Using the swear filter to generate affiliate income through a forum?

Is this possible, would my users frown upon it?

[David001]

I am creating a site that searches out the best bargains for buying widgets online. It will feature discount codes, reviews of different widget shops and up to date info on sales etc.

The planned income source for the site is affiliate links to widget merchants that pay commission per sale.

I would like a forum on the site to add a stickyness for users and also as I hope to harness the power of a coummunity to find bargains themselves.

The thing I don't want is my forum becoming filled with non affiliate links to bargains which undermine my income.

Technically would it be possible to use the swear filter so that e.g. everytime someone posted:

http://www.example.com

it would be replaced with:

http://www.example.com/index.php?affiliate_id_here
?

Would this be possible even if they were linking to a product so I would probably only want to edit part of the address?

Do you think my users would be angry about this, do you think they would even notice? I would probably put an explanation somewhere but if it is going to annoy my users then it probably isn't worh the hassle!

I know thats lots of questions but I really would appreciate some input.

Thanks

[edited by: rogerd at 3:43 pm (utc) on Jan. 6, 2006]
[edit reason] examplified [/edit]

[rogerd]

Welcome to WebmasterWorld, David001!

Some swear filters only replace strings with a single character or sting of that character. You'll probably have to custom code what you want, or find a hack.

One place to change the code might be in the automatic linking routine. Some forums will automatically change a text URL to a link - you could leave the text URL as is, but alter the actual link. You'd also have to catch user-entered URL= code.

[David001]

Thanks a lot for the suggestions, the altering of the text to link conversion code sounds good.

If you were a user would you think you were being exploited in that your links were being altered for financial gain? Or would you not care? Do you think you would even notice?

I was thinking that I would probably have to declare what I was doing somewhere, like a thread in an announcements forum. Then if someone kicks up a fuss I can show that I wasn't keeping it secret. Maybe I should put something about it in the user agreement when people register.

[linear]

I have participated in boards where it was stated clearly that amazon purchases (and a few other mrechants) made through links on the board (which contained the aff tracking id) support the operator of the board. That addresses half of the question--I think that if you disclose the affiliate relationship, the general reaction will be positive to the disclosure, or neutral at worst. If you don't disclose it, the real possibility exists that people perceive (correctly or otherwise) that you are taking advantage of them.

To address the link rewrites, I would think that anyone already inclined to see the situation as exploitative would point to that as evidence.

My opinion is disclose if you do rewrite. I can see situations where it reduces the burden on someone who would like to support the site by making a purchase, but is less inclined to go through the extra step of finding the aff banner and clicking it to start the purchase, when there's a direct product navigation link right at hand.

[rogerd]

You might have to strip out the member's affiliate code before you plug in your own. ;)

That might generate a reaction, though complaining would out the member as trying to profit from his fellow members.

[David001]

Thanks for some very interesting ideas