Why Ask Before Linking?

[Enbrethiliel]

+JMJ+

 

Several times--on this forum and on book blogs--I've read people counseling bloggers to ask another blogger's permission before linking to his post, even if you're linking to it because you really love it and want to send some traffic his way. I'm wondering what the reason for this point of etiquette is.

 

I have a blog that belongs in another corner of the blogosphere where it's perfectly all right to link to other people's posts without notifying them first. For instance, Blogger A might not only link to, but also quote from Blogger B's post (sometimes extensively!) in order to build his own argument. It's not stealing or plariarising because attributions are made and links are provided.

 

So let's say that Blogger C touched on something in a review that Blogger D agreed with and wanted to expand on in his own review, why would Blogger D have to wait for "permission" to link to and quote from Blogger C?

 

Also related: what's wrong with publishing first and then saying, "Hi! I loved your review so much that I couldn't help quoting it when I was writing my own! I hope it brings you traffic . . ." etc.?

[Enbrethiliel]

+JMJ+

 

You're right, Wendi. It's exactly the same thing!

 

And now I wonder where the "ask before linking" people are. Everyone here seems to agree that this rule is silly, but there must be someone who remembers what was said in its justification!

[ManOfLaBook.com]

I also don't see anything wrong with it. The Internet isn't free and stealing content is wrong, but being too restrictive defeats the purpose of the world wide web.

[Enbrethiliel]

+JMJ+

 

Good points!

[Joss Arden]

Hey JMJ - 

Just curious: did a particular blog prompt you to start this discussion? Are there actually blogs out there that specifically say "don't link to me without permission!"..? I'd be interested seeing one such blog, mostly because I'd like to see how it's worded, etc.

[Enbrethiliel]

+JMJ+

 

If I'd started this thread the first time I read someone give that advice, then I'd have a better answer for you, Joss.

 

I do know that I first came across the idea when I started blogging about books, about two years ago. Since that was also when I joined this forum, I did a quick search of old threads and came up with . . .

 

http://bookblogs.ning.com/forum/topics/need-help-re-stealing-blog?c...

 

Granted, it's not the exact same thing we're talking about here. If the site in question had original content and not just the first part of someone else's review (with the link to the rest), it might not have become a big issue.

[Rikki]

The whole internet is alive because people link to other websites, blog posts, articles etc. I can't imagine any reason why someone would be offended when someone else links to his/her article. 

In fact isn't the number of links to a certain page even relevant for page rank is search engines? So who would mind being linked to? If you put content out there it's there for everybody to find, read and point to. Isn't that what we all want? 

 

There is nothing wrong whatsoever about linking to people without asking permission first. 

 

 

[Enbrethiliel]

+JMJ+

 

That's another good point about page rankings, Rikki! Thanks for bringing it up.