How are the rules on "link dumps"? Should this be forbidden?

[LoyceV]

I've seen this so many times:
       
But I don't really know how to report it based on the unofficial forum rules.
This guy is clearly looking for Merit with his shitposts.

It's not even enough "news" for the Press board, and (apart from the incomplete link to only a domain name) OP doesn't add anything from himself. It's basically a link dump with additional copy/pasting. Is this lazy behaviour allowed? And if so, shouldn't that change?

Can we get a new Rule saying: "No link dumps"?

[Cuenta Alternativa]

I think it can be trashed due to low value according to the current unofficial rules, no matter the lenght of the post, but if you just report it writing 'low value' moderators might not get it.

Can we get a new Rule saying: "No link dumps"?

I support the motion.

[un_rank]

But I don't really know how to report it based on the unofficial forum rules.

Based on the board it is posted in it kind of violates rule no. 1, about zero value and pointless posts. In the press board it does not get the attention the user is looking for, so if those posts can be restricted to those boards, it would help to discourage the users to make them or force them to put in a bit of effort into the thread.

Can we get a new Rule saying: "No link dumps"?

I have always been meaning to ask, what are the steps in making a rule official?

- Jay -

[LoyceV]

what are the steps in making a rule official?

Allow me to quote theymos again:

~
I don't believe in having a set of hard rules which is to be applied to all cases. Whenever an argument starts looking like it was written by a lawyer, or relying overmuch on precedent, you've stopped thinking about the real case and have started using rules to retreat into moral and intellectual laziness, divorcing yourself from the decision you're about to make. If you're making a decision about a case, then you're responsible for that case, and you can't say, "I don't agree with it, but I was just enforcing the rules." Every case needs to be handled individually.

[NeuroticFish]

But I don't really know how to report it based on the unofficial forum rules.
~
Can we get a new Rule saying: "No link dumps"?

I would report it as spam (or link spam) since link dumps are also spam after all. However, interestingly, spam is also not clearly mentioned   (because imho spam can be different from 0-value and from off topic). But I have reported a spam many times and it was ok.

So yes, I agree, a clear rule about link dumps would be welcome (and I would add a clear separate rule on spam too).


But, as a "closing word", I think that one can report as anything close enough to what's the problem there, really. The mods can handle that very good even if it's not 100% by the book.

[Adbitco]

I think the best is just to report post and the mod could get it deleted asap, and if op continue posting it then ban will be more better because to me I can see the post to be plagiarism.
Just as you said, he thought copying and paste in that way would fetch him or her merits, I think is the right mod starts looking into this kind of post. I can see you already ignored him which is a very good alternatives to at least skip some of his nonsense post.

[_act_]

I would report it as spam (or link spam) since link dumps are also spam after all. However, interestingly, spam is also not clearly mentioned  (because imho spam can be different from 0-value and from off topic). But I have reported a spam many times and it was ok.

It is not a spam, but not a good way of posting either.

Assuming the user continue to create the same topic in different boards or on the same board. That can be reported as spam.

Or if a post carry no meaning at all, it is also a spam.

That post carry meaning, but which is no more new to us on this forum because we all know about Microstrategy, it is what we have discussed before about MicroStrategy, also because it is copied directly from a news site. The post is not necessary at all and no one gave it merit. There are many post like that on this forum which no one has given merit and not deleted by moderator.

The post can not be deleted because it is not plagiarism too.

[hugeblack]

Can we get a new Rule saying: "No link dumps"?

Unfortunately, some members of many signature campaigns do this, and yet they are paid. They simply search for any news, copy-paste with the source added, and get paid.
I tried to report some similar posts, but I do not see any deletion from mods. Perhaps the reason is that the presence of the article link is sufficient to not take action, but continuing with such actions may end up with the user being ignored.

[Lucius]

I reported it as a zero-effort low-value post + if it is about one and the same link, then also by advertising in the post, which is not allowed on the forum. In 99% of cases, such a report would be marked as good, so everyone who sees such posts should first of all not participate in such discussions, and if they report the post correctly, it will most likely be deleted.

[Xal0lex]

Allow me to express my opinion. I believe that posting a general link to a resource, instead of a specific link to the text being posted, is unacceptable. There should be a link directly to the text that is copied and posted on the forum. In any case, these are the requirements in our Russian section. Also, when copying and pasting text, a user comment must be present. In our Russian section, we have two notes to the forum rules which govern such behavior:

7. Posts must be original. Posts made on the principle of copy-paste from another resource is not allowed, if such posts are made specifically to increase the number of posts. Such posts fall under the first point of the rules.

...If you copy text from the Internet, in addition to linking to the source, you should share your constructive opinion about it, so if you have nothing to say, then there's no reason to post someone else's text.

[DooMAD]

I've been asking for this since 2019, so count me on board with it:

At the very least, I think a rule should be introduced (and enforced) that you have to include your own thoughts and opinions on the subject to accompany the article itself.  And not just a basic one-liner asking what other people think, either.

