Can two old...

farts start a movement????  I agree....

Nick

They are not a problem for

They are not a problem for me.  If I view a thread that is nothing but a link And the poster only does that continuously then I just leave the thread without clicking on the link.

For me, it depends on the link

I like to use links in some of my posts, but I like to think the meat of the subject is in the actual post. If there's an addendum, or file location, or additional pictures/information, then I'll post a link, rather than spew a whole encyclopedia or 500 images for the people that are giving the topic a glance-over. I guess my information practice is a bit like a Wikipedia entry: enough to fill you in on something, but if you want more information, here's the links.

I agree with Rick, though. If your post is nothing but links to your YouTube page, I'll pass.

fwiw - I agree

and have no problem with this. Sometimes a link is best but only as an addendum to a meaty entry. Sort of like footnotes and addenda. Once again, just my lowly opinion.

Agreed

I also ignore posts that are nothing but links.  Smacks of click bait.  Subject alone is not enough in my view.

But if others want to use the forum that way it’s OK with me.  I assume if there’s really something worth seeing at the other end of the link I’ll find out about it via other means eventually.

I understand avoiding

I understand avoiding duplication of information, however, just a link on an opening for a BLOG or topic is a no go.

Eugene 

I agree with the OP. I've

I agree with the OP. I've seen too many thread subjects that say "My layout progress" and when you click on the thread it says "See my progress HERE" and it's a link to their blog or whatever. I'm not going to do it. Show me the pics without me having to go somewhere else.

Now if it's someone talking about a sale from a online retailer and they provide a link and I'm interested I'll follow it. 

Count me in as well. I will

Count me in as well. I will post links if I am only going to show some of the content from the link. That way my post is not 40 pages long and those that desire to see more info have an easy way to get there.

I feel the same way about most video up dates. If a written post is not available I will skip most of the talking heads as well, that is likely a spin off from the misinformation media we are saddled with now.

...

If you go to a pot luck and Karen brings her potato salad and everybody knows only Karen likes Karen's potato salad...you don't have to have any of Karen's potato salad...if you get my drift...

It does seem rude

to use Joe's website to lure clicks to another website. If I know the poster is a regular contributor/supporter of this website I'll check their links if it is something I'm interested in. If I don't recognize the poster as a MRH supporter  I'll ignore their links.....DaveB

Hm...

I guess I'm one of the "I don't click the link to read" types. That is, I typically I don't click. Sometimes maybe I'll click?

Hadn't thought of it until this thread, but I now see I, too, will pass over a link many more times than click a link.

Andre

Amen

Totally agree, I won't click to visit links in posts unless it's further information on something already discussed in the post.

But I think this opinion is fairly general judging by the number of visits to these posts that can be seen below the first post.

John

Make An Effort

For me, it depends on the subject and the posters efforts.  If there is some meat in his written portion and its followed by " for photos click here" I might try it.  If they post a couple pictures then have the click here for more pictures note I get an even better sense of whether I want to "go here".  If all they say in the post is one generic sentence with the click here note I move on without even bothering to check the photos.  

It takes work to create a nice post with photos, but I appreciate those that make that effort as I much prefer to see the photos on the topic page when I open it. 

Imagine Weekly Photo Fun- "for my model this week click here" 

Craig

I guess....

I am more word-oriented than picture oriented.  I like to read about something than look at the art, not just click and watch a video.....I usually will try one once in a while but if a poster leaves all links, I usually just ignore it.

Also I talk to much!

Peace Bill

Looks like I'm on the other side of the fence...

Actually I don't have a problem with links to the main article / home page of an idea, topic, blog, etc. To me, it avoids having the same things duplicated/posted more than once in multiple locations. Then, if/when the "owner" of that source has an update to make, he (or she) now has to remember the multiple locations and go to each & everyone to post the update. If he/she doesn't, then those "side" locations become stale....

Additionally, each unique post location has the risk of going off on a tangent and those will now become "new" and separate discussions. Sort of like cutting the end of rope - the end frays and blooms into multiple new strands.

Also, as a Viewer, if I like the post/topic, I can bookmark the source for future updates and be somewhat assured that it will contain any/all new info as opposed to having to go check the multiple locations on the same topic to see what may be different on each.

Similar to what I do at work. I upload my original work products in one location on the Company server. All updates/changes, etc., are in that same location. Wouldn't be very efficient to have the original work in one location, updates in another, discussions in a third, etc.

If however a respondent has something relevant to a discussion contained in their "home" blog, it would be better for them to cut/paste only that piece from their personal/home blog rather than saying something to the effect of "go to page 32 of in my blog. Here's the link to it." That IS annoying.

From a Curmudgeon in training....

Guess there is no point posting here....

So if I have a relevant web article, you guys don't want to read the article.

I always follow links, might learn something new.

Boy, the web has changed since I started my website 15 years ago.

Harold

Yeah, but...

... Do you just post a link, and nothing else?

That's what we're kvetching about. People who just post a link, with no text to tell us why we should give two whistles...

The web hasn't changed that much...

Context is necessary, and always has been

The web sure has changed in the last 15 years.  But the need for context has not.  You didn’t seen many web pages with only a title and a link to another web page 15 years ago either.  Not even 25 or 30 years ago when the web was just getting off the ground.

There is a big difference between a new thread with nothing but a subject and a single link, and a reply to a thread with a post that contains nothing but a link.  The first has no context to speak of, the second gets it’s context from the rest of the thread.

Harold...

Just talking about drive by postings w/links. Nothing else.

FWIW:

I ALWAYS click your links... well... except for the ones that go to the girlie sites.

(THAT ought to boost your click counts!)

Andre

Just plain lazy

I am sure I know to whom you are referring, and I don't bother even looking at those posts. To me that is just rude to post only a link. And if the person doesn't want to post duplicate material here that is in their personal blog, then why bother starting a post here in the first place. just plain lazy!

100 % personal opinion

This is all very much what one likes vs dislikes. 

With that said, a single thread or blog that you can have an updated posting with a link to your website or non MRH blog is better then a new thread post each time you update your website. 

This cleans up the forum, and also could take away the feel of a bad link/spam/ etc

Links only

I don’t click on link only threads. 

Tom

Let me get this straight

I am planning a youtube channel at some point. It will be comprised of all manner of life hacks and hobby information for my various interest, not the least of which is model railroading. If I'm understanding this right, most folks will be OK with me linking to my channel as long as there is "meat" in the blog post itself, right?

 There might be one introductory post here and elsewhere that basically says "Hey, check out my new youtube channel" but normally my post will be as overly verbose as they always are.