Please keep your links to yourselves: What do you think?.
By katerina
@thea09 (18305)
Greece
October 15, 2009 11:14am CST
Before anyone asks this is not aimed at you, or you, and is most definitely not aimed at the people who sent me a link to Spitting Image, Jeremy Paxman, or Bunny Shoes. But it is aimed at links.
Why open a discussion with a link, it is lazy. Provide a synopsis. Most of the time your link will not work and if it does it many be boring or even worse from some completely unreliable source like the 'Daily Mail'. You don't want to write a long introduction I may read, then I probably won't bother to read your link.
Keep your links out of the middle of discussions, what's wrong with your own opinions, frightened to voice them. Think I'm going to be oh so impressed by having to open a link and read something planted there from someone else who you happen to agree with. Why should I be concerned with their opinion, we were discussong it.
If you like links you won't like my discussions, because I won't use them.
8 people like this
17 responses
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Oct 09
k I will...
PS we are missing a blue bunny around here...
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
15 Oct 09
I have the blue bunny and I am keeping him until he turns pink!
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66005)
• Italy
15 Oct 09
I post links almost all the time...
to the Guidelkines, the FAQs, the Terms 
I think I have only ever posted one of my discussions where there was a link just to show what I was talking about but there were no other opinions on the article. It was a vending machine in a London sation that had become 'human' for a day.
If the topic is interesting then I willopen the link but I don't usually do the discussions with news articles. I prefer reading and commenting on the news articles directly on myLot the few times that there is anything I feel I can have an opinion about.
If others wish to post their links then I am not bothered by it. It takes all sorts to make a world and the myLot world is no different. Some open them and some don't and it is their choice 
I think I have only ever posted one of my discussions where there was a link just to show what I was talking about but there were no other opinions on the article. It was a vending machine in a London sation that had become 'human' for a day.
If the topic is interesting then I willopen the link but I don't usually do the discussions with news articles. I prefer reading and commenting on the news articles directly on myLot the few times that there is anything I feel I can have an opinion about.
If others wish to post their links then I am not bothered by it. It takes all sorts to make a world and the myLot world is no different. Some open them and some don't and it is their choice 1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66005)
• Italy
15 Oct 09
Thea you should know by now
that I read all the responses before I add my own 
I saw those links and one was very important...
an invite...
which you skimmed over 
I saw those links and one was very important...
an invite...
which you skimmed over 
Someone set that up as a joke I take it. I skimmed back and it wouldn't let me in anyway@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
15 Oct 09
Hi mys, well of course I'll make an exception for you and your guideline links as they are obviously needed. But rather than the scathing reception I expected here we have a conversion underway with the linkers now promising to cut back on their linking plus admitting they don't open other links and the rest of us never opening them anyway just shows what a waste of time they all are.
There have actually been a few fun links posted overleaf, none of which open of course.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
16 Oct 09
I don't get many things w/links. If i do i never go to tehm. I can see why u are aggravated w/them. If people are going to start a discussion it should be in their own words.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
16 Oct 09
Hi Aunty, lucky you if you don't get many, I seem to come across lots and they do just strike me as lazy most of the time as they say someone elses words so aren't orginal. It seems though that no one opens them anyway so they appear to be a complete waste of time for the person who posts them.
1 person likes this
@tdemex (3540)
• United States
15 Oct 09
I agree totally! I've never posted a link and normally if there is a link on the discussion I just blow by them! A link as you said is just someone trying to get a point across or full of information that is important to the person posting! If I want to know something I sure know how to find the info on my own! I have to take that back i have used a link to help someone asking for help with a certain recipe! That I think is a fair use of a link? LOL! 
tdemex
tdemex
@AngryKittyMSV (4317)
• United States
15 Oct 09
Knowing this about tdemex I am going to now post links in EVERY political discussion I make! Ha ha ha ha!
So is a link to you like garlic to a vampire?
