@ehBeth,
I'm not against linking in a post as reference assuming the link is pertinent or they provide an area in the link page that is pertinent. I'm not against linking in a post as a news blurb. I do get frustrated with
"look what I thought up, its brilliant" - [url]link[/url]
1) they didn't come up with it themselves
2) they could summarize their source material before linking
Its the homework assignment, I may not be type A corporate lawyer busy, but who has the time for homework assigned from a forum that they are trying to use to relax.
That having been said, the OP was an Op/ed post and not meant to offend people who like linking.