Lots of internet bots, like for search engines, run around forums like ours and collect links to other websites. This gives them higher "search engine ratings" and stuff. We probably just don't want to inadvertently give higher ratings for websites we're not absolutely sure are "good" (and effectively promote their popularity as a result). At least that's how I understand it, maybe someone knows of a better reason. Maybe crazily popular "bad" websites it wouldn't matter like CNN or something cuz everybody knows them anyway, or neutral websites like AOL, MSN, or search engines and related stuff, but might care for websites like Rense and other questionable places. As a rule of thumb, if the website promotes any sort of idea, philosophies, etc - I don't put the link. Besides, I know those same bots would "associate" our website to theirs just by virtue of that link existing, and with that thought in mind, before I would post any link, I ask myself "Is there any reason why the association of that website to this forum could in any way harm the forum?". If the answer is "Yes" or "I don't know", I don't put the link to be safe (or disguise it with (dots) etc).highmystica said:
