Folks,

Rather than make a unilateral edict about this one way or the other, I'm opening this discussion up to everyone on the Board here regarding product and services advertising pitches within thread postings.

Historically we haven't had the need for a traditional Terms and Conditions because our dialog has primarily been about interpreting in church settings (logistics, vocabularies, training/inservice, etc.) and not so much advertising third-party products and services to that end. I feel it's only fair to open this topic to the Board Community for your input and thoughts about the matter, e.g.:

1) does the Board Community agree that advertising products and services inside of thread postings is appropriate for this dialog?
2) How do we give equal time to competition or rival vendors, services, and products?
3) Because we already have an advertising-sponsored (read: free) forum, should we allow additional in-posting advertisements?

No one is on trial here, and in fact, I'm glad it was brought up. Please take this opportunity and weigh in, and we'll come to a decision. In the meantime, please hold off on in-posting advertisements or promotions.

Thanks. The Management.

It wouldn't bother me if there was advertising. That is my way of saying, "yes I got your message, but I don't have any input."

I suppose that if it is related to the discussion at hand and can be helpful for others, it wouldn't hurt. If it is something that is way off topic, there might be a better forum for that elsewhere. Just my two cents - it may not count for much since I haven't been around much though. I don't terp anymore, so it isn't foremost on my mind anymore.
I am glad to see the forum is still up and running though!

JanaLee

This is no place for commercial content.

We are not here to promote any industry, and certainly never a specific business. We are here to help each other's work in LDS settings, and offer encouragement and support to isolated Church interpreters, or people who are trying to apply a whole-soul approach to interpreting work in religious and professional settings.

I don't care if a business is trading on the LDS name in order to profit off members of the Church. Doing so at all is morally inappropriate in principle, and strictly forbidden in organized units of the Church in practice. This forum needs to be an advertising-free zone, especially when the content seeks to divert customers toward an LDS-owned business, simply because we're wink-nudge "brothers and sisters". I want to make it clear that I am far more outraged and disgusted by money-making ventures which specifically market to LDS people than I am about advertising on our walls. But I reject both. If we were holding this forum in a meetinghouse, such opportunism would never be tolerated.

Sure, if folks want to talk about *relevant* Church or commercial resources which will support our work, that is part of our purpose. Neither am I talking about Church-specific businesses, or industries which are outcroppings of LDS principles. For example, of course people need a place to buy materials, prepare for provident living, missionary service and temple worship. But when a completely unrelated business, with a logo that purposefully resembles the SLC Temple, and taglines about "Mormon services" are too much for my stomach to bear. My membership in the Kingdom is not for getting gain.

If anyone would like to talk with me further about my reaction, please contact me privately and I would love to discuss it!

I want to clarify a few things which led to my recent postings becoming edited/censored.

First of all I would like to apologize for including privately owned, for-profit businesses in my postings. I will not point out the "other" postings that mention for-profit entities as apparently they did not create such a stir as did mine. However, I will not apologize for the endeavor that is LDSVRS. This company and idea is in the process of applying for non-profit status and the "surplus" and/or donations that come in will be used to provide VRI in Church settings, training, technology, equipment... etc
I (along with others) have been in discussion over this issue for the last several years. We (LDSVRS) are creating a vehicle to help members who do not have access to interpreters. Which, by the way, often happens right here along the Wasatch Front let alone in America's Heartland... We are consulting with Church Headquarters in order to make this cause harmonious with the threefold mission of the Church.

Please feel free to contact me privately or publicly...

Chip Royce
chipjohnny@gmail.com
801-369-9152

Wow! I had no idea we had such a controversial issue! I'm glad Doug brought this to the forefront of the entire membership because I'm interested in seeing how everyone feels on this subject.

Personally, I don't even like the idea of non-profits being advertised in postings, let alone "for profit" advertisements. However, it is one way for us to learn about what's out there. I live in Atlanta, GA and while many things may be commonplace for those living in Utah, if not for word of mouth, we who live out here might never learn of such things.

So...even though I abhor all things "ad-ish" in postings, they do have their place. I would love to hear more about LDSVRS. BTW, this is the first I've heard of it. And since people like me don't like ads in postings, please feel free to respond to me privately at sistasaint@yahoo.com