Building costs in Central Portugal

[Chris Thorpe]

Originally Posted by wedsence

Why was my question deleted? I want information to help me build a wooden house and I only wanted to know if they could be found at the price quoted. I am not toting for business only the help I anticipated this forum would supply

I also had a a reply to a question on timber construction removed! I gave details of a type of construction and did not mention any names, email addresses or locations, yet others on the same page did give such information and were allowed to remain on this site. I am professionaly qualified and have spent more than 30 years in the construction industry and only wish to help others - I don't understand why some contributors can give names and contact details, and others can't.

[Veronica]

Originally Posted by wedsence

Why was my question deleted? I want information to help me build a wooden house and I only wanted to know if they could be found at the price quoted. I am not toting for business only the help I anticipated this forum would supply

wedsence your question was not deleted as you would see if you read the thread properly.
It was an answer to your question that was deleted.

[wedsence]

Originally Posted by Veronica

wedsence your question was not deleted as you would see if you read the thread properly.
It was an answer to your question that was deleted.

As this is my first attempt to obtain assistance I was not aware of the need to "read the thread properly"! However, if there is someone who will give unbiased advice surely it should be possible to read it, especially as your response had a link to a commercial organisation in Cyprus. Surely the point of this site is to provide such assistance.

[omostra06]

Hi wedsence, you are correct the point of the forum is to help others and share information, which the forum does well, lots of great info is exchanged here that helps many people.

However the forum does have rules about advertising and sometimes people do just post on the forum to promote their own business, sometimes the information required might be on the posters website and they may only have good intentions, but its hard for the moderators to decide who is posting to help and who is posting to advertise and self promote, so any self promotion links have to be removed.
Iam sure someone will be able to help you with answers to your questions shortly, but the original posters statement that you replied to was a while ago in June 2008.

[Chris Thorpe]

There appears to be a very fine line between helping and self-promotion. If information is given by a member of an organisation and no indication of the organisation is displayed i.e website, name or location - would this be seen as advertising?

We have a dedicated information website with many specialised articles on it and a Q and A forum. There is no selling or any invitations to buy anything - but we can't tell others on this forum about it, as this would be construed as self-promotion.

As fairly new members, we have no desire to upset the old school, but if we have free helpful information why not share it with others, it's only the method of conveying this information that varies.

Perhaps, and with the greatest respect, a little more leeway should be given?

[Veronica]

Originally Posted by Chris Thorpe

There appears to be a very fine line between helping and self-promotion. If information is given by a member of an organisation and no indication of the organisation is displayed i.e website, name or location - would this be seen as advertising?

We have a dedicated information website with many specialised articles on it and a Q and A forum. There is no selling or any invitations to buy anything - but we can't tell others on this forum about it, as this would be construed as self-promotion.

As fairly new members, we have no desire to upset the old school, but if we have free helpful information why not share it with others, it's only the method of conveying this information that varies.

Perhaps, and with the greatest respect, a little more leeway should be given?

Chris the best way is to put the info into the forum, that way everyone gets to see it. By telling someone to go to xyz website the information is not being shared with everyone.
Far better to share it with everyone and avoid any misunderstandings as to your motives, which I am sure are only the best.
It is very difficult to know exactly where to draw the line, what appears to be self promotion when in fact it is an attempt to be helpful.

Regards Veronica

[omostra06]

Originally Posted by Chris Thorpe

There appears to be a very fine line between helping and self-promotion. If information is given by a member of an organisation and no indication of the organisation is displayed i.e website, name or location - would this be seen as advertising?

Hi Chris,
If you post information on the forum to help others then it’s just sharing your experience and info, not advertising.

When you direct people to your business website then it becomes advertising and falls under the rules of the forum, it is indeed a fine line.

The forum does encourage experienced people to share their information to help others, it just means being careful how you do it so as not to break the forum rules.

[wedsence]

Originally Posted by omostra06

Hi wedsence, you are correct the point of the forum is to help others and share information, which the forum does well, lots of great info is exchanged here that helps many people.

However the forum does have rules about advertising and sometimes people do just post on the forum to promote their own business, sometimes the information required might be on the posters website and they may only have good intentions, but its hard for the moderators to decide who is posting to help and who is posting to advertise and self promote, so any self promotion links have to be removed.
Iam sure someone will be able to help you with answers to your questions shortly, but the original posters statement that you replied to was a while ago in June 2008.

Thanks for your reply. I am still confused as your moderator Veronica has a link to "elysianfieldsproperties" which is, by the look of it, a commercial site in Cyprus. How is that different to being directed to any other similar site? I understand the desire to be clearly unbiased but surely advice from someone who "has been there and done it" should be permitted. It may well be that the rsponse given, which of course I have not seen, was an obvious commercial one and not of a general nature to which I would defer. I look forward to continued use of this Forum.

[omostra06]

The link that you mention is in the Signature section, and is permitted, several members do put a link to a site, or a statement of some type in their Signature.

The problem is when the poster puts a link in the main body of the post to direct people to a site that they have some business connection with.

We do hope that people that have "been there and done it", do spend time on the forum sharing their experiences with all of us, its the sharing of information and willingness of the forum members to do this that makes this forum a success

[wedsence]

Originally Posted by omostra06

The link that you mention is in the Signature section, and is permitted, several members do put a link to a site, or a statement of some type in their Signature.

The problem is when the poster puts a link in the main body of the post to direct people to a site that they have some business connection with.

We do hope that people that have "been there and done it", do spend time on the forum sharing their experiences with all of us, its the sharing of information and willingness of the forum members to do this that makes this forum a success

Thanks again! Perhaps as I get used to the forum I will understand these nuances. If all goes well with our move to Portugal I will try and keep others up to date on anything that may help them.