New Policy on Sharing News Articles - Links Only

SLC_96 · 2025-05-01T17:42:33+00:00

We have a new policy on sharing news articles. Users may not post any part of a news article—including direct quotes. Instead, please share only the headline and a link to the article. Posting content from news articles can clutter the forum, decrease search engine visibility and reduce engagement in meaningful discussions. To share a news article, simply paste the URL of the article. If no preview is generated you may wish to post the headline of the article. Consider adding your own summary or thoughts – instead of quoting, explain why the article is relevant or share your perspective. A new website feature is rolling out to provide extra context before a user clicks on the link. I hope this makes these links easier to browse. What happens if someone quotes an article? Moderators will remove quoted content and may issue reminders. Repeated violations may result in further action. Can I quote from paywalled news articles? No, direct quoting from any news article, including those behind a paywall, is not permitted. What about other content? This change only applies to news articles and blog posts.

SLC_96

From my view one reason many people discuss ISPs on Reddit is because those discussions are easily found in Google search results.

BBF used to be ranked well in Google search results and was even included in featured snippets. BBF lost these favorable rankings due to content copied from other sites.

Dks01

SLC_96 BBF used to be ranked well in Google search results and was even included in featured snippets. BBF lost these favorable rankings due to content copied from other sites.

So it’s all about clicks. Monetization. Damn capitalists.

broknsymetry

SLC_96 Search engine visibility is very important

It would therefore be most helpful if the site had an interesting landing page rather than just a bunch of tiles linking to various topics.

SLC_96

Actually the site isn’t monetized. Still, I would like the site to be findable for those searching for help.

dave

If I recall correctly, on DSLR the ‘social’ forums were not searchable. Can it be the same here?

Doesn’t ‘members only’ serve that purpose?

SLC_96

One option for the homepage is to make it /following

Dks01

SLC_96 I would like the site to be findable for those searching for help.

There has to be real help available. In terms of Canadian providers, the support is just not there. A peer to peer focus will take years to build. Our providers are doing their own support internally.

Donoreo

SLC_96 BBF used to be ranked well in Google search results and was even included in featured snippets. BBF lost these favorable rankings due to content copied from other sites.

The site has only been here 4 months, statistically speaking that is an insignificant amount of data to judge.

SLC_96

Donoreo That depends on what you are looking at, from my perspective the data is clear.

Yes, I think Google has been quick to judge us being so new, but I can’t see them modifying their practices or making an exception just for BBF.

Donoreo

SLC_96 That depends on what you are looking at, from my perspective the data is clear.

What data are you looking at it? Lets see it.

g121

Donoreo What data are you looking at it? Lets see it.

re: Lets see it. ..

too pushy .. ask, don’t demand ..

SLC_96

Donoreo You are not someone I trust. I appreciate your enthusiasm. I hear that you are upset. I am not open to sharing at this time. I am open to building trust with you, but we are not there yet.

Dks01

SLC_96 Yes, I get it. Your site, your rules. But capriciousness does not build user trust. And no, I am not upset. Your site, your rules. I can choose to play in the sandbox or not. And you can choose to let me play in your sandbox or not.

Donoreo

SLC_96 You are not someone I trust.

I am asking for everyone, let everyone see it, not just me. What is there to hide? There are a lot of very knowledgeable people here that can analyze it and help. I am not upset, more confused by what appears to be a really bad decision. I have said before I am here about the community we have. I think this will be harmful to that .EDIT: if there is user specific and identifiable data, then obviously that cannot be shared.

Donoreo

g121 re: Lets see it. ..

too pushy .. ask, don’t demand ..

That is not at all how I meant it. I meant it so we can help. As I said in my other post, there are lots of people here with knowledge that can help.

g121

Donoreo g121 re: Lets see it. ..

too pushy .. ask, don’t demand ..

That is not at all how I meant it. I meant it so we can help. As I said in my other post, there are lots of people here with knowledge that can help.

but it’s your wording; it often comes off as a demand which isn’t the way to foster good back & forth communications ..

takeahike

SLC_96

Could an exception be made for @Guy54435’s daily Today in History threads in the Open Forum? IMO this series is among the very best of discussions on the site and something that wasn’t on DSLR either, and I’d therefore hate to see it lost. Since the exception would just affect this one item I would imagine that in making it the goals of the policy would not therefore be substantially thwarted.

InternetJeff

takeahike

Once we start making “exceptions”, where does it end? Regardless of what side of the fence you are on regarding this rule, when it comes to rules everybody should be in and nobody out.

Donoreo

Question: The quoting here is about the same (based on my recall, and since it is mostly the same people this does make sense) as it was on DSLR and DSLR threads were almost always near the top of search results. Why does it appear to be different here?

takeahike

InternetJeff

Then why is the word exception in the English language? There are exceptions to virtually every rule and they can be applicable for valid reasons and thus doesn’t have to of necessity get out of control.

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