I believe that everyone knows that "Free iPod" deals are strictly prohibited on this site. I too hate these threads.

I am suggesting a way to deal with this.

Any user (and I do mean any, new, old, regular, veteran) should have their IP address BANNED. The only way to lift this ban would be to have the user email directly to the Mods and/or Mr. Slickdeals and apologize for their wrong doing (even if it was based on ignorance). I believe this is the only way...

I second that.

Is the motion carried?

I believe that everyone knows that "Free iPod" deals are strictly prohibited on this site. I too hate these threads.

I am suggesting a way to deal with this.

Any user (and I do mean any, new, old, regular, veteran) should have their IP address BANNED. The only way to lift this ban would be to have the user email directly to the Mods and/or Mr. Slickdeals and apologize for their wrong doing (even if it was based on ignorance). I believe this is the only way...
the only problem is they are 90-99% one post wonders so i don't think a ban would do anything. i don't know if you are banned you can come to the site or just not post. if they were lurkers and they couldn't come to the site it might have some sort of effect but if they can come and not post, then it wouldn't have any effect.

i suggested this, but i think the best bet would be if we didn't allow people with under 5 posts (or any small amount) to post urls. i'd doubt that many of the people doing this are set on joining sd and would really spam the boards to the pt they can post urls.

the only problem is they are 90-99% one post wonders so i don't think a ban would do anything. i don't know if you are banned you can come to the site or just not post. if they were lurkers and they couldn't come to the site it might have some sort of effect but if they can come and not post, then it wouldn't have any effect.

i suggested this, but i think the best bet would be if we didn't allow people with under 5 posts (or any small amount) to post urls. i'd doubt that many of the people doing this are set on joining sd and would really spam the boards to the pt they can post urls.
You're probably right about the limitations of posting urls. I wish there was a way to stop the maddness. I mean, the guy I was complaining about posted 3 times (one in Hot Deals, another two in Freebies). I'm glad the Slickdeals page is limited to Mods and Mr. Slickdeals only, otherwise... geez. :mad:

You're probably right about the limitations of posting urls. I wish there was a way to stop the maddness. I mean, the guy I was complaining about posted 3 times (one in Hot Deals, another two in Freebies). I'm glad the Slickdeals page is limited to Mods and Mr. Slickdeals only, otherwise... geez. :mad:
well you got your wish, he's banned for a 7 days. i didn't notice the freebie threads. three referral threads = 12 warning pts==banned.

well you got your wish, he's banned for a 7 days. i didn't notice the freebie threads. three referral threads = 12 warning pts==banned.
:woot: :woot: :lol:

I'm feeling satisfied. :D

you da man!!!!

the only problem is they are 90-99% one post wonders so i don't think a ban would do anything. i don't know if you are banned you can come to the site or just not post. if they were lurkers and they couldn't come to the site it might have some sort of effect but if they can come and not post, then it wouldn't have any effect.

i suggested this, but i think the best bet would be if we didn't allow people with under 5 posts (or any small amount) to post urls. i'd doubt that many of the people doing this are set on joining sd and would really spam the boards to the pt they can post urls.

This would only encourage useless posts/spam. After all, 5 posts is not hard to reach.

This would only encourage useless posts/spam. After all, 5 posts is not hard to reach.
i really don't think so. in anway it makes it harder to post the threads. they really would have to want to post to spam 5 posts.

I say you shouldn't be allowed to start your own thread until you've reached 20 posts. That way we eliminate referrals and newbs posting something that's been posted 5 times already and finally eliminates beggers coming on and starting a thread asking for a coupon code, ect. I think if you request something it should be in the request thread or you should be an active member of the community. To sum it up your first 20 posts on this board should be contributing to discussion or findings of an already existing deal, it's annoying seeing new threads on deals that everyone and there mother gets via email from places like eCOST, Tiger Direct, Buy.com or posting a deal that hits you in the face everyday like the ATI PCI HDTV receiver that's been on neweggs front page for the past 3 weeks. Just my 2 cents if you think my idea is good, or stupid feel free to comment. Also the fact you can't start a new thread will force the person to read more and use to search command to find something related to what they want to post about.

You could set the system to automatically scan posts for key words and phrases (similar to junk mail filtering), and such posts would have to be approved my a mod before appearing. Of course, this would not bee to dif1kult 2get ar.ound, but at least spam isn't nearly the problem here as it is among global email traffic.

