Bitcoin Forum

I had a marketplace post (offering to pay BTC to sign up with my referral link).

3 things:

1. Is that allowed? (I had done this before, now I'm not sure after it straight up disappears..)
2. Why was I not notified on deletion?
3. Who deleted it?

1. No. Posting of referral links isn't allowed, if it was in your sig then it may be fine.
1.b. it could also be considered begging.

2. It happens. I don't know why, I think it's at the mod's discretion.

3. The mod... (one of them I don't know and the only one who does is the mod who deleted it probably).

Hard to say. Was the referral link posted in the thread? If so that was probably enough to get it trashed.

I don't think there is a problem with offering that up in "Services" as long as the link is shared via PM or something once a deal has been made. Definitely do not send it unsolicited.

I'm surprised you didn't get a notification PM, for the thread being deleted, maybe that doesn't happen if they are trashed.

Weird I didn't see anything in the Mod Log for you though.

The only rule regarding referral code links I am aware of is:
I don’t think posting a referral code is in itself spam, but the link will need to be on topic.

I don’t think this kind of thread is disallowed and al not aware of any rule disallowing it. Most likely, someone reported your thread and a moderator incorrectly moved it because the report was incorrect and they had an incorrect understanding of the rule.

When a thread is moved to the trash can, you will not get a notification.

Ref links generally aren't an issue unless you go overboard with it and become a true spammer.  Its annoying when you get posts deleted or the thread you posted in gets completely deleted without a reason given.  Still doesn't happen too often but its really bad in mining speculation.

I've seen tons of threads where OP asks people to sign up on X site for 0.1$ et al, and i'm pretty sure those didn't get deleted..

Another thread doing the same thing doesn't seem to be deleted?;
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5131369.0 "Paying users $0.50 to sign up for a website, will be less than a minute"

You're not polluting any topics, or writing articles just to push your ref links, so i don't really see what's wrong with it, if people are willing to complete this task, and the service allows it.. Well, why exactly would the forum prohibit such trading activity?

Have you even read what exactly the topic is about?

Those threads ask to PM for the referal code, marcotheminer showed it in his post. The former is allowed, the latter isn't.

Reference?

I tried this when I was a Newbie, and quickly learned it's not allowed when my posts were deleted. I still have the PMs:

Easiest way to find out is PM the moderator of said section. I'm sure they can explain/point you towards the moderator who deleted it.

Perhaps we read this differently:

My understanding and reading of the rule is that referral links are not disallowed, but that you cannot go around randomly posting the link when doing so is not relevant.

There might be cases in which a referral link is necessary to answer a question, for example if a website requires a referral to sign up.

If I'm not wrong, correct me if I'm wrong it's allowed to use ref link on your signature. (I saw several high-rank users doing it in my 1st year here)

(it's also allow to you your address on signature)

Yeah... I screwed up my wording as I was in a rush trying to procrastinate from my ever looming deadlines...

Ref links are fine in personal messages, signatures, your profile info and your avatar. But outright or discrete begging (to the discretion of the admins) isn't.

It was not referral link spam. I will repost the thread in services (I've done that countless times in the past with no problem).

A bigger reason for making this thread is that the post just vanished - like a shadow ban of sorts.. And that's fucked up.

This also happened to someone I know. No ref links though, just simple posts. He was in a signature campaign that time and we all know that campaigns require a number of post per week. He thought he met the required number of posts but it turned out he didn't because some of his posts were deleted. No reasons stated, though. So maybe it is really upon mod's discretion.

Ref links are a grey area. Technically as per the rules, they're not allowed outside of the signature and many threads have been removed in the past if you post them for people to sign up with even if you offer payment to do so. Do I see anything wrong with that? Not really. I guess it's a kind of service and both people are making money from it as long as it's not a scam and they actually pay you. I've personally let many ref links slide in the Gambling section when tipsters have been giving out free tips, but removed plenty of other threads where people have posted their ref link whether they offer payment or not, but maybe we should rethink the rules on that for further clarification.


If a thread is sent to the trashcan you don't get a notification. That's how it's always been.


And there' probably many you haven't seen that were removed for doing the same. Mods don't spot everything and many will only act if they're actually reported by someone. With that thread it's not explicit either, though it's obviously very likely a ref links is involved.

Ok - thank you for clarifying Hilarious. I suppose someone therefore reported my thread. Would I be allowed to make it again in the services section? I can avoid posting the link and ask that interested parties PM me for it. Let me know, cheers.

Bump. Hilarious: can I repost it to the services section if I don't post the referral link and only send it to those who ask for it via PM?

Even an established member can tell: Removing the referral link to the post will lift it out of that specific rule.
There shouldn't be any problem as long as you're paying the referrals with Bitcoins.

Just don't want to waste my time (I need to type it up again because I didn't get a notification..). Rules are often hazy and things get confused/removed with little justification (which is my case). I'll repost it then - thank you for those who replied: it helped me understand some new things at least.