Michael Black wrote:

JJ ) writes:



I remember the discussion. There was concern that if ads were allowed,
the newsgroup wouldn't be carried by some sites, a reflection of the
non-business roots of the internet. But unfortunately, some whined
that buying and selling was integral to the hobby of old equipment,
so ads were decided to be on-topic.

Note, however, the line about
The newsgroup, rec.radio.amateur.boatanchors, is primarily for
discussions of topics related to classic amateur radio gear.

But that isn't going to stop the ebay hounds from spaming there auction ads.

And note that when it goes into detail about what's on and off-topic,
mention of ads is pretty far down the list.

In other words, ads do seem to be allowed, but it sure wasn't
the intent when this newsgroup was created that ads be a significant
amount of the traffic.

Exactly, the intent was to have the group for discussion and if someone
occasionally had an item for sale that would be OK. Then comes the
ebayers who thing every newsgroup was created just so they can spam
their auction ads to squeeze an extra buck out of their auction. Now
this group is mostly ads for ebay junk and very little discussion thanks
to those who only care to make a buck.

Note that we often see off-topic stuff discussed and forsale here.
A TS-830 is hardly a boatanchor, not in size/weight, age, or makeup.

ONce it was decided that ads do fit in here, sadly then we get
completely off topic posts, because people don't care when they
sell things, so if they see ads it's okay to sell recent equipment,
computers, audio stuff, and even guns.

If it makes them an extra buck the could not care less about posting
their ebay ads to discussion newsgroups.

I don't differentiate between forsale ads and Ebay ads in discussion
newsgroups. To fuss about it seems to ignore the very fact that ads
don't belong in discussion newsgroups.

What clearly does seem to violate the intent of the charter is someone
posting multiple posts the same day, treating this as a buy and sell newsgroup
rather than a discussion newsgroup where incidental buying and selling is
permitted. There is a big difference between someone who is here and
discussing this neat old equipment, and happens to offer some old piece
of equipment, and someone who comes here merely to sell their stuff.

Exactly, but the ebayers don't care, the main thing is to try to make an
extra dollar or two on their auction. Ebay sellers have ruin many
discussion groups.