I am new to forum

**Najmul Saqib** · 19th September 17, 02:42 AM

Hi, Every one . Feeling happy to join people loving and much associated with kilts.

Najmul Saqib

**John_Carrick** · 19th September 17, 03:29 AM

Welcome Najmul from Ireland.
John

**Tarheel** · 19th September 17, 04:15 AM

Well met and welcome Najmul. Always good to have a new member here.

**Father Bill** · 19th September 17, 05:33 AM

Welcome to the "Great Rabble"!

**Tomak** · 19th September 17, 07:01 AM

Hello and welcome from Southern California.

**Steve Ashton** · 19th September 17, 09:15 AM

I am very sorry but it has become quite clear that the only reason this person joined last night was to advertise his business.

This is not an isolated case. Each and every time someone from the Pakistani business community joins, the story is the same. I was hoping when I took a chance approving his registration that this would be an exception. At least he did not lie and try to say that he was located in the US like so many others.

Over the course of four hours late last night, I tried to explain that X Marks operates differently than how he is used to operating in Pakistan and different from facebook. We have a longstanding policy, that all those who wish to advertise here, must meet all the other advertisers on an even playing field.

This person repeatedly inserted his company logo as his avatar and put advertising in his signature block. I sent him direct links to our advertising policy and to our policy on member profiles, graphics and signature blocks. I attached read receipts to my messages so I know that he opened them.

I tried to explain that this forum is different That this is not the place to shotgun with spam (the electronic version of junk-mail). That this forum is monitored and moderated. As soon as I logged off at 3:00am he again put his company logo up.

I would like the membership to know that this is not a case of someone just disappearing without notice or explanation. This is a spammer.

**Steve Ashton** · 19th September 17, 10:13 AM

Since I posted my last to this thread I have been informed by another member that this person may have attempted to contact members using the Personal Message (PM) system of the forum.

Using the membership resources of this forum as a pool to fish for prospects is a direct violation of our first forum rule.

If you received one of these unsolicited Personal Messages please accept my apologies. I honestly try to keep our home free from this sort of spam.

No Spam. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever!

**Tarheel** · 19th September 17, 10:14 AM

Thank you Steve (and all moderators) for your ever watching eyes.

**Steve Ashton** · 19th September 17, 11:38 AM

I know and understand that this may seem harsh to some. And it may seem that I am coming down on the Pakistani Companies.
Why should some company not be able to advertise if they want to. (Well, to answer that, they can apply to become advertisers just like anyone else. On condition that they act and agree to meet our other advertisers on a equal footing)

I actually have nothing against the Pakistani products. I fill they fill a niche. They sometimes are a guys first kilt. They are the tourist kilt. The Ren Faire kilt. The working wage in some of these countries is very low compared to in the west. They are able to make a product and sell it for far less than those of us who require a higher wage to feed our families and pay the bills. Many in the early days of X Marks asked when kilts would come down in price to the level of a pair of blue jeans. Well, this is that kilt. Made in the same part of the world where your blue jeans are made.

But the business practices in some of the countries are different than they are in the West. It is actually an accepted business practice to copy another companies product and try to get it to market before they do.
It is the little implications like calling your company "Scottish Kilts" or "UKilts". Like using the term P/V for any synthetic fabric. Like putting "Designed in Scotland" but not stating where the product is actually made on the tags.

It is not the products that I object to, it is the business practices. All of our other advertisers have agreed to deal with their customers in an honest and straightforward manner. That is why they are advertisers here.

When someone comes into our home and acts like they do on facebook, it is seen here in the West as showing disrespect to the honest businesses that do choose to advertise here.

I would allow a Pakistani company to join our advertisers if they would just take the time to learn how X Marks operates. Our advertisers are known first, not as the company they represent, but as individuals. Some of the best advice to our members comes from those who do this for a living. Most of our advertisers are active and participating kilt wearing members before they are representatives of their companies.

All I ask is that anyone who wishes to advertise their products does so by the same business standards.

**bodhran4me** · 19th September 17, 12:20 PM

Your house, your rules.

This in particular is a very fair rule and you took the time to educate this fellow as to the reasons for the rule . He choose to ignore your rules and is no longer here. Carry on.

Somebody who chooses not to follow rules in my house would quickly be shown the door.

Cheers!