Simply, I think the method that has worked here for several years now is best left alone.

Personally I am fine with either decision. It doesn't matter to me; except that for almost a decade, posting freebies freely and without unnecessary hoops, has provided new and saged makers a venue for relaxation, inspiration, education and enjoyment. It isn't appropriate to impose policy that is invasive without valid purpose.

If this is "for the artist", it is inappropriate and condescending to presume to tell them what you have envisioned is best for them. If this is actually for "the company", to encourage marketplace traffic, it isn't going to work and will just turn the forum into a dust bowl like the other dormant forums. The need for a central spot is a fictional one.

While I am sure much of what has been said sounds plausible, it just keeps ringing insincere. While I appreciate your role is a diplomatic one, and while I realize this is a private store site with private staff and moderators, I hope truly sincere consideration is taken in respects to the bigger picture. For once the damage is done, it may be unrepairable for this site. Employees can always just move on to other jobs while community members are left with the impact.

Providing the option of a freebie forum is quite different that forcing the use of a freebie forum.
 
It would be a shame to discourage the authors/creators of freebies, while simple loopholes exist like just having someone else post it or starting a "what hairstyle is this" threads and other loopholes that make these governing policies pointless from the day they are instated.

They just don't work. You have rules and trolling and those don't get enforced either so why both making new policies. Regardless, your site.  Your rules. Will be interesting to see the final decision and how it differs from the original policy.

-Anton, creator of Apollo Maximus
"Conviction without truth is denial; Denial in the face of truth is concealment."

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