Clarifying links to other sites

[Bartman]

Yes, the internet is a wonderful place. Yes, you are all free to go wherever you'd like. I don't claim to operate the only multi-rotor themed website and nobody is chained to this website.

But, if there's a conversation going on about a particular topic, it is generally considered offensive when people post a simple link to another site as if to draw the conversation away to the other site. This is trolling and is typically discouraged on internet forums sites. If you have a link, even if it's to another forums site, and if it contributes to the active conversation being conducted here, then go ahead and post the link.

I limit advertising because I want the site to be a multi-rotor forums site and not an advertising medium that takes advantage of your enthusiasm for multi-rotor helicopters. There's a difference even if it is subtle. If we're going to treat this site like any other site full of malcontents and opportunists then I'll load up the margins with ads and get while the getting is good.

That's my rant for the evening. Thanks for reading.

Bart

 

[jforkner]

Can you provide an example of both an offensive link & a non-offensive link. Not sure I'm getting the gist of this post.

Thanks.


Jack

 

[Bartman]

Jack,

Say you came across a conversation and knew of a link that would help......so you post.

"go here and they'll explain it to you. LINK"


that pulls the conversation from this site and redirects it to another site.

there are plenty of good examples of people posting to a conversation without interrupting the discussion while also providing a helpful link.

usually the people that do the first technique are trying to redirect traffic to their site which is what makes it more offensive.

 

[jforkner]

At the risk of creating a contentious thread, I'm still confused. For example...

I just posted in a thread about tilt/shift camera lenses. I responded to the OP, and provided a link to a tutorial on how to achieve the look using Photoshop. Clearly, going to the other site drew the conversation away from the original thread, but posting the entire content of the tutorial in my post was ridiculous. In trying to help the OP achieve his goal, it seems like one has to redirect sometimes, especially if the answer/solution is lengthy and already provided elsewhere.

I guess I'm not understanding the concern of sending someone to another site for information. Are you concerned they won't come back here and the site will dry up? I don't think so. Threads get sidetracked all the time. Sometimes for good reason; sometimes not. Every time someone posts a link in a post; that, by definition, redirects the reader elsewhere---sometimes another thread on this site; often to another site.

It seems unreasonable to expect posters to not post a link to another site at some point. Further, you now have posters questioning whether or not they can even post a link. I believe some clarity on this matter is needed. If you could provide an actual post where someone posted a link with the sole purpose of relocating readers from this site to another, that may help me.


Jack

 

[ChrisViperM]

I hope I see it right in this way: This (and every other forum) is financed by advertising, and the price you can ask for any company to advertise on your forum depends a lot on traffic...I guess it doesn't matter what links you post, as long as it is helping to solve a specific problem (pan/tilt for example) and as long you are not drawing benefits from the link you posted (in terms of re-directing traffic) from this forum to somewhere else, there should not be a problem. I think it's easy to see (at least for the guys running this forum) if someone just want to be helpful or someone was just placing a "honey-pot" to attract more traffic at another place.

Chris

 

[jforkner]

But this is an information site, not a retail one. If a MR vendor has a new product, how do you reference it? Sorry, I'm not getting the concern.


Jack

 

[Bartman]

........ I think it's easy to see (at least for the guys running this forum) if someone just want to be helpful or someone was just placing a "honey-pot" to attract more traffic at another place.

Chris

thanks Chris. It's usually the operator of another site trying to draw traffic away.

I openly welcome links to other sites, I've never protested except when it's obvious trolling.

 

[ChrisViperM]

That's how you identify a Troll:






Would be good to have a good supply of this in stock:

 

[R_Lefebvre]

But this is an information site, not a retail one. If a MR vendor has a new product, how do you reference it? Sorry, I'm not getting the concern.


Jack

I don't think that's a problem, if I'm understand correctly.

What I think he doesn't want is this:

Dude: "Hey, how do I solve this problem?"
Owner of MultiCopterForums: "We already solved this here: www.multicopterforums.com"

A response of:

Dude2: "MultiCopterWidgets.com has exactly the part you need: link"

That would be cool.

yeah?

 

[Bartman]

I don't think that's a problem, if I'm understand correctly.

What I think he doesn't want is this:

Dude: "Hey, how do I solve this problem?"
Owner of MultiCopterForums: "We already solved this here: www.multicopterforums.com"

A response of:

Dude2: "MultiCopterWidgets.com has exactly the part you need: link"

That would be cool.

yeah?

that's basically correct, yes. thanks.

 

[jforkner]

that's basically correct, yes. thanks.

Okay, so a poster can link to another site as long as it's not another multicopter forum site? Is that the rule?

Sorry to be so dense, but I really don't understand what this is about or how to apply it? Originally Bart stated, "...I get offended when people post a simple link to another site as if to draw the conversation away to the other site. This is trolling and is typically discouraged on internet forums sites." And, "...that pulls the conversation from this site and redirects it to another site."

According to Wikipedia, "In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as a forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response[SUP][/SUP] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.[SUP][/SUP]" Posting a link to another site doesn't appear to do this; unless, I suppose, the other site had nothing at all to do with MCs, their components, and/or their processes (e.g., photography). Offering information about a problem by pointing someone to another forum that already solved the problem, for example, doesn't appear to me to be inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic. Nor does it, in and of itself, provoke an emotional response. It simply shares knowledge within a given community.

Perhaps I'm naive here, but is there some sort of forum competition going on I don't know about? Or is this about something else entirely; just not being clearly stated? I visit and participate an a number of forums on a variety of topics, and have never encountered direction like what I see being advocated here. I know what trolling is, and don't see the suggestions made here as that; there's something else going on.


Jack

 

[Bartman]

Okay, so a poster can link to another site as long as it's not another multicopter forum site? Is that the rule?

Sorry to be so dense, but I really don't understand what this is about or how to apply it? Originally Bart stated, "...I get offended when people post a simple link to another site as if to draw the conversation away to the other site. This is trolling and is typically discouraged on internet forums sites." And, "...that pulls the conversation from this site and redirects it to another site."

According to Wikipedia, "In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as a forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion." Posting a link to another site doesn't appear to do this; unless, I suppose, the other site had nothing at all to do with MCs, their components, and/or their processes (e.g., photography). Offering information about a problem by pointing someone to another forum that already solved the problem, for example, doesn't appear to me to be inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic. Nor does it, in and of itself, provoke an emotional response. It simply shares knowledge within a given community.

Perhaps I'm naive here, but is there some sort of forum competition going on I don't know about? Or is this about something else entirely; just not being clearly stated? I visit and participate an a number of forums on a variety of topics, and have never encountered direction like what I see being advocated here. I know what trolling is, and don't see the suggestions made here as that; there's something else going on.


Jack

Jack,

Feel free to post whatever you want and link to wherever you want. I'm not after anybody in particular, there was a thread that went bad and I just wanted to let off some steam. You're not really a part of the problem so just do whatever you would normally do.

Thanks,
Bart

 

[ksrimoungchanh]

what the hell.. got "rick rolled"..

 

[jforkner]

Jack,

Feel free to post whatever you want and link to wherever you want. I'm not after anybody in particular, there was a thread that went bad and I just wanted to let off some steam. You're not really a part of the problem so just do whatever you would normally do.

Thanks,
Bart

Thanks, Bart. Kinda thought that. I think I know the thread.

Works for me. Peace.


Jack