What is LJ doing to my links? Part 3

[shatterstripes]

So I was looking at some of the other LJ support requests involving outboundlink.net. I came across this support request, in which dstroy provides a Target link that outboundlink.net was completely mangling for her.

Well, outboundlink.net seems to have been upgraded, because it worked for me when I clicked on it. Since all LJ pages now include the

Comments

[mecurtin]

Thank you for your work -- I am linking to you.

[growly]

Just below your post on my f-page is a link to this: http://caffeinepuppy.livejournal.com/214632.html
Easy way for non code savvy people to fix it. Yay!

[shatterstripes]

Well, yes and no.

If you do that, LJ will stop dropping this code into pages it generates for you. But log out and look at the same pages, and it'll go back to sticking it in.

The real fix, which is part of what I've been doing, is to bitch loud enough that LJ realizes they've been caught doing something that makes their users start making noises about leaving, so they take it out. *grin*

[growly]

Well of course, but I have no illusions of LJ caring enough to remove it, so I'll take any fix I can get. :B

[shatterstripes]

"We're in the process of pulling this script as soon as we can."

How long that will be, I dunno.

[mystressxoxo]

So... this Driving Revenue place (with possible ties to outboundlink.net and cdnlayer.com) is in LJ's java script and changes affiliated outbound links by LJ members? (I am not too sharp about this stuff, but I couldn't help but be surprised at what everyone's uncovered!)

It sounds like LJ is using Affiliate VB from Driving Revenue. The description is the closest thing I could find to this situation:

Specifically designed and optimized for vBulletin, our patent pending software works by dynamically finding and appending your existing outbound links with a tracking code so that you earn revenue for driving sales to our partners. The original posted link is not modified, making this completely transparent to your members. Affiliate vB easily installs directly into your AdminCP as a plugin.Again, I am definitely no expert, but from everything I have seen, this was not an accident at all. It looks like a cover-up, and since it's hidden, this all being a "mistake" is believable. I would hope this isn't true at all because, if it is, they

[shatterstripes]

Yeah, the descriptions of DR's products really really closely match what's going on

[mystressxoxo]

Now I know why people were saying to fire the idiot who put them into LJ's console in the first place. Ahh... now it all makes sense, and like everyone else, I have to wonder WHYthis was even considered in the first place, and if LJ truly did not intend for this to happen, they should've been up front and honest about it to their members from the start. Stuff happens, especially with the internet, but the way they've dealt with this and their members' concerns is atrocious. It just adds to the frustration and distrust, and 'once bitten, twice shy'. I just don't get it. As you said so well: sloppy. The whole thing is sloppy.

=^;^=

[anodyna]

The original posted link is not modified, making this completely transparent to your members.

I like how their sales pitch uses the phrase "completely transparent" to mean the exact opposite.

transparent: characterized by visibility or accessibility of information especially concerning business practices

Yeah, that's what not they're selling, is it?