7 ms·

Can we please have a rule against posting paywall links? I know we can find a cached version or search on Google or whatever, but it's still frustrating! We're

Can we please have a rule against posting paywall links? I know we can find a cached version or search on Google or whatever, but it's still frustrating! We're not talking about work-arounds. Imagine what our reaction will be if someone posts a link to their own blog which doesn't allow visitor to read the content without paying $1. Even if they have a work-around like you can inspect element and hide the paywall popup.

calcsam 12y ago
A simple way to get around this for the WSJ is to search the title on Google News. Click through and you just jumped the paywall.
- opendais 12y ago
  This actually isn't reliable. It doesn't work for me, for instance.
deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
malchow 12y ago
But what if it is news broken by WSJ proprietary investigation? Should there really be a rule on HN that dampens original reporting?
- johnward 12y ago
  It's not helpful, even if they break it first, if you cannot read the actual article.
  - ep103 12y ago
    The title alerted you to the news, you can search for coverage on other outlets after it breaks.
    - usea 12y ago
      The submitter can find another outlet and submit that. Submitting a paywall article is like submitting an item with no link at all, with text content "google it."
    - tree_of_item 12y ago
      > you can search The whole point of this site is so I don't have to search, I just have to come here.
- bowlofpetunias 12y ago
  The site is called Hacker News, not Hacker Support broken business models that keep content off the open web but get traffic by faking it. For the majority of readers here there is no news at the end of that link, just and advert for the WSJ's paywalled services. It's effectively spam for most of us.
ejdyksen 12y ago
I agree, this is annoying. This Google search link should do the trick. Edit: this is only somewhat reliable...YMMV. https://www.google.com/#q=site%3Awsj.com+%22Amazon+to+Buy+Video+Site+Twitch+for+More+Than+%241+Billion%22 https://www.google.com/#q=site%3Awsj.com+%22Amazon+to+Buy+Vi...
crisnoble 12y ago
Or at least a rule against paywalled links with only 113 words, and nothing more than a passing summary of the original story broken by another organization: https://www.theinformation.com/Amazon-Nears-Deal-to-Acquire-Twitch https://www.theinformation.com/Amazon-Nears-Deal-to-Acquire-...
- kudu 12y ago
  The WSJ's article isn't a summary of The Information's original story. They confirmed the report based on their own sources, which is completely legitimate even if they weren't the first ones to break the story.

calcsam 12y ago

A simple way to get around this for the WSJ is to search the title on Google News. Click through and you just jumped the paywall.

opendais 12y ago
This actually isn't reliable. It doesn't work for me, for instance.

deleted 12y ago

[deleted]

malchow 12y ago

But what if it is news broken by WSJ proprietary investigation? Should there really be a rule on HN that dampens original reporting?

johnward 12y ago
It's not helpful, even if they break it first, if you cannot read the actual article.
- ep103 12y ago
  The title alerted you to the news, you can search for coverage on other outlets after it breaks.
  - usea 12y ago
    The submitter can find another outlet and submit that. Submitting a paywall article is like submitting an item with no link at all, with text content "google it."
  - tree_of_item 12y ago
    > you can search The whole point of this site is so I don't have to search, I just have to come here.
bowlofpetunias 12y ago
The site is called Hacker News, not Hacker Support broken business models that keep content off the open web but get traffic by faking it. For the majority of readers here there is no news at the end of that link, just and advert for the WSJ's paywalled services. It's effectively spam for most of us.

ejdyksen 12y ago

I agree, this is annoying. This Google search link should do the trick. Edit: this is only somewhat reliable...YMMV. https://www.google.com/#q=site%3Awsj.com+%22Amazon+to+Buy+Video+Site+Twitch+for+More+Than+%241+Billion%22 https://www.google.com/#q=site%3Awsj.com+%22Amazon+to+Buy+Vi...

crisnoble 12y ago

Or at least a rule against paywalled links with only 113 words, and nothing more than a passing summary of the original story broken by another organization: https://www.theinformation.com/Amazon-Nears-Deal-to-Acquire-Twitch https://www.theinformation.com/Amazon-Nears-Deal-to-Acquire-...

kudu 12y ago
The WSJ's article isn't a summary of The Information's original story. They confirmed the report based on their own sources, which is completely legitimate even if they weren't the first ones to break the story.