[WikiEN-l] Re: External links and self-linking to my site (NSK)

[dpbsmith at verizon.net]

Looks like a borderline case to me, because

a) It's not at all clear to me that http://portal.wikinerds.org/node/103 adds 
much to the http://en.wikipedia.org/Homo_floriensis article

b) Even if it does, it's not clear that the Wikinerds link is the best 
source, or even a particularly good source for that information. It is not 
nearly as close to the source, or as authoritative as several of the other 
links that are already in the article.

c) NSK does have a clear promotional interest in wanting to build up his 
site.

There is such a thing outright gross spamming. I don't think NSK is doing 
this. In the email world, outright gross spammers are the people who simply 
pump the stuff out in bulk, more or less acknowledge that it's spam, hang 
tough, and just defy anyone to stop them. In Wikipedia, it is people who 
systematically add links as fast they can type (or as fast a Wikipedia's 
servers can accept them!) There was (for example) a used bookstore site that 
was planting literally scores of links to the site, one in every article 
about an author whose books they carried.

NSK isn't doing anything like this.

On the other hand, my perception is that he _is_ seeking to find ways in 
which he can simultaneously help Wikipedia _and also_ promote his site as a 
byproduct.

This is skating on thin ice, and NSK should know it. 

There's a wide variation in peoples' attitude toward and trigger-happiness 
with things that are perceived as spam. NSK should not be surprised that some 
editors are going to delete this kind of link, with varying degrees of 
politeness.

I don't think there's any need for NSK to "leave Wikipedia" but I don't think 
he should be too surprised or indignant if links of this kind are removed. A 
reasonable reaction would be for him to exercise more restraint in adding 
them, and adding them only when it is clearer that the Wikinerds link 
_really_ is valuable. NSK should keep the frequently low. Add a note on the 
talk page justifying the link, because some people will tend to be trigger-
happy on anything that looks spammish, even if it really isn't. And if the 
links get deleted as spam, shrug it off.