Oh geeeeezzzzzz.... this makes me want to hit something!!!

(No offense to you -- I'm sure you're only one of about 8,361 gazillion people who do the same thing.)

Over the years, I have been insulted, screamed at, threatened (and if it weren't "virtual" I feel sure I would have been spat upon) for commiting the crime of making money on my site.

I don't know why you do it, but I know that's why tons of other people do it.

I'm usually very polite, but when people email me with this crap (again, no offense to you), I make no bones about the fact that they expect money for going to work every day, time is money, etc.

I know you aren't sure why you do it, but I suspect it has to do with some deep dark feeling that the people shouldn't be making money from these products.

Allow me to explain:

Some people just plop up affiliate links; that is less serious, IMHO.

Other people work their hineys off writing (or hunting down) related content, answering questions on bulletin boards and in emails, reading and reviewing tons of crap before they find the good stuff worth promoting, etc. They *work* for their money and are entitled to receive it without someone going through the back door.

Once in a great while I do avoid an affiliate link: if a certain affiliate (let's say John12345) has already sold me on a product and I'm just looking for more information, often I need to go back to the site where the product lives. I always remove the *other* affiliates' links when I go back because I feel John12345 deserves credit for the sale, and I don't want anybody else's affiliate link to cookie in over the top of his.

But I would never knowingly cut an affiliate out of a sale. To me, that's the same as talking to a car salesman for three hours, telling him you aren't interested, then going back on his day off to buy the car.

Hope this clears things up -- and again, no offense intended. You certainly aren't alone.

Luv,

MaaMaw