Links to other websites in discussion forums

I'm wondering if it's ok to post links to other websites/forums/facebook/news in the discussion forums, NOT the BOI? I would not be saying "Joe Blow is a thief" but rather "according to Joe Blow's website, this trait is genetic" or something along those lines.

Also, do images have to be by attachment in the discussion forums like they do in the BOI, or can they be linked from another website? If they must be by attachment, am I allowed to use images that aren't mine if I acknowledge copyright of photographer?

I did search through the feedback forum and I couldn't find what I was looking for, and I'm afraid I'm not that savvy to begin with. Thanks.

Originally Posted by lilgreenbee

I'm wondering if it's ok to post links to other websites/forums/facebook/news in the discussion forums, NOT the BOI? I would not be saying "Joe Blow is a thief" but rather "according to Joe Blow's website, this trait is genetic" or something along those lines.

Also, do images have to be by attachment in the discussion forums like they do in the BOI, or can they be linked from another website? If they must be by attachment, am I allowed to use images that aren't mine if I acknowledge copyright of photographer?

I did search through the feedback forum and I couldn't find what I was looking for, and I'm afraid I'm not that savvy to begin with. Thanks.

Links to other sites are OK. But not of the nature "Hey, come and visit my page!"

Of course, sites do go away or change their structure making the links inoperative, so sometimes having an actual conversation or text where you want it viewed will be the only way to insure that it will remain where you want it to be. If the text in the referring link is central to your discussion, bear in mind that if the link fails, so does your entire thread, because it no longer will make any sense to anyone reading it.

Attachments are preferred simply because photo hosting sites will often go under or terminate the capability of the images hosted there from being viewed on other sites. Sometimes the users themselves will abandon the account or delete the images. I frequent other sites in unrelated topics and it is pretty frustrating to be trying to read something of interest that references what used to be embedded images, but are no longer visible. So in effect, those threads are now useless because the text references images that are gone.

Copyright laws allow a loophole for the use of other's images and/or text when for review or discussion. I believe the term is "fair use", but be warned it can be a complex legal swamp to wade into trying to figure it out. Generally speaking, if someone takes exception to their photograph or text being used elsewhere, it might be removed upon request.

IMHO.

Thanks for explaining all that to me.