I'm sure Nick considered this when he started the forum. Sure, potential builders may find alternatives here, but I'm sure it drives plenty of traffic through the Guillemot site too.

I doubt anyone hosting such a forum could be under the misapprehension that it could keep browsers away from the competition.

It is more the nature and flavour of spamming that I think all members of any forum would find objectionable. The etiquette rules for eMail lasted for about five and a half minutes before the spammers took over the web, but this forum has a way of curbing obvious self promotion without the need for intervention from Nick.

Putting myself in his position, Nick is in a delicate position himself, and may be more inhibited by the no promotion rule than everyone else. As host he is required by convention to keep all his guests communicating while remaining unpartisan. As good relaxed guests it is up to us to make it unnecessary that he should ever need to intervene. I think, on the whole, we do this, by being, if I may say so, a fairly civilised bunch.

This forum has been around a long time, and as more folk become builders and designers this subject is going to come up from time to time. We benefit greatly from the generosity of the pros and the more experienced builders here. I think we should let them speak freely, and just slap them around a bit if they overstep the boundaries of modesty.

And, as a happy guest..... NICK, I would like to invite you to your own party. I personally don't mind if you come incognito, or dressed in a Guillemot banner. It is tough to be the host all the time.

Et