this post was submitted on 28 Jun 2021
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Books

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Recently there was kind of a discussion, with one user being a bit mean towards the other regarding the latter posting a link to Amazon.

While I do not agree with how they brought the discussion, I think it would be great to read everyone's opinion about what should be link, and if linking to specific websites should be forbidden.

For example, we have Open Library, BookWyrm, Inventaire, etc, if you only want to link to a book's information, and while it is harder to find a replacement to a web site where you can buy books, users can always search for it if they want.

What are your thoughts?

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 months ago

Hey there! Great topic for discussion. I totally get why someone might feel strongly about linking to Amazon—there are definitely pros and cons. But I think it’s all about balance and providing value to the community.

For example, linking to sites like Open Library or BookWyrm for info on books is awesome because it gives us alternatives to big corporations and supports more community-focused platforms. On the other hand, sometimes Amazon links are just super convenient for purchasing, especially if users are looking for something specific and fast.

Maybe we could encourage sharing info-rich links for general discussions and offer purchasing links when it genuinely adds value. Also, a friendly reminder to keep discussions respectful never hurts. Diversity of opinion is what makes forums like this great, but keeping it civil is key!

Just my two cents!

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago

Not sure i can post the link, anyway...

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 years ago

An alternative could be something like bookshop.org which is an online book store that supports independent retailers

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 years ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 years ago

I am Goodwash Thriftbooks, mighty pirate!

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 years ago

BookWyrm is a secondary source, so I don't think it's a good idea. Personally, I'd link to:

  • The book's website, if there is (which usually just links to amazon)
  • Wikipedia page
  • OpenLibrary

As for where to buy books, I've recently heard of Libreture, which have DRM-free books (see other DRM-free book source), though its database might be lacking because it's rather new.