gbear writes: I am desperately trying to understand whence came the umbrage.
To answer your question, people view this Board as a source of education, a source of entertainment and a refuge from everyday stress - a place where friends meet to discuss, to learn and to play with language.
By introducing your ad you have invaded this refuge. If you had taken the time to read through several posts, participated in some discussions and looked through the archives you would have seen that this is not the place for advertising.
Also, you would have seen that, though the service is not free, there is a specific place for advertising. By posting on the chat board you give the impression that you are trying to pull a fast one and go around the rules. If you were selling dollar dictionaries in a 35 dollar market I would not want to see it here either. Of troy is right, AWAD does take PAID ads in the newsletter.
You also write: Why did either of you bother to open a posting entitled "Atlanta Words courses?"
Well, let me answer that for them (if you please Jazz & tsuwm). They opened it for the same reasons I did.
a) they never expected spam on the Board
b) they never expected advertising on the Board
c) thread titles are only small inklings of what is in the threads. You know what you were going to say – not us. It might just as easily have been about a new method of teaching English in Atlanta, or the adoption of “southern speak” into the school curriculum (like Ebonics in New York) or any number of things.
It was intrusive and, unless you are completely dishonest with us, and with yourself, it was commercial. You see a bunch of people interested in language and think, "this is the perfect crowd to make a pitch to." I would ask you the courtesy to be truthful about this.
Goldibear, I really enjoy new members. I think they bring fresh topics and new points of view into the mix and I will welcome you with open arms if you wish to join our motley crew in our romance with the English language – but not if you’re here to sell us stuff.
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TEd, I'm sorry if this post makes you ashamed but I too felt insulted at the intrusion and groaned at the thought of having to dodge advertising in the future.
