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Other => Meta => Topic started by: alani123 on March 05, 2020, 11:23:39 AM



Title: Sponsored threads
Post by: alani123 on March 05, 2020, 11:23:39 AM
I've seen sponsored threads in the gambling section. Examples:
XII FREE Tipster Competition -sponsored by DirectBet- (Main Thread) (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1159253.0)

BitcoinNews.com's English Premier League Football Pool Discussion Thread   (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4479837.0)

Wimbeldon Special Challange & free tips thread Sponsored by Betopen.co (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1997881.0)

I'm wondering, aside of competitions and discussion threads for gambling, would there be rationale that would forbid having a sponsor for other types of threads?

Rationale to want a sponsor for a thread could be that some threads take a lot of effort to maintain and otherwise don't offer something in return for the creator.
So some sponsorship or advertisement in threads with high visibility could help sustain them.


Title: Re: Sponsored threads
Post by: LoyceV on March 05, 2020, 11:51:17 AM
I think this applies here:
However, if you are using the forum as a publishing platform to host something really substantial and useful, selling ads in that substantial work is allowed. To be eligible for this, your post must be in a topic that you started, and your post must be substantial and long enough to make the ad seem entirely insignificant. If in doubt, ask me.


Title: Re: Sponsored threads
Post by: Welsh on March 05, 2020, 04:28:14 PM
In accordance to theymos' post quoted above I probably wouldn't consider most of these threads substantial enough for sponsorship. However, I'd be interested in hearing the general communities opinions. I'm also assuming some of those thread owners have contacted theymos prior to sponsoring the thread. I likely have a different perception to many, and think that sponsored posts or advertisements should only be included on threads which are in depth, and have a minimum read time above 10 minutes. Although, that is the gambling section, so expectations could be less over in that section.


Title: Re: Sponsored threads
Post by: PrimeNumber7 on March 05, 2020, 06:49:52 PM
I would argue a sponsorship may be appropriate if the sponsor is funding the prizes/giveaway, or a substantial portion of the prize. This appears to be the case for the first thread.

I think this is also the case for the third thread, however I don’t think they are giving away bitcoin so the thread is actually against the rules because altcoin giveaways are not allowed. If they were giving away bitcoin, I would similarly argue it would be fine for a sponsorship for similar reasons as above.

I agree that the second thread is not sufficiently high content to support a paid sponsorship. The majority of the thread is a list of participants and it appears the prize is being paid out of coin collected from the various participants minus a fee.


Title: Re: Sponsored threads
Post by: Welsh on March 05, 2020, 11:12:01 PM
I would argue a sponsorship may be appropriate if the sponsor is funding the prizes/giveaway, or a substantial portion of the prize. This appears to be the case for the first thread.

That's a good point, and something I didn't initially consider, but I think this should probably be monitored very closely otherwise we could see some worthless altcoin tokens being offered, and the forum starts to get plastered in sponsored threads. This is unlikely as it would probably be regulated before that would happen, but I think going the route of asking permission before doing it is probably the better idea.


Title: Re: Sponsored threads
Post by: jackg on March 05, 2020, 11:43:45 PM
In accordance to theymos' post quoted above I probably wouldn't consider most of these threads substantial enough for sponsorship. However, I'd be interested in hearing the general communities opinions. I'm also assuming some of those thread owners have contacted theymos prior to sponsoring the thread. I likely have a different perception to many, and think that sponsored posts or advertisements should only be included on threads which are in depth, and have a minimum read time above 10 minutes. Although, that is the gambling section, so expectations could be less over in that section.

I personally like the idea of keeping stuff in signature and avatar space and they're probably. More appropriate there.

Thread sponsorship is quite difficult to find a sponsor for afaik and Mitchell's signature ad overview often seems to go without an ad for example. The benefit of them over signatures is that they can be images and banners rather than the bbcode used in signature ads and sometimes that could get annoying... But I'm guessing animated ads can be quickly removed.


Title: Re: Sponsored threads
Post by: alani123 on March 05, 2020, 11:44:37 PM
In accordance to theymos' post quoted above I probably wouldn't consider most of these threads substantial enough for sponsorship. However, I'd be interested in hearing the general communities opinions. I'm also assuming some of those thread owners have contacted theymos prior to sponsoring the thread. I likely have a different perception to many, and think that sponsored posts or advertisements should only be included on threads which are in depth, and have a minimum read time above 10 minutes. Although, that is the gambling section, so expectations could be less over in that section.