If people want to have a discussion about something interesting they've read, then a discussion board is the correct medium.  If, however, people just want to post links to stuff without adding any insights of their own, they should find somewhere else to waste time.

[NeuroticFish]

It is not a spam, but not a good way of posting either.

Assuming the user continue to create the same topic in different boards or on the same board. That can be reported as spam.

Or if a post carry no meaning at all, it is also a spam.

That post carry meaning, but which is no more new to us on this forum because we all know about Microstrategy, it is what we have discussed before about MicroStrategy, also because it is copied directly from a news site. The post is not necessary at all and no one gave it merit. There are many post like that on this forum which no one has given merit and not deleted by moderator.

The post can not be deleted because it is not plagiarism too.

You are right: it carries meaning, but it's not useful, nor necessary. It's a waste of space (and readers' time). And it ends with a link (maybe to a blog of him? I don't know).
Imho it's spam because it's a waste of space and probably also because of the "generic" link (but we may just have a different view on what is spam and that's also OK).


And now, as you said it... hmm.. it may actually be extremely close to plagiarism since no proper source is listed, plus, as @Xal0lex pointed out very good, the guy has said nothing more than the (more or less) "quoted" text.

[Aikidoka]

If I see a post like that I would simply report it as spam or add the user to my ignore list. I believe that if such posts receive a massive reports, mods will delete them asap. However, isn't that considered plagiarism? Even if the person posted a link it is evident that they just copied and pasted the content from that website. They should have at least quoted that (not the entire text) and made an effort to comment on it by adding value to their post.

This guy is clearly looking for Merit with his shitposts.

I don't see any chances for that user to gain any merits from such behavior even after 10 years of consistently posting trash like that. Personally, I choose not to read anything like that as I consider it a waste of time.

[BitcoinGirl.Club]

This guy is clearly looking for Merit with his shitposts.

I doubt.
[1.] He is looking to increase his activities
[2.] Is trying to get some backlinks.

Both from above or one of the above is true I guess.

On the other hand, haven't we seen some great forum members used to do even worse? Copied none English articles, translated it and posting without any reference link, telling it's in their opinion or translating an English article from internet and posting it on their local boards without giving any link at all? If they can become celebrity then why can't these newbies try the footprint. Although I doubt the same in the case of this spammer Basiyu.

Let's not restrict the newbies too much. They already have many restrictions. It's better to report if something looks odd.

[mprep]

In most cases it's just low value (rule 1). Report it as such.

[komisariatku]

[2.] Is trying to get some backlinks.

I think bitcointalk has a good ranking on google search engine. This action is not good if used to spam backlinks and improve site performance. Even though there is an easy way to get backlinks here. Simply by entering the website link in the profile.

I think there should be a limit regarding the indication of spam backlinks

Can we get a new Rule saying: "No link dumps"?

I support this

[Wiwo]

()

...If you copy text from the Internet, in addition to linking to the source, you should share your constructive opinion about it, so if you have nothing to say, then there's no reason to post someone else's text.

This rule has settled all the questions surrounding copying and pasting of external work here in the forum because any text that does not include any personal contribution to add to the discussion should either be treated as plagiarism or deleted outrightly, I have come across such posting habits lately the Nigeria local board but there are reported and moderators always do justice to such.

[dkbit98]

But I don't really know how to report it based on the unofficial forum rules.
This guy is clearly looking for Merit with his shitposts.

I would report this post as a spam especially if he is posting similar stuff like this multiple times.
It could even be considered as plagiarism if he didn't add quotes and if the didn't post any text of his won.
He probably owns multiple accounts and he is trying to rank up faster.

Can we get a new Rule saying: "No link dumps"?

It's not urgent to changes rules just because of this, it's better to make changes regarding AI generated posts that is more dangerous for forum.

[Upgrade00]

I doubt.
[1.] He is looking to increase his activities
[2.] Is trying to get some backlinks.

Posting with the sole purpose of increasing your activity or to improve the search ranking for a website (paid service or not) counts as spam. The user is putting no effort whatsoever into the posts made and does not contribute to the discussion after that.

Let's not restrict the newbies too much. They already have many restrictions. It's better to report if something looks odd.

Making it a rule does not means users that violate it would be banned, it would just make a clear rule about it that someone reporting can use as a reference. The users would be corrected of their mistakes early and not down what to do and what not to do.

[lovesmayfamilis]

Yes, this works as rule No. 1. In addition to what I said in another thread to this poster, I noticed that the moderators do not spare other posts that users leave on similar topics. They deleted all replies along with the topic.
Therefore, I would advise users not to respond to topics copied from other sources that do not reflect the feelings and opinions of the author. Value your time.
I see that this user has figured out his mistake and is no longer creating threads like this, but there will be others. Feel free to complain about such topics; it definitely won't get any worse.