Links: which ones are acceptable?

[Coromandel]

The FAQs say "Links to any commercial web sites are NOT acceptable and will be edited/deleted without warning". After falling foul of this rule in one of my first posts I thought I had learned my lesson. But I was surprised to find that a link I recently gave (in this thread (http://www.british-genealogy.com/forums/showthread.php/65993-St-Stephens-Church-Liverpool)) to the British History Online website was removed on the grounds that the "site contained commercial advertising". British History Online is not what I would call a commercial website, but does carry a variety of Google ads. Does that mean that it is not permissible to link to sites carrying any form of advertising whatsoever?

Is it best just not to put in links at all? Or is it OK to include the URL as long as it isn't formatted as a link?

From a confused newbie

[Sue Mackay]

Is it best just not to put in links at all? Or is it OK to include the URL as long as it isn't formatted as a link?


Many people have Firefox Adblocker or equivalent, which means they don't always see advertising which others do, although often there will be a suspicious amount of blank space down one side of the site. Direct links to other threads on B-G and to certain Government sites such as the National Archives are OK. Links to obviously commercial sites are not allowed. For other seemingly free sites I would say the answer is, if in doubt, put a line break in the URL so that the link is not clickable, but can be easily pasted into a browser.

[Procat]

The thing which makes that particular site commercial is that it sells subscriptions which then allows you access to "premium content".

[MarkJ]

A good rule of thumb - if in doubt, run it past one of the Moderators first ;)

Alternatively, just don't have clicky links. No problem with giving the URL (as long as it complies with the rules), but it must not be clicky, so simply splitting it is the best way for all links - e.g

http://www.
somesiteorother.co.uk

[Coromandel]

Thanks everyone for clarifying that. I would hate to blot my copybook before I've even been here a week!

[Procat]

Don't worry. It takes a lot more than that to blot someones copybook.:smile5:

[Ultramum]

No problem with giving the URL (as long as it complies with the rules), but it must not be clicky, so simply splitting it is the best way for all links - e.g

http://www.
somesiteorother.co.uk

I'd been wondering how to do that! I've tried removing the http bit but it still came up as a clicky!

[Procat]

I'd been wondering how to do that! I've tried removing the http bit but it still came up as a clicky!

It will - but it does not go anywhere so is not a problem.