In any case, whatever rules are in place -- # of posts required, etc. -- these rules shouldn't be made public. As long as the rules are reasonable, then only those who want to be unreasonable will get hit with them.

I still think the best all-around solution would be a mandatory reviewing of the rules, and then a quiz on them. Not that it'll ever happen (and likely isn't even possible) but hey... if every site did that, the internet would be a better place.

You could set the system to automatically scan posts for key words and phrases (similar to junk mail filtering), and such posts would have to be approved my a mod before appearing. Of course, this would not bee to dif1kult 2get ar.ound, but at least spam isn't nearly the problem here as it is among global email traffic.

In any case, whatever rules are in place -- # of posts required, etc. -- these rules shouldn't be made public. As long as the rules are reasonable, then only those who want to be unreasonable will get hit with them.

That would be a good idea. If it finds the phrases "free ipod" or the like in a user's first or second post, it doesn't let them go correct it, it just bans them or something.

Any user (and I do mean any, new, old, regular, veteran) should have their IP address BANNED.
The problem with this is that most users don't have a static IP address. It changes every time they connect (dialup) or restart their computer (cable/dsl). There are a few companies that automatically give static IPs, but the rest you have to pay extra for. And why would most people pay $5/month extra for something that they don't even know what it is?

Banning IP addresses usually leads to more problems than good. Say you ban an AOL member. He signes off, signs back on, and is back in less than a minute. In the mean while, another AOL user, say even one of us regular users, tries to get on, but since he got the IP address the other guy just released, it shows us that we're banned. Talk about headaches.

I've seen the ipods posts but usually just skip over them because it seems too good to be true.

But, what's the actual problem with them? Pyramid schemes? Thanks.

I really don't have any problem with it except it leads to spamming of message boards.

Other than that, I like it... I've already ordered mine!

I've seen the ipods posts but usually just skip over them because it seems too good to be true.

But, what's the actual problem with them? Pyramid schemes? Thanks.

Besides being fundamentally flawed, they're annoying as hell and they really have no business on SlickDeals because they aren't saving anyone money, they're just making money for the website operator(s).

For everyone who happens to luck out and get a 'free' (except for the part where they, like, spent money, then made five of their friends spend money) iPod there'll be a hundred people who get stiffed.

Bottom line, that kind of site wouldn't exist if it weren't a cash cow.

I've seen the ipods posts but usually just skip over them because it seems too good to be true.

But, what's the actual problem with them? Pyramid schemes? Thanks.
At any given time, 80% of the people signed up will not get an ipod. And that's if everybody completes an offer and gets 5 others to do the same. We all know most people won't do that, so it ends up being closer to 95% of them who don't get anything. Now for the other 5%, it's a great thing. Contrary to what some (uninformed) people have said, it doesn't cost you a penny to complete most of the offers.

The main problems here are that 1. it's spam, & 2. they always contain referral links, which aren't allowed.

I say get there IP and report it to FBI.

because they aren't saving anyone money, they're just making money for the website operator(s).

:lol: oh really? It's saving me from buying a $300 iPod...

I say get there IP and report it to FBI.
For what? Posting against the ruels of our little message board?

I believe in free iPods. They should all be let free and not caged or boxed. Free all iPods!!

(Sorry, I couldn't resist.) :lmao:

What about links to external sites where people could post their referral links? I've got my iPod already (and love it by the way), but wanted to help people get theirs (as well as start working on my flat screen) through organizing conga lines, but at the same time, I agree that the forums shouldn't be clogged with this garbage. It does get a little crazy in other forums that allow it. It gets hard to find real deals when they're buried under a mountain of spam.


Would posting a link to a seperate site having to do with the iPod stuff be permissable?

I think you all need to chill out because people make mistakes and people want free stuff. Chill out peeps!

