Hi all,

I thought this was the best place for us to discuss the posting of links in messages and how and when posts should be moderated. I'd like to hear your opinions and feelings on the matter as it seems it may be becoming a wider issue.

In particular, I'd like to gain your feedback on the following questions:

Are the Community Standards and Terms of Service clear in terms of what we will - and won't - allow?
Should links to other forums and message boards be allowed? If so, why? If not, are there any reasonable exceptions? If a link is to a site which also has a message board, should that be an issue?
When do you feel moderators should intervene in a post or thread?

At the end of the day, you are the Community. If there's something you feel that we should be doing more - or less - or better - please do let me know.

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Cheers,
Graeme Delap, Community Editor,
graeme.delap @ moneysupermarket.com (remove the spaces)

I think that a link should be allowed from regular contributors that do NOT link to sites that are in competition with MS. Using the green pips as the datum, this would stop new or potential spammers from placing links on the site, and yet would give greater flexibility to those who contribute to the forums more regularly than others. Although the moderators would always have the power of veto, this would reduce their need to exercise their e-Muscles!

Minimum of three/four green pips to post links in accordance with the current published instructions and you're away. A little code here, a patch there and we're off!

SHARK!

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For every positive action, there's an equal and opposite government plan.

Dear SHARK!

Great! I didn't understand internet security so you helped me. I don't understand your above thread either... :-)

drumster,

Why don't you tell us what you think of links being posted on the forums? You frequently let us know your opinions in other posts, why not here?

Landshark - I think that's a very fair and reasonable suggestion. What do the other forum members think?

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Cheers,
Graeme Delap, Community Editor,
graeme.delap @ moneysupermarket.com (remove the spaces)

http://www.insolvencyhelpline.co.uk/company-info/index.htm

I think that links like the above that are of great value to many members current and future should be in a newly created cross referenced permanent MS “catalogued library”. That would mean that a link of great value would not disappear as quickly as it appears simply because there is one reply which is not followed up, so the post sinks like a stone.

I think it would be of value to MS and members. As I am not, oh pick a name, the FSA I don’t have to stick rigidly to a remit so on a related point it would be of value to the aforementioned if companies like plusnet were given a place in the library. Say, does my broadband provider have a ‘library post’ on MS? click LIBRARY > BROADBAND > list of participating broadband providers.

CONTRIBUTORS?

For the ‘library’ to work the links have to be reliable technically (I got it wrong initially on my CREDIT REPAIR post) and content wise. That means input from MS. To give MS the least work you would need to authorise ‘safe pairs’ of hands to submit links which would upset many members left out and that’s unacceptable on two levels.

UPDATES

If the above doesn’t put off MS I imagine the prospect of keeping the library up to date may. Having said that, as we all know, I’m uselss at technology so maybe there is an easy way of checking that links remain current and relevant.

That do you?

Zorie Mistah Dee-lap-id-ate-d he got no menners. Hee meen f u (oops) wont hym 2 sae mor… – take it von meer u no want mor!

Most of the links I have seen that I do not like, that are of no use to others, but are from someone helping themselves in the hope of drumming up business.

The priority here is to help others when they ask for it. Not allowing vermin to take advantage. From what I have seen, steps are taken quickly to remove these.

I agree with sharky.

(I got lost half way through your post. Drumster!)

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Just food for thought!

I mirror Landsharks sentiments, I do use permitted links myself to constuctively provide information that helps a poster, particularly as it saves having to copy & paste or write long detailed replies into the thread.

I see it regularly where a recent member comes on and quotes something like, " I had great service from XXXXXX here's their website, what do you think, ?" ..... Well obviously I think that is spam straight away and should be removed, which in fact is usually done as soon as the moderators see it.......which is great because I do dislike spam and the ignorant people who post it, which I am glad to say is usually confined to a small minority of new members only.

The moderators seem to keep a very well balanced response in removing spam and allowing legitimate links to stay in place when using their discretion.....rules are difficult to enforce, but they are needed for the forums stability and credibility.

To add...no complaints to things staying as they are.

PS --- Mr big --- I get lost well before.. halfway through most of drumster's posts, if that's any consolation. The "Riddler" out of Batman would even have a problem. ??!!

Sorry if you got lost Mr big, I think the link may be that I'm thinking differently now that I'm all Brita -d up! :-)

drumster - Many thanks.

