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Make Private (For security bugs or stuff only for moderators)

bwburke94 (Y2: Electric Boogaloo)
2019-11-16 17:59:22

I don't believe we have any official rule about it.

2025: the year it all ends?
Chabal2 Since: Jan, 2010
2019-11-16 18:27:38

Linking to porn or deliberately linking to wrong pages will likely get the user banned though.

Gofastmike Since: Mar, 2017
2019-11-16 18:27:39

Well, I'd like to get a response from a mod, but if there really is no rule about it, I'd strongly recommend that one be added. As my second example shows, this practice has the potential to cause major damage, not to mention that certain variants can go from trolling to phishing, maybe even malware. I may not be a mod myself, but if I was, I'd probably ban any troper who tried to use this tactic on that kind of scale. Of course, the rickroll version would probably just result in a friendly "knock it off" warning, considering they're basically invoking said meme. But if the link results in major consequences for the victim, I may just delete the offender's entire account outright.Wait... 

Edited by Gofastmike
Zuxtron (On A Trope Odyssey)
2019-11-16 18:43:47

Misleading and harmful links would violate the "Don't be a dick" rule.

GastonRabbit MOD (General of TV Troops)
2019-11-16 18:47:27

^I agree.

A link that claims to go to the TV Tropes Rickroll page but instead links to an actual Rickroll video would be a Sinkhole, but linking to porn is absolutely forbidden.

Also, I've seen mods say that they can't delete accounts.

Edited by GastonRabbit You can't just say "perchance".
WarJay77 (Troper Knight)
2019-11-16 19:40:16

Yeah, I don't think it's inherently against the rules; the malicious uses of it already fall under other rules.

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
Gofastmike Since: Mar, 2017
2019-11-16 23:03:35

So, long story short: My rickroll link doesn't count, but variants that are straight-up bad do? That... actually seems fair. Most memes aren't exactly mean unless used in certain ways, so why would a rickroll be counted the same as malware just because they're set off in the same way?

Also, minor question: Who clicked on the example link to see if it actually worked?

Edited by Gofastmike
Zuxtron (On A Trope Odyssey)
2019-11-17 11:41:26

It depends on context. If you write an example which claims to have a link to a relevant video, but it's actually a Rick Roll, that could be seen as a form of vandalism.

(I read your entire post first, so I guessed that the link was a Rick Roll and didn't click.)

Gofastmike Since: Mar, 2017
2019-11-18 00:10:39

Well, if it's context-dependent, my rickroll link still doesn't count because it's basically a self-demonstrating example: A textbook rickroll that's disguised as a rickroll-related article. Falling for it is just part of the territory. Doubly so if the entire conversation was re: rickroll, or even related memes.

I get it if just firing off a rickroll in general in an improper setting would count as dickish anyhow, but I digress. What I'm understanding is that as long as it isn't overtly disruptive, it doesn't matter that one link is disguised as another, at least on TV Tropes. Heck, you could probably post a link to a video on Twitch that actually leads to the exact same video on YouTube without too much backlash.

Edited by Gofastmike
GnomeTitan Since: Aug, 2013
2019-11-18 02:17:43

Isn't this a form of Sinkhole? That means the rules against sinkholing should apply. Also, while Administrivia.Weblinks Are Not Examples doesn't address this directly, the reasoning there is relevant.

Edited by GnomeTitan
Fighteer MOD (Time Abyss)
2019-11-18 11:20:32

Mod speaking: Potholes should not be used in deceptive ways anywhere on the wiki. That's just common courtesy. Regarding this specific situation: Potholes made to look like an on-site link should never redirect the user to an off-site link. I don't care if you think you're being funny. The Rickroll meme is dated and potentially harmful in some situations. (Imagine a user browsing the site at work or school clicking on it while their speakers are on.)

Obviously, links, in any format, to porn, malware, or other malicious sites should be reported as spam and the user(s) responsible will be banned.

Edited by Fighteer "It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Gofastmike Since: Mar, 2017
2019-11-18 11:27:45

So basically, fake links are not allowed, period? That simplifies things. This here is why I specifically asked for a mod in my first reply. Everything up to this point appeared to be either ambiguously incomplete, or simply speculation. But now that we have a concrete fact in the mix, I think I can close this discussion by summing it up as "No, fake links aren't allowed."

Edited by Gofastmike
RallyBot2 (Elder Troper)
2019-11-18 12:24:42

It's amazing that we needed an actual ATT thread to hash out "don't be a dick."

MegaMarioMan (Ten years in the joint)
2019-11-18 13:47:00

I'm still not even sure what the OP was asking.

"Misleading links aren't allowed right? Just wanted to, make sure, yaknow"

XFllo Since: Aug, 2012
2019-11-18 14:32:58

^ Pretty much. The important part is not even Rule of Funny excuses this because it's potentially very harmful.

I think this can be closed, personally.

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