I just realised today that I use url shorteners a lot, I don't think I ever send links over IM or email without using an url shortener on the url I'm sending. I usually use goo.gl which is an url shortener from Google, they have an Chrome extension that allows me to create shortened urls with a simple keystroke. The links it outputs are like this:

http://goo.gl/vcG0

none of my friends complain about the shortened urls I send but I think that a lot of people have problems with them.

so my questions are; Do you use url shortening services? and what is your opinion on short urls? Do you like them or hate them?


my reason for using goo.gl is that I hate sending gigantic urls via IM since they take up so much space on the screen and they just clog up the conversation, especially when you're sending a lot of links.

I don't like them because i want to see where the link directs to before clicking it. Of course i only use forums so i've no opinion of them in IM :hehe:

I only use them when sending people links in MMORPGs. I never use them otherwise. I just use HTML tags or message board URL tags.

Don't use them, and don't like them. I want to be able to see where I'm going by looking at the URL.

I loathe them. I use https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/long-url-please/ to get rid of them but sometimes it doesn't work.