You've changed the [question since it was first posted][1], I don't know which to address so I'll consider the revision that is latest at the [time of writing this][2]. > Is answering to a software recommendation request considered spam? No, it's not. Putting a bare link, however is considered as spam. If you don't believe we have a spam problem, [consider this post][3]. All spam answers follow the same routine: a bare link which often, but not always relates to the question. First off, the [question itself][4] was pretty bad fit for Super User and was on the lines of "why isn't this there?" if you want a model answer that would not have been spam flagged, [look at the other answer][5]. It is not immediately obvious you're not affiliated to the software(evident by the fact that it was spam flagged) and we've had people mention clearly they are not affiliated to the software they are recommending. That goes a long way, especially if you're new to a community. > What was so exceptional about my answer that a moderator had to intervene and delete it? Um, the fact that it was spam flagged and come upon the **Moderator's queue** of flagged posts? I'm not here looking at every post to see which post has to be [spam] flagged, I leave that to the Community. The fact that it was flagged and brought to my notice is what made me intervene. > Again, I'm not the author or proprietor and I don't get any benefits from the link. This isn't obvious from your answer. > The OP asks to recommend a software, so the answers essentially have to provide links. How exactly is my answer unsolicited? You read the software recommendation guide and haven't updated it per the guidelines mentioned there, sorry to say this is bound to happen. To your questions: 1. Already addressed above. 2. You weren't explicit enough in disclosing that you aren't the author. A newly registered user, posting a bare link as the first answer is enough to set off alarm bells. 3. Because it is not obvious there is no affiliation? > I know the definitions of good answer, good moderation and spam. Evidently, you don't - at least not with what is considered as a best answer and spam, at least wrt what the SU Community expects. > Nothing of it was present in this case. I disagree with this, if you consider you were unfairly acted upon, you're free to take it up with [Stack Exchange Community Managers][6] or other Moderators. ----- Side notes: 1. Even though it was flagged as spam, I did **not** accept the spam flag, primarily because you're a member elsewhere and have used the site long enough to get an association bonus. I considered the answer as a bad answer which you agree with: > It might have been a bad answer, but not spam. else you'd have been hit with a 100-rep penalty. I merely deleted the post 2. This post was not only spam flagged, it also appeared on the [low quality post review queue][7] where David Postill left a comment on your answer about tips on How to recommend a software, [which was not addressed][8] when I took action on the post. [1]: http://meta.superuser.com/posts/9667/revisions [2]: http://meta.superuser.com/revisions/9667/8 [3]: http://meta.superuser.com/q/9249/4377 [4]: http://superuser.com/q/965159/4377 [5]: http://superuser.com/a/965176/4377 [6]: http://meta.superuser.com/contact [7]: http://superuser.com/review/low-quality-posts/423336 [8]: https://i.sstatic.net/IM2ZE.png