Mistyped URLs Break MeFi

July 19, 2001 8:52 AM

Every once in a while, posts like this pop up where someone types an incorrect URL, usually forgetting to include the http://. It's an honest mistake, but did you ever think about adding a simple regex to correct URLs on the fly?
posted by tomorama to Feature Requests at 8:52 AM (4 comments total)

Perhaps something that would check if "http://" is at the beginning of the string, and affix it if not.
posted by tomorama at 9:00 AM on July 19, 2001

I suppose there is the off chance that someone is including a non-http link (gopher://, anybody?) that would make this not such a wise idea.. also, I think the average MeFite can figure out a busted link when he sees one.
posted by zempf at 9:22 AM on July 19, 2001

I could do this, I already do in user profiles, but I kinda like that people that don't know how to use preview, or look at the sample post get called on the carpet for their mistakes.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 9:27 AM on July 19, 2001

Matt, I think you deserve a TimTam for that.
posted by hijinx at 9:39 AM on July 19, 2001