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You have to be kidding me. My account is getting suspended?

  1. jaytomio
    Member

    Wow! I just got an email saying my account was being suspended because I have amazon links? I'm a official book critic/reiewers for dozens of publishers - of course I talk about books and have accompanying links - what's the deal? Are the pennies gained actually a problem? Why not ask me to take my Amazon links down instead?

    I offer contests for free autographed books from publishers/authors and have links to them and this is against wotdpress policy? Not only this, but then try to link me to a 'payed wordpress' account as alternative?

    I got it from lloyd AT Automattic - is this offical or a joke? It's not like my blog is jsut ads - there is content there, and is it really that bad to promote my own E-zine on my wordpress blog?

    I'm inclined ti believe it's spam - but just seeking verification. I mean good lordn it's a blog about reading and books.

  2. knoizki
    Member

    So sorry to hear that. I also have music lists om my sidebar (not that I gain money from it and it's not even an ads) that links to Tower Records. Oh my! Does wordpress folks sends you an email first stating why your blog coul be suspended or the other way around?

    Your blog is back though.

  3. jaytomio
    Member

    They told me I have a few days until they suspend my account.

    No, they told me my account was being suspended because of ads and links - like my site has not content and is just an ad farm - which it absolutely is not (people actually leave comments at my blog a rarity apparently in non-tech blogs at WP :)!) My blog is occasionally a top 100 Word Press Blog and is about books and reading, and is getting suspended?

    That's just rubbish, so much so I hope I'm just warning people that someone is sending false emails to members about their blog getting suspended. Those are my reviews being linked, my interviews, my magazine, I have exactly 1 ad promoting a book of an author I know and it doesn't link to a retailer it links to an info site about him.

    It's baffling.

  4. raincoaster
    Member

    No, it's not a joke. They're very VERY clear about no ads. It doesn't matter how much you're making from them. If you're not making that much anyway, why not kill the ads? It could save your blog.

    Since you're reviewing books, it's perfectly appropriate for you to put a link in the TEXT of your review that goes to an Amazon page.

    WordPress's position is that if you're getting a FREE blog from WordPress, you don't get to make money from it; if you host it yourself, I gather those decisions are up to you.

  5. jaytomio
    Member

    I wasn't given the option to kill the ads. I was told my blog would be terminated in a few days. At any rate if it's no a joke it doesn't matter - I will find another platform.

    I just find it amazing as my blog has been look at before by adminstrators (various queries/feedback) and not a word was said.

  6. cornell
    Member

    Jay

    Can I suggest you contact the team at support@wordpress.com or via feedback or from your dashboard links?

    You might just get an answer quicker than posting here.

    Good luck!

    Collin

  7. jaytomio
    Member

    Thanks Collin -

    Done!

    Now that I think about it, it's probably slighly inappropriate here, sorry I just woke up and saw the message and just got frustrated - I - like many others who own WP blogs - put a lot into it, and was slightly discouraged at the message and the manner the message was relayed to me.

    Sorry peeps and thanks!

  8. sulz
    Member

    I just find it amazing as my blog has been look at before by adminstrators (various queries/feedback) and not a word was said.

    ah yes, wordpress has a knack for doing things behind your back, no forewarning. i got my avatar and comments edited without any notification on several occassions in the past. i acknowledge that they were removed for being 'inappropriate' (though i don't think so) but it couldn't hurt to send a message saying 'hey could you pls remove such-and-such by you because we don't approve of them'. at least that way i'm aware of what's going on and i can do the removing myself.

  9. podz
    Member

    "I just find it amazing as my blog has been look at before by adminstrators (various queries/feedback) and not a word was said."
    I have certainly not seen the blog before.

    "wordpress has a knack for doing things behind your back, no forewarning"
    Spammers are removed on sight and I make not the slightest apology for that. If you meant anything else please email me and I will discuss it.

    The fact that an email was sent was a friendly gesture - would you rather the blog had gone?

  10. jaytomio
    Member

    I don't have a problem with the policy itself (I really can't), and I'm not implying clandestine motivations!

    My issue was the basicaly being told I was terminated, not giving me the chance to remove what is deemed inappropriate, but instead providing me a link to a payed wordpess blog. Like, 'Hey, you have broken the rules - you're done - but hey if you want to pay for a blog please consider us".

    If I got an email saying "please remove amazon links" than I would have done so - no problem there. If I get an email saying I can't link to material of my own on the web - than that's just stupid, because it's obvious it's not the sole reason for my blog - it's a common sense issue, where none was applied IMHO.

