Commerce - questions, violations, and reporting them

Post by **actiongrl** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 4:17 pm

Hey guys.

My take on this is that it's probably not a place we can draw a bright line and say "This is always okay, this is not." Theme camp fundraisers, local regional events, etc. are obviously welcome. The Burning Man calendar is moderated, but events that are of interest to some burners are welcome, as long as they are not blatantly commercial. I'd feel like ePlaya is sort of the same. If someone shows up and they've never posted before and they hit and run with a party invite, I'd find that undesirable, but I don't think every event has to be an official one to be shared.

Why are events okay if products aren't? Because events are an opportunity to gather together and continue the Burning Man community (drink!) connection throughout the year. Only certain events affiliated with the Regional Network may call themselves "official", but other events may be of interest to people here, and may be a chance to keep the connection going.

So, if there's not sponsorship, if there's some element that may be of interest to burners (a poi class, a fire-barrel construction day, a local picnic, or perhaps a party, yes) if the public is welcome (no "email me for secret directions") and if there is no commercial intent, I think we can allow those things on the local announce lists and on the Calendar, and I don't know that there's reason to keep them off the eplaya.

I think they belong in Regionals and Events, in the folder specific to the event's location (and not cross posted!) and I think a close eye should be paid to those areas to keep things on track.

OTOH, if promoters start to look at the ePlaya as the perfect place to post their parties, but they're not at all involved with the community or only ever post to advertise their events, I think it's spam, pure and simple.

And in some cases, I really think the voice of the community (drink!) has to be the deciding factor. Our policies have really been about commercial posts (selling your RV or your playa flashlights) but events are a less easily-defined area, because sometimes they're truly not commercial. edit: By this what I mean is, if something seems off to everyone, it's probably off.

joel the ornery · Post by **joel the ornery** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 12:33 pm

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic.php?t=9166

commerce?

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 12:38 pm

Commerce?

I think so.

emily sparkle · Post by **emily sparkle** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 1:21 pm

got it. thanks guys.

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 6:01 pm

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... 417#165417

A small infraction but one that could snowball - especially given the thread...

HughMungus · Post by **HughMungus** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 1:12 am

Badger wrote:http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... 417#165417

A small infraction but one that could snowball - especially given the thread...

What's the difference between this and me telling my campmates that they have to pay me for the gas money we'll be using to get there? In my mind, the only things that should be commerce issues are things with a profit motive. The person in that post is desperate to get something somewhere and is willing to reimburse someone else to do it. In other words, the money isn't the reason someone would do it; the money is the thing that makes it a wash for whoever is doing it (beyond doing the favor to the person requesting it).

Isotopia · Post by **Isotopia** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 8:36 am

I hear you points Dallas. It's obvious we're looking at it from two different angles. Just wondering if this clarification has been forged as to strictly speaking this is (or not) commerce as defined by the board meisters.

joel the ornery · Post by **joel the ornery** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 7:18 pm

joel the ornery wrote:http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic.php?t=9166

commerce?

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic.php?t=9238

she's back...

Kinetic IV · Post by **Kinetic IV** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 7:29 pm

I posted something about that over in case studies so one of the admins can take care of it. Besides this one I've noticed a bunch of new accounts setup recently that have Russian porn sites listed in their profiles. My hunch, it's a virtual invasion of sock puppet spammers that can fire off crap from those accounts left and right like this one did. I hope I'm wrong on that.

emily sparkle · Post by **emily sparkle** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 7:35 pm

I've deleted the post and suspended the alisa account. I sent a notification, but you're right, it's probably a 'bot.

Thanks for the heads up, guys.

joel the ornery · Post by **joel the ornery** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 6:09 am

a morning afterthought...
the porn folks must not know this community very well...
speaking only for myself, i can't imagine paying for porn, yet retail for porn! outrageous.
the nerve of some people.

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 1:04 pm

That didn't stop a porn website from paying someone to write their URL with Sky Writing over the event one year.

(and I totally agree with you Joel, I'd never pay for porn either, certainly not retail!)

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 1:25 pm

I've paid for Pat/rick Califia. No regrets.

spectabillis · Post by **spectabillis** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 5:05 pm

Chai Guy wrote:That didn't stop a porn website from paying someone to write their URL with Sky Writing over the event one year.

that's marketeers... how many people have connections?

yeah, I will drop what I am doing, go find pen/paper and make sure to write it out based on your 'no commerce' ariel finger.

burners rightfully cause demographicheads stessful migranes.

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 2:33 pm

Cabanasprings · Post by **Cabanasprings** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 2:41 pm

Even though this is the completely the wrong thread (Commerece?)

I vote to keep the illegal drug thread open. Especially since nothing illegal has taken place.

spectabillis · Post by **spectabillis** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 3:07 pm

which thread is that?

Cabanasprings · Post by **Cabanasprings** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 3:10 pm

laudanum bars

Kinetic IV · Post by **Kinetic IV** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 3:36 pm

Doesn't the latest exchange dated 07/21/05 belong over here instead?
http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... 028#166028

I'm not trying to be a pain in the rear on this one, but the case studies thread makes for a great archive of admin actions, requests and the like. I'm hopeful the current stuff can go over there so it becomes part of the official record...and this thread can stay on topic.

Again, I don't mean to offend anyone with this post. Thanks for considering my request...

spectabillis · Post by **spectabillis** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 3:41 pm

Cabanasprings wrote:laudanum bars

Thought about steering it slightly to the side? Example alcohol: whats legal, minors, LEO enforcement, and how to do the bar thing?

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 2:47 am

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... 299#167299

Can someone deal with this assfuck?

spectabillis · Post by **spectabillis** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 6:31 pm

Since this is commerce policy and drifted too far away...

... offer a bribe.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 1:58 pm

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... 791#167791
The same poster has another thread taht seems to be about the same vehicle.

Kinetic IV · Post by **Kinetic IV** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 2:10 pm

Fishy, I posted that over in Case Studies as Commerce and Crossposting.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 9:35 am

I didn't follow the link so I don't know where it falls on the commerce to helpfulness continuum. Also, I'd like a Robbidobbs opinion (I've already pm'd her) on the devise.
Ta.

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... 201#168201

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 9:36 am

Kinetic IV wrote:Fishy, I posted that over in Case Studies as Commerce and Crossposting.

Yes, thank you, I saw that. Its nice to know I can be a litlle less than "etenally" vigelent.

joel the ornery · Post by **joel the ornery** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:39 am

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic.php?t=9728

commerce?

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 12:30 pm

I believe it is and I'm asking for a deletion by admin.

Thanks.

Playa-Sod · Post by **Playa-Sod** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 7:06 pm

How about this one?

http://marketplace.burningman.com

If there is no perceived violaation then why not sell a few Ts smudged in genuine playa dust, add a personal identity tag to each so that fanatics can collect and trade them like cabbage patch dolls, have Larry Harvey personally sign a select quantity and charge $10,000 a pop.

We could be onto somthing big here people. Please keep me in mind for an allotment of shares when you decide to IPO.

sod.

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 10:22 pm

Well, first of all it's not on the eplaya so it's kind of a moot point.

Secondly, this was my 8th burn, been to all the decoms all that, and I've seen MAYBE 4 people wearing one of those shirts. They must have boxes and boxes of those things in an office somewhere, I dunno.