I would like to politely ask that anyone posting game related files links that lead to a file sharing website to please say so in your post on these boards. The reason behind my request is that I followed one such link and wound up being charged $81.47 for something I should not have had to pay for. While most of the fault lies with me not paying attention to what I was clicking on, I also fault the site for having confusing information on how to download the wanted material. It took me several emails to get the site to agree to refund the charge but now I wonder when that will officially happen. So please put a mention in your post if your link goes to a file sharing site. I may be paranoid but I am severely afraid of such sites.
Just my 2 cp.
Which site was that?
I would like to politely ask that anyone posting game related files links that lead to a file sharing website to please say so in your post on these boards. The reason behind my request is that I followed one such link and wound up being charged $81.47 for something I should not have had to pay for. While most of the fault lies with me not paying attention to what I was clicking on, I also fault the site for having confusing information on how to download the wanted material. It took me several emails to get the site to agree to refund the charge but now I wonder when that will officially happen. So please put a mention in your post if your link goes to a file sharing site. I may be paranoid but I am severely afraid of such sites.
Just my 2 cp.
Actually, if someone is linking to a file sharing website, you should probably flag it with 'Copyright/Intellectual Property infringement' because we don't tolerate links to pirated material on these boards.
Ross, it was self created material, not pirated. However, it was created and posted on a file sharing site and that is my problem.
I believe the name of the final site was filefreedom.com, or something like that. Here is their first response to my refund request:
"Your order was:
- 3 Day Full & Unlimited Access (1.95 USD)
- 1 month subscription to PrivacyRescue.com - an additional service that ensures 100% privacy protection during any online activities (39.95 USD).
- Files request service & Additional search. You will get Free Updates & New releases all files which we will add in our system. This option costs 0.11 USD a day and the user is subscribed to this option for one year (39.95 USD).
Probably you didn't remove a checkbox beside additional service when you were making an order. According "Terms & Conditions":
"During the checkout process, the user is prompted to carefully check all payment details as well as the list of all additional options and products that are added to his membership package by default. The user can change contents of this package and uncheck options that he doesn't need."
While I will grant that I may be overreacting and there may not actually be any posting of self created files on file sharing sites it was a frustrating situation for me. And I would not like to go through it again.
Yikes! There are other more well known and reputable file sharing sites that don't trick you into purchasing an account and are simple enough to distribute self-created materials.
Can I get this so more people may see it?
Can I get this so more people may see it?
Only by bumping the thread, which is the reason why I found it :-)
For downloading RPG files, I trust either paizo or drivethrough. They are crystal clear about what costs are there.
It is nigh-impossible to draw a line between fan and professional stuff these days - there is a difference, of course, but drawing the line is not easy. Some publishers are one-man enterprises with access to a decent layout software, and that is all is needed. Is this fan stuff or is it professional? I would say at the moment where money is charged for the resulting stuff, the author is at least aspiring to be professional. Then, the author should be most careful about using some odd website with less than clear conditions for payments, lest he is being hold responsible for that.
Stefan
I just went to the site. It is a type of site that normally charges to download pirated material. Most file-sharing sites that are intended to be legit, scribd.com as an example, are free even.
PS:This does not mean a legit site can't have illegal files, but most are normally good about not allowing it to stay on the site.
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- 1 month subscription to PrivacyRescue.com - an additional service that ensures 100% privacy protection during any online activities (39.95 USD).
This really sets off red flags with me. You should call your credit card company and make sure this company doesn't put recurring charges on your card.
I am pretty paranoid about where I put my CCard info and when a site starts asking me for cards I don't expect I get out QUICK.
Follow up on this and watch your bills like a hawk for the next couple months because even if they reverse the current charges they may not remove the recurring charges.
My purpose was to ask those uploading to file sharing sites to please post a notice in their posts that you will go to that type of site to allow people to decide whether they want to risk going there or not. If I have a choice, I choose not to. I do not want to run a risk of the site uploading some of my Paizo files and it getting back to Paizo. Then they have to ban me from the site for contributing to a piratcy site. Yes, I am paranoid about those types of sites, and yes I am a computer illiterate.
Just to clarify:
Are you asking posters to mention that the link to something they posted for download is on a file sharing site?
Example (link leads to Paizo main page:):
Download my stuff (sharing site)
Or are you asking to be told in advance which site they are linking to?
I ask, because you can probably handle that on your end. (But, it does take having it explained first.)
Unless the poster is extremely tech savvy, and (usually) willing to spend a few bucks a month - at least - there isn't any convenient (and safe) way to link to stuff on their own computer.
ANSWER: Always assume file sharing site.
To see which site you are going to, hover the mouse pointer over the link (do NOT press any buttons). Somewhere on your browser will be displayed the URL. In Firefox, it is (normally) on the lower window bar, on the left. For some browsers a "tool tip" might pop up showing you the link. If you ask for a specific browser, I'll even try to find out the answer for you.
I appreciate it when posters give some clue as to what their links lead to (if it isn't obvious), but surfers need to teach themselves how to protect themselves too.
Unfortunately, that usually requires someone to ask... And all too often after a mistake such as yours...
I would appreciate anyone posting a link to say whether it goes to a file sharing site, or a site like Pathfinder Database, or Pathfinder Wiki, or another type such as those. The fact of the link going to a file sharing site is what definitely scares the bejesus out of me. As I said earlier I don't want to go to a file sharing/swapping site as it seems to be too easy for what is on my computer to be downloaded without my permission. I do not want to run that risk as small as it may be. I enjoy getting PDF's from Paizo, Green Ronin, Necromancer, etc, to risk being blackballed. I appreciate your clues as to how to tell where a link goes to without going there. Also, as I said earlier, I am a computer illiterate.
Just my 2 cp.
@Disenchanter, after thinking about your question here is my answer. If anyone that has posted here about their self-created files has them on a file sharing site that requires any type of fee to please make mention of it in your post here. So that people can decide before going to the site whether they want to continue and take a chance or not.
For those that may be wondering what sites I am referring to I believe I have seen material posted on Mediashare and Rapidshare.
Just my 2 cp.
