Is it beneficial to leave more than a link?

[ronocnikral]

On other online forums that I participate in it is considered rude and inconsiderate to simply leave just a link to open a thread or in response to a posting. The reasoning is:

1) leaving a "blind" link can be considered to lead to a website selling canadian drugs, porn etc. or even something that may not be approriate for where a person is surfing the forum (e.g. work, library).
2) as we all spend time to contribute as best we can and go through many posts a day, leaving a quote or two from the article (and perhaps a question) helps many to be more efficent in their posting.
3) it is nice to see a specific reason why a link is pertinent to the community. Just posting simply a link, what are we to talk about? the author? the writing stlye? picture number #2 in the aritcle? paragraph 3, sentence 4? All of it? Especially as a person initiating a thread, it benefits everyone to focus the discussion.

Just simply a suggestion to help stimulate condusive discussion here.

Happy posting.

[groovyone]

I am sure I am occasionally guilty of blind linking, but I try and summarize or post my thoughts on it on most occasions. Sometimes I post the link as I am reading, and add my thoughts as I go.

[ronocnikral]

not calling anyone out, just hoping to make this a better place. no need to make a confession at the pulpit - as we are probably all guilty of something at one time or another.

the main question is: does it benefit the community to leave more than just a link in a post?

[groovyone]

No problem, just using myself as an example.

[Kalrog]

Unless the link title is very self explanatory and from a source I trust, I won't click on a link without an explanation being there.

[TheFantasticG]

Originally Posted by ronocnikral

1) leaving a "blind" link can be considered to lead to a website selling canadian drugs, porn etc. or even something that may not be approriate for where a person is surfing the forum (e.g. work, library).

You say that like Canadian drugs and porn are a bad thing

[Sonny]

Someone calling me out?

[JustAnotherGinger]

Sonny your links are awesome though. Always informative.

Everyone takes a risk, just by being on the internet. It's your choice to click the link or not. I have seen plenty of links start long discussions. When leaving a link as a response...it could simply be someone avoiding repeating themselves for the umpteenth time, or someone has already said what the user wants to say, and can't put it together.

I think that the mods are around enough to monitor the content of the links. Of course this is my opinion....take it how you will :)

[Sonny]

I forgot to add my smiley face to show I was joking around.

Thank you Stephene!

[crazeazn]

the links sonny sends me are of n00dz

[Tom]

Originally Posted by ronocnikral

not calling anyone out, just hoping to make this a better place. no need to make a confession at the pulpit - as we are probably all guilty of something at one time or another.

the main question is: does it benefit the community to leave more than just a link in a post?

I agree. I usually try to write a couple sentences because otherwise, no one else will write anything. A naked link usually generates click throughs, but not discussion on the subject. A little discussion is a lot more beneficial than just directing someone away from Pixtus.

[ggeen]

Good question. If a post contains just a blind link I WILL NOT follow it and back out of the thread. There are too many scammers out there for me to following links blindly.

Additionally, if it is not worth someones time to summarize the article within the link why should I bother to read it? I'm sure I may miss something of interest. It obviously was not interesting enough for the poster to summarize, now was it?

Even if the summary is something like, good article of creative use of depth of field. That would give me an indication of the article topic and whether I am interested in that topic this very moment.

[Abel]

you can simply post the title of the article or even include a small one or two line snippet of the article in quote tags

example snippet placed here.....