Ask HN: When is OK to Post Links?

1 points by phemartin 2 years ago | 3 comments

I am the founder of Playtext.app, a tool that turns articles into audiobooks.

It's common to encounter sites like as `archive.ph`, `archive.org` high up in the comments. These links are particularly useful when articles are behind a paywall (eg. NYT articles).

Based on that, I started posting links to those articles linking up to the content.

Even though that's indirectly promoting my product, I believe it provides real value to the HN community since it not only serves the content but also helps people listen to it.

However, this has been flagged as spammy behavior.

So I'm wondering, why is it OK to post `archive.is` links, but not `playtext.app` links, since they both provide similar value?

I would love to know what you think!

---

References:

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36667840#36681336

[2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36678375&p=2#36680693

[3] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35538095#35570470

al2o3cr 2 years ago |

    So I'm wondering, why is it OK to post `archive.is` links,
    but not `playtext.app` links, since they both provide similar value?

They provide "similar value" but one is promoting YOUR product.

KomoD 2 years ago |

That I very much consider spammy, it's your own product, and nobody asked for it, and sure *you* believe it provides real value since you made it.

phemartin 2 years ago | |

Gotcha! Thanks for the feedback!