Hello Hubpages team - anybody home?

1. 89

   GA Andersonposted 11 years ago

   Well, after numerous emails, (ok - three) and almost 2 weeks - no one has answered a team@hubpages email query
   
   anybody home?
   
   yes, I have checked spam folder, and I do get hubpages updates & notices - but no response from team?????
   
   So, I resort to a forum post in hopes some moderator will have pity and post a response
   
   problem 1. camping with kids ID has forum posting privileges suspended????? Why? No notice - no known infractions - hey I'm a nice guy, what's up?
   
   
   problem 2 - GA Anderson hub unpublished for having links to restricted websites, and being overly promotional - uhh.... only two outbound links - one is to an audio file for the sounds of the windchime featured, and the other is to ebay. I have asked for clarification so I know what to fix. Since I can find nothing that violates TOS
   
   GA

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   1. 86

      Marisa Wrightposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      How long is the suspension for?  If it's your first time, it's usually for only a few days?
      
      
      
      Look for the notice in the right-hand column and click on the question mark - it will tell you exactly which links are the problem.

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      1. 73

         relacheposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Although it should be noted that using a second account to circumvent being banned is clearly stated in the TOS as grounds for potentially being permanently banned (as in having your entire account(s) banned)

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         1. 68

            Appletreedealsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            @relache - why would you offer that warning/bit of information? Why would you make an assumption that that may be my purpose and intent?
            
            Nothing in my past history of posting, nor this topic, give any indication that my multiple ID's are an effort at circumventing any rules. All my ID's contain enough information to link to my main ID. They are simply different writings for different niches.
            
            Perhaps I am being overly sensitive, if so, then I am wrong, but your response does seem to be a bit cynical and condescending. Hubris is not an  attractive trait. I thanked you for your first response - but not for this one.
            
            GA

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            1. 73

               relacheposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               There have been many site members who have posted to the forums using one account to ask why another account had been banned (which you did in your initial post) when suddenly they were just gone, all Hubs unpublished. 
               
               http://hubpages.com/help/forum_rules
               
               
               I'm just letting you know what I've seen happen as a long-time site member.  You are free to ignore anything I say at any time but I just thought you might want to be aware of this because you didn't seem to be and I've seen things not go well for many people in the past.

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               1. 89

                  GA Andersonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  @relache - as I said, I may have been overly sensitive - since this was never my intent, it was not something I paid attention to.
                  
                  I generally post in the forums under GA Anderson, but I also post under the other ID's on appropriate topics for the ID exposure - not for sinister purposes - perhaps that is why I read your response as I did.
                  
                  but, bottom line, I am hopeful that HP still has the "human-touch" that I have experienced in the past, to understand that multiple ID postings are not necessarily attempts to circumvent their rules (which I have no reason to grouch about), but I do understand that many have used multiple ID's just for that purpose.
                  
                  Although only half of your six-year experience, my three-year experience on Hubpages at least means I am not a newbie. LOL - even if some my actions may look like it. ie. multiple ID postings. Since I wasn't trying to "get away with something" it did not occur to me I may be looking as if I were.
                  
                  GA

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                  1. 88

                     Cardisaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                     It could be your other account was restricted since you mentioned that you posted in the forums using both profiles. Persons with multiple accounts are only allowed to use one of them in the forums.
                     
                     And Relache is right. Persons are also not allowed to question forum bans in the forums whether it's their own or someone else's.

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                     1. 89

                        GA Andersonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                        @Cardisa - thanks for the response, but....
                        
                        you must have missed part of the thread. HP team has responded and said the suspension was merely because it was a multiple ID - not for any infractions, violations, or double-postings, ie. sock-puppet rants
                        
                        also, I must have missed the part where the ban on discussing bans was mentioned. Maybe I better go back and see where I missed Relache pointing that out. Or maybe you could quote it. It would be difficult for me to keep quiet if I were told I was not allowed to question something
                        
                        Also, again, note that all my ID's have the same avatar - a picture of me - and all my postings are signed with the same "GA" - so there is certainly no intent to hide behind anonymity or fool anyone, plus I accidentally posted on this very thread with two ID's - but I pointed it out myself. The only point I'm trying to make is that HP's TOS talks about multiple ID forum posting in the contect of the so-called "sock-puppet" negative activities.
                        
                        But thanks for the input anyway
                        
                        GA

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                        1. 88

                           Cardisaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                           I realized afterward that the posts were numerous and didn't read them all. I was following what Relache said because she is usually right. I am glad you got a response,  I hope everything is okay now.

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      2. 68

         Appletreedealsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         @Marisa - thanks for the response
         
         1) don't know how long the suspension is for. Did not know camping with kids was suspended until I tried to respond to a post. That ID was never confrontational or controversial. And I never received any notice of a problem or the suspension.
         
