Hello Venerina and Marion,
I'm going to try and post my reply to this topic and attempt to answer Marion's question at the same time.
Sadly Venerina, the posting issue reguarding people posting blatant advertising in forums still continues.
In my opinion, it is just proper courtesy and also shows a little respect towards the forum owner, to ask if it IS alright to post adevrtisements in forums other than your own.
As you so well put in the initial post, from what I've seen myself, when you try and delete posts that just don't relate to your topic, most of the time you also end up losing relevant post that follow which do follow the topic subject.
I know that Adland is primarily an Advertising Community, and advertising is to be expected, but there are methods already in place to allow members to be able to advertise programs, sites etc. without blatantly changing the topic flow.
It is found in your signature file. Here you can place links for your different "fields" and not have to worry about offending someone by posting off subject. These "signature files" may be added through your profile update. I'm sure many people have seen the "links below the poster's signature" in any of the forums here.
Forum owners take great care and put a good deal of time and effort into their forum in order to ensure that their information, content, and subject matter are accurate, precise, and understandable.
I myself find it not only dis-respectful, but sometimes down right offensive at some of the the materials that are being posted. Please, everyone, use a littile discretion and courtesy for forum owners when replting to posts. It could be you that's on the "recieving end"!
Reguarding your question Marion, (again this is only my opinion) If you keep getting these "invitations" to post in forums and you wish to, that should be your right. There may be instances where a forum you belong to, has had additional posts by different readers that you may wish to reply to (as in this post I'm making now)
Everything still boils down to this: Just being courteous and respecting the efforts of the forum owner.
Thank you for allowing me to jump on the "Soap-Box" here. If enough people start adopting these "guidlines" (for want of a better term), these problems should soon cease to exist.
Steven G. Reid