# Polite, yes, but can it be a rule? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 14, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-yes-but-can-it-be-a-rule/489444 "2009-03-14T19:50:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-yes-but-can-it-be-a-rule/489444/1 "2009-03-14T19:50:00Z")
It’s only polite, of course, to let people know that a link you’re including in a post goes to a large file–a PDF, e.g.–or a noisy one–say youtube. Polite enough, I think, that most people DO include such a friendly warning. All the more reason that when no such warning is included, it can be an unpleasant surprise. Yes, I know that if you pass your cursor over the link and pause long enough to read the display in the SW corner of your browser window, you’ll be able to get some idea of what kind of link it is. But seriously, who \*does \*that? Can we just make it a rule that if the link goes to a PDF or a file-with-sound, there should be a note to that effect? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-yes-but-can-it-be-a-rule/489444/2 "2009-03-14T20:10:59Z")
Actually, I do almost always hold my mouse there - when I think it’s a video or a pdf. But sometimes you can’t even tell from the context that it is - there’s no reason, say, for them to link to a video. And it pisses me off when I click on something thinking it’s an article and I get a video. it’s OK for me to surf at work, provided I get my work done, and I do, but work won’t run any videos and pdfs just freeze it up. The other thing I’d like to ask but not make a rule is - can we give a brief summary of what you’re linking to? I hate this: “You might be interested in this [this](http://www.whateveritisyoulinkedto).” I want to know if it’s worth it to me to click on that link at all! ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-yes-but-can-it-be-a-rule/489444/3 "2009-03-14T20:17:31Z")
This does not appear to be worth having a “rule” about. IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-yes-but-can-it-be-a-rule/489444/4 "2009-03-14T20:40:07Z")
Yeah, that’s what this place needs. More rules. Let’s make everything a rule! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-yes-but-can-it-be-a-rule/489444/5 "2009-03-14T20:43:55Z")
This isn’t the kind of thing we’d deliver warnings over, but we sometimes add notes to clarify that a link goes to a video or a PDF. If there’s nothing about that in the “Guidelines and Etiquette” thread, maybe we can add a line. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-yes-but-can-it-be-a-rule/489444/6 "2009-03-14T20:57:57Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > Yeah, that’s what this place needs. More rules. Let’s make everything a rule! This is the kind of reasoned discussion that makes this place what it is. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-yes-but-can-it-be-a-rule/489444/7 "2009-03-14T20:59:16Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > This isn’t the kind of thing we’d deliver warnings over, but we sometimes add notes to clarify that a link goes to a video or a PDF. If there’s nothing about that in the “Guidelines and Etiquette” thread, maybe we can add a line. Maybe that’s all it needs. Just keeping in mind that some of us, unlike the two chimers in above, have slower machines, or might be reading at work or some situation where an unexpected squawk from the speakers is, well, unexpected. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-yes-but-can-it-be-a-rule/489444/8 "2009-03-14T21:11:57Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Maybe that’s all it needs. Just keeping in mind that some of us, unlike the two chimers in above, have slower machines, or might be reading at work or some situation where an unexpected squawk from the speakers is, well, unexpected. Covering your ass at work (re: internet timewasting) is your own business. The board has a policy regarding posting NSFW links, the rest is up to your own due diligence. Ditto regarding your computer’s capabilities, its a big wide internet full of all sorts of flashy stuff. Moving your mouse over a link tells you that you’re being redirected to youtube, and often gives a strong clue about the being directed to other video or resource-intensive sites. When I try to access flickr at work, it causes my browser to shutdown. Shall I demand that all flickr links be flagged for my own convenience? ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-yes-but-can-it-be-a-rule/489444/9 "2009-03-14T21:22:14Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Yes, I know that if you pass your cursor over the link and pause long enough to read the display in the SW corner of your browser window, you’ll be able to get some idea of what kind of link it is. But seriously, who \*does \*that? If you click on links without looking at where they lead, you deserve whatever happens to you. That’s basic internet hygiene. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-yes-but-can-it-be-a-rule/489444/10 "2009-03-14T21:23:47Z")