         2)guess I don't understand - in non-edit mode there is no right sidebar - so notice notice details or question marks - and there are no question marks to click in the violations header. In edit mode the only sidebar question marks are for specific topic help - which does not include the violations specifics. Unless I am missing something - but I double-checked your advice before this response.
         
         Thanks for your effort to help
         
         GA

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         1. 86

            Marisa Wrightposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            In that case, I can only suggest emailing them again. Make sure you explain that you didn't receive an email and ask them to tell you how long the suspension is for.  That's more important than worrying about the reason! 
            
            I do know you're not allowed to participate in any forum using more than one profile - maybe you posted in a forum as camping and as one of your other accounts by mistake? 
            
            
            
            I don't have one with violations right now so I can't check - maybe I'm wrong. However in edit mode, you will see a message somewhere about the violation.  If the message says there are prohibited links, there will be somewhere you can click, and the message will expand to give you more info which includes the specific link.  That's been my experience every time I've had a problem link.

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            1. 68

               Appletreedealsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Greetings again Marisa
               
               That is an understandable point about posting with multiple ID's on the same topic. But that is not the case here. After the first failed attempt to post, I picked random topics - same result.
               
               Hopefully it is only a glitch - but to me, the reason is important. Obviously I can post with other accounts, my issue is with such an innocent account - camping with kids is obviously a kids-oriented ID, so there is no upside to a confrontational stance - hence, why the suspension?
               
               ps. now I am even more concerned. In double checking your advice - I still could not find what you suggest - but clicking on the violations links did provide a little more info - not specifics - but that the prohibited links was based on human review - mow I am really puzzled. As I said only two links one to ebay and one to an audio file of the featured windchime.
               
               But thanks for your responses.
               
               GA

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               1. 86

                  Marisa Wrightposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  Oops, didn't explain myself well.  There is nothing to prevent you posting with multiple ID's on the same topic.  But you're not supposed to do it, and if you do, it can be taken as a sign one of those ID's is acting as a sock-puppet.   Which could lead to that ID being suspended from all forum participation.  It's just a theory.
                  
                  
                  
                  That's strange, because I've had several such warnings and the links were always specified.  Is the warning definitely about prohibited links, and not a more general warning (i.e. is prohibited links just one of the possibilities mentioned?).

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                  1. 89

                     GA Andersonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                     It's my oops this time - the warning was for "unrelated links or products" but still there are none that I can find.
                     
                     I'll give it a couple more days - then email team again
                     
                     GA

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                     1. 86

                        Marisa Wrightposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                        In that case, it's probably not a link.  Maybe the wording in the eBay capsule was pulling up unrelated stuff?
                        
                        Just checking - you don't have a RSS feed of "latest Hubs" on the Hub, do you?

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   2. 0

      kimberlyslyricsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Sorry for your frustration, truthfully I rarely get replies despite the nature of my email, I gave up trying

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      1. 89

         GA Andersonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         thanks for the response kimberlyslyrics - but my past experience with HP team has been excellent. Responses have been realistically prompt, and reasonably just.
         
         Although it may just be my angst because I disagree with their rational this time, but I believe my that, regarding these last two issues, they are wrong, and the rules/restrictions have been misapplied.
         
         GA

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2. 73

   relacheposted 11 years ago

   Just FYI, admin never discusses private account matters in the public forums (especially if you are asking about a user who is someone other than yourself), so neither of your questions are going to be answered here.

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   1. 89

      GA Andersonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for your FYI Relache, and you are probably right, perhaps my frustration overruled common sense, but team response has been so reliable in the past, never a 2 week lack of response - but maybe it will warrant some type of team notice - Guess I'll send a couple more team emails.
      
      patience is a virtue - I'll try to be more virtuous.
      
      GA

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3. 89

   GA Andersonposted 11 years ago

   Well, Team finally responded. I will not vent, ( too much), because I have a feeling the team responses indicate "....resistance is futile"
   
   First, the suspended ID - it was suspended merely because it was one of multiple ID's - not for any infraction or misbehavior - just because it was a multiple ID - then why allow multiple accounts? Isn't that punishment without a crime?
   
   Well, when HP changed to sub-domains, they were practically endorsing multiple accounts for niche writers, and HP still allows multiple accounts - so now this policy restricts any community exposure for that ID. Oh well, I should have seen it coming. It is what it is and I will adapt, but not with that ID, which was bringing moderate traffic to HP (and me of course) - it wasn't a big earner, but not a loser either, and it was growing in aged traffic. But now it will stay just as it is and drift with the current.
   
   
   Secondly, the unpublished hub, here is team's reasoning:
   
   "Hello,
   
   Your Hub is overly promotional because it is a promotional flyer selling wind chimes. The unrelated link in your Hub is the link to your profile page which contains Hubs that are not related to wind chimes."
   -------------------------------
   
   Well, yes it is an ebay sales hub. But, the ebay listings were within the limits allowed by HP - so sales hubs are now "promotional flyers?"
   
