Dumb question - asterisk links

[xxxxenophile]

In a few threads, I've seen coded links like the following:
http://*************/?id=XXXXX

I'm sure it's a local convention to use this to mask the real file host, but I can't seem to find the pace where it's decoded. And I've tried replacing it with "www.rapidshare.com" and other names of hosts I know, but.. could someone just tell me what the code is? Sorry to be a dummy...

[admin]

No. Those are not links that are meant to be decoded. It's a way of protecting us all from SPAM.

The links you have seen most likely contain domains that are being censored out by the forum software because they were being used for SPAM.

[xxxxenophile]

Okay, I get that, but if the links are to content that is relevant to the thread and uncontroversial, how can we get at them? It seems to me like the "spam care" is coming at a cost beyond what is helpful...

[Fango]

Originally Posted by xxxxenophile

Okay, I get that, but if the links are to content that is relevant to the thread and uncontroversial, how can we get at them? It seems to me like the "spam care" is coming at a cost beyond what is helpful...

Bottom line: If you see a link like that, the best course of action is to report the post so the Moderators can remove the bad link.

Fango