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A polite request to the moderators

Ardbeg

Well-Known Member
Messages
654
Location
Teesside
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Self serving politicians
Before I start please understand moderators that this is an observation and request rather than a criticism.

I think this forum is great and it is now my number 1 resource tool for anything diabetes connected. I've learn't so much about betes in a very short timescale here.

However, I think the moderation of links to other websites is a bit OTT. Personally, I can see no harm in someone from this forum, who has spend time and or money on research, buying a betes product or service, etc sharing that info with the rest of us.

I've noticed mods removing several web links from various posts, including some of my own. Surely we are all grown ups and therefore responsible for our own actions? As an adult, I click on the links and research the product, service or book or whatever then make an informed choice.

I've done this several times now and have to say it's saved me both time and money. I'm just concerned that the mods are getting too heavy handed at removing links and I'd be interested to hear the views of both moderators and other forum users.

I already have my flak jacket on and spade at the ready........
 
I agree. But I'm not brave enough to say it! :wink:

Don't want to get banned (again...)

The problem with this policy (no clickable links) is that is discourages the "community" element of the website, and encourages "PMs" between groups of people. It's counter productive, and reduces the effectiveness of this site as an information resource...
 
Speaking only for myself I am not concerned about having to PM someone to get some more information or receiving PMs myself to give out some information – now that I have fathomed out how to do it!! :roll:

Not being particularly techy about anything (except in my kitchen ) I don’t know what loads of links do to a site but presume the rule is there to stop clogging up and keep things streamlined? :?
 
Synonym said:
Not being particularly techy about anything (except in my kitchen ) I don’t know what loads of links do to a site but presume the rule is there to stop clogging up and keep things streamlined? :?
Click to expand...

I think the way around this is to give the web address without the www. in front of it, which I have done on here a few times now (but sadly these have been removed by the mods too ). This doesn't create a hyperlink BUT it shows the forum users what the website is called and therefore they only need to copy and paste it onto their browser, remembering to put www. in front of it.

If hyperlinking is the mods main objection then surely this is a sensible compromise? :?
 
Ok, let's try and get this one straight.

If a link is relevant to a post,such as a news item or goes straight to a piece of research then a click- able link is used.

However commercial links to sites selling products are not allowed as click-able, that is a forum policy.
You can mention the site, in which case members can find it themselves. ( there are some sites which we do not allow mention of at all because of their selling techniques however)

Also not allowed are click-able links to other forums or blog sites. These, however, can be put in the sticky thread which is for that purpose.
 
However, the idea of not being able to post links to documents and resources which may help to improve the lives of the members of the forum is ridiculously short sighted.
Click to expand...

Perhaps you should re-read my post above yours!
 
Thanks Sue.

What this tells me is that there is obviously confusion amongst all forum users; myself included.

Perhaps a sticky on this topic, somewhere prominant might help?
 
As Sue stated this will be looked at and clarified.

However, for the benefit of members, any problems or complaints should be first addressed to a Moderator via a pm, and if no satisfactory answer is forthcoming then a pm to the Administrator. That is how all complaints/criticisms are dealt with here. Those are our instructions. The rules we have to follow.

We do not normally deal with complaints in any other way.
 
cugila wrote
We do not normally deal with complaints in any other way.
Click to expand...

No point in complaining that my local shop ran out of milk last night when I needed a cuppa :lol:
 
As to links that are put on posts, TBH, a lot I dont click on due to hidden spyware behind them, cant be bothered having to run spyware programs everyday to clear them out.
 
Banning on this Forum is a last resort. Except in exceptional cases !

Warnings, informal and formal are the first steps, than suspension for a short time is used more often than not, as with all well run Forum's on the net.


Suffolkboi61.
That is exactly why this policy came about because we had members getting Viruses and dubious website links. The Policy is to protect Forum users, not, as some seem to think to be heavy handed or OTT.

This website was nearly bought to it's knees some time ago because of embedded links in pm's. So we advise members to have up to date Virus and other additional protection at all times for the safety of their own PC's.
 
The no links to commercial sites and other forum rules are fairly common across most internet forums in my experience. Standard forum etiquette in fact, nothing sinister, just general practice.

Google is your friend :wink:
 
OMG,

What have I started? :roll: :lol: :shock:
 
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