More questions about posting links...

Hi! I just saw the thread Mir had made asking about posting links. Although I've been allowed to post links to Google Documents in the past, I had never really asked permission or gotten approval from Support (my bad).


I wanted to apologize for posting my link in the EP Giver link thread earlier. Really, really sorry! I really should have checked first. Also, I did not realize I had it set to "Private." Most my other ones are public. (It is now set to "public".) If this forum has "soft-delete," as mods you may be able to still view it, although I do not know if changing that setting has also changed the web address. (?)

I am trying to be really careful about how I word things as I am pretty sure I am not allowed to talk about what was said to me in the "Inbox" (re: the edit in the above thread). Unfortunately, there is not a way to reply there, so it is a one-way conversation. (Which I remember reading about, but it only now makes sense).


Can I have permission to address here the reason given to me why my link was deleted? (I don't mind contacting Support, but I think it would be a good conversation that might avoid similar occurrences by others in the future). Which I think might be beneficial to all as it concerns the use of Google Docs...

Another question... as an alternative, I believe I could share the same information that is in my EP-Giver list (and perhaps add to it), if I took a screenshot. I could then post my EP giver list on the forum. It would be similar to Fryciso's (sp?) Farm level/Crafting Level and Island level lists, which has a screenshot of a chart with the highest posting leveled players in the first post. Would there be any problems with me doing something like that instead/ in addition to my (hopefully to be approved) link?

And lastly, if I did post a screenshot like that, I know Teddy had mentioned checking into if players can start strategy threads or not... do we have an answer yet? One idea I have is that perhaps I could start it in the User's Corner and then ask for it to be moved??


Thanks for your help! ~CJ

 

Hello CJAT,

You are very well aware that the warning cannot be disputed here, and I strongly believe that the reason of your link removal has been explained to you as clearly as possible, so there is nothing to add on this topic, and the edit of your above post has been explained just as clear as well, leaving room for no misunderstanding.

The thread you are referring to is about a tool. This cannot be in any way compared to a list of items. If a player wishes to share a software developed by themselves, it need to be analysed by the game team to make sure it's a 100% genuine tool. It is far from posting a link to a list - for which you will not need to request approval, since this is not the way to share them - you will need to include it in the Forum posts, as screenshot, list, as you wish - but not as a link.

As for the strategy - obviously, we do not have an answer, otherwise it would have been already shared Since the Forum has been recently launched, I am sure the Team is swamped in inquiries. On a second thought, until we get an answer on this matter, it's better not to create any thread and move it, because if all Strategy threads need to be created by the moderators team, we will have to choose the relevant topics and create them. Thank you for your understanding on this topic.

Also, I sincerely and strongly suggest you to double check your posts before submitting them, to avoid any further issues. And please do not re-edit your posts to hide your boo-boos after being edited by moderators.
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Is there anything else we can assist you with?

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I appreciate your reply teddy!

I cannot believe I did that! I am so very embarrassed! That was a complete accident! Usually I don't mind making boo-boos and people knowing about them (and laughing at me with me) but not that particular mistake! I thought I would hide where the edit was, but in hopes that anyone who had read it before the edit wouldn't remember what they had read!

I will not dispute the warnings here. Thank you for having my best interests and safety at heart.

I would like to restate what you said in order to clarify some concerns as I've a couple igms today from upset/frustrated/confused friends about perceived rules changing on this forum....

I had posted on the original forum both links to my Google spreadsheets (such as the one that recently got deleted), as well as pictures/screenshots of those spreadsheets (which per teddy above are fine). I think the editing by mods of my link and of a possible link another player posted, has caused some confusion as to if the rules have changed...
As far as I can tell, in these areas, the rules have not changed. I will fully admit and take responsibility for not asking permission to post links to my Google Spreadsheets in the original forum. (I just just plain went ahead and posted them... No one said anything and so we all assumed it was okay). Now teddy find herself in the undesirable position of having to give me a well-deserved scolding for the resulting trouble I am now causing! {{blush}}​

I again apologize for not checking with Support on the original forum. "Post first, ask later" really isn't a good habit for me to stay in... will work on that! ​

As a side note, I really hope Mir's creation is deemed a tool... from the screenshot I saw, it sounds awesome! It seems similar to the database that drumstick (spelling?) made a long time ago... it was an approved interactive site and well liked by quite a few farmers!

Do you happen to know (or can find out) how drumstick's database was hosted? It would be great to be able to have a website link like that (approved by Support) to compile spreadsheets and other such game information again!

 

Hello CJAT,

It seems like I haven't made myself understood so I will try again:

- Lists/spreadsheets/collection of information do not need to be approved by support. They will not be. Ever. You will need to include your list as text, or picture, in the forum.
- Tools, software is completely different story. Sometimes they can do more than they should. Therefore, before allowing such tool to be posted (as a link or whatever else on the Forum), it has to be verified by the developers to make sure that it is completely 100% genuine and safe to use, and that it doesn't do anything suspicious or outside the line. ( I apologize, -Mir85-, that you are being brought up in this conversation, and I am in no way implying that your tool would not be "clear" - but it's a complex matter and this is the procedure. )

A "link" doesn't get approved, a tool or a website is. Even if player X hosts their tool on a website, the slightest change to it needs to be reviewed again by the developers. Any new content needs to be reviewed by the devs, as well.

Again, please try to understand that the 2 of them are completely different, and unless you plan on becoming a programmer and create Farmerama tools, or hire someone to build a fansite, please forget about "Support approving links" idea.

Your spreadsheet was set to private. If it wouldn't have been, it probably would have passed unnoticed, like on the other forum . But we will not be able to check and recheck daily all the forum posts to make sure that by mistake, someone hasn't set the rights to private again.

External links cannot be posted on the forum, unless they are to official fansites, or other Farmerama forums. Period. The only exception are the websites for Flash, Shockwave, or official partners and campaigns (Charity: Water for example).

Also, please let players handle their own content. You will not be able to discuss with us or Support tools created by anyone else. Whoever created a database hosted wherever, can watch his creation and contact us on that matter You can pay attention to your content entirely. Your frustrated and concerned friends are also more than welcomed to contact us and we will be happy to clear things out.
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Can I help you with anything else?

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Hi again teddy,

Thank you for further explaining to me that support would not be able to approve a link such as the google document link I provided. I may contact them in the future to see if they have any advice for a safe way to host such information.

As for Mir, I do understand what you are saying. (I had just finished an igm to her talking about possibilities of how to host spreadsheets in a safe manner, and volunteered to ask about drumstick's site/tool when I came on). I briefly tried looking in the old forum for the information, but that forum/archives are now very hard to search (and soon to be gone).

I learned how to make screenshots, google docs, and links to other threads because of this game. Learning how to "becoming a programmer and create Farmerama tools" doesn't sound that hard to me... it's actually quite intriguing! For me, it's just a matter of finding time to research it and do it... which unfortunately I know I do not have at the moment!

Also, I don't think a new fansite would be the answer either. Anything posted there, I imagine, would be subject to the same rules here. Therefore links to Google documents there, would have the same safety concerns as here. (And I have no desire to start up a fansite!) A safe place/method to view my spreadsheets... now that would be worth it!


I wish you all a wonderful day! I appreciate all the hard work you and the team have put into the new forum! As the change has been so hard on many of us, I cannot imagine how even more so, it must be for you and the team to adjust to!


Thank you for all you do! No further questions.

 

~ Closing thread as there are no further questions ~