  11. podz
    Member

    jaytomi - email me at support and we will take it from there please?

  12. jaytomio
    Member

    removed after reading last post by me - Jay Tomio

  13. sulz
    Member

    what's the exact email add pls?

  14. jaytomio
    Member

    podz -

    Is there a user specific email to contact you via support?

  15. cornell
    Member

    you can email podz at support@wordpress.com

    Collin

  16. poppy8sd
    Member

    ~Jaytomio: I believe Podz is saying to use your feedback feature, your dashboard, upper right corner.

    BTW: there was a long thread here, while back, in which they said, essentially, if 'you put in a link to your own work, it would be allowed, case by case' --as they allow a 'name' or two, to link to their own books, etc. It's worth stating your case.

  17. jaytomio
    Member

    Thanks.

    Email sent - although it's just rehashing what's been said.

  18. sulz
    Member

    thanks collin

  19. wank
    Member

    There's no 'Lloyd' on staff, so it sounds like some kind of prank to me. It's relatively common for spammers to spoof addresses so that they look like they're coming from another source.

  20. podz
    Member

    It's okay - the email was genuine.

    But if anyone is ever concerned about an email from here, send one in too support@wordpress.com (with a copy of the email) and we will take a look.

  21. drmike
    Member

    Lloyd is a staff member. He came on during Podz' vacation.

  22. wank
    Member

    Yeah, I had a blog comment from skippy saying some guy calling himself 'Lloyd' had emailed him a few weeks ago from a Gmail account, claiming to be a new secret staff member who couldn't reveal himself because he still had another job.

    The whole thing is extremely odd and sounds pretty unprofessional, but at least Podz is handling it now.

  23. drmike
    Member

    He's on the forums here as foolswisdom.

  24. britgirl
    Member

    @jaytomio If you do a search on adsense/affiliate links in the forum the issue of ads and affilate links was discussed at great length.

  25. timethief
    Member

    This is my opinion.

    (1) The policy is clear. See the pink sticky at the head of the forum and the FAQs and the ToS.
    (2) There are forum threads on this subject and there has been a great deal of discussion on the forum on the same matter.
    (3) jaytomio is no newbie having been a member for 8 months.
    (4) jaytomio is a businessperson in the book trade. There is an appropriate way of dealing with business matters such as the notice that was received and that is not by posting to this forum. Approaching the forum instead of simply removing the links IMO demonstrates DEFIANCE and illustrates a determination MANIPULATE an outcome. If the same amount of time and energy had been put into removing the links and apologizing I might feel some latitude regarding the timeframe for compliance would be in order.
    (5) In addition to the animated flashing green Amazon advertisement in the sidebar, every book image on the blog appears to be linked to commercial advertisements for online purchases. And the blog is full of them.
    (6) The same books that are being linked by jaytomio can be borrowed from a public library or purchased from a local bookstore. Everyone knows this. However, by linking the images to online outfits that are in the business of selling products jaytomio knowingly and willfully violated the ToS.
    (7) There is no grounds for jaytomio to "negotiate" on. The links must be removed and if they aren't the blog must be closed.

    On a personal note to the offender I say this with single pointed clarity: I do not believe that I have witnessed bodhisattva behaviour, I have witnessed a snit fit that is the evidence of double-mindedness.

  26. raincoaster
    Member

    Tt, I have got to disagree with you. He was upset, and he posted in haste. Let's cut the guy some slack; he has shown willingness to come in line with the policy and work things out behind the scenes as requested.

    This issue has come up repeatedly because it is a hot button. The forums are for discussion of such issues. I see nothing wrong with posting an issue like this, particularly when they've already apologized, only for making someone feel bad for using the forum.

    jaytomio last posted to this thread half a week ago. It's time to let it go.

  27. podz
    Member

    Jaytomio and myself have discussed this and it has been resolved.
    We are all happy :)

  28. timethief
    Member

    There is still advertising on his site Podz and I am not happy!
    Rules are not made to be broken.

    As he or she dragged the rest of the wordpress community into this on the forum and as you responded on the forum I guess we'll be be getting an explanation as to the specifics so we can take advantage of the advertising opportunities we were hitherto unaware of, eh?

  29. podz
    Member

    As I said, we are happy.

  30. timethief
    Member

    What were the specifics of the happiness arrangement, please?

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