1 person likes this
@AngryKittyMSV (4317)
• United States
15 Oct 09
That section does have a way of dinging stars. LOL I actually DO enjoy reading opposing points of view when presented intelligently and without malice. I often like Anniepa's discussions even though we often have to "agree to disagree". There are others here who can engage in a spirited debate without getting too ugly, but people who insist on posting inflammatory derogatory garbage will get treated in line with how they treat me and other's who they choose to insult.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
15 Oct 09
Hi td, and what a gentelman you are too to not point out you know I don't know how to do them. It's not quite the same as well but it annoys me like mad when someone has posted a discussion and one of the first responses is a copy and pasted link to some article which covers every conceivable point. I rarely leave a discussion if I've opened it but I do with those as just find they've been taken over in a way the poster didn't intend, they wanted a discussion, not a linked answer.
Glad to hear support for the non links td
1 person likes this
@sunny68 (1327)
• India
15 Oct 09
if the link is related to the topic of the discussion and the discussion itself interests me, i see no problem in visiting the link - even if it means copy'n'paste. but its quite some time that i have come across a discussion that contains a link (at least one that interests me).
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169448)
• United States
16 Oct 09
We shall be linkless together my friend. I do not open them very often at all.
@Capsicum (1444)
• United States
15 Oct 09
I hate links and never link to them or even respond ,If I see it.I normally find this with people under 100 posts but have seen people with 5000 or over do the same. If I was interested ,I would have seen it already is how ,I feel.The stuff I get in my in box pi$$es me off,I feel its spam
!
!@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
15 Oct 09
Hi Capsi, I must say this is all going rather well and when these linkers read this they'll reaslise why they have so few responses, because we don't like them. Lots of them are at it, even some of my friends here, one particlarly I berate daily for doing it but I just ignore them which is why my responses make no sense at all. Good for you. I wasn't expecting any agreement here and it turns out there is lots, plus possible converts to being linkless.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
18 Oct 09
If a friend uses one I'll respond to the discussion but just tell them the link doesn't work, but they know to expect that from me anyway. I don't need to open their link to respond if they make a synoposis and usually when I ask for one I get an irritated one back.
@neildc (17238)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
16 Oct 09
hi thea. most of the time, i ignore discussions with links. i am afraid it will get removed. but if the topic ask for it then why not? i can put links anywhere.
: http://www.mylot.com
in the middle of the post
and in the end: http://www.mylot.com
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
16 Oct 09
Hi neil, a little contraction here - you ignore discussions with links but put them whereever you like. I ignore all with links except to placate the rabbit, but I don't open them, and if I know someone I go in and tell them it doesn't work, even if it might. But if I don't know someone and they use a link I'll ignore them as it appears many do, so I expect these people who fill mylot with links don't get many resposes and may be wondering why.
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
15 Oct 09
I think it depends on the discussion. When I do a politics discussion I do a synopsis and also provide the link just so people can read for themselves. I prefer to read an article myself so that I don't just have a biased view of the article.
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
15 Oct 09
LOL Well I like to but, I will admit if the page won't load, I won't go looking for it. Or if it's pages long I will skim the article.
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
15 Oct 09
Roses are red,
Bananas are yellow
I won't send a link
Until your'e feeling mellow!
Definitey! You are acting as a lady with knife skills!
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
15 Oct 09
We've discussed this and I respect your views. However, I believe it is permissable to use the link to back up your own opinion. You have people on here who won't accept any point of view unless it's been varified in print or e-print. I personally, get ideas for discussions while surfing the net...and post links as a way to encourage discussion. I figure if someone will take the time to read my sources...they must be interested in the topic. I also think that MY opinion will be voiced as I respond to the opinions of others. So, no...I am not afraid to post what I think. And I am not lazy....by any means. @thea09 (18305)
• Greece
15 Oct 09
Hi debra, I do know your views and as I said above this isn't aimed at you. It's just a general dislike of mine. The whole of politics is covered with links backing up each others viewpoints, let them all throw them away and speak for themselves as it shows lack of original thought. I get the point you make that if senator X sais this and no one else heard of him saying it then the opposition want proof, and I dislike a real point being only half put across in synopsis as well.
