About links: I think links can be very good as many of you have mentioned. I guess that's when someone asks a question and a link provides the answer.
Maybe I'm wrong for saying this, but I don't like links that end up being a substitute for discussion. After all, these boards are
discussion boards, are they not?
Let's say someone starts a thread with no comment at all, just a link. Someone reading it doesn't agree and posts an apposing link with no comment. So some threads end up being a battle of links instead of a discussion. "Oh, yeah?! Read this link!" Then a third party comes in and adds yet another link with no comment.
I sometimes wonder if the people putting up 2, 3, or 4 long-winded links even take the time to read them themselves. If they don't at least summarize the main point, then it's quite possible they haven't even read the links themselves. Giving the other person a long reading assignment is supposed to pass for having a discussion. Afterwards, a third party will come along and praise the linker for great links and it's likely that they haven't read all of them either. This is not a good example of a discussion.
