rec.arts.comics.*

FAQ: Ads and Auctions on the Comics Newsgroups

Adapted from the REC.ARTS.COMICS/REC.ARTS.COMICS.MISC FAQ 
Version 1.1--June 6, 2002 

By Carl Henderson 
Updated by Karl Hiller 
Based on original FAQs by Francis Uy, Tom Galloway, Paul Estin, et al. 


1: WHERE CAN I POST ADS, AUCTION ANNOUNCEMENTS, OR WANT-TO-BUY NOTICES IN
THE REC.ARTS.COMICS.HIERARCHY?

The only place for such posts is in rec.arts.comics.marketplace.
RAC.marketplace is a newsgroup created for the purpose of for buying and
selling comics and comic-related items. 

In other words, RAC.marketplace is where your customers are. If you want to
reach them; post there. However, ads posted to other RAC newsgroups can
only serve to annoy potential customers--and you probably don't want to do
that.

All other RAC newsgroups are discussion-only groups; "for sale," "want to
buy," and "for auction" posts are off-topic in those groups--and most
likely a violation of your ISP's subscriber agreement. 


2: WHAT ARE SOME POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF NOT FOLLOWING THESE POSTING RULES?

Almost without exception, every legitimate ISP requires its users to abide
by a "Terms of Service Agreement" (ToS) or "Acceptable Use Policy" (AUP)
that forbids off-topic commercial posts to Usenet newsgroups. 

Depending on one's ISP, complaints about off-topic commercial postings can
result in actions ranging from a warning, to an immediate termination of
one's account. Some ISPs will even bill you for the time it takes them to
respond to such complaints (check your ToS/AUP--such clauses are becoming
increasingly more common).

While a lost account may seem like a minor inconvenience, if you have ads
posted or active auctions that use that email address as a point of
contact, it will quickly cost you sales--and money. Sales will be lost as
inquiries and order directed to your now-inactive account bounce. If you've
set up auctions with that email address, you probably find yourself unable
to access them.

You can also lose your eBay account, as stated in eBay's Usenet Policy: 

     eBay users may not post on Usenet groups (Internet 
     newsgroups) to advertise eBay or an eBay listing 
     that is inappropriate or violates the Usenet board 
     policy. If Usenet abuse is reported to eBay, we 
     may among other remedies) remove the listing, issue 
     a warning, temporarily suspend or indefinitely suspend 
     the offender's eBay account. We have no 
     tolerance for UseNet abuse and will take action as 
     appropriate. 


3: WHERE DID ALL THESE RULES COME FROM? AND WHY SHOULD I PAY ATTENTION?

The rec.arts.comics (RAC) newsgroups have been around an awfully long time.
They were created in the very early 80's under the name net.comics. The
rules were chosen by consensus and approved by a 2/3rds-majority vote. One
reason the RAC groups are successful is because most people here play by
the rules, and post to the correct group. 


4: WHAT IS A SPAMMER? AND WHY DO SOME PEOPLE GET SO UPSET WHEN AN AD
APPEARS OUTSIDE OF RAC.marketplace?

On Usenet, "spammer" usually a person who posts ads to inappropriate
newsgroups. These inappropriate posts are called "spam" after a famous
Monty Python skit, where the singing of "The Spam Song" drowned out any
other conversation in the skit. While "spam" originally referred only to
messages mass-posted (or mass-crossposted) to a certain critical threshold
number of newsgroups, over time the word has come to be used for any
inappropriate (usually) commercial posting. 

In the RAC hierarchy, the only appropriate place for ads is on
rec.arts.comics.marketplace. Although some spammers may have political or
religious agendas they are promoting with their spams, most are just trying
to sell you something. You shouldn't buy from them. Here's why:

Spammers steal others' computer and network resources to send out their
ads, and in doing so, nearly always violate a contractual agreement they
entered in to. Every legitimate ISP has a terms of service
policy/subscriber agreement prohibiting the posting of "for sale" posts to
inappropriate newsgroups. Clean up after spammers costs ISPs and backbone
providers tens of millions of dollars every year. And much of that cost
gets passed on to subscribers like us. Furthermore, many spammers sign up
for accounts--intending up front--to violate the contract they sign, and
leave the ISP on the hook for the costs of their spams. 