I personally like the idea of keeping stuff in signature and avatar space and they're probably. More appropriate there.

Thread sponsorship is quite difficult to find a sponsor for afaik and Mitchell's signature ad overview often seems to go without an ad for example. The benefit of them over signatures is that they can be images and banners rather than the bbcode used in signature ads and sometimes that could get annoying... But I'm guessing animated ads can be quickly removed.
Maybe others could post links to more characteristic threads. I just found less than a handful that were obvious to me.


Title: Re: Sponsored threads
Post by: jackg on March 05, 2020, 11:47:36 PM

Maybe others could post links to more characteristic threads. I just found less than a handful that were obvious to me.

I was talking about this one of Mitchell's: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=615953.0

If that's what you meant?


Title: Re: Sponsored threads
Post by: Welsh on March 06, 2020, 12:02:14 AM
I personally like the idea of keeping stuff in signature and avatar space and they're probably. More appropriate there.

Thread sponsorship is quite difficult to find a sponsor for afaik and Mitchell's signature ad overview often seems to go without an ad for example. The benefit of them over signatures is that they can be images and banners rather than the bbcode used in signature ads and sometimes that could get annoying... But I'm guessing animated ads can be quickly removed.

Yeah, I'm not a massive fan of advertisements within posts, but I can see why others would be against that. After all if its Bitcoin related it can be somewhat beneficial to offer exposure, and promote Bitcoin services. Although, having said that I'd agree with your outlook on things. I'd prefer advertisements to stay in signatures. However, if I were to offer a prime example of posts that would be eligible in my eyes it would likely be Mitchell's, and another users which went through the installation of mining equipment, but I can't quite remember that user right now.


Title: Re: Sponsored threads
Post by: jackg on March 06, 2020, 12:14:40 AM
I personally like the idea of keeping stuff in signature and avatar space and they're probably. More appropriate there.

Thread sponsorship is quite difficult to find a sponsor for afaik and Mitchell's signature ad overview often seems to go without an ad for example. The benefit of them over signatures is that they can be images and banners rather than the bbcode used in signature ads and sometimes that could get annoying... But I'm guessing animated ads can be quickly removed.

Yeah, I'm not a massive fan of advertisements within posts, but I can see why others would be against that. After all if its Bitcoin related it can be somewhat beneficial to offer exposure, and promote Bitcoin services. Although, having said that I'd agree with your outlook on things. I'd prefer advertisements to stay in signatures. However, if I were to offer a prime example of posts that would be eligible in my eyes it would likely be Mitchell's, and another users which went through the installation of mining equipment, but I can't quite remember that user right now.

Was that the guy who used to have a list in his signature of every miner that had been released that he made a guide for? It was back in 2015 or 2016 and he had a guide for all the antminer S and U series, avalon, bitfury and a many others?


Title: Re: Sponsored threads
Post by: alani123 on March 06, 2020, 02:48:51 PM
Was that the guy who used to have a list in his signature of every miner that had been released that he made a guide for? It was back in 2015 or 2016 and he had a guide for all the antminer S and U series, avalon, bitfury and a many others?
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=87869 dogie!
SO MUCH effort would go into his threads. He had mastered formatting in BBcode perfectly. I used to lurk his posts for formatting tricks even though I never owned an ASIC and couldn't make use of his guides' contents otherwise.  


Title: Re: Sponsored threads
Post by: PrimeNumber7 on March 06, 2020, 02:59:21 PM
I would argue a sponsorship may be appropriate if the sponsor is funding the prizes/giveaway, or a substantial portion of the prize. This appears to be the case for the first thread.

That's a good point, and something I didn't initially consider, but I think this should probably be monitored very closely otherwise we could see some worthless altcoin tokens being offered, and the forum starts to get plastered in sponsored threads. This is unlikely as it would probably be regulated before that would happen, but I think going the route of asking permission before doing it is probably the better idea.
Well I believe that altcoin giveaways are not allowed, so any worthless altcoin creators would need to be giving away bitcoin or else the thread would be disallowed, regardless of the sponsorship. This is why I mentioned that the last thread referenced in the OP is against the rules.

It is possible to require Pre-clearance to have a sponsorship thread, however there still needs to be clear guidelines as to what is allowed and what is not allowed, or else there will be controversy when certain requests are denied that are similar to threads that are allowed.