Are useful links allowed or not? -------> Ban appeal for SMZ_

[concepter]

If you want to refer to an external article is it possible to insert the link without being banned as happened to a friend?

If it is not possible to insert a link without being banned, why is there the possibility to insert links in the options?

Should the moderator who decides to ban for the presence of a link notify the OP of the fact?

[Upgrade00]

It is not against the rules to insert links into a thread, I have done that a lot. It's only against the rules when it's done with malicious intent (lik a malware), solely to advertise a site (like a referral link), if they used link shorteners, or if you're spamming the forum with links to a particular website.

Should the moderator who decides to ban for the presence of a link notify the OP of the fact?

Moderators already have a lot of work, notifying members of rules they should have read isn't one of them.

[CryptopreneurBrainboss]

Your friend most have been banned for spamming the forum with referral contents (links) or malicious ones as highlighted by Upgrade00, the forum doesn't ban for just posting a link. Infact it's mandatory to input a link source if the content you're posting was gotten from an online source that's why there's a possiblity of inserting a link in the options.

It is reasonable that this is the case, but my friend was banned for linking to a very long external article, of which he reposted the initial part: title, summary, index, link.

Again I doubt this to be true but can you drop the supposed link to your other account (your friends account) let it be reviewed and the cause of your banned will be told.

[isaac_clarke22]

~

Well yes it is possible, OP, in fact you must as what others mentioned above.  

Adding up all the points above, I would advice to use [url] tag when the link is a really really long one and just insert title of your source in between the tags, especially if the link is outside the forum.

[concepter]

post canceled due to lack of interest and support.

[Poker Player]

Without knowing more specifically about the case, we can't say more, but as you have been told, the most normal thing is that he was spamming. I don't think that a simple referral link will get you banned.

You can tell your "friend" to look in the email inbox, where there is usually a quote of the deleted post to post it here so we can analyze it better.

I usually post a lot of links too and I've never been banned for that.

This leads me to think that the use of links can be an excuse to be banned at any time, depending on how the moderator on duty at that moment thinks! (not necessarily with malice but only for the rush to act!)

No way.

[Rikafip]

It is reasonable that this is the case, but my friend was banned for linking to a very long external article, of which he reposted the initial part: title, summary, index, link.

First to say that this "asking for friend" thing always make me chuckle.

Now that you mentioned that "your friend" get banned for reposting a very long article, did he just copy/pasted whole artile and just shared link at the bottom, without providing own comment on the matter? I am asking because someone might report it for being a low quality post, which it is if it was made that way.

By the way, what's your "friend" username? Posts are archived here so we should be able to see the post that got him banned?

[concepter]

post canceled due to lack of interest and support.

[isaac_clarke22]

I guess OP's friend is this user SMZ_.
The user only has 3 posts based on the scraped posts - https://loyce.club/archive/members/336/3367517.html
From the scraped post, it seemed like the user copy-pasted a snippet of the medium article including the table of contents. I guess that led to the user's ban?

[concepter]

post canceled due to lack of interest and support.

[Xal0lex]

I assume that your friend was banned not for plagiarism, but for spam. Why create three(!) topics about the same thing?

[concepter]

post canceled due to lack of interest and support.

[actmyname]

Unfortunately, your friend probably was not directed to the Unofficial list of (official) Bitcointalk.org rules, guidelines, FAQ topic.

If they had read these rules, they probably would have been able to follow them. It's too bad - they should have known better.

[LoyceV]

my friend was banned for linking to a very long external article, of which he reposted the initial part: title, summary, index, link.

What exactly does the ban message show? If it's for plagiarism, it's usually mentioned.

their thread has been deleted with no explanation.
Then he tried to reopen another thread with the same content in the same section, and also in another (in doubt that the deletion was due to a wrong destination).

The thread being deleted should have been a strong hint. Creating the same thread again (and again) makes it spam.

This behavior cost him the definitive and no appeal ban on access!

There's always a possibility to appeal a ban, for instance by creating a topic about it here in Meta. Before doing so, it's probably wise to read the rules.

This leads me to think that the use of links can be an excuse to be banned at any time, depending on how the moderator on duty at that moment thinks! (not necessarily with malice but only for the rush to act!)

Mods are human, they make mistakes. Not often, and usually the spammer deserves it. But if mistakes are made, an appeal will give the case the attention it need to be corrected.

[actmyname]

The thread being deleted should have been a strong hint. Creating the same thread again (and again) makes it spam.

Having a link to the rule list would be a good idea for turning the hint into an explanation. You wouldn't even need to have moderators change anything (i.e. adding a reason for deletions)

[concepter]

post canceled due to lack of interest and support.

[Upgrade00]

What exactly does the ban message show? If it's for plagiarism, it's usually mentioned.

IIRC, all the banned messages are similar for all users regardless the reason with a hint to why the user was banned, using the two too reasons for ban. It should look something like this;

"Sorry banned user, you are banned from posting or sending personal messages on this forum.
You have been permanently banned by a forum moderator, probably due to spam or plagiarism. You may appeal here, but your chances are not good: banappeals...@ appeal mail"

The hint was recently added to the ban message.

My friend told me that he tried to appeal, but before he did, there was a warning that the chances of being accepted were almost non-existent

The chances are unlikely, but if they have a strong case, they should go ahead and appeal the ban.

[concepter]

post canceled due to lack of interest and support.

[LoyceV]

I ask you on behalf of my friend to support his reinstatement in the forum

In that case you should change the thread title, something like: "Ban appeal for SMZ_".

From his posts, it looks like the typical link spammer who copies some text. But from your explanation, it looks like an unintentional mistake.

[concepter]

post canceled due to lack of interest and support.