posting links to other forums / sites

Messages
1,456
Location
Central (upstate) NY
Let's say someone asked a question here and I found a different forum that answered the question. First, is it ok to post a link to that other forum thread?

Assuming that it is, let us then say that the other forum (or even a non-forum site) is, ah, not quite as politically correct / family friendly as FWW here is trying to be. Is it still ok to post the link? Would a "not family friendly" warning be recommended?

Thanks!
 
My understanding, which is open to correction if appropriate, is that links to other forums are OK. I think it would be a shame if all you did towards the discussion was post the link but if it was included as a part of a wider answer then it works for me.

I would not personally include a link to any forum where I thought that the content was out of keeping with the style of FW and if I followed one that led to an area which clearly went outside our CoC then I would report it for moderator review. Basically if I thought that the content elsewhere warranted a health warning then I personally wouldn't link to it.

The relevant section of the CofC appears to be -
"Links to other websites are allowed in posts, but you are expected to use good judgment in posting external links, and be aware that links to objectionable sites or material will be subject to removal."
 
Mark,

You can always include a "PM me for the address" note in your post, if you feel the content doesn't quite fit within the CoC.

This could even be for a few jokes you found that are funny, but "a little on the trashy side....":eek:

:rofl::rofl::rofl:
 
Ok, so, if on the one hand the place that I got the info does not itself adhere to something similar to the CoC and on the other hand, I don't feel right about not giving credit where credit is due (academic speak: not properly citing sources) I should either not make a reply post, make a post vague enough that it would take a bit of work to find the site from a search (i.e. I Googled +X Y "Z-AB") with a disclaimer that the search result, while informative, did not adhere to FWW CoC or either post to the op as a pm with either the link with disclaimer or a pm saying I found something but the site doesn't follow FWW CoC, do you want the addy?

I hope it doesn't seem like I'm beating a dead horse here, but IP (intellectual property) is one of my little quirky things that I like to be as proper as possible about - this probably is a result of reading, nay, studying too many non-disclosure agreements during my career to date as a chemist.
 
Mark,

I don't think you are beating a dead horse as much as not being specific about what type of sites you think you might not be able to post a link to.

It might be helpful if you send a few links to a Mod so we could see what you are concerned about. My take is that you can easily post a thread or a reply explaining what you want to, including a link or an address. That is unless, for example, you are wanting to show something like a wood carver that makes wood look like real human body parts that would not be appropriate to show on the FW. :eek:

:doh::dunno:
 
Links to other sites are ok, as long as they fit our guidelines.

Family friendly :thumb:
Actually, the CoC doesn't necessarily say it has to fit our guidelines...it asks the poster to use good judgment:

From the Code of Conduct said:
Links to other websites are allowed in posts, but you are expected to use good judgment in posting external links, and be aware that links to objectionable sites or material will be subject to removal.
We don't expect a poster (or the Mods here) to check every page of another website to be sure it meets our CoC. We just hope that if you already know a site tends to be something you wouldn't want your 8 year old daughter to see, it's probably better to not post the direct link. If a site has 10,000 pages of useful information, and one page where someone uses inappropriate language, I don't think anyone would get upset. On the other hand, if some porn site also has a page featuring a tablesaw, that would probably set off some flags. :rolleyes:

Look at it this way...we allow links to eBay and Amazon, both of which sell items that I'd consider inappropriate for kids. We have yet to delete a link to either site, as far as I know. Just use good judgment. ;)
 
common sense is the key word here......it`s not that dificult and not that big a deal.....
and greg, why wouldn`t folks find the making of prosthetic legs interesting:rolleyes:..
 
Last edited:
Jason,

Depends which one they make and how it is displayed :rofl::huh:

and if it is attached :(

Jay

sorry, couldn't help myself!
 
What led up to this question was searching for agathis that led to several guitar forums that, ah, had much more liberal language usage policies than FWW. I tried to find the original site in question to PM to Greg, but ended up finding other sites with, ah, more interesting usages of language than the original one.

In this context, would an acceptable post have been to say, "There's some controversy about the use of agathis for guitars. A quick search gives several guitar forums that discuss this controversy in detail, however I'm not sure that posting links to the forums here would be acceptable as per the CoC."?

This way, interested people can go look stuff up, but are, at the same time, warned that they may be leaving happy friendly land.
 
In this context, would an acceptable post have been to say, "There's some controversy about the use of agathis for guitars. A quick search gives several guitar forums that discuss this controversy in detail, however I'm not sure that posting links to the forums here would be acceptable as per the CoC."?

Mark, I think that what you've said in your "" marks is probably the most expedient way of handling this question. You might also want to add "If you're really interested in visiting the forums I found, please PM me and I'll send you the urls."

Just my .02.

Nancy (101 days)
 
Top