New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Mangling URLs

post #1 of 13
12/11/09 at 6:27am
Thread Starter 
Guys I know my opinion doesn't count for much around here as far as complaints go, but this one really bothers me.

IMO it is COMPLETELY unacceptable to turn this:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/itunes-holiday-sampler/id344104720

Into this mess:
http://jbrlsr.com/?aid=0&bid=0&cid=812&tr=0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Falbum%2Fitunes-holiday-sampler%2Fid344104720&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hometheaterforum.com%2Fforum%2Fthread%2F278252%2Famazon-mp3-deal-of-the-day-free-tracks-50-for-5-titles%2F720%23post_3636984

And similar.

What the hell is jbrlsr?  You are twisting users posts and putting words in their mouths by changing their links.
Reply
post #2 of 13
12/12/09 at 10:30pm
Sam-
We are checking on this specific link.  At this time I think it is an auto referral link.  A lot of members have been asking for more affiliate links and even a storefront.  It is very difficult if not impossible to manage affiliate programs with every on line store, so we are working with a 3rd party to manage those for us.  To make things easier we auto script in referral code generation for the stores where an affiliate account exists.  Ron, Parker or I should have an update on Monday.
Reply
post #3 of 13
12/14/09 at 11:39am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam Gregorich View Post

At this time I think it is an auto referral link.

Thanks Adam.  I'm a little scared that you only think this is the case, as an owner I'd think it should be one of the things you are absolutely clear on.  If you don't know about it that's a really really troubling privacy issue. 

But let's assume for a second that this isn't all that nefarious and this is by design through the HTF leadership.  If that's the case I think you need to do a number of things to make this clear:

1.  Put out a broad announcement that this is your intention
2.  Note who your partner is and why we should trust them
And maybe:
3.  Give users a way to opt out of this. 

Is it right for every Amazon link to automatically give HTF credit?  I agree with you it is but like a Privacy statement you need an Affiliate statement or something similar just so users don't feel you are messing with the content they create...

Also, I have my own affiliate links and I never use them here at HTF, but lets say for a second I did, would you change my affiliate link to a HTF one or delete my post?  What's the appropriate thing for HTF to do here?  I don't know what the right answer is but you need transparency in what your strategy is please! 

Sam
Reply
post #4 of 13
12/14/09 at 12:24pm
Quote:
Also, I have my own affiliate links and I never use them here at HTF, but lets say for a second I did, would you change my affiliate link to a HTF one or delete my post?  What's the appropriate thing for HTF to do here?  I don't know what the right answer is but you need transparency in what your strategy is please! 
 

We have a bit of cart before the horse here and for that I apologize. We rolled it out before we officially announced it to test CPU and page view loads, to make sure the site would be OK with the additional load.  We are working on cutting a dedicated URL to a HTF storefront as part of it and should be communicating it if its ready by our next newsletter.  As to a members affiliate links, yes an affiliate link would be changed (or should be) as posting affiliate links has always been banned under HTF rule 6.  As to your other points the announcement should cover points 1 and 2. As to option 3 there is no real way without doing a LOT of coding and development work (that is better spent elsewhere) to do it.  I guess from a practical standpoint to opt out you would need to not post or click on external shopping links.  Believe it or not, while yes, this will hopefully generate revenue, we did this in response to member requests.
Reply
post #5 of 13
12/14/09 at 1:07pm
Thread Starter 
That's fine.  Again all I ask for is transparency.  And we've been assured a number of times that features will be tested before they are rolled out yet once again this doesn't seem to be true.  It's a trust thing.
Reply
post #6 of 13
12/14/09 at 1:14pm
Quote:
And we've been assured a number of times that features will be tested before they are rolled out yet once again this doesn't seem to be true.

It was tested prior to the soft launch we have now.  I run into this in my "day job" all the time.  We can only do so much testing on the lab system.  At some point you need a "real world" FOA. This is it.

It is a referral link BTW.
Reply
post #7 of 13
12/14/09 at 1:49pm
Thread Starter 
OK but that still doesn't spell out who the partner is nor why I should trust mangled links to them.  Are they direct links to the affiliate site or is there tracking being done in them too?  By the person who posted the link and or those who click on them?
Reply
post #8 of 13
12/14/09 at 3:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam Gregorich View Post



It was tested prior to the soft launch we have now.  I run into this in my "day job" all the time.  We can only do so much testing on the lab system.  At some point you need a "real world" FOA. This is it.

