Comments on: Should I post this?

Should I post this?

OverlappingElvis — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:06:05 -0800

So I've been reading a lot about a particular issue I'm involved in as part of my job (and personally), and I think that a lot of the stuff I've been reading online is MeFi -worthy. At the same time, does the fact that I do have some personal stake in this stuff getting read (in the sense that it would make me happy if more people knew about this particular issue) make this a self-link? I didn't provide content to these sites, or have anything to do with what goes on there. Can I safely post these on the front page, or should I just not? Also, I know that once you ask yourself "should I post this" the answer is probably no. At the same time, I'm pretty passionate about this stuff and don't want to just not post anything...

By: Blazecock Pileon

Blazecock Pileon — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:14:13 -0800

If it's interesting, post it.

By: OverlappingElvis

OverlappingElvis — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:15:42 -0800

Agreed - I just don't want to be banned :)

By: found missing

found missing — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:19:38 -0800

Does the topic happen to be about increasing penis size? If so, I'd hold off on the FPP.

By: Floydd

Floydd — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:20:18 -0800

From the FAQ: It's against the rules to link to your own site, a site that you host or contribute to substantially or a site of someone who is a close friend or relative of yours.

By: ThePinkSuperhero

ThePinkSuperhero — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:20:37 -0800

One solid post about an issue you care about, based off of links that are great = yay, interesting!
Posting about the same issue every single day, where the quality of the links was irrelevant to your wanting to post it = boo, no good.

By: dersins

dersins — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:21:29 -0800

Rather than inviting the almost-inevitable MeTa shitstorm, you could always email one or more of the admins with the proposed post, and your personal connection to it, and inquire as to its appropriateness.

That's what I did with this post.

By: GuyZero

GuyZero — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:21:33 -0800

If you post on one issue too frequently, some MeFites will politely suggest that you get your own blog in which to promote awareness of this issue.

By: smackfu

smackfu — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:22:31 -0800

It doesn't make it a self link but it often makes it a bad link. Your filters tend to be a bit lowered toward things that you agree with.

By: jessamyn

jessamyn — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:24:14 -0800

That's what I did with this post.

Make sure you email the mod you know will have a soft spot for your particular topic also.

In short, if the people on the site you are linking to are your good friends or family members and you think that may either impact your view on how worthy the topic is or have it pass the "smell test" for self-links then don't do it. This is especially true if it's a sort of hobby horse "sign my petition" Very Important political topic. However if it's interesting, something people probably haven't seen before and likely to garner good discussion, go for it.

By: OverlappingElvis

OverlappingElvis — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:25:33 -0800

Thanks everyone for the advice - I think (per smackfu's comment) that the best thing for me to do is to shelve this for now and actually make sure I can make a good post out of this instead of just "a post that I happen to like." There's definitely a difference.

By: dersins

dersins — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:38:43 -0800

Make sure you email the mod you know will have a soft spot for your particular topic also.

Are you hinting that someone needs to put together a killer post on the recreational uses of poultry?

sorry.

By: jessamyn

jessamyn — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:11:09 -0800

sorry.

no, you aren't, but I can make you very very sorry.

By: ThePinkSuperhero

ThePinkSuperhero — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:13:01 -0800

Now THAT, that I would like to see a post about.

By: dersins

dersins — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:14:09 -0800

i am a tiny, pathetic, sorry little person and not worthy of your vengeance or even your scorn

By: EndsOfInvention

EndsOfInvention — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:21:12 -0800

I didn't provide content to these sites, or have anything to do with what goes on there.

I think that's the definition of "not a self-link".

By: cortex

cortex — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:29:35 -0800

Everybody is invited to Jessamyn's for scorn on the cob!

By: blue_beetle

blue_beetle — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:32:56 -0800

You should never post anything that you're interested in. Post things you hate, or have found by typing random URLs into the address bar of your browser. Anything else is unacceptable. Also, sarcasm is a must. Even when it's poorly used.

By: Deathalicious

Deathalicious — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:42:02 -0800

OverlappingElvis, please post it. Now that you've teased us it's mean. Just make it a fairly dense, explanatory post and put all the juicier and sketchier links on the more inside.

By: DarkForest

DarkForest — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:42:52 -0800

No thanks, I've been eating scorn on the cob too much lately. I'm up for some hot doggerels though.

By: It's Raining Florence Henderson

It's Raining Florence Henderson — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:49:52 -0800

Post things you hate

You're going to have to narrow that down a bit.

/eyeballkid

By: jessamyn

jessamyn — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:56:25 -0800

Everybody is invited to Jessamyn's for scorn on the cob!

Actually we are having lotuses. Tasty!

By: cortex

cortex — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:59:53 -0800

hurf durf flower eater

By: Ambrosia Voyeur

Ambrosia Voyeur — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 17:48:22 -0800

I'm pretty hungry, so I'll have the monetary unit of Lesotho, equal to 100 lisente.

By: stavrosthewonderchicken

stavrosthewonderchicken — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 18:12:23 -0800

Are you hinting that someone needs to put together a killer post on the recreational uses of poultry?

I'm not sure whether to glare or preen.

By: dersins

dersins — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 18:22:08 -0800

You should probably be afraid. Very afraid.

By: oaf

oaf — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 19:04:05 -0800

Does the topic happen to be about increasing penis size? If so, I'd hold off on the FPP.

Same goes for mesothelioma. (Did I spell that correctly? Firefox doesn't think so.)

By: davy

davy — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 20:24:24 -0800

Would each moderator please list his/her favorite topics for which he/she has a soft spot? I'd like to try to make at least one of you sorta happy just once.

By: Mitheral

Mitheral — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 21:05:43 -0800

The other thing is to try and avoid editorializing on the front page at least. Your pet topic post will go over a lot better if it's balanced (and not in the Fox way) and doesn't come across as axe grinding.

By: cortex

cortex — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 08:22:29 -0800

Same goes for mesothelioma.

$20 SAIT

(Did I spell that correctly? Firefox doesn't think so.)

Firefox wouldn't know if you spelled it wrong, either; it's just not in the standard dictionary. Be activist! Don't let Firefox limit your vocab; take the fight to it!