   And the unrelated link was to my profile!!!!!! by those standards you can only write on ONE topic if you want to include an author's link - gee, sounds like a reason for multiple ID's
   
   I guess an author's resource box (capsule) is a no-no now.
   
   Of course it just may be me, and my unreasonable expectations, so I will try to understand that HP knows best - and save my vexation for of the keyboard time.
   
   GA

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      WryLiltposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Unrelated author resource boxes have always been a no in my experience... If it has too much info and is on all your hubs it can also count as duplicate content.

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         GA Andersonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks for the response Wrylit
         
         But... I always saw author resource links as a type of by-line. Almost every article you read anywhere includes by-lines, although the trend seems to be linkage to Google+ or facebook profiles, HP designed their profile pages, and it is HP that lists the hubs on it - so my thoughts are that a "by-line/resource box are not "unrelated" content.
         
         When a profile is visited, the first thing a viewer sees is a bio of the author (yes I know some, (including myself, include highlighted linkage to special categories of interest), - then comes HP's listing of all the hubbers writings.
         
         Now should the resource box/linkage direct a viewer to a totally unrelated content I would agree with this apparently new logic. ie. a hub on bicycles with an author's resource link to his writings on tomatoes. But I don't see an author's link to his profile as that type of link.
         
         Of course, it does appear obvious that I am mistaken.
         
         GA

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   2. 86

      Marisa Wrightposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I wonder if there's a new moderator about?  It will be interesting to see if more Hubbers start to see their sales Hubs being unpublished.
      
      
      I've never tried to include an author's link, since the box at the top of the Hub has a link to our profile anyway.  I posted on another thread that I feel HubPages is trying to de-emphasize us as individuals running our own sub-domains (which was just a ploy to recover from Panda), and get us back to being content writers for one big HubPages magazine.  Not allowing an author link make sense in that context, just like not allowing RSS feeds of our best or latest Hubs.

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      1. 89

         GA Andersonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Glad you mentioned that Marisa - It was a thought that occurred to me - but I had the concern that it would sound like "sour grapes" coming from me
         
         
         
         Yes, I can see your side of this view - however, I have always used an "About the Author" capsule at the end of an article. I view it similar to impulse marketing - sure an impressed reader might go back to the top of the article to find out more about an author - but an author's link right where they finish reading makes it easy for them to follow the impulse to find out more about the author without having to make an additional effort to find a link to do that.
         
         Most troubling is that it appears that unless you only write on ONE topic - an author's link is no longer an acceptable option. hmmm, again, niche' markets and multiple ID's....
         
         GA

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4. 86

   Marisa Wrightposted 11 years ago

   GA, I suggest you start a new thread asking, "are multiple accounts no longer allowed?" and pointing out that you've had one account suspended solely because it's one of several.  Maybe try posting it in one of the staff-monitored forums.
   
   It's an important question which could affect several other Hubbers - and you deserve an answer too.

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5. 66

   2uesdayposted 11 years ago

   From FAQs - last sentence.
   
   Can I have multiple HubPages accounts?
   You may have more than one account, as long as they are used in the spirit of contribution to the community. Creating large numbers of accounts for solely promotional purposes may result in all of them being banned. Creating Hubs about the same or very similar subjects in different accounts is also prohibited. Please stick to a persona in the Forums; using more the one account to post in the same Forum thread is not allowed.
   
   I knew I had read this in the past when I needed the info.
   Of course if they were not in the same forum thread then it may not be relevant.

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   1. 89

      GA Andersonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      @2uesday - thanks for taking the time to comment
      
      I have perused that FAQ response - and I believe I was in full compliance with both the spirit and the letter of HP's TOS
      
      Each of my ID's are niche'-specific, ie. camping with kids only writes about camping issues, etc. etc. AND none of my ID's have ever been warned, notified, or sanctioned for violations or misbehavior.
      
      I understand the so-called "sock puppet" issue - but I can only see that as being addressed on a case-by-case review
      
      Each ID was only used to participate in relevant forums - and never more than one per topic thread - (unless of course I forgot who I was logged in as - then I corrected the posting)
      
      So, bottom line still seems to be that HP is now frowning on multiple ID's - even though their new sub-domain author identification seems to indicate the benefits to both HP and niche' authors.
      
      GA

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6. 89

   GA Andersonposted 11 years ago

   well, with all this hoopla - I just caught myself posting to this thread with two ID's - forgot I had logged out to confirm and  check that unpublished hub, then signed on again with my "active" forums ID - oh well - I still think intent should matter.
   
   But, on the plus side - after suspending one ID, HP just awarded me the "Great hubpages Citizen" accolade for being so helpful to HP and the community.....
   
   " Hi GA Anderson,
   
   You have just been awarded the Great HubPages Citizen Accolade. This means that you contribute to the community by doing things like helping people out in the Forums, voting Hubs up and down, and flagging inappropriate content for our moderators..."
   
   Geez Louise...
   
   GA

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