"Links policy" means what to us regulars here??

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Sorry, we may perhaps be talking slightly at cross-purposes. Please don't copy or quote affiliate links. Remove the affiliate tag first if you wish to quote such a post. If it's an Amazon URL, this will be the part saying either "tag=something" or "t=something" (or both).

So I have to "clean" someone else's post? I don't like that at all. Talk about added stress.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Nyssa

So I have to "clean" someone else's post? I don't like that at all. Talk about added stress.

Yes, please.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Perhaps they'll be replaced by people who just like to help others, rather than being in it for the money? Time will tell.

Is it costing you anything? Is it costing us anything? do we see bothered by it? How about the person posting the affiliate link can also post a non-affiliate link so we can choose which link to click. Basically, what the moderators are doing is treating us (the users) like children. Grow up, we are mostly (can't say for all) adults.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by jersysman

This is becoming a very bad PR move. It might be a good move and needed to some, but the execution was not good and has caused undo angst about the users of this forum IMO.

How is a bad move a good move? If some don't like clicking affiliate links, don't do so. Just go directly to the site and search for the item and get it that way. Don't penalize the masses for the intolerance of a few.

[sufue]

Originally Posted by Nyssa

So I have to "clean" someone else's post? I don't like that at all. Talk about added stress.

Yes, that's precisely what bothers me.

And yes, we should try to post only clean tags.

But if you goof, and post one with an affiliate tag in it, prepare to be dressed down publicly, even if the tag wasn't yours and didn't benefit you in any way...sigh!

My solution is simply to not post any links, and provide (hopefully) enough info so folks can go find the deal/article/whatever on their own, even though that's not as convenient for the average reader.

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by sufue

Yes, that's precisely what bothers me.

And yes, we should try to post only clean tags.

But if you goof, and post one with an affiliate tag in it, prepare to be dressed down publicly, even if the tag wasn't yours and didn't benefit you in any way...sigh!

My solution is simply to not post any links, and provide (hopefully) enough info so folks can go find the deal/article/whatever on their own, even though that's not as convenient for the average reader.

Although the thought did cross my mind as I read Harry's response, I can not see myself forgoing links altogether. I keep Amazon open in a tab when I'm online at home. I will just have to make sure that it is the tab I opened, and not one that was opened by a link I chose to click. It does mean, however, that any books I reference will most likely come directly from Amazon. I do prefer to get series info from B&N, as Amazon does not always include it, so I might link that as well. *shrug* I just don't like the added pressure of responsibility. I'm an honest person, who volunteers at my kid's school all day, every (school) day and likes to read. I don't make money from anything I do, but I like to be helpful when I can.
Anyway, it is what it is and I will do my best to follow the rules as I've always done.

[sufue]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Is it costing you anything? Is it costing us anything? do we see bothered by it? How about the person posting the affiliate link can also post a non-affiliate link so we can choose which link to click. Basically, what the moderators are doing is treating us (the users) like children. Grow up, we are mostly (can't say for all) adults.

Well, one of the moderators eventually said somewhere back in one of these threads (sorry, have to go catch a train and don't have time to find it), that it wasn't really (or at least totally) user complaints that led to the new policy - it was the hassle for the moderators of eliminating duplicate affiliate links, which was taking up tons of their volunteer time. I could accept that, although I don't like it. I haven't complained about that since we were provided with the explanation.

BUT, what has me still upset is the "liar" comment from a moderator for someone who, as most of us believe, inadvertently posted a third-party affiliate link in the "$2 Amazon mp3" thread.

Instituting a somewhat unpopular new policy, but which saves the moderators work, fine. Enforcing it so publicly and harshly, not fine - at least to me.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by Nyssa

Although the thought did cross my mind as I read Harry's response, I can not see myself forgoing links altogether. I keep Amazon open in a tab when I'm online at home. I will just have to make sure that it is the tab I opened, and not one that was opened by a link I chose to click. It does mean, however, that any books I reference will most likely come directly from Amazon. I do prefer to get series info from B&N, as Amazon does not always include it, so I might link that as well. *shrug* I just don't like the added pressure of responsibility. I'm an honest person, who volunteers at my kid's school all day, every (school) day and likes to read. I don't make money from anything I do, but I like to be helpful when I can.
Anyway, it is what it is and I will do my best to follow the rules as I've always done.

How come it's OK for us all to shill for Amazon, or BN, or Kobo, or whichever bookstore by posting a link to the store, but it's not OK for us to shill for an intermediary--i.e., an affiliate--by posting a link with an affiliate tag, even accidentally?

I get that some people might feel it's somehow wrong or distasteful for a person to have a financial interest, however slight, by posting his or her own affiliate link. But when the poster has NO financial stake in the link, why does it matter if that link is to Amazon, etc. directly, or includes a tag from an intermediary site?

What is the fundamental difference here?

[Skibble]

Well, after trying the new system out for a bit, I've just stopped looking at the freebies/deals forum. I now have a RSS subscription to a deals/freebies blog, where I can see everything in one place, up front with book title, rather than having to delve into everyone's individual affiliate threads to see if there's anything interesting there for me.

I know the mods meant well, but the new policy just made using this sub-forum a hassle. IMHO, of course.

[petercreasey]

Originally Posted by Skibble

Well, after trying the new system out for a bit, I've just stopped looking at the freebies/deals forum.

S, Less traffic here is apparently one of their objectives.

[Skibble]

Originally Posted by petercreasey

S, Less traffic here is apparently one of their objectives.

In that case, I declare the new policy a rousing success.

[Critteranne]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Sorry, we may perhaps be talking slightly at cross-purposes. Please don't copy or quote affiliate links. Remove the affiliate tag first if you wish to quote such a post. If it's an Amazon URL, this will be the part saying either "tag=something" or "t=something" (or both).

But what if we're replying to a post in one of the affiliate "mega" threads? I just responded to a post by arcadata in the latest Affiliate Links for "arcadata" thread -- thinking arcadata because a recent post led me to the new ebook backlist of Richie Tankersley Cusick. Without the thread, I might never have know her old books were becoming available again.

And yes, I did quote the post (because I believe that responding to posts without quoting can be confusing . Do I have to remove the affiliate link from that post? Or is it OK because arcadata's affiliate link is OK in that thread? After all, in that case, it should be understood that posts in the affiliate thread are affiliate links. In addition, if anyone was going to buy something from that link, they would probably use the link in arcadata's original post, not in the response.

[HarryT]

If you're quoting a post within an affiliate thread, that's fine; no need to do anything.

[Mikou]

Originally Posted by Skibble

Well, after trying the new system out for a bit, I've just stopped looking at the freebies/deals forum. I now have a RSS subscription to a deals/freebies blog, where I can see everything in one place, up front with book title, rather than having to delve into everyone's individual affiliate threads to see if there's anything interesting there for me.

May I ask what that blog is? You can send me a PM if you'd prefer not to answer on the thread.

[sufue]

Originally Posted by Mikou

May I ask what that blog is? You can send me a PM if you'd prefer not to answer on the thread.

There are also a number of folks' suggestions for other places (blogs, etc.) to look for discounted/free e-books in the stickie thread "IMPORTANT: Rules for posting..." The suggestions are sort of scattered among some of the various posts on pages 17-19, starting near the bottom of page 17.