Making links contribute to character count?

[Yummychickenblue 301]

Why don't links contribute to the character count of a post? I think they should since when someone just asks for a link to something you need to pad out the post with bloat-text to be able to post it. Nobody likes bloated posts, not the poster, not readers, and not the staff.

 

Example of what I'm talking about: https://mlpforums.com/topic/135367-what-are-some-of-the-most-amazing-fan-projects-youve-seen/?p=4013714

[Jeric 46,854]

Several reasons. The first is that the setting and configuration built by IPS doesn't naturally allow that sort of granular control, Another reason is that links do not count for the same reasons that images do not count. While contributing to the whole of the content, linking something (be it a url or an image) should not take the place of textual content. Also it is a known pet peeve by many (including myself) to put the whole URL. This actually creates a poor user experience. Finally you have the reason why the CM exists in the first place. Since the spirit of the character minimum is to have you actually type something meaningful, links counting toward a character limit is counter to the philosophy on building MLPF around quality content. 

 

EXAMPLE OF GOOD AND BAD URL FORMATTING

 

Ouch burns eyes HALP -  https://mlpforums.com/user/25990-jeric/

Much better - My profile

 

Allowing urls to count toward the character count means the change of more of the ugly.

 

Anything that is meant to accentuate the user content (like a link )should not be counted the same as textual content in terms of effort. 

[Miles 2,512]

@@Yummychickenblue, 
 

EXAMPLE OF GOOD AND BAD URL FORMATTING

 

Ouch burns eyes HALP -  https://mlpforums.com/user/25990-jeric/

Much better - My profile

 

Allowing urls to count toward the character count means the change of more of the ugly.

 

Anything that is meant to accentuate the user content (like a link )should not be counted the same as textual content in terms of effort. 

 

And for those of whom like to know the actual address they are being linked to before they click on it, that is why web browsers will show you the URL when you hover over the hyperlink with the cursor.  

See:



~ Miles