Freelancer ads on your posts?

I don't know how long this has been going on. Contextual links are being placed on your posts without your consent or knowledge.

Is that a bad thing? To my way of thinking - yes. Why?

At the very least it is a deceptive practice. Since I've been posting to this forum (over ten years now) I have always made recommendations and given links based on what I know and what I have experienced and can recommend to others. I think I have built a good reputation for being helpful among the WF members.

Now, links are being placed in my posts (not by me) making it look like I'm suggesting something or recommending a particular product or service when I'm not. My name and content is being exploited to give credence (validity) to these ads. It's like I'm giving my thumbs up to the reader to check out this product (that they have linked to) in my own copy.

Here is an example: see Post#2 and the clickable word "escrow." I didn't do that linking. You'll notice throughout this thread, the word "escrow" is clickable and someone besides me is making money from the link.

I personally think that my own posts ought to be my suggestions, not Freelancer's attempt to make money off my name. Yes, they own the forum. But, personally, I don't want my own links confused with those that I didn't specifically put into my own post.

And yes, I realize this type of advertising as well as AdWords and all the rest appear on web sites that may post my content. But to me, this is different as others' ads have never been placed inside or "on" my personal posts that I am aware of here on the WF.

Steve