> [@Jeff](#): > > Covering your ass at work (re: internet timewasting) is your own business. The reason I didn’t pre-emptively address this argument was because I had too much naivete–s’cuse me, respect for my fellow Dopers, and took it for granted that no one would be ridiculous enough to make it. You shouldn’t assume that your work situation is the same as everyone else’s. For example, maybe someone other than you has a job on which it’s perfectly acceptable to spend time on the web, but a squawk is still a squawk, and an unexpected squawk is less desirable, even in that situation, than a forewarned squawk. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-yes-but-can-it-be-a-rule/489444/11 "2009-03-14T21:25:12Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > If you click on links without looking at where they lead, you deserve whatever happens to you. That’s basic internet hygiene. So I guess my rhetorical question “Who \*does \*that?” has been answered. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-yes-but-can-it-be-a-rule/489444/12 "2009-03-14T21:27:27Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > The reason I didn’t pre-emptively address this argument was because I had too much naivete–s’cuse me, respect for my fellow Dopers, and took it for granted that no one would be ridiculous enough to make it. > > You shouldn’t assume that your work situation is the same as everyone else’s. For example, maybe someone other than you has a job on which it’s perfectly acceptable to spend time on the web, but a squawk is still a squawk, and an unexpected squawk is less desirable, even in that situation, than a forewarned squawk. Turn off your speakers. Again, due diligence. There is always a simpler way to handle things than demanding that everyone else on the board cater to your needs. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-yes-but-can-it-be-a-rule/489444/13 "2009-03-14T21:31:25Z")
> [@Jeff](#): > > Turn off your speakers. Again, due diligence. There is always a simpler way to handle things than demanding that everyone else on the board cater to your needs. Dude, show me a _demand_, or take your bullshit to the fucking pit. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-yes-but-can-it-be-a-rule/489444/14 "2009-03-14T21:35:26Z")
Alright, alright. Yes, it common sense to see what a link is before you click it, but it also costs posters nothing to mention if they are linking to a PDF or video. A majority of them probably do this anyway. I brought this thread to the attention of the other mods. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-yes-but-can-it-be-a-rule/489444/15 "2009-03-14T21:38:59Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Dude, show me a _demand_, or take your bullshit to the fucking pit. You’re really really not convincing me that we need a rule this way. Once again, covering your own ass is up to you. Clearly you have an uphill battle to convince me of otherwise. Just keep your head on your shoulders while trying to do so. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-yes-but-can-it-be-a-rule/489444/16 "2009-03-14T21:48:07Z")
> [@Jeff](#): > > You’re really really not convincing me that we need a rule this way. > > Once again, covering your own ass is up to you. Clearly you have an uphill battle to convince me of otherwise. Just keep your head on your shoulders while trying to do so. Then it’s a good thing I don’t give a shit about convincing you; you’re so intent on holding on to your illogical presumption that this whole thing is about ass-covering that it’s clear that “uphill battle” is the most flattering possible way I could describe any attempt at trying to convince you of anything. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-yes-but-can-it-be-a-rule/489444/17 "2009-03-14T21:54:30Z")
So tell me again, what is this about? People linking resource-intensive links that your particular computer can’t run, you clicking on links that embarass you in front of others? I still say that we don’t need a rule to protect you from these. You’re free to not click links if you feel it is not in your best interest to do so. You seem to think this issue is somehow deeper or more complicated than it really is. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-yes-but-can-it-be-a-rule/489444/18 "2009-03-14T22:25:35Z")
> [@Jeff](#): > > So tell me again, what is this about? People linking resource-intensive links that your particular computer can’t run, you clicking on links that embarass you in front of others? > > I still say that we don’t need a rule to protect you from these. You’re free to not click links if you feel it is not in your best interest to do so. > > You seem to think this issue is somehow deeper or more complicated than it really is. Sorry. No, you do. All of your assumptions are incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-yes-but-can-it-be-a-rule/489444/19 "2009-03-14T22:28:12Z")
It’s easy to _say_ his assumptions are incorrect. But, unless you counter with your actual reasons, you’re just blowing hot air. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-yes-but-can-it-be-a-rule/489444/20 "2009-03-14T22:37:25Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > No, you do. All of your assumptions are incorrect. Ah yes, the “this argument is too complicated for you to understand” response. Clearly it is far beyond your capacity to explicate as well, since even your own responses & examples cannot help a reader to understand its subtle intricacies. That being your only apparent defense against my argument for personal responsibility, I rest my case. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-yes-but-can-it-be-a-rule/489444.md?page=2)