Skimlinks on Talk

Unless we write them backwards
But you're right, that will be cottoned on to as well...

THey will probably input the variations at some point so they still link

So when talking about certain super markets or products, we should now write As da, Tes Co or Bo Den, then they won't turn into links?

Oh sorry, just seen Amy's post that nouns no longer link. Yay!

Personally the link colour makes little difference, as I bet most people who use the site wouldn't realise that skim links are one colour and proper links a different colour. It's the misalignment of links that is my issue, which MN seems to be trying to address in specific cases, e.g. Waltons, but others are bound to crop up, and that doesn't do anything about the incongruity of writing something like mobile phone and having it turn into a link to a specific company.

It is better, but, as domeone has slready pointed out, it defeats the whole object as no one will click on them.
Fwiw, I never make purchases from 'click-throughs' anyway. Maybe it's mean-minded, but I usually navigate away ftom wherever I've seen the link and go straight to the retailer.

I think it is better now that the links are a different colour to user added links so it doesn't look like the poster has added them.

just devalues the MN forum for me.

This ^^

It's like you're putting words in our mouths. It's like you're dubbing us, putting adverts in our actual words.

It's intrusive and crosses the line IMO.

@JustineMumsnet - how long is a few weeks to see how things go? What is the review process? Is it going to taken onboard what users think of this sneaky, inaccurate advertising scam, or just whether it's making MN money?

What is the review criteria?

I hate this feature. I may flounce.

Oh no, Waltons! It's not like you called yourself Asda or Boden or owt, is it.

So if someone replies to you on a thread it will look like they are advertising sheds.

Bugger.

Thanks for nothing, MNHQ.

I've only been watching/here since the first day you were announced in the national press.

New name required, but I shouldn't have to!

one ridiculous 'doctor who' or 'waltons' then you are going to stop clicking, surely?

Thank you, Saucery I had a brief moment of hope that HQ might have taken the time to add my name to the excluded list, but I'm not so sure.

Testing: Waltons

I've found these links to be very intrusive and after clicking on one out of curiosity (before I read this thread) I now know not to ever click on another again.

There's already advertising on the MN site, I don't like this style of sneaky endorsement. It does not help or encourage me to visit the endorsed company - it just devalues the MN forum for me.

peaceout the problem with posting whole links is some of them are really looooooooong.

Im thinking more you mention say television and some text is added in to say that x TV is on offer with x retailer

I don't want my posts to be converted into spam and that's what is happening here

What next, an algorithm that edits your post if you mention certain words or phrases?

I've seen places that do that. If you post a swear word it could replace it. So if you wrote 'cunt' it would replace it with cupcake. Problem when you are talking about Scupcakeorpe

If I post a link I always post the whole link rather than embedding it in the text

That way my link is transparent, people can see what they are clicking on and hopefully cant be confused with the clickbait links that mnhq is infecting our posts with.

I can put up with adverts but having my words used to mean something I didn't intend is taking the piss.
What next, an algorithm that edits your post if you mention certain words or phrases?

Exactly Saucery

Well said.

I saw someone yesterday signpost their own links in brackets and disclaimer at the bottom that all others were not recommended by them.

Total faff to do every time though.

I get that some people don't like change and that sometimes MNHQ have to do things with their site that fit their business model and revenue needs etc. But once you've clicked one 'mobile phone' and it's taken you to one provider who may or may not be a bit shit anyway or one ridiculous 'doctor who' or 'waltons' then you are going to stop clicking, surely?

I have found myself now NOT including links to sites I'd recommend, because I'm not sure what else in my post is going to be linked to and I don't want my post to look ridiculous.

The thing is as well, now that MNHQ has helpfully made the skimlinks a different colour, no-one is going to click on them therefore they won't actually generate any revenue...

It's this kind of thing that I don't get. Who's going to click on the link to a shop that it's been listed as the worst of a bunch of others?