BirdTalk and Commercialism: What Are We Willing to Accept?

[MHW <pooder at xmission dot com>]

Fellow Birders:

While the past few e-mails in this forum have been on the subject of 
commercialism and Utahbirds.org, I would like to take this opportunity 
to add my two cents on this budding topic of discussion.

In response to a fellow birder's question of what to do with some old 
rolled oats, Mr. Fenimore, of the Wild Bird Center in Layton, encourages 
a visit to his store and offers free seed.  "Jack" has responded that he 
thought BirdTalk did not allow commercialism and indicates that if it 
does he would like a piece of the action too.  At least Jack has not 
publicized his business association.  I have no idea if Jack is engaged 
in commercial enterprise vis-a-vis birding, and that seems appropriate.  
Mr. Fenimore responds to Jack that he does not see his offer of free 
seed and literature as commercial, at least from his point of view.  
He's just trying to help a fellow birder enjoy the birds.

Why is Mr. Fenimore giving away free seed?  Is it because he's a nice 
guy just trying to help out fellow birders?  Or is it a way to get 
people in to his store?  It seems to me to be an inducement to visit his 
store in particular.  While visiting, the natural impulse to buy 
something may well takeover and voila a sale.  Yes, it is appropriate to 
offer a fellow birder advice and share information.  That is what 
BirdTalk is for.  As a non-profit, BirdTalk is not in the business of 
providing a forum for selling stuff.  It is in the business of providing 
a forum to share information on birding per se.  So while Mr. Fenimore 
may not want to see his advice as a commercial pitch to visit his store 
and ultimately buy some product, it seems to me to be at least bordering 
on commercial advertising.  And if that is allowed, then how about 
providing space to the Wild Bird Center at Creekside Plaza, by the 
Cottonwood Mall?  And how about all the others who might have products 
that us birders might want to purchase?  Shall we invite or allow them 
to advertise here too? 

A better way to handle such an informational offer in a non-profit 
setting such as this would be to list all of the stores along the 
Wasatch Front from which one can purchase seed for birds, obtain the 
latest bird books, binoculars, bird feeders, etc.  A variation would be 
to provide a page of links or a short listing of such retail outlets on 
the main www.utahbirds.org web page under the already existing page 
titled "Birding Resources."  (See: 
http://www.utahbirds.org/LinksProducts.html)

I for one, would like to see no commercial advertising here at 
BirdTalk.  I suggest that Mr. Fenimore sign his e-mails simply as "Bill 
Fenimore."  To include the remainder of his e-mail signature (Wild Bird 
Center, 1860 North 1000 West...) clearly provides a commercial 
association and is a form of unpaid advertising.  If Mr. Fenimore knows 
through experience or has it on good advice that birds don't like rolled 
oats, then great, please share that information with us.  His 
association with the Wild Bird Center franchise may lend him some degree 
of credibility regarding knowing what foods birds like.  It is a fine 
line between such credibility and commercialism though.  Since we live 
in a world where in we are bombarded daily with commercialism, I would 
hope that we could keep BirdTalk as non-commercial as possible.  Let's 
share our love for birding and leave the commercialism out.

I suggest it is time for the Webmaster to chime in and provide some 
guidance on what is acceptable in this wonderful and most appreciated forum

Happy birding to all.

Matthew.


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