It is a referral link BTW.
Reply
post #9 of 13
12/14/09 at 4:41pm
Sam:

Thanks for the heads up on the redirects but like the newsletter it is handled for Huddler by a third party. We have had redirects on the forum for several years now. The difference is that Huddler does this using a third party company that is a highly vetted organization to do the redirects for them.

Parker
Reply
post #10 of 13
12/14/09 at 5:21pm
Thread Starter 
So you say, but then why all the secrecy about them Packy?  Do a google search for jbrlsr.com and you will see nothing but other forums wondering who the F these people are.  That's not an organization that inspires trust.  If your bank redirected you to an unknown url no way in hell would you go to it.  WHO IS JBRLSR?  Who backs them?  Who vetted them, certainly nobody I know and trust!

I wont click on redirects that go to a site like that and I encourage ALL HTFers to not click on that link until more details are know about them!

It's about trust.  Right now my trust of HTF is wavering and its GONE for huddler.  Name any other forum software that has logged you out ever, name another that does it on a regular basis like huddler does.  You guys used a no name brand to do your early mass mailings and now you are asking me to take on faith that your redirect software is legit.  I'm sorry Packy I don't buy it.

If you want to discuss this privately with me you are welcome to call my cell.  And I will go into detail with you the various ways in which this is a REALLY BAD IDEA.

Sam
Reply
post #11 of 13
12/14/09 at 5:22pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
http://whois.domaintools.com/jbrlsr.com

Registrant:
   Domains by Proxy, Inc.
   DomainsByProxy.com
   15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353
   Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
   United States

   Domain Name: JBRLSR.COM
      Created on: 10-Dec-08
      Expires on: 11-Dec-10
      Last Updated on: 11-Mar-09

   Administrative Contact:
      Private, Registration  
      Domains by Proxy, Inc.
      DomainsByProxy.com
      15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353
      Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
      United States
      (480) 624-2599      Fax -- (480) 624-2598

   Technical Contact:
      Private, Registration  
      Domains by Proxy, Inc.
      DomainsByProxy.com
      15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353
      Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
      United States
      (480) 624-2599      Fax -- (480) 624-2598

   Domain servers in listed order:
      NS.PROPAGATION.NET
      NS1.LAX.PROPAGATION.NET
      NS2.PROPAGATION.NET
      NS4.PROPAGATION.NET
      NS3.PROPAGATION.NET

Yeah that looks REAL trustworthy to me.
Reply
post #12 of 13
12/15/09 at 9:50am
My personal domains look the same way.  I was sick of getting spammed and cold called by sales staff.  While the site clearing cookies and logging you out after patches and bug fixes is a bit of an annoyance I hardly consider it nefarious.  Referral links are common.  There is nothing personally identifiable about our users in the referral links.  If you want to opt out then by all means don't post or click on links here.  The vetting process we have for screening partners and suppliers is not something that we discuss publicly.  Either you trust that we have done a good job or you don't.  Its your call and I take no offense if you don't.  I'll let Parker continue the discussion if he wishes to.
Reply
post #13 of 13
12/15/09 at 12:42pm
Thread Starter 
Fair enough, it's your house if that's how you guys want to run things all I can do is say I don't agree with it and carry on.  Without carrying on like a baby =)

But...  I guess I won't be posting to the Amazon MP3 threads any more until this policy is clearly posted somewhere where all users understand what you are doing and why, and have some assurance that there is no personally identifying tracking information in your redirects other than a single comment buried in this thread.

Edit I see this is somewhat covered by the rules link in your sig but I also note this lil clause:
Quote:

Information This Privacy Policy Does Not Apply To

This privacy policy does not apply to information collected about you by anyone except HTF and only applies to the web sites to which this policy is linked. Any information you provide when you visit web sites other than those covered by this policy or when you purchase any products or services, or enter contests, that may be linked to or advertised on our web site by companies other than HTF is subject to the privacy policies posted on those sites. Except as may be otherwise specified herein, this policy also does not apply to information you may provide to us offline.


How do I know what JBRSLR's privacy policy is if I don't know who they are.  I understand the munging of personally identifiable info in the whois database Adam for personal privacy but I don't agree that a service like a redirect which is modifying content that users have put in (and hence are staking their OWN trust on, ie if I post something that sends someone to a bad site I should be mortified) should be hidden behind such an opaque wall.
Edited by Sam Posten - 12/15/09 at 12:54pm
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home