docx pseudo link

[James Sabre]

In thread https://coderanch.com/t/505292/Streams/java/read-out-link-urls-word I mentioned 'docx' and seem to have a generated pseudo link (double underlined) to a commercial web site for 'aspos.total'. I think (but can't be sure) I have seen adds for this at the top of the Java Ranch page so I have to assume that it is is a Java Ranch feature and not a Firefox feature.

I most definitely do not endorse this 'aspos.total' product but it is presented as if I had posted the link. Can someone confirm or otherwise that this is a Java Ranch feature. If it is a Java Ranch feature can someone tell me how to stop it since I do not want to be presented as endorsing commercial products that I don't want to endorse.

Edit : It seems that most times I post 'docx' in these forums but not in other forums it becomes a pseudo link.

Edit2: This is scary. Looking at the page source I see

a href="http://www.aspose.com/adtracker/?code=160846100719" class="scratch" title="Hot Dog! Aspose loves JavaRanch!" target="_new"

so this is definitely a Java Ranch feature!

[Ernest Friedman-Hill]

James,

Thanks very much for your feedback. Yes, it's a new advertising feature called inline advertising links. There are an increasing number of other sites on the web that do something similar; I've even seen sites where the paid links throw up popup windows if you mouse over them. Like other forms of advertising, they're meant to help us pay the bills around here.

The double-underline and the explanatory tooltip are intended to make it clear that the link comes from this site and not from you personally. For you, these signals don't succeed, and we appreciate hearing about that.

If other folks have opinions on this new Ranch feature, I encourage you to share them here. We listen to your feedback and we take it seriously.

[James Sabre]

Thanks for the response. I understand that you need to raise revenue but I don't like this approach. It looks like I am going to have to edit my posts to try to thwart the advertising. Since this is likely to be a display feature and not stored with the thread data this will only work for words currently in the 'dictionary'. Obviously, as words are added to the 'dictionary', views of old threads will acquire advertisements.

Would it be possible to add a general rider to the effect that these pseudo links in no way mean that the poster endorses the advertised product? If this were prominently positioned on each page it would to some extent alleviate my concerns.

[David O'Meara]

As the implementer of the functionality in question I'm sorry if it makes you uncomfortable. I'd be happy to discuss any changes that would allow us to include it without causing offence. It will cost you three horses ;)

To be honest though, this functionality grew from the API and FAQ links such as IOException and UseRealWords - it is all the same functionality.

[James Sabre]

David O'Meara wrote:As the implementer of the functionality in question I'm sorry if it makes you uncomfortable. I'd be happy to discuss any changes that would allow us to include it without causing offence. It will cost you three horses ;)

Cheap at half the price.

I have suggested that one adds a rider to each page saying that these links do not mean that posters endorse the linked products. Can this be achieved?

To be honest though, this functionality grew from the API and FAQ links such as IOException and UseRealWords - it is all the same functionality.

One can use an axe for both chopping wood and for murder.

[Henry Wong]

James Sabre wrote:
I have suggested that one adds a rider to each page saying that these links do not mean that posters endorse the linked products. Can this be achieved?

That's actually not a bad idea -- a footnote at the bottom of the page. Something as simple as "double-underline links are ads, blah blah blah, and does not represent the opinions of the poster", etc. Although admittedly, with the amount clutter at the bottom of the page. it may just get lost.

You can also do that without us (since you feel so strong about it). You can put a footnote in your signature. It's actually better since it is closer to your post, and likely to be read my other users. And who knows? If we like it, we may just take it for the page footnote.

Henry

[James Sabre]

Henry Wong wrote:
You can put a footnote in your signature.

My thought process had just come round to this as a solution. I'm obviously a lot slower than you Henry.

[paul wheaton]

Perhaps we could add a feature to the software so that if a person contributes, say, $200 to JavaRanch, their posts are never stained with this sort of thing.

[James Sabre]

paul wheaton wrote:Perhaps we could add a feature to the software so that if a person contributes, say, $200 to JavaRanch, their posts are never stained with this sort of thing.

Since this seems to be a 'view' function and not a 'model' function so when displaying the view of a thread each post in that thread will need to be checked to see if poster has paid his $200. If I just wanted to get rid of the pseudo links in my view then I could write a Firefox plugin to filter them out.

[Henry Wong]

James Sabre wrote:If I just wanted to get rid of the pseudo links in my view then I could write a Firefox plugin to filter them out.

Yes, but I thought your issue was due to percieved endorsement -- meaning you don't want any links on your post, for all users on the ranch. And you don't mind seeing links for other user's posts.

What you are now proposing, with the plugin (or was it Paul? not sure), is to remove all the links, for *all* the posts, but only for you.

Henry

[James Sabre]

Henry Wong wrote:

James Sabre wrote:If I just wanted to get rid of the pseudo links in my view then I could write a Firefox plugin to filter them out.

Yes, but I thought your issue was due to percieved endorsement -- meaning you don't want any links on your post, for all users on the ranch. And you don't mind seeing links for other user's posts.

What you are now proposing, with the plugin (or was it Paul? not sure), is to remove all the links, for *all* the posts, but only for you.

Henry

I think you misunderstand me. I'm saying that writing a Firefox plugin is not an option because it would only remove the links in my Firefox.

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

Right. I think the disclaimer solution is a good middle ground.