"Fishing" definition

[tommykjensen]

Do anybody have one or more links to a definition of the term "member fishing"? You know the activity where a forum administrator posts messages on other forums designed to "fish" members for his own forum.

[Neal-UK]

Do anybody have one or more links to a definition of the term "member fishing"? You know the activity where a forum administrator posts messages on other forums designed to "fish" members for his own forum.

You forgot to add your website in your sig.....

Have you tried www.wikipedia.org ?

[tommykjensen]

Well I did a google search (which also returned wikipedia links) and all I got was definition for fishing as in fishing for fish (food).

[filburt1]

Because you're spelling it wrong: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phishing

[Joe Gronlund]

My question is, if you already know what it basically means, why are you looking for the definition??

[tommykjensen]

My question is, if you already know what it basically means, why are you looking for the definition??

To explain it to a user that do not understand it or refuse to understand it when I try to explain it so I want to point the user to a defination else where.

[tommykjensen]

Because you're spelling it wrong: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phishing

Nope its not that kind of phishing.

[fusion2]

Why not just put in your Terms of Use, no promoting of competitor websites or forums?

Technical Jargon only confuses most people. You need to write a TOS that is using 5th grade gramar, its easier to defend in court then using complicated words that many graduates dont know the meaning of.

Ie. Member Phishing allowed or No Promoting other Forum Websites allowed?

[Adrienne]

Do anybody have one or more links to a definition of the term "member fishing"? You know the activity where a forum administrator posts messages on other forums designed to "fish" members for his own forum.

Do you mean as in stealing members from other forums? I never heard of forums being in competition like that for members, since one should be able to belong to as many forums as they want. Unless you are talking about a fee-based membership. Is there such a thing? I am so confused.

[tommykjensen]

Technical Jargon only confuses most people. You need to write a TOS that is using 5th grade gramar, its easier to defend in court then using complicated words that many graduates dont know the meaning of.

Nah we are not going to talk down to members by using 5th grade language since the majority of members are adults.

In any case I only need the definition for one specific member. Since I have explained the term and he does not seem to understand I want to find a definition. I can't believe nobody have published a definition of this.

Do you mean as in stealing members from
other forums? I never heard of forums being in competition like that for members, since one should be able to belong to as many forums as they want. Unless you are talking about a fee-based membership. Is there such a thing? I am so confused.

Anybody can belong to any forums they wish yes.

What I am talking about is not about limiting that.

Example. Lets say I run a forum about vbulletin modifications like vbulletin.org. Then I goto vbulletin.org and post messages that suggest members there to go register on my forum. That activity is called fishing for members. And that is considered bad form.

[fusion2]

Nah we are not going to talk down to members by using 5th grade language since the majority of members are adults.

Its only a suggestion as most americans still only have a high school education and most companies (ie. even the fortune 500 companies i have worked for) write their company policies to the level of a 6th grade education.

Its not necessarily talking down to them, its basically doing what Apple does, making it comprehensive but very easily readable and understandable.

[Adrienne]

Nah we are not going to talk down to members by using 5th grade language since the majority of members are adults.

In any case I only need the definition for one specific member. Since I have explained the term and he does not seem to understand I want to find a definition. I can't believe nobody have published a definition of this.




Anybody can belong to any forums they wish yes.

What I am talking about is not about limiting that.

Example. Lets say I run a forum about vbulletin modifications like vbulletin.org. Then I goto vbulletin.org and post messages that suggest members there to go register on my forum. That activity is called fishing for members. And that is considered bad form.

Okay, I understand now, and I would agree that is poor form.
Thanks for the explanation.