but it does do more harm than good in this one particular instance.

And please, everyone...be respectful of others...no matter how upset or angry we get, there are others that also read what we right and well, that may not be the best "vision" that flr wants to share...especially with new folks:) Thanks!

Good luck to all jumping over...and may the force of the green be with you! God bless:)

[fnicramp]

Great informative post, as usual. I enjoy for your posts as they are always filled with good information and humor. Keep up the good work!

Happy Trading
Foye

[mekap04]

Lots of great information. This should be read by all. I like the humor too. (#2) lol

[naturalscentsuals]

Very nice thread - going to share this with some of my newbies that think they are ready to jump the fence, when they are no where near it

[yourgotoguyformow]

OK good post

[JennieJ]

Thanks for the post! I wasn't aware of a couple issues!!!

[Cadance08]

Thanks for posting. It helped clarify some things for me and I'm sure would be helpful also for newcomers as well!

[funbutton82]

I'm going to refer to this post often. Thanks.

[monksmom]

Most excellent, folks...stay safe, play happy...and move forward!!

And for anyone missing the latest forced read...and also to reiterate some of the points I've made here, please feel free to read admin\'s spam reminder...just make sure to mentally change the word "pm" in the area line iteming spam to read communication of some kind. It is ok to contact someone who has left you a trade thread reply or a visitor message, it does not have to be only a pm (for newly turned traders fyi)...just remember...

As admin reminds...if they don't communicate with you FIRST...then there is no communication, period:) You can't get any simpler than that!

[donnams27]

AWESOME post
Thanks for sharing