As I've said before, the forums are democratic - if a post receives plenty of replies, it will appear in the Hot Topics list.

A 'library' of useful links is a good idea - and could take the form of a 'Sticky' at the top of each forum containing relevant links to independent and governmental helplines and websites. If you have a list of useful links you'd like to see, email me directly - I'm happy to create and maintain them. Of course, we can put a general link to the CAB website in there, for example, but this doesn't really address the issue of posting links in a direct reponse to a member's query. As regards search, the forums' search engine is certainly an area I'm keen to develop and provide improved and more specific results - and this development is on-going.

So...what about those links in a post which aren't to independent or non-revenue generating websites? What about those directing members to alternative message boards?

PS: Please do thank your alter-ego for me. I should point out, however, that the last person to link my name to the word 'dilapidated' was in primary school. I think there may just be something in the Terms of Service regarding that. Why not take a look?

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Cheers,
Graeme Delap, Community Editor,
graeme.delap @ moneysupermarket.com (remove the spaces)

I don't understand 'message boards' as they relate to MS. I did Google but I just got confused. Please enlighten me at my earliest convenience otherwise I will bash you up at Milk break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

drumster:I don't understand 'message boards' as they relate to MS. I did Google but I just got confused. Please enlighten me at my earliest convenience otherwise I will bash you up at Milk break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ROFLMFAO! Ere, Drumster, are you RED ARMY in disguise? I think you should pair up for a civil ceremony! So much in common!

For those that haven't noticed, I tend to have a strong opinion on most things so I will be somewhat relaxed on this one in fear of my fingers being removed (!). On the topic of links to threads, I would agree with Shark's suggestion. Links to other websites after minimum of 3-4 green bars. At the end of the day, the green bar's have got to come in handy at some point! It would stop the spammers at any rate!

ROFLMHO too!!! I've also wondered whether Drumster and RED ARMY are the same people. They seem to be the only ones who can understand each other! I have to question my own sanity when I've read Drumsters posts, a strong cup of coffee and a quick shake of the head is usually needed post-reading, to clear my head! The Civil Ceremony would be a great laugh, can you imagine the clauses in the marriage agreement? ROFLMHO AGAIN!!!

Hi Graeme

I also agree with Sharkey. The green bars should count for something. I think the library suggestion could work ...... possibly. Library a la Drumster would be far too complicated but I'm sure MS could compile a list of the websites which members are often referred to on the forum.

Whilst we're about it Graeme, we've frequently asked for avatars and have frequently been promised them. Are we any nearer, please? Pretty please? Pretty, pretty please? ;o)

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Kind regards
Indi

“In the end, the love that you take is the love that you give”

As long as the links dont link to sites which have nothing to with the topic then we should be able to refer forum posties to anybody we want regardless of whether msm likes it or not,

the whole point of a forum is to give the poster the best advice we can,yet the moderators on here wont allow any links to.certain websites which contain abosolutley no offence material whatsoever,

so to advertise this section as a forum is a mis presentation and should not really be allowed,but hey if there is a rule its there to be broken,i just tell the postie to just go on google and type in the company name,will look forward to the day when msm relax their rules on the links issue,

Indi,seriosuly what is your problem,this post is about posting a link on the forum and you have turned into another personal insult towards me and drumster whom just for the record are not the same person,i dont really like him as a person,just think his posts are quite funny sometimes,i think you should just stick to the point about the thread and stop the b£$%^ing that you profess to hate on here and hate it whenever someone gives it you back.

If you dont,your just gonna make yourself look stupid,no one else,i guess its only cos your female freinds on here see fit to laugh at your immature comments,oh well at least you are not alone in your sad pathetic little world.

Oh RED, I was up all last night with a poorly child and it looks like I'll be up all night again tonight!!! I'm far too tired to be bothered with this rubbish.

Just can't resist saying that 'V' has also had a pot at you on this thread and yet you say nothing to him! Why is this so ??? .... is it because he's more than a match for you? ;o) Welcome back 'V' - what took you so long?

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Kind regards
Indi

“In the end, the love that you take is the love that you give”

I forgot to mention v,silly me,its just i have a real problem with your endless b&*%$ing on here,which if its rubbish and your child is sick,why not go and care for the kid instead of spending time on here replying to me.

V for the record,you are just as bad and ive reported both you and indi for making offence remarks about me and drumster,which had nothing to do with thread whatsoever.