The ethics of linkage
Kuro5hin has this nice
article explaining why big sites like
carefull when linking to smaller sites.
- Ask permission if the site isn’t a major site that can handle
the traffic. Obviously, Met4filter linking to Slashdot isn’t going
to cause a problem for Slashdot, or Slashdot linking to CNN.- Mirror the site. If the site owner is ameniable to having their
content exposed to the world, but doesn’t have the bandwidth/server
resources to handle it, they should ask permission to mirror the
site — at least temporarily — to handle the load. It hasn’t
happened yet, but I see a “reckless linking” lawsuit where someone
sues Slashdot or another site for causing monetary damages.- Drop the link. If the site owner isn’t willing to be mirrored,
and the site is obviously going to suffer if linked, then the post
should be dropped or not put up in the first place. Not because
Slashdot and the rest lack the legal right to link — but out of
common courtesy. Not everyone wants to share their Lego picture
gallery with the rest of the world, at least not all at once.
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