I can understand where a lot of people are coming from regarding the whole free whatever sites. Sure they sound too good to be true, but then again I've gotten lots of free stuff before. I've gotten free CDs and concert tickets from radio stations, I can watch tv and listen to the radio for free, get free dial-up internet, and even had free DSL at one time (all ad sponsor based), as well as other freebies. If companies can spend millions of dollars on some tv commercials, what makes it so unbeliveable that you can get an iPod for free (also ad sponsored). Because so many people are skeptical of the whole freeipods system and don't believe a company can actually give away free ipods, people start to believe its all a scam. Well I actually have gotten mine. If everyone believed everything that anything "free" was a scam then no one would be willing to do many of the freebie offers we see on SlickDeals. Like if I told someone I got some free magazine subscriptions offers from this site and people would say "no way, that sounds like a scam." People shouldn't be so quick to judge. Then again, I can understand where it can be a problem with spamming. I suggest people just get their co-workers, family, and friends to sign-up for these and you can just avoid the whole spamming problem and still get your free ipod or whatever else. :)

That being said, anyone want to be my "friend" so I can spam you about free iPods ;) j/k (I already have mine)

I think it's ok to ban people just to keep the amount of spam low, but yeah, the free gifts things do work... on the metarewards site that calls itself topfree gifts for joining columbia house I got a free DVD player thats in my living room right now... I didn't appreciate it as much because it took like SOO LONG to get it, but I did get it, and it was free, so hey. I read an article about the whole Free Ipod thing and apparently all those damned Brainiacs at harvard actually got free ipods the same way, since it does actually work.. SO yeah. I just signed up for Blockbusters DVD program and will cancel in a day or three... then find five people to sign up as well. The point of all this?

I think you should start a thread specifically for "Free" items that require referrals. ONE thread. And basically people could post and ask for people to sign up, circle of life situation, and we'd all get free stuff. We spend all of our time on this site trying to get great deals on stuff... There is no better deal than FREE!! Then we wouldn't be spammed against in other forums where we don't want to see it.

anyone want a free ipod?

www.yougetafreeipodforclickingthisandsigningupandthenspamingyourfriends.com/~PoochUMD

check the entire URL

I really don't see how the referral links are bad, as long as people aren't annoying about them.
The arguments that I have seen are that
1- it's a scam that takes your money
2- it is merely a marketing ploy that makes money for another company
3- not everyone might get their ipod
4- people spam the boards with their referral links

My responses are:
1- From the number of SD members who have said that they got theirs at no cost, it seems legit (although it does take effort)
2- The majority of free stuff posted on the site are money making ploys by companies. Anyone remember the recent AOL/Amazon gift card deal? Sign up for trial AOL and get something free? Seems like a simple form of the Ipod deal.
3- How many people here have gotten all their rebates? I haven't heard of people being screwed out of their Ipod, just those that can't follow through on the requirements.
4- Referral spam can be dealt with the same way all spam is dealt with. You can have a dedicated referral thread, or require people to put their referrals in their sigs only.

Plain and simple, IMO, if you allow people to post TigerDirect or BestBuy deals here, then there's no reason the Ipod deal can't be posted openly.

I really don't see how the referral links are bad, as long as people aren't annoying about them.
The arguments that I have seen are that
1- it's a scam that takes your money
2- it is merely a marketing ploy that makes money for another company
3- not everyone might get their ipod
4- people spam the boards with their referral links

My responses are:
1- From the number of SD members who have said that they got theirs at no cost, it seems legit (although it does take effort)
2- The majority of free stuff posted on the site are money making ploys by companies. Anyone remember the recent AOL/Amazon gift card deal? Sign up for trial AOL and get something free? Seems like a simple form of the Ipod deal.
3- How many people here have gotten all their rebates? I haven't heard of people being screwed out of their Ipod, just those that can't follow through on the requirements.
4- Referral spam can be dealt with the same way all spam is dealt with. You can have a dedicated referral thread, or require people to put their referrals in their sigs only.

Plain and simple, IMO, if you allow people to post TigerDirect or BestBuy deals here, then there's no reason the Ipod deal can't be posted openly.
you forgot the number 1 reason its not allowed. ITS SELF PROMOTION. no one benefits from it except the op. if they want to make their own boards or whatever, fine. not allowed here and never will.

Uh, arjunsr, see #4?

Uh, arjunsr, see #4?
people spam the boards? is that what you are referring to ? cause that has little to do with self promo. if i put an ebay auction i'm running in my sig its the same thing. having a thread devoted to it doesn't stop the fact that its self promo and that's strictly not allowed.

anyone want a free ipod?

www.yougetafreeipodforclickingthisandsigningupandthenspamingyourfriends.com/~PoochUMD

check the entire URL

ROFL...good one
:lmao: