New Kind of Ad? Investigating Links on PhysicsForums

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Users on PhysicsForums observed that certain words like "dell" and "apple" in posts are automatically linked to their respective websites when viewed by guests, but not when logged in. This phenomenon raises questions about whether it is a new advertising strategy or a technical issue. Several members confirmed they see these links only when logged out, suggesting it might be a feature affecting guest views. The discussion also humorously suggested that this could be perceived as spam. Overall, the community is curious about the implications of these automatic links.
lisab
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A while back I was on PF from a public computer. I didn't want to sign in on that machine, so I was browsing as a "guest".

I noticed something odd. In one of Evo's posts (I can't find it now), the letters "dell" were in a word, and they were linked to dell dot com. I thought, hmm that's odd.

Today I noticed the same thing, but with "apple".

So I did a test. I made a post with "dell" and "apple" in words and alone. When I'm signed in it looks just like I intended.

But when I sign out and look at it, "dell" and "apple" are links. I didn't put the links there.

Here's my test post. Does anyone else see links when they view it as a guest?

https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=3922650&postcount=15463

Is it a problem, or a new kind of ad?
 
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Lisab is spamming :eek: BAN HER!

I see the links when I'm logged out, but not when I'm logged in.
 
micromass said:
Lisab is spamming :eek: BAN HER!

I see the links when I'm logged out, but not when I'm logged in.

:-p

Yes that's when I see them, too, when I'm logged out. Seems weird to me!
 
Here's my test post. Does anyone else see links when they view it as a guest?
All our posts are considered as "google ad". :confused:
The linking happens when "showpost" file is generated for guest user.
 

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I get it too when I grapple with your modeller.
lol.
 
I want to thank those members who interacted with me a couple of years ago in two Optics Forum threads. They were @Drakkith, @hutchphd, @Gleb1964, and @KAHR-Alpha. I had something I wanted the scientific community to know and slipped a new idea in against the rules. Thank you also to @berkeman for suggesting paths to meet with academia. Anyway, I finally got a paper on the same matter as discussed in those forum threads, the fat lens model, got it peer-reviewed, and IJRAP...
This came up in my job today (UXP). Never thought to raise it here on PF till now. Hyperlinks really should be underlined at all times. PF only underlines them when they are rolled over. Colour alone (especially dark blue/purple) makes it difficult to spot a hyperlink in a large block of text (or even a small one). Not everyone can see perfectly. Even if they don't suffer from colour deficiency, not everyone has the visual acuity to distinguish two very close shades of text. Hover actions...
About 20 years ago, in my mid-30s (and with a BA in economics and a master's in business), I started taking night classes in physics hoping to eventually earn the science degree I'd always wanted but never pursued. I found physics forums and used it to ask questions I was unable to get answered from my textbooks or class lectures. Unfortunately, work and life got in the way and I never got further the freshman courses. Well, here it is 20 years later. I'm in my mid-50s now, and in a...

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