Well, not always.
Frames can present a problem, but then again, they also present a challenge. If someone wants to link to material on a web site that orgazines its information in frames it's necessary to first isolate the precise page that contains the desired information and identify its URL. Without a doubt, linking in this manner goes against the intentions of those who built the site (though sometimes frames are used by web designers who simply aren't aware of the navigational difficulties they create). It definitely is, however, in synch with the basic design principles of the web as described by Jakob Nielsen in one of his most famous columns:
The fundamental design of the Web is based on having the page as the atomic unit of information, and the notion of the page permeates all aspects of the Web. The simplicity of the original Web contributed to its ease of use and its rapid uptake.
Frames break the unified model of the Web and introduce a new way of looking at data that has not been well integrated into the other aspects of the Web. With frames, the user's view of information on the screen is now determined by a sequence of navigation actions rather than a single navigation action.
That classic column is from more than five years ago, but it still rings true. Only a couple of months ago Nielsen wrote about deep linking, and not surprisingly he was in favor. As for me, if I have to choose between being true to the intentions of a particular site, or to the basic design principles of the web, well, I know which one I choose.
Go to: I doubt that I could have pulled it off, or
Go to: How Deep is My Linking?