# Thread started with a single-link opening posts without a comment? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 17, 2019, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-started-with-a-single-link-opening-posts-without-a-comment/829713 "2019-02-17T06:22:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-started-with-a-single-link-opening-posts-without-a-comment/829713/21 "2019-02-18T19:05:31Z")
Then maybe don’t bring it to a discussion board, is possibly a good rule of thumb. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-started-with-a-single-link-opening-posts-without-a-comment/829713/22 "2019-02-18T19:11:45Z")
Would it be pedantic of me to point out this is in fact a _message_ board? Says so right at the top of the page. And that messages are inherently one-way communications? Unlike…discussions. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-started-with-a-single-link-opening-posts-without-a-comment/829713/23 "2019-02-18T19:12:13Z")
The thread title posed a question. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-started-with-a-single-link-opening-posts-without-a-comment/829713/24 "2019-02-18T19:36:15Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > Generally not a fan, but your linked example has a perfectly cromulent description in the link text itself, and seemed fine to me My reaction also - if it was just a link with no explanation, I’d be miffed. This one had enough of a description that I knew I wasn’t interested. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-started-with-a-single-link-opening-posts-without-a-comment/829713/25 "2019-02-18T20:21:08Z")
I would go for “very annoying- mod note” with further action to be taken if the poster did it over and over. That one linked to has _just barely_ enuf explanation to pass, being as it’s MPSIMS. Not even a mod note for that one. But I wouldn’t contribute. I would think that the Op should give his opinion also. I concur with\*\* Acsenray\*\* \*There should be an explicit rule banning posts (not just OPs) that are just links with no explanation. \* The worst are Ops, in say GD, with "what do you think of this? " ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-started-with-a-single-link-opening-posts-without-a-comment/829713/26 "2019-02-18T20:32:37Z")
> [@TSBG](#): > > Have you all looked at the example provided? The words in the link formatting gives context. Can’t see what’s wrong with this. I didn’t vote in the poll because I think there’s a clear difference between that and someone who just posts a “naked” URL. > > Let me put it this way–what if, instead of the formatting used, **Darren Garrison** had made the following OP: > > "There is a woman wandering around on a college campus showing girls a photo of her son and asking them if they would date him: > > [Not a rom-com: Mom scouting date for son draws campus ire](https://www.wspa.com/news/not-a-rom-com-mom-scouting-date-for-son-draws-campus-ire/1773871306) " > > This all strikes me as a left-handed way to Pit **Darren** outside the Pit. Well, because it was in MPSIMS, it was just barely Ok, but a little off. Why couldnt he have added his own opinion? or at least said, _"I dont know what to think, on the one hand Mothers support is great on the other it seems a bit weird_" or something. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-started-with-a-single-link-opening-posts-without-a-comment/829713/27 "2019-02-18T21:16:44Z")
I didn’t have a problem with the linked OP. There was a link to an article. A description of that article. And a question about it that could have sparked discussion. Granted, the question was the thread title. Probably it would have trickled to the bottom of the page in a day or so. And then it would be lost in time, like tears in rain. However, the subsequent discussion about that thread and its closing has been fascinating. ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-started-with-a-single-link-opening-posts-without-a-comment/829713/28 "2019-02-18T21:46:28Z")
The example you show doesn’t match the question you ask. It’s like if I ask if you “like white houses like this one” and show a picture of a pink one. So: poll invalid. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-started-with-a-single-link-opening-posts-without-a-comment/829713/29 "2019-02-19T23:35:39Z")
Some people love to just drop things into threads as well. In one thread over in GQ, there is this > [@Explain the rules, regs, protocols, etc. of saluting in the US armed forces](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-rules-regs-protocols-etc-of-saluting-in-the-us-armed-forces/829667/18): > > Don’t know how dated [this](http://www.misterkitty.org/extras/stupidcovers/stupidcomics309.html) is, but it should still be interesting. Which is compared to this: > [@Explain the rules, regs, protocols, etc. of saluting in the US armed forces](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-rules-regs-protocols-etc-of-saluting-in-the-us-armed-forces/829667/26): > > Relevant panel from the excellent comic strip [Terminal Lance.](https://terminallance.com/2010/12/13/terminal-lance-88-shiny-things/) Is the first going to be an hour-long YouTube video? A single panel cartoon? An essay? The second clearly lets the reader know what to expect. There was another poster who loved doing that, dropping “zingers” in a thread but the net in a form of a link. When called out, they said that providing a description would ruin the suspense. Whatever. I find said behavior annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-started-with-a-single-link-opening-posts-without-a-comment/829713/30 "2019-02-19T23:53:01Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > Is the first going to be an hour-long YouTube video? A single panel cartoon? An essay? If you are reading on a desktop browser, pausing the mouse over the link will give you the URL at the bottom of the web page. If you are on a smartphone or tablet, long-pressing the link will pop up the URL, both showing that it is not a YouTube link. If you note the post below my post you quoted, you will see Thelmalou (_the person that the post was for_) saying “Absolutely fascinating! Thank you so much for that!.” So the post served its purpose very well. I am _not_ going to write an explanatory paragraph summarizing the contents and listing the media used in every hyperlink that I post, nor is that the standard _anywhere_. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-started-with-a-single-link-opening-posts-without-a-comment/829713/31 "2019-02-20T00:52:36Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > If you are reading on a desktop browser, pausing the mouse over the link will give you the URL at the bottom of the web page. If you are on a smartphone or tablet, long-pressing the link will pop up the URL, both showing that it is not a YouTube link… Yes, but it could be a vid from another source, it could be a rick-roll, it could be a harmful site. So, hovering helps, but it’s not a panacea. