I do not buy this Rules of Links idea. We do not need rules for this kind of yappetry stuff:
...professional publications usually don't link to the subject of their articles, where weblogs usually do. [It was] noted...in relation to the furor over a security whitepaper that got one of the authors fired. The professional articles didn't point to the whitepaper, thereby clearly breaking the Rule of Links. If you're writing about something that's on the web, at any length, the Rule of Links turns from should to must. It's disrespectful to your readers not to link to the subject of your article so they can form their own opinions.Puff-uppitry of the highest order. From the BloggerCon2003 site.The New York Times, always controversial, says it's their policy is not to link, that their pub is self-contained and complete. This is total bullshit. While I love the Times, and have been reading it my whole life, I know that they're crazy over there. Can't fool me.
Comments
Ben - October 1, 2003 3:07 am
I link to whatever I feel like, whenever I feel like, wherever I feel like it in the sentence. Sometimes I put thought into where the link goes. Sometimes I don't. Anyone that reads my site on a regualr basis will notice some posts bursting with links while others have close to none, if any at all. It usually has more to do with how bored/lazy I am than the "Rules of Links." If someone doesn't link to their subject, who cares? They've told the reader what it is so they can find it themselves. When I write an essay I cite things so people know what I'm talking about. If they're curious and want to know more they can go find the source. I'm not obligated to go get it from the library for them. Sheesh.
Rules are for suckers. It's the internet for crying out loud.
Alan - October 1, 2003 8:45 am
[applause]
The implication I like is the shift from blogs being an alternative to newspaper and other traditional media based opinions to what defines media opinions: "It's disrespectful to your readers not to link to the subject of your article so they can form their own opinions." Hoo-ey. I've been reading web newspapers for 8 years now and never assume that they should act like their more recent little noisey cousin, the blog.