I do think its the lazy way out though and in the politics section he does stifly free thought and originality, and if I was reading a response and wanted to comment I wouldn't stop half way through reading to be told to read this to back up the point.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
15 Oct 09
For a political linker it sounds a huge step so well done. I know you're not lazy as you research around but you'll see how I mean about people using them instead of their own views. Half the links aren't to any reputable source anyway, its just a case of I must be right as its in print.
How do you feel when you're discussing with the opposition and suddenly a link is spurng on you, it is distracting?
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
15 Oct 09
I didn't take it personal Thea...and you do raise some good points. Here's what I've decided to do...use links less, post more of what I actually think. And I will quit using them to start the discussion. Back-up use of links...still part of my myLot game plan. HOw's that?
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
15 Oct 09
Hi thea, I sent u some jokes thru PM! Hope u didnt find them objectionable. I thought u would enjoy them. Since there is no reply I thought may be u dont appreciate such jokes. I am sorry if it annoyed u.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
15 Oct 09
Hi vandana, this isn't aimed at anyone specifically as I said, just the use of links in general instead of originity. You haven't annoyed me, see post something like this and everyone thinks it's at them.
But what do you think of discussons which require you to open a link and read an article before responding?
@aixshaonline (600)
• Philippines
16 Oct 09
Hi!
I still do use links, and I seldom (hahahah) summarize what that link is all about as they are mostly links to videos of a certain event or a reaaallly lengthy article. When I feel that the article is good enough and having to summarize it would simply ruin it's quality, I'd rather post the link :) But I've seen some discussions that merely post a link to a whatever that is they want to discuss about. And having no knowledge whatsoever about what that link contains, I don't really bother reading at all. LOL.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
16 Oct 09
Hi aixahaonline, so you use links whilst admitting to not bothering to read other peoples links, so by the same theory it's pretty obvious what people do with yours and that is not bother to read them. A link is a link though and it appears that they are appearing without anyone having any interest in them.
@aixshaonline (600)
• Philippines
19 Oct 09
Okay, point made! 
Let me rephrase what I've said earlier. There are some discussions that only post a link to something but don't care to summarize what that link is about. Just like "Hey, watch this video and comment on how you feel about it" things That's what I don't like about putting links.. Defensive much (me). Hahahaha
Let me rephrase what I've said earlier. There are some discussions that only post a link to something but don't care to summarize what that link is about. Just like "Hey, watch this video and comment on how you feel about it" things That's what I don't like about putting links.. Defensive much (me). Hahahaha
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
16 Oct 09
Well, you know what, it's against mylot rules to copy whole articles (but most people do copy them because as you said, sooner or later the links would fail).
I would actually appreciate people who just type it out or copy the whole article instead of me going through those links (for fear that there might be some type of a virus that would eventually take out my system because of some link a mylotter has posted - ya know what I mean?).
Yeah, I don't like links either.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
16 Oct 09
Hi laydee, you are the first one to mention the possible viruses which could be potentially lurking in these dastardly links, another good reason to totally ignore them. I get just as irritated by a copy and pasted article to, what has happened to original thought?
1 person likes this
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
15 Oct 09
Hello, Thea. With you on that one. Links are nothing to do with discussions. They are supplementary sources of information for interested parties. I'm not one of them, so if you head up your discussion with a link, you've lost me from the start. I like the discussion introductions, and I don't care how long they are, as long as they're interesting and informative. Links may, on rare occasions, turn out to be informative, but they definitely are not interesting. My life does not revolve around links, and nor should anyone else's. Get a life, and junk the link, that's what I say.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
15 Oct 09
Hello Sandra, I can't believe people are agreeing with me here but it's so good to hear that other people see them as a complete irrelevance too. Maybe if some of the linkers read this they'll realise they'd have more responses if they dropped them and just wrote something themselves.
They are such a pain to open as well only to confront some piece of rubbish from I kid not 'The Daily Sta' in one case, from an American who obviously thought it was an English newspaper. You should see how they overuse they over in politics, my link say this, well my link says that....
