Well, guess what: Linking is a privilege, not a right. Linking is currency. And the Macalope isn’t giving Macworld’s currency to a pundit unless he thinks the pundit deserves it.

He's right. The web isn't one big college paper that must be throughly cited. Links drive traffic and consequently profits. I want to be able to write about something without also handing the author a check.

Imagine you were required to link to the contribution page of a candidate or political party every time you mentioned them. You'd essentially be raising money for them even if you disagreed with their positions. Unheard of. Absurd. So is linking to everything you write about.