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-started-with-a-single-link-opening-posts-without-a-comment/829713/32 "2019-02-20T01:02:43Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yes, but it could be a vid from another source, it could be a rick-roll, it could be a harmful site. So, hovering helps, but it’s not a panacea. So, let’s make a list–any time anyone makes a relevant link (such as to a page showing etiquette of saluting in the military in a thread asking about the etiquette of saluting in the military) one must list: A summary of the contents of the link. An explanation of the amount of detail (is it a comic? Is it an essay?) An assurance that the link does not contain video. An assurance that it is not a gag link. An assurance that the linked site does not contain malware. That seems a bit much to include with each link. Perhaps TPTB can provide a set of checkboxes to be included with each URL linking? ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-started-with-a-single-link-opening-posts-without-a-comment/829713/33 "2019-02-20T03:13:25Z")
I’m surprised at all the resentment here. I still think this is piling on a particular poster. If the practice is against the rules, complain to the mods. If it is not, I maintain that the Pit is the place for this. IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-started-with-a-single-link-opening-posts-without-a-comment/829713/34 "2019-02-20T03:21:01Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > So, let’s make a list–any time anyone makes a relevant link (such as to a page showing etiquette of saluting in the military in a thread asking about the etiquette of saluting in the military) one must list: > A summary of the contents of the link. > An explanation of the amount of detail (is it a comic? Is it an essay?) > An assurance that the link does not contain video. > An assurance that it is not a gag link. > An assurance that the linked site does not contain malware. > That seems a bit much to include with each link. Perhaps TPTB can provide a set of checkboxes to be included with each URL linking? Non one is asking for that. I even said that the linked Op was (barely) Ok for MPSIMS, and said all he’d had to do is add a single line of what he thought about it. If someone does add gag or disruptive links, those can be reported. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-started-with-a-single-link-opening-posts-without-a-comment/829713/35 "2019-02-20T03:24:07Z")
> [@TSBG](#): > > I’m surprised at all the resentment here. I still think this is piling on a particular poster. If the practice is against the rules, complain to the mods. If it is not, I maintain that the Pit is the place for this. > > IMHO. No, it’s about the all too common practice. The Op link was a good _example as he has- according to the Mods- done it far too often. But we’re not piling on him_, many others have done it also. Not to mention you already made this\* exact same point. \* ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-started-with-a-single-link-opening-posts-without-a-comment/829713/36 "2019-02-20T04:10:15Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > No, it’s about the all too common practice. The Op link was a good _example as he has- according to the Mods- done it far too often. But we’re not piling on him_, many others have done it also. > > Not to mention you already made this\* exact same point. \* Others keep making the same points too. If it’s not piling on, where are examples of the practice from other posters? No one has bothered to provide any. I won’t comment on the mods as this is not the appropriate board, but if he has been warned, this is the first I’m hearing of it. If it is mod-worthy behavior, and he’s been warned, I still say it’s piling on in the wrong forum. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-started-with-a-single-link-opening-posts-without-a-comment/829713/37 "2019-02-20T05:04:16Z")
Very annoying. I waffle a little on the Mod Note (although I wouldn’t complain about it) depending on how much information someone can jam into the sentence/link. ---
**Author:** ![48Willys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/db5fbb/32.png) [@48Willys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/48Willys)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-started-with-a-single-link-opening-posts-without-a-comment/829713/38 "2019-02-20T08:32:09Z")
I am an infrequent visitor to this forum, yet I recall this poster being warned about this kind of conduct. This poster has the annoying habit of just posting links, with no discussion & little to no description of what the link is about. The moderator suggested how the poster may create a new thread on the same subject. Did he? I doubt it. IIRC, he rarely, if ever does. Think about the comments that some folks are expressing resentment for this specific poster. I am not sure that the resentment is pointed at this poster as much as it is at this behavior. If that is the case, then I think that the poll is not accurately reflecting that resentment. I have not voted as the options are not exactly in line with my thinking. I waver between “Very annoying, mod note” & choosing to ignore it completely. In either case, I do not click on it. This is exactly the kind of post that the IT folks here at work & the IT folks at college warn us all about. Click on them at your own risk. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-started-with-a-single-link-opening-posts-without-a-comment/829713/39 "2019-02-20T18:37:49Z")
> [@48Willys](#): > > I am an infrequent visitor to this forum, yet I recall this poster being warned about this kind of conduct. Your recollection is flawed. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-started-with-a-single-link-opening-posts-without-a-comment/829713/40 "2019-02-20T18:54:12Z")
This is one of those old rules, handed down through generations of posters and moderators that no one knows why, we just keep it up. Heaven forbid that we might end up with a few frivolous posts on this dying board. There was a time when it may have been applicable, but that time is long past. It is like Shirley Jackson’s story, _The Lottery_. We don’t know why we still do it, but we can’t change now. Think of all the meaningless posts we will have to endure, or just skip. The thought is too horrible to comprehend. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-started-with-a-single-link-opening-posts-without-a-comment/829713.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-started-with-a-single-link-opening-posts-without-a-comment/829713.md?page=3)