Oh -- sorry about that! I found it through stumbleupon and didn't realize there was an affiliate link at the end. It won't let me change the URL now though.
No need to apologize even if you did do it yourself. I checked your previous submissions and it is obvious you are not spamming HN. There is no shame in linking to a interesting product using an affiliate program. You are technically advertising for them after all and deserve a payment.
I do wonder how much you earned the Stumbleupon user though. A quick google search on the affiliate suffix shows he links to a few other DX products on SU and elsewhere. Today I'm sure he saw a boost in profits.
If they're interesting products, I think that's cool. We're capitalists here:-) No spam, though, of course.
Affiliate links?
Why not, if it's an interesting product? I don't begrudge one of us making a bit of cash for showing us something cool. On the other hand, if someone's spamming, throw the book at them! It's pretty clear that 'frisco' is a user who participates in this site and is not a spammer, though.
Because once you start to allow affiliate spam you might as well open the floodgates. Do you have any idea how fragile the submit page is vs the number of would be spammers that you'd have to defend against if you let it through ?
I think it's one of those things were it's not that hard to figure out. If you or I post a link to something with a link in it, it's likely to be as part of something else. I occasionally post a book link, for instance, but it's not something I do often or regularly for the sake of making money. Real spammers are unlikely to really participate in the community enough to not be completely obvious spammers. One glance at frisco's page, for instance, tells you that he's not.
