draconious

[Rob]

why are motorsport links not allowed.

[Kelvin]

Without links from site to site, the internet would never work!!
I've stopped suggesting this site to others, a bit of TOCAs own medicine. Moderators will argue that you can post a link to the links page, but that's not the same when discussing a topic and you need to include a relevant link there and then. TOCA seem to think that everytime you post a link, that its some mission to promote another site. NOTE TRUE. The internet is an interactive medium, except http://toca.forum-host.biz/forum/ which is the most un-interactive forum in the world!

Last season I wrote race reports and took pictures which were published on several motorsport websites, all had links back to TOCA, why? beacause it was releavnt!!


Kelvin

[Bill]

I have to agree.

Indeed, some people do post links to sites of minimal relevance, or simply their own sites for advertising. However, some of the removals of links (in particular the one linking to pictures of thruxton testing) are not only very applicalbe to what is being discussed, but also of great interest to the rest of the firum members. Should there have been some official pictures from testing then maybe I could understand, but as this is not the case I can see in no way can it damage this site to allow a link.

[John]

The other aspect of this is that the 'News' section of the site is very poorly updated - the last news item is from Jan 31st. Therefore the forums are used for finding out about the latest news, who has confirmed their lineups etc. And part of this involves posting information that has been acquired elsewhere, whether another forum or from team websites. Simply copying a thread from elsewhere will violate copyright rules, and annoy the people who origionally posted the news and those that run the forum, so the obvious thing to me would be simply to say where it was or put a link to the story, then this can form the basis of discussion on the TocaTour forum.

The importance of the news section is highlighted by the fact it says nothing about Kaye's entry, Collard's entry or any of the other important recent announcements :confused:

[Mocko]

How true.

Motorsport links at least. I tried posting PICTURES of how Thruxton has changed in the last 40 odd years but for some reason the links got taken off because they led to a website that wasn't tocatour.com related.

[Reynard]

Originally posted by Mocko
How true.

Motorsport links at least. I tried posting PICTURES of how Thruxton has changed in the last 40 odd years but for some reason the links got taken off because they led to a website that wasn't tocatour.com related.

Mocko - if you want to post pictures, you actually have to attach the image file to the post. Adding a link isn't the same thing.

OK, while I disagree with the no links policy, the line has to be drawn somewhere. It would be impossible to check each and every link to make sure it was something relevant, hence the blanket ban on them.

If you've got something to show us, download the file, resize it to a maximum of 250 x 250 pixels (and 40 kb) and attach it to a post. Couldn't be easier really, so there's no need to get your underwear in a twist about it. :D

[Moderator 2]

Unfortunately, and whether you agree with it or not links to other websites are not at present allowed on this forum.

As Reynard quite rightly points out the line has to be drawn somewhere.

The moderators are charged with ensuring the rules of the forum are adhered to and that is what we do.

There are a small number of members who insist on posting links, even as part of their signature. As long as that sort of thing persists it is unlikely that admin will even consider changing this rule.

As Reynard also points out you can attach pics of your own if you wish to.

Sorry guys (and gals).

[Kelvin]

The rules need some flexabilty then, like the other BTCC forums and all other forums on the planet. Can admin not see how this place is so different.... Moderate the abusers yes, thats what moderators are for!!

Even in options we have the choice to parse URLs!!!!
Remove the option if its against the rules to post URLs!!


Perhaps admin would like to email all the sites in the UK that carry a TOCA link, and ask them to remove that link back to TOCA!
Bet they wont though!!


Will Hoy - RIP (http://www.mgcars.org.uk/cambs.mgoc/btcc/silverstone30.jpg)

As its ok to post an image, I've included a picture of our friend Will Hoy

[Rob]

Originally posted by Kelvin
Without links from site to site, the internet would never work!!
I've stopped suggesting this site to others, a bit of TOCAs own medicine. Moderators will argue that you can post a link to the links page, but that's not the same when discussing a topic and you need to include a relevant link there and then. TOCA seem to think that everytime you post a link, that its some mission to promote another site. NOTE TRUE. The internet is an interactive medium, except http://toca.forum-host.biz/forum/ which is the most un-interactive forum in the world!

Last season I wrote race reports and took pictures which were published on several motorsport websites, all had links back to TOCA, why? beacause it was releavnt!!


Kelvin

i totally agree with all the things this guy is saying. spot on kelvin.

and another point:
since this site has chucked out all the chit chat and everything theres not really nothing exciting to really promote. only the usually racing sites except for once in a blue moon when something interesting happens like the thruxton text pictures.

you will, lose viewer base to others sites in the btccworld by boring the readers.

[Alan]

Perhaps TOCA don't want to have a forum where people can chat about anything and everything.

I think it has been said before that this is supposed to be a motorsport website.

As for the links - well, as this is a "commercial" website I guess the operators don't wish to promote other websites, which is effectively what posting links is doing.

And is there actually anything wrong with being different to all the others??

[Kelvin]

How is the forum commercial Alan?
And posting a link to another 'relevant site' how does that affect this site, do TOCA loose money?

Rules are rules ok, but the rule can stifle the debate.

I'd like to recommend newcommers to look at the TOCA supporter website, the one you and Amanda run, but Im not allowed, so how do they find it? And if I did post it, how would it affect TOCA, well it might actually get a few more people come to a race meeting! TOCA's gain not loss!!


Kelvin

[Admin]

Being the Official TOCA forum, it was decided that advertising, promotion of other web sites and links would not be allowed on the forum, as TOCA wish the forum to remain totally non-commercial. We do not want the forum to become a vehicle for driving traffic to other sites. Pictures can be posted, articles can be copied (with permission from the source), or the stories can be related in your own words. Our links page is the appropriate page to find out about BTCC related web sites. This topic has already been covered in detail, so please respect TOCA's wishes regarding this matter.

Regarding the TOCA news, this section is for official TOCA press releases only, and as such any unofficial news, or news originating from other sources will not appear, unless authorised for TOCA to release.