WARNING! Do not post to spam threads - Page 2

**pnewton** · #16 Mar 9, '12, 2:22 pm

One more question while we are clarifying this problem. I am frequently on in the middle of the night when few are around. In the event of really bad spam, like the guy that was able to post homosexual pornography in the middle of the night, in addition to reporting the post, is it of any additional benefit to send a message to any moderator that we see is currently online? I do not wish to be a pest, but I know this is one instance that everyone desires prompt action.

I have even wondered if there was a way to authorize some users to temporarily suspend such things pending moderator review just to have it removed quickly. Again, I am only speaking of pornography, not advertisment.

**Therese Martin** · #17 Mar 9, '12, 2:40 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by pnewton

One more question while we are clarifying this problem. I am frequently on in the middle of the night when few are around. In the event of really bad spam, like the guy that was able to post homosexual pornography in the middle of the night, in addition to reporting the post, is it of any additional benefit to send a message to any moderator that we see is currently online? I do not wish to be a pest, but I know this is one instance that everyone desires prompt action.

If you see a mod online, it is fine to send that person one PM to let him or her know there is a problem.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pnewton

I have even wondered if there was a way to authorize some users to temporarily suspend such things pending moderator review just to have it removed quickly. Again, I am only speaking of pornography, not advertisment.

While this idea has merit, our system does not currently allow for such an option.

TheRealJuliane · #18 Mar 10, '12, 9:33 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Bay

Usually you just need to report one. We normally check to see if they post more than once as we clean up.

Thank you, I sometimes report more than one, I will refrain from doing that.

DexUK · #19 Mar 11, '12, 5:35 pm

While I appreciate that you guys have extra work to do when cleaning up a two-posting thread rather than a one-posting thread, with the best will in the world, it does seem to me to be a little harsh to issue an infraction to a person who is innocently letting the rest of the community know that they don't need to go to the effort of reporting spam because it's already been done? The alternative is potentially getting dozens or more spam reports which even if it doesn't actually end up wasting the mods' time, still wastes lots of individual users' time.

Perhaps there could be some consideration of coding some sort of visual flag for a reported thread once someone has reported it so that wouldn't lead lots of people to report the same thread?

I'll happily abide by the rule now I've heard about it since I understand the problems caused, I'm just concerned for the pain that an as-yet-undeleted unpleasant thread might be causing to multiple individuals who will feel duty bound to report it. If they then post 'reported' and get punished for it, the end result will be either that everyone who sees a dodgy thread will feel compelled to report every one they see or that nobody may report anything when assuming that somebody else must have already done so.

Edmundus1581 · #20 Mar 11, '12, 6:58 pm

This problem could be solved automatically by preventing new users from posting links. The spams are easily identified as they come from a user who has just signed up, and then posts a link to an external site.

If users were prevented from posting links until they had, say 5 posts and 1 week membership, then there would be no spam.

I've seen this in stackoverflow.com - and it hasn't prevented millions of users from signing up and partcipating.

But, surely I'm not the first person to think of that?

**grannymh** · #21 Mar 13, '12, 6:41 pm

Pardon my ignorance. But what is a spam thread and how do I recognize.it?
I thought spam was something I received in an e-mail.

I saw a post above which talked about an ad???

Corki · #22 Mar 13, '12, 6:49 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edmundus1581

This problem could be solved automatically by preventing new users from posting links.

AMEN!!!

Corki · #23 Mar 13, '12, 6:51 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by grannymh

Pardon my ignorance. But what is a spam thread and how do I recognize.it?
I thought spam was something I received in an e-mail.

I saw a post above which talked about an ad???

Lately, most of the spam threads are posts from brand new users inviting you to click on a link and see some new movie for free or to get live streaming of a sporting event. Sometimes they are just advertising. There was a series of them a few months ago with titles on the theme of "do you think my girlfriend should wear this?".

TheRealJuliane · #24 Mar 13, '12, 7:05 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edmundus1581

This problem could be solved automatically by preventing new users from posting links. The spams are easily identified as they come from a user who has just signed up, and then posts a link to an external site.

If users were prevented from posting links until they had, say 5 posts and 1 week membership, then there would be no spam.

I've seen this in stackoverflow.com - and it hasn't prevented millions of users from signing up and partcipating.

But, surely I'm not the first person to think of that?

Excellent idea! Mods, how about it?

**grannymh** · #25 Mar 13, '12, 7:08 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corki

Lately, most of the spam threads are posts from brand new users inviting you to click on a link and see some new movie for free or to get live streaming of a sporting event. Sometimes they are just advertising. There was a series of them a few months ago with titles on the theme of "do you think my girlfriend should wear this?".

Thanks.

How can I know if it is a spam thread if I normally do not read all posts and rarely use links. In other words, since I usually just scan threads, I could post to something which interests me and not know I wasn't suppose to post on that thread.

I do appreciate the work of Mods cleaning up the threads. A few years back, one night, I found a really bad pronographic picture in a post itself and of course reported it. I just don't want to accidentally add unnessary work for the Mods.

**Dale_M** · #26 Mar 13, '12, 7:25 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by grannymh

Thanks.

How can I know if it is a spam thread if I normally do not read all posts and rarely use links. In other words, since I usually just scan threads, I could post to something which interests me and not know I wasn't suppose to post on that thread.

They are usually very obvious, with inappropriate content for the thread or forum in which they are posted. I sent you a PM with an example of some recent advertising spam (which I also reported)

Edmundus1581 · #27 Mar 13, '12, 8:13 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRealJuliane

Excellent idea! Mods, how about it?

Thanks for the support, Julian!

All the best from Oz!

KevinAK · #28 Mar 19, '12, 10:04 am

To the moderators, FYI -- I posted on spam thread today. Someone had posted they had reported the thread. So I passed along the moderators request that we not post on these threads.

**Dale_M** · #29 Mar 19, '12, 10:57 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinAK

To the moderators, FYI -- I posted on spam thread today. Someone had posted they had reported the thread. So I passed along the moderators request that we not post on these threads.

Next time, you might want to notify that other person via PM. I've done that on a couple occasions. I also included a link to this thread so that person knew I was passing along legit information.

Wampa · #30 Mar 19, '12, 7:53 pm

Glad I saw this post! I usually post a "reported" comment, but won't anymore. Thanks for the heads-up! I had no idea that was making things harder - I thought I was helping