[dctoedt]

> Can we please have a rule against posting paywall links?

Can we please stop already with the complaints about paywalls? Diligent, thoughtful journalism doesn't happen for free; it's great when HN links can be read for free, but paywalled links shouldn't be second-class citizens.

[KobaQ]

> Diligent, thoughtful journalism doesn't happen for free

A free to use website (with ads) doesn't mean the journalists aren't payed. Most of the time, they are.

Generally, there's nothing wrong with payed websites, but it makes it a bit frustrating for people at a discussion board for web articles. Especially when there are users who really can't afford them (from countries with less income than North America or Europe) and the same information is available on free to use websites.

[gabriel34]

I disagree, firstly on your call to stop complaints. Anyone should be able to question the status quo. Secondly, I disagree on treating paywalled links the same way "normal" links are treated because this breaks functions of the web. I dislike sites that allow indexing but hide the content from users of indexing sites, like scribd, which contents can be found on a search, but is behind a paywall when you try to access it. This breaks search engines, and this breaks HN. This practice breaks other sites and uses them as advertising spots.

[WoodenChair]

> This breaks search engines, and this breaks HN.

Paywalls might arguably break Hacker News (although that's debatable) but they certainly do not break search engines. The job of a search engine is to index all content. It makes no guarantee that you will not have to pay for the content it indexes. It only claims that the content it finds is relevant to your search.