Self-Link

December 7, 2006 5:35 AM

It's on the borderline of why it isn't allowed, but it is an admitted self link.
posted by eriko to Etiquette/Policy at 5:35 AM (32 comments total)

In defense: Other, relevant links, and the self-link is merely to get the text of the legislation (as it currently stands) online.

Against: Self link. Front page. Dude.

Suggestion: torches and pitchforks. Stern warning, edit post to move link to comments, where it would be okay, and a long thread decrying on how we weren't able to use the torches and pitchforks.
posted by eriko at 5:35 AM on December 7, 2006

a long thread decrying on how we weren't able to use the torches and pitchforks.

How about cigarette lighters and dainty little dessert forks? Would that be OK?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:00 AM on December 7, 2006

I'm willing to let this slide with a firm slapping. Matt and/or Jess should just move the self-link out of the FPP and into a comment, which is what pivotal should have done in the first place.
posted by Plutor at 6:04 AM on December 7, 2006

This is the second time in a week someone's openly flaunted the no-self-link policy with the excuse that there are a bunch of other links thrown in there.

Aside from spam-prevention, I thought the whole point of the no-self-link policy was to prevent MeFi from turning into a place where people just link to their own blogs. I don't want to see a post every day that's like "hey guys, I really care about this subject, here's an essay I wrote about it, and here's links to the sources I used."
posted by rxrfrx at 6:17 AM on December 7, 2006

rxrfrx writes "I don't want to see a post every day that's like 'hey guys, I really care about this subject, here's an essay I wrote about it, and here's links to the sources I used.'"

I agree. The post in question doesn't seem too bad (although it is of the sign-my-petition variety), but it sets a bad precedent.
posted by OmieWise at 6:24 AM on December 7, 2006

spankings for everyone!
posted by carsonb at 6:33 AM on December 7, 2006

And then the oral sex!
posted by cortex at 6:47 AM on December 7, 2006

How is self-linking to your own bloggy-rant borderline?
posted by cillit bang at 6:59 AM on December 7, 2006

What cillit bang said.
posted by dobbs at 7:01 AM on December 7, 2006

I removed the self-link. The post is fine without it. I'll write pivotal a note.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:04 AM on December 7, 2006

How about writing a pivotal note, instead?
posted by OmieWise at 7:12 AM on December 7, 2006

I removed the self-link. The post is fine without it. I'll write pivotal a note.

How... understated.
posted by delmoi at 7:29 AM on December 7, 2006

How... understated.

Trust me, my note to pivotal was anything but.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:34 AM on December 7, 2006

He broke the rule deliberately, and he ought to be banned. If it's going to be a "cardinal sin" — which is what Matt called it just yesterday, when he said, "I don't believe in absolutes, but..." — then there shouldn't be exceptions, and certainly none for people who do it deliberately.
posted by cribcage at 7:36 AM on December 7, 2006

I have been naughty, and I deserve to be spanked.
posted by Meatbomb at 7:43 AM on December 7, 2006

No mercy. Take no prisoners. Or a firm note. That's good too.
posted by normy at 8:05 AM on December 7, 2006

The way this should go down is like that scene from Lonesome Dove.

Where the guy caught with the horse thieves is pleading for his life to the authorities, "But you know me! I used to be with you guys!"

And the guy with the rope replies, "It's like this: Once you were with us and now you are with them. We got rules. And anyone caught with stolen horses hangs."

The guy replies, desperately, "I only got involved with this bunch because I needed safe passage from Mexico. I ain't no horse thief."

And the guy with the rope is indifferent as he says "I am sure that’s true," and continues to work on fashioning a noose out of the rope.
posted by mlis at 8:11 AM on December 7, 2006

I say we stomp him!
Then we tattoo him!
Then we hang him!
And then we kill him!
posted by mr_crash_davis at 8:40 AM on December 7, 2006

But what if he was just drunk and wanted to share? Shouldn't we forgive him for that?
posted by interrobang at 8:43 AM on December 7, 2006

More about the spanking please.

Also - I'd like to see... more fairy stories about the police.
posted by Mister_A at 9:04 AM on December 7, 2006

Trust me, my note to pivotal was anything but.

So a non-pivotal note, eh?
posted by ODiV at 9:41 AM on December 7, 2006

He broke the rule deliberately, and he ought to be banned.

Or at least given a week's time out. Come on, the guy admitted it proudly and said "If I'm crucified for it then so be it." So... crucify him!

*distributes hammers, nails, sends out for vinegar*
posted by languagehat at 11:09 AM on December 7, 2006

I'd rather go after Barabas.
posted by yeti at 11:30 AM on December 7, 2006

Can you put me up for the night?
posted by cortex at 11:33 AM on December 7, 2006

There's one rule at MeFi. It's the cardinal sin, and that's basically on the level of murder in the real world.

But, heck, manslaughter happens all the time! We'll just pull that self link out just this once.
posted by Smart Dalek at 11:56 AM on December 7, 2006

I think I have room in the barn, cortex. Just stay away from my daughter.
posted by yeti at 12:06 PM on December 7, 2006

If someone finds it so necessary to make their pet issue point that they don't even care about risking bannination by self-linking, then an appropriate remedy would be delete his post.

"Oh, you thought that was super, duper really important and wanted us to act on it? Well you broke the cardinal rule so now no one will know about your little pet issue. How about THEM APPLES?"
posted by dios at 2:15 PM on December 7, 2006

Waterboard him! See if he'll confess to anything else!
posted by jefbla at 2:17 PM on December 7, 2006

Your favorite cardinal sin sucks.
posted by mattbucher at 2:58 PM on December 7, 2006

Flameouts may be fun, but crucifixions are sweet, dude.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:07 PM on December 7, 2006

Summa them there YouTube music posts get yanked, n'others don't. Summa them self-links'll getcha banned and some'll getcha what we like to call a firm note. So all yew trouble-makers n'outside agitators remember: that's jes' the way it is 'round here in MeFi town, and if you don't like it, well, yew kin jes' Fark off! Y'Digg?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:39 PM on December 7, 2006 [1 favorite]

dios, 1957 called. They'd like their witticisms back.
posted by bardic at 5:02 PM on December 7, 2006