Forum Moderators: open
Example: instead of
[domain.com...]
Webmasterworld will use
http://www.webmasterworld.com/cgi-bin/redirect.cgi?url=http://www.domain.com
Moreover the redirection is "cloaked" by a title tag. :(
I don't like URL redirects for a couple of reasons:
1. If I rightclick the URL and add it to my bookmarks, it will use the redirect URL
2. Accessing links via URL redirection is slower
3. What if webmasterworld is down for some reasons?
Please rethink your policy of redirecting URL.
PS: Is this the correct forum to post this?
Yes it's the right forum, luma.
>What if webmasterworld is down for some reasons?
We're hardly ever down at all, but then people wouldn't be clicking on links here anyway, if we were.
>read about concerns that people where "spamming" the board but never noticed such a thing.
luma, if what you're saying is that you haven't noticed spam links, that's because we remove them. We generally catch them quickly enough so most people won't ever get to see them or even notice that they were there.
There's some "spam" that's more subtle than dropping URLs that's a little harder to spot, but that generally doesn't go unnoticed either.
Your comment that if the site is down then the links don't work sounds like you are a spammer ;) Are you? The argument doesn't make sense, how do you load the link if this site is down?
I have noticed that URLs from newbies are not automatically hyperlinked. :) I think that is an excellent idea! That would cut down on admins having to check those links. You should have to prove that you are trust worthy before you are given the ability/privilege to straight link.
Newbies = no auto links
Members = redirect links
Admin/Senior = straight links
And how did you find this out? ;)
And how did you find this out?
because I am a secret dual newbie spamming the world! Ah HA HA *evil laugh*
Because I read, I was reading newbie posts and I thought to myself. Hey, that is odd. How come that link they gave doesn't auto-link. Let me check the formating, yep. It checks out. Well, it must be because they are new. *thinking to myself, good move Brett, that will cut down on PR snipers*
This is a much better alternative than dropping links altogether.
> If I rightclick the URL and add it to my bookmarks, it will use the redirect URL
If you actually visit the link, it will bookmark the correct page
I believe that the majority of this community will gladly accept this policy; myself included!
With the spam problem increasing, we need to take counter-measures to protect our resources!
(edited by: msr986 at 8:21 pm (utc) on April 20, 2002)
domain = find domain in the link
If(select from authorized_domain_list where domain=domain){
// Links to sites in an authorized list should be allowed to be straight links.
// examples: google.com, WebmasterWorld.com, netsol.com, altavista.com, etc..
real_link(link);
}elseIf(select from banned_domain_list where domain=domain){
// Links to sites that are in the banned list should not be allowed to be direct, but make them redirect links
call redir_link(link);
} elseIf(select from spam_domain_list where domain=domain){
// Links to sites that are in the flagged as spam domains
call alert_admins();
call redir_link(link);
}elseif(select from authorized_straight_members where user=user){
// Links to from these members are allowed to be straight links.
real_link(link);
}elseif(select from banned_straight_members where user=user){
// Links to from these members are automatically redirect links.
call redir_link(link);
}elseif(select from authorized_member_level where level=user_level){
if(newbies){
// no linking, just text
call no_link(link);
}elseif(member){
call redir_link(link);
}elseif(senior/admin){
call real_link(link);
}
}else{
call redir_link(link);
}
Inside the function redir_link can you put window.status=URL inside the href, this is easier to read where I am going when people do something like this Some Place [webmasterworld.com]
We decided against it because it would just make more work for everyone that did want to click on a link. It would also be confusing to new users.
# robots.txt for http://www.webmasterworld.com/
User-agent: *
Disallow: /;) I'll post a more serious answer later...
This five-step process works for any security measure, past, present, or future:1) What problem does it solve?
2) How well does it solve the problem?
3) What new problems does it add?
4) What are the economic and social costs?
5) Given the above, is it worth the costs?
I would add:
6) Document (and publish) the answers to above questions
... more to come ...
See above.
>2) How well does it solve the problem?
Excellent.
>3) What new problems does it add?
- System load.
>4) What are the economic and social costs?
- none for econ up until the point it would require a larger server (doubtful)
- Social? Possible minor inconvience to members.
>5) Given the above, is it worth the costs?
For now, it appears the benefits outweight the cost. We'll see if that holds up for a few weeks and then recheck it.
The idea of giving different member status different priveledges is not a new idea and works well in every application of it I have seen.
Nice one Brett :)
Dazz
