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I think the Stack Overflow guidelines have "solved" this problem in about the cleanest way currently possible: expect links to die, and include the relevant inf

I think the Stack Overflow guidelines have "solved" this problem in about the cleanest way currently possible: expect links to die, and include the relevant information in your answer. If the link still works when it gets clicked on that's a bonus, but it shouldn't need to be available for the content you're reading to be understandable.

juststeve 7y ago
And there's also the HTTP 300 codes if content has been moved.
- hk__2 7y ago
  These work only if you move stuff around on the same website. If you switch domains you can't just ask the new domain owner to redirect requests to your new website.
- jimws 7y ago
  When a website disappears completely, there is no web server to respond with HTTP 300.
shakna 7y ago
And directly quoting the information has been endangered by modern copyright directives. Will you still be allowed to do that in ten years? Or will aggressive takedown policies have forced a shift?
- thih9 7y ago
  > And directly quoting the information has been endangered by modern copyright directives. I guess paraphrasing or summarising hasn’t been prohibited. > will aggressive takedown policies have forced a shift? Shifting to prarphrasing or to summarising doesn’t sound too bad.
  - type0 7y ago
    That's not always possible without changing the subtleties and basic meaning, or even intention as well as discussing and questionioning what the author wanted to say with their sentence or paragraph. This is particularly tricky if you write political commentary on your site. Blog post of a politician or social media posts can't be quoted where there's already vaguely stated and often said politician removes the post after backlash so you wouldn't be able to link it.
    - true_religion 7y ago
      In the case of StackOverflow, if you can’t explain an answer in your own words, then you don’t really know the answer and no one should rely on your links to a supposedly authoritative source.

juststeve 7y ago

And there's also the HTTP 300 codes if content has been moved.

hk__2 7y ago
These work only if you move stuff around on the same website. If you switch domains you can't just ask the new domain owner to redirect requests to your new website.
jimws 7y ago
When a website disappears completely, there is no web server to respond with HTTP 300.

shakna 7y ago

And directly quoting the information has been endangered by modern copyright directives. Will you still be allowed to do that in ten years? Or will aggressive takedown policies have forced a shift?

thih9 7y ago
> And directly quoting the information has been endangered by modern copyright directives. I guess paraphrasing or summarising hasn’t been prohibited. > will aggressive takedown policies have forced a shift? Shifting to prarphrasing or to summarising doesn’t sound too bad.
- type0 7y ago
  That's not always possible without changing the subtleties and basic meaning, or even intention as well as discussing and questionioning what the author wanted to say with their sentence or paragraph. This is particularly tricky if you write political commentary on your site. Blog post of a politician or social media posts can't be quoted where there's already vaguely stated and often said politician removes the post after backlash so you wouldn't be able to link it.
  - true_religion 7y ago
    In the case of StackOverflow, if you can’t explain an answer in your own words, then you don’t really know the answer and no one should rely on your links to a supposedly authoritative source.