https://bugzilla.wikimedia.org/show_bug.cgi?id=42085

--- Comment #9 from MZMcBride <[email protected]> 2012-11-14 00:25:16 UTC ---
(In reply to comment #8)
>> This seems to mostly come down to Twitter, which already has a bazillion URL
>> shorteners floating around it, including its own (t.co). I can't fathom a
>> reason you would use a shortened URL in a blog post and it's exactly that 
>> kind
>> of mis-use that I worry about.
> 
> Why would using a short URL in a blog post be a 'mis-use'? Is there something
> wrong with telling people URLs they can remember?

You seem to assume that people have an easier time remembering bit.ly/fdjs3423
than en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foo.

It's a mis-use because there's an actual cost to URL shortening. The primary
cost is in the introduction of a middle-man dependency, though there are other
costs associated as well. In instances where there's no (or almost no) benefit
to using a shortened URL (such as a blog, where you're not constrained by
arbitrary character limitations), the cost easily outweighs any benefit of
using a shortened URL.

This is all a bit tangential, though. I think it would be best if you started
an RFC on mediawiki.org about a URL shortener service, listing the various
use-cases and possibilities for a domain name, etc.

-- 
Configure bugmail: https://bugzilla.wikimedia.org/userprefs.cgi?tab=email
------- You are receiving this mail because: -------
You are the assignee for the bug.
You are on the CC list for the bug.

_______________________________________________
Wikibugs-l mailing list
[email protected]
https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikibugs-l

Reply via email to