And if say, bonny (using bonny as random example) posted "Hey, I need some copy for my business" then someone could either email her, or post "Check out my site at Me.com and see if you think we would be a good fit"

Funny you should say this Erin, as it is a strong likelihood that I will be doing this in the very near future (are you reading my mail? Is there a camera in here?).

I would LOVE to have a list of all the stuff Buffistas offer so that I might take advantage of those offerings. I'd much rather see 'us' succeed than google some stranger.

I dunno. I would want it to be a pretty clear line, if it's something I'm going to have to enforce as a stompy.

And at that rate, why should it just be buffista business owners? Should every buffista be able to promote the products of her employer?

As originally described, I thought it would be for discussing business, but not directly tied to the businesses in question at all. I mean, I can give advice on incorporating a non-profit without you ever knowing which one is mine.

I've been very careful not to solicit donations here, but there are Buffistas who give. We find our way to the Buffista author books pretty easily without having to link to Powells' half price sales.

(are you reading my mail? Is there a camera in here?).

Yes, and yes, and you ass looks GREAT!

David, that's a pretty good summation of my thoughts.

I would LOVE to have a list of all the stuff Buffistas offer so that I might take advantage of those offerings. I'd much rather see 'us' succeed than google some stranger.

So much THIS.

ita, I honestly see spam as non-participatory in the conversation people just falling in and linking to their biz: Buy my stuff!

Yeah, that's my thinking as well.

As originally described, I thought it would be for discussing business, but not directly tied to the businesses in question at all.

This is where I am with it.

If everyone in the thread is promoting their own services, in whatever way, how does it not become a little sticky when more than one person is in the same type of business? Especially when you're talking about services that can be done remotely, it's not like saying, "Hey, in Toledo I know of a great stylist."

I see your point, Liese, on the stompiness. However, wouldn't the thread be pretty self-policing, and then a stompy would only have to step in if someone was WAY out of line and continued despite suggestions that their actions were de trop?

And that's an interesting point you make about businesses and non-profits. I'll have to mull that over for a bit.

Amy, I suppose we could limit it to watercooler talk, but if someone should come in and say "I need X; Bueller? Bueller?" then peeps could respomd via profile addy.

I mean, that's how it's gone down in the past and AFAIK, there's been no tension. I know I've emailed peeps and offered services after a plea and not been right for the job, and bear no one any animosity or resentment.

I didn't think of the thread as promoting anything, except for someone saying "Look at my new website" or "I've put up an Etsy store."

I would think actual business wouldn't be done in-thread, but in the course of conversation, of course the specific kinds of work people do could come up. So then if I'm looking for a dress designer, I might wonder who among us does that.

We find our way to the Buffista author books pretty easily without having to link to Powells' half price sales.

But we do have an affiliate link to a list of Buffista authors. So maybe somewhere between those two is where the line is? Metaphorically.