Do you bother to check out Links?

No, and every time I see one I have a gin instead

I suspect that people do not realise when a link is behind a firewall. they have read the first para of an article, it supports their point, so they post the link they never get far enough down to see it fade into a firewall. . Sometimes, it is enough just to see the two lines on a google search and post the link.

Did you mean paywall , M0nica ?

I sometimes forget that others won't be able to see something I'm posting - if I realise, tho, I'll copy & paste some or all of it into the thread.

MawtheMerrier

Please let’s not think or imagine any connection with Phoenix who was a much loved and I think even perhaps founder member of GN who sadly left us just a year ago on 18 August.
But her legacy (“Cursing the Gammon ”) lives on. ?

I have missed all the deleted posts - surely no-one is claiming to be lovely Phoenix, whom we miss so much and remember her quirky take on life?
Or perhaps I've misunderstood.

I've posted links occasionally and it's up to other posters whether or not they follow them.
Perhaps I won't in future

JaneJudge

No, and every time I see one I have a gin instead

?

Callistemon21

MawtheMerrier

Please let’s not think or imagine any connection with Phoenix who was a much loved and I think even perhaps founder member of GN who sadly left us just a year ago on 18 August.
But her legacy (“Cursing the Gammon ”) lives on. ?

I have missed all the deleted posts - surely no-one is claiming to be lovely Phoenix, whom we miss so much and remember her quirky take on life?
Or perhaps I've misunderstood.

I've posted links occasionally and it's up to other posters whether or not they follow them.
Perhaps I won't in future

No, nobody claiming to be Phoenix, but I wanted to make it clear that there was no connection when I read this

If you stray away from the topic of this thread, you might find that Firebird is another name for Phoenix

Elegran

I haven't been following StarDreamer's virtual tour, but Firebird's concerns about the vast number of interesting links that could take me away from Gransnet (for hours?) has made me think that I should take a look. Thank you, Firebird. You have fired my interest.

The thread does not always get added into the Active discussions list.

The thread is listed in the Culture/Arts forum.

LINK > www.gransnet.com/forums/culture_arts

I hope that you enjoy the virtual cruise from Mainz along the river Main, which includes some overland side trips too.

Sometimes I look at links, many times I don’t. If I open a link and see it comes from Twitter I close it straight down. I’m not interested in the views of anyone who writes on Twitter. If I was, I would open a Twitter account, but I’m not, and I don’t have a Twitter account.

No, nobody claiming to be Phoenix, but I wanted to make it clear that there was no connection when I read this :

If you stray away from the topic of this thread, you might find that Firebird is another name for Phoenix

Thanks MawtheMerrier
Perhaps it was a coincidence? I hope so.

That was me, and no, of course I wasn't suggesting that Firebird was anything to do with the late poster of that name. Whyever would I do that?

I simply meant that given the nature of Firebird's posts they might be someone who is no longer posting because of previous behaviour and has resurrected themselves. I thought my meaning was obvious, and it never crossed my mind that anyone would interpret it otherwise, much less post about their thoughts to suggest them to others.

I have a completely open mind to links. If someone quotes one to support a thesis I will look at it. Sometimes the links people quote are unreliable and dodgy in content and therefore there thesis is unsupported. I will also read a twitter reference because it may be from someone of significance saying something very stupid, and it is worth knowing that they have done so.

I trust other GN members putting a link in a post in an already progressing discussion, where it is clearly connected to what they are saying in their posts. I will also open a link in a new thread started by a regular poster whose name I recognise. malicious or advertising posts are usually fairly obvious and come from unknown posters.

I think it is a bit of a cop out to say never open a link ever, In many cases i have found it has opened up to me new and interesting areas of information.

If you're right Doodledog and I think you are I have a fairly good idea who.

Monica I would say that never opening a link in any circumstances shows a mind closed to the infinite amount of information that is available, but open to the fear and distrust spread by sensationalising journalists.

On the other hand, following every single one without using your own common sense would be like reading every single novel listed on Amazon -some brilliant stories, plus a lot of vacuous tripe with a few truly horrible experiences.

What worries me most about clicking on links is the danger of having your device infected by a virus. I noticed that Stardreamer asked people to click on a particular link and Miss Adventure said doing that had made her phone go crazy, going into her contacts and trying to send messages. I have good anti-virus protection but nevertheless I very rarely open a link.

I can't find that exchange of posts between StarDreamer and MissAdventure anywhere, Pincer Could you tell me where to look for it, please? Which thread? Approximately when?

pincers

What worries me most about clicking on links is the danger of having your device infected by a virus. I noticed that Stardreamer asked people to click on a particular link and Miss Adventure said doing that had made her phone go crazy, going into her contacts and trying to send messages. I have good anti-virus protection but nevertheless I very rarely open a link.

That is a problem with my phone, not the links.

Yes I think it's the whole idea that not doing something is somehow less risky than doing something. That's not true it's just different type of risks. I know someone who wont use internet banking because of the 'risk' , this decision has risks of it own.

Incidentally - you bought your virus protection so that you would be protected. Do trust it. Do you have safety belts in your car so that you can keep it in the garage and never go anywhere?

I'm quite able to manage my own old phone (which isn't the "latest iPhone" - shame on me!) So nobody needs worry.

Galaxy

Yes I think it's the whole idea that not doing something is somehow less risky than doing something. That's not true it's just different type of risks. I know someone who wont use internet banking because of the 'risk' , this decision has risks of it own.

Ah. Well I won't use internet banking because of the risk.

So what risks of its own does my decision have please?

I dont know about you but the person I am thinking of has to do a journey to the bank that involves driving, there will come a time probably when they are unable to drive, managing their own money independently will be more difficult.

And of course the risk of losing the money in transit, etc.

Elegran

I can't find that exchange of posts between StarDreamer and MissAdventure anywhere, Pincer Could you tell me where to look for it, please? Which thread? Approximately when?

Page 5 of the River Po cruise, Elegran.

No anti-virus software is 100% foolproof. My cousin is far more tech-savvy than I am and uses the same anti-virus software as I do but recently his phone was infected with a virus which resulted in all his contacts being sent a link to a pornographic website. I consider links carefully before clicking on them and I never click on them if the source isn't given. I think that's acting prudently and responsibly, not being ridiculously over-cautious.

Yes, I did say some links set my phone into overdrive.
As I've said, it's the phone.
Old and clapped out, like me

I can also confirm that not doing things online has caused me no end of trouble; job centre, bank balance, and so on.
It was all fine while I could pop into the bank, and what not, but now...
Well, online banking may have to go on my to-do list.