Talk:Airfix

Links to Airfix Forums

I would like to have the links to the Airfix forums added back. The links are

The links were deleted by NatureBoyMD on 21:47, 20 September 2007 with the reason External_links#Links_normally_to_be_avoided. I put the links back on 00:43, 24 September 2007 with the reason "They are used by modelers to help build and collect Airfix kits and contain much news and information about Airfix and their kits. Wikipedia says links to forums should normally be avoided, not that they have to be avoided."

The links were deleted by Statsone with the reason (to me) "Wikipedia is not a link farm. The links could easily be found by searching the internet." I strongly disagree with this. There are only four links, which is certainly far from an excessive list. It is true, if someone searches for "Airfix forum" they will find the forums. However, not everyone is aware that the Airfix forums exist. Having the links there provides a place where people looking for information on Airfix can get more detailed information. For example, the Airfix Tribute Forum has a listing and history of every Airfix kit ever issued.

Airfix itself used to have their own forum, with many thousands of members. When this forum was closed, many modellers lost their main source of information and news about Airfix kits, as the Airfix website was not updated very often. It did not occur to many of these modellers that independent Airfix forums started. We often get reports that the only reason they found the forums was due to the links in Wikipedia. Thus, I kindly ask that I can put the links back, without them having to be removed again. I believe having the links there makes the Airfix entry in Wikipedia that much more useful.

Steven Pietrobon 00:43, 25 September 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I'm inclined to agree with NatureBoy. Two of these forums come up right at the top of a simple google search, and the others can probably be easily located from there. So I don't see the need for these links. Gatoclass 05:49, 25 September 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Agreed. Information is more important than a list of link. --Statsone 13:39, 25 September 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Well, somebody agrees with me. Statsone has restored the links.

Gatoclass, many people don't know that the Airfix forums exists, and therefore don't perform a search. This has been shown by people only finding the forums through the links in Wikipedia. Doing a search just for Airfix does not give the forums, although it does the Airfix website, so by your logic we should also delete the link for the Airfix website!

Statsone, the links provide the reader with a source of information on Airfix (like the complete list and history of Airfix kits) that Wikipedia does not provide. Removing the links removes information. By your logic all links should be deleted!

I can understand your desire to delete unnecessary links, but I believe these links are very useful to people seeking more information about Airfix and their kits. Could you please reconsider and allow me to restore the links.

Steven Pietrobon 00:12, 26 September 2007 (UTC)[reply]