Self-Linking on AskMe Permissible?

December 6, 2004 7:31 AM

How does one post a question regarding their homepage (that definately requires a link) in askmeta without getting people complaining about self promotion on metatalk?
posted by ralawrence to Etiquette/Policy at 7:31 AM (12 comments total)

Say you didn't want to self-promote it.

Or in this case, you already have. Problem solved.
posted by Stan Chin at 7:46 AM on December 6, 2004

i would do that, and also keep things in general terms on the front page (i have a problem with html, where two divs don't align [mi]) and put the link inside (the example is on my home page [link])
posted by andrew cooke at 8:12 AM on December 6, 2004

And be prepared for some members to take a slap at you anyway.

But don't put it on the front page, put it inside the question thread and you're less likely to get knocked around. Also, disclaim it and maybe even point to this thread.

Nice teaser though!
posted by fenriq at 9:12 AM on December 6, 2004

Unless of course, your homepage is actually www.buymyshit.org. In which case, get on yer asbestos undies. Just making sure that no-one sees this and thinks: aah! ask for assistance on a markup issue and drive traffic home, too. You know, that wasn't exactly excluded in your example.
posted by dash_slot- at 9:44 AM on December 6, 2004

You should just be really really sure that the link is necessary.

You can share code clippings and get advice without sending people to the site in question.

I'm not saying you HAVE to do that. But if you DID, it would fend off accusations of self-linking, which is what you asked.
posted by scarabic at 9:51 AM on December 6, 2004

Assuming it's a technical problem, step 1 is reducing the data to the simplest form displaying the behaviour you want anyway, so you should just show that simple form that contains nothing content-related.
posted by fvw at 10:02 AM on December 6, 2004

"… the behaviour you want to debug" I mean.
posted by fvw at 10:03 AM on December 6, 2004

Questions about technical problems: best case is to set up a page separate from your main site that demonstrates whatever it is you're asking about, rather than linking directly to the site. That will both help deflect criticism, and will make it easier for people to answer the question. There have been a number of these in the past, which drew no criticism at all.

Questions about the site itself are always going to be iffy, as it's difficult to tell whether it's an honest question or if the question is just a front for the link. However carefully framed, they'll get complaints. They won't be from me, though; I've used up my monthly grumpiness allotment.
posted by ook at 10:15 AM on December 6, 2004

And I've used up next month's, too!
posted by dash_slot- at 10:24 AM on December 6, 2004

Hey, I'm just proud of myself for lasting five whole days. Almost.
posted by ook at 10:59 AM on December 6, 2004

Have some of mine, I got a quotum increase for conscientiously using it up every month.
posted by fvw at 11:49 AM on December 6, 2004

Putting the link inside the thread seems completely pointless to me. What scarabic said. If the link is essential to the question, and it is a good question, then don't worry about it -- and don't worry about anyone that complains.

Just make damn sure it is a worthwhile question, though...
posted by nthdegx at 1:12 PM on December 6, 2004