Do readers and posters actually go out and read the information that a responder provides as a url link? Or do you tend to skip over 'links' and just read what people have typed out in detail?

Just curious...

I'm not sure what most people do, but I bet someone will post a link here that will tell us that information. LOL

Actually unless I'm REALLY curious, I rarely follow the link. I'm most likely to do the links when they are to a specific apartment or website.

I have found many, many interesting web sites by following links posted in messages here. Much of the most valuable trip planning information I have gleaned has been from such articles and web sites.

Sometimes.

Almost never.

Quite often.

Best wishes,

Rex

Rex, that's because you always post the links.

Sometimes, but more so if there are intriguing comments by other fodorites who've checked out the link.

Most times - I appreciate someone sharing and doing the work for me, esp. if it is a positive post about what I am considering.

Some posters lose out whn they don't click those links.

I like to check out the links. But then I do not read all the threads and I often skip long posts.

If the link refers to something I'm interested in, I'll check it out. Or if other posters have posted interesting follow-ups.

Unless I'm the OP, I rarely click on the Fodors links when someone refers back to another thread.

If I'm recommending a hotel or attraction that I have visited, I will usually include the website's link as a convenience to the poster. Whether they check it out or not is up to them.

I agree with Ira.

(sometimes)

I almost always follow links that seem relevant to the topic. The amount of information available is almost always more than the few sentences that will be posted here.

Often, but never if it reuires registration.

<<Often, but never if it re[q]uires registration...>

While I understand this reluctance, let me say that I have been treated to some excellent travel writing in newspapers (from the UK, for example, comes to mind...) that was worth the 30-40 seconds it took to register. I'm never sure what the publisher gains from free registration, but it is vastly preferable to the much less friendly alternative... access provided only to print subscribers - - such as my "old" hometown newspaper, the Columbus (Ohio) dispatch... just to name one.

I appreciate your responses... many times I do not have personal information about an inquiry but enjoy searching for helpful answers. I post links often because it is easier to point a person to the source than to skinny down the info and possibly lose interesting detail. I was wondering if the time spent doing this was useful - often it's great for me, if not for the OP, as I have learned a lot doing this...

I almost always go to the link that has been posted.
I appreciate the poster going to the trouble to post a link to further give information.
At the same time, I find if tiresome (sometimes) when someone who has no first hand knowledge will cut and paste loads and loads of information into a thread..a link would be sufficient. Especially when it often is not clear if this is in their words or something they Googled.

Depends completely what the subject is and what the link is to.
I seldom follow links where the poster hasn't bothered explaining what the linked page is about - when their entire message is just an anonymous link and nothing more.
However, if the poster explains what the link is to and if it interests me, then yes, I'll follow it.