By their actions, spammers are thieves and liars. If they will not honor
their agreements with their ISPs, why should you expect they would honor
any agreement they make with you?

Don't be fooled by their attempts at self-justification. Spammers are not
practicing free speech; they are practicing stolen speech.


5: WHAT IS A "HYPE:" POST, AND WHEN CAN I MAKE ONE?

Although--in general--ads on RAC newsgroups (except in RAC.marketplace) are
prohibited, there is one exception--"HYPE:" posts. The general consensus of
the RAC community is that HYPE: posts are not spam, as long as they are:
1) properly labeled with the "HYPE:" keyword, 
2) posted by--or on behalf of--one of the creators of the comic 
   being promoted, and
3) intended as general promotion for a comic ("HYPE:" posts may not 
   be used for selling individual copies of such comics. Posts 
   directly offering comics for sale--whether by one of the creators 
   of the comic or not--are restricted to RAC.marketplace), 
4) not posted in excess (no more than a few posts for any specific
   project), and
5) the comic being hyped is otherwise on-topic for the group(s) it 
   is being promoted in.


6: WHAT IS THE OFFICIAL CHARTER FOR RAC.marketplace?

RAC.marketplace Charter:
     rec.arts.comics.marketplace shall be a forum for the exchange 
     of comics and comic related items, and is intended to move the 
     forsale and wanted ads out of rec.arts.comics. As well, by 
     moving this same traffic from rec.collecting, the entire 
     subject area will become better centralized. The content of 
     this group will include for sale ads, wanted to buy notices 
     and free give aways. This newsgroup shall be for personal ads 
     only, not commercial advertisements.


7: WHAT ARE THE OTHER REC.ARTS.COMICS NEWSGROUPS FOR? WHERE CAN I FIND
THEIR CHARTERS?

You can find the charters for various RAC newsgroups in the RAC/RACM FAQ 
or in Kate the Short's archive at:
     http://www.enteract.com/~katew/faqs/

Below are brief descriptions of the various RAC newsgroups. They are
intended as general guidelines. For more complete and authoritative
information, see either the newsgroup charters (below), individual group
FAQs, or the RAC FAQ, "A Guide to Posting on Rec.Arts.Comics.*" 

"A Guide to Posting on Rec.Arts.Comics.*" was originally written by
Jonathon Tuttle and Mike Chary, and is currently maintained by Andrew Black
(ablack@mediawave.com.au). It is posted regularly to most RAC newsgroups
and can also be found on the web at:
     http://www.enteract.com/~katew/faqs/guidefaq.htm

rec.arts.comics.creative--Original written works in the "comic book" style.
This group is not a place for fan fiction using trademarked/copyrighted
character, or for posting comic art.

rec.arts.comics.dc.lsh--Discussion of DC's Legion of Superheroes books and
characters.

rec.arts.comics.dc.universe-Discussions of DC universe books and
characters. Specifically excludes Vertigo and Legion topics.
 
rec.arts.comics.dc.vertigo--Discussions of books and characters published
under DC's Vertigo imprint. 

rec.arts.comics.elfquest--Discussions about the world and characters of
Elfquest comics.

rec.arts.comics.info--Moderated group for announcements, news, and FAQs.

rec.arts.comics.marketplace--The ONLY place in the RAC* hierarchy for
buying, selling, and auctioning comics. Ads are off-topic everywhere else.

rec.arts.comics.marvel.universe--Discussions of Marvel universe books and
chaRACters. Specifically excludes X-Men and related books. 

rec.arts.comics.marvel.xbooks--Discussions of the X-Men and related comics
from Marvel's mutant "sub-universe."

rec.arts.comics.misc--Everything else. Anything that doesn't fall under
another RAC* newsgroup's charter.

rec.arts.comics.reviews--Moderated group for reviews of comics, and related
subjects.

rec.arts.comics.strips--Discussions of comic strips, editorial cartoons,
and single-panel cartoons.

You are Web-Counter visitor since 9/01/97.
URL: http://users.rcn.com/kateshort/faqs/noads.htm
Last updated: 2004-01-19