Posting source links to back up statements is a must on Metabunk. Statements made without a linked source, and especial statements that paraphrase a source, can be very misleading and will likely be deleted.
But while links are very important, they must be treated as additional references and not stand-alone content, so any content in the link that you refer to must also be in your post, quoted using "ex" tags.
If the information is visual, then screen grabs of relevant images must also be included in your comment.
A brief explanation for why you feel the quote you are quoting is relevant is also required.
The above also applies to video links. Timestamps (ie hour:minute:second), in text, are required also for
video links even if you "copy url at current time" in a video.
Do not paraphrase links unless you are commenting on something you have fully quoted in context.
Do not quote more than is necessary, the more focussed you are then more likely it is that someone will read what is there, and the more useful your post will be.
More details:
Links
The reader should not have to click on a link in order to understand what the post is about. When you link to something to back up something you are discussing then:
Videos
The reader should not have to watch the video in order to understand what is in it.
Attachments
Image attachments should be inserted into the post, not attached at the end where the reader has to click on them. Attachments such as PDF files should be treated as links, with an explanation of what the file contains, and if possible quote the relevant text and/or images.
Use common sense. The degree to which the above applies will vary with the context.
[Note: the link policy was formally known as the "no-click" policy, however people often interpreted that as a "no-links" policy. The renaming is intended to reinforce that links are very desirable, and often required]
But while links are very important, they must be treated as additional references and not stand-alone content, so any content in the link that you refer to must also be in your post, quoted using "ex" tags.
If the information is visual, then screen grabs of relevant images must also be included in your comment.
A brief explanation for why you feel the quote you are quoting is relevant is also required.
The above also applies to video links. Timestamps (ie hour:minute:second), in text, are required also for
video links even if you "copy url at current time" in a video.
Do not paraphrase links unless you are commenting on something you have fully quoted in context.
Do not quote more than is necessary, the more focussed you are then more likely it is that someone will read what is there, and the more useful your post will be.
More details:
Links
The reader should not have to click on a link in order to understand what the post is about. When you link to something to back up something you are discussing then:
- Describe what is in the link, and why it is relevant to the thread topic.
- Quote relevant excerpts using EX tags,
- Include images and screen-grabs from the link.
- Do not use URL shorteners. They are unnecessary, hide the source, and may break.
Videos
The reader should not have to watch the video in order to understand what is in it.
- Describe what the video is about, explain how it is relevant.
- Use time codes to precisely locate the relevant portions of the video (preferably wth the time encoded in a link).
- Provide a transcript of any important speech or text in the video.
- Use annotated screen grabs to convey the content.
- If you can, create an animated looping GIF (under 2MB) of the most relevant part.
Attachments
Image attachments should be inserted into the post, not attached at the end where the reader has to click on them. Attachments such as PDF files should be treated as links, with an explanation of what the file contains, and if possible quote the relevant text and/or images.
Use common sense. The degree to which the above applies will vary with the context.
[Note: the link policy was formally known as the "no-click" policy, however people often interpreted that as a "no-links" policy. The renaming is intended to reinforce that links are very desirable, and often required]
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