Referral link spamming? December 26, 2005 9:45 AM   Subscribe

Referral link spamming?
posted by blag to Etiquette/Policy at 9:45 AM (7 comments total)

Independent Scholarship has posted a link to pickingadomainhost.com into every AskMe webhosting thread in the past week. The site is a single page designed to earn the owner $100 from each user who signs up to Dreamhost via his link. I have no proof that he is personally benefiting from the link – indeed, he seems to be denying that it is his site: "I find a lot of people feeling the way this guy does" – but it smells fishy. The domain is registered to Mike Donovan.

The first two links were deleted, the second two are still standing. Is there a rule on referral links? I've seen a few threads here on the subject but can't work out if there are any hard-and-fast rules. Changing the links to benefit Matt is one option, though this would imply some sort of personal recommendation from #1 and I, for one, would be very wary about recommending Dreamhost given their recent problems.

Anyway, perhaps a clarification would be help.

A very Merry Christmas to all and best wishes for a happy and healthy 2006.
posted by blag at 9:47 AM on December 26, 2005


Watson, where is my deerstalker hat?
posted by killdevil at 9:50 AM on December 26, 2005


/hands over deerstalker, opium
posted by blag at 10:02 AM on December 26, 2005


I think we need to place a swift end to referral links on Ask Metafilter. The whole point of AskMe is to get helpful personal advice from folks. You know, a community helping each other out. If it becomes a place to shill for stuff because someone makes money off of it, it will be ruined.

And before someone says it; yes, sometimes someone really does like what they're making referral fees off of. Too bad. In the interest of integrity link to it without the referral fee.
posted by Nelson at 10:03 AM on December 26, 2005


Posting it twice in the same thread?

*blows duck whistle*
posted by mediareport at 10:04 AM on December 26, 2005


Qvack?

Mmm. Toasty.
posted by loquacious at 10:17 AM on December 26, 2005


Two in the same thread is over the top, I removed them and blocked the account. He owns the domain he's been pimping.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 10:21 AM on December 26, 2005


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