Spam

mayidunk · January 11, 2010, 6:56pm

Earlier today, a user posted a new thread asking about what is being done about spam postings, especially 2 postings made today by two newly registered “users.” I added a posting to the thread, sharing an IM that I received from the moderator in response to an IM I had sent them, pointing out spammers in the forums. For whatever reason, and I’m sure it was unintentional, this thread was deleted from the forum! Therefore, I am re-posting the moderator’s response to my IM in this new thread.

I am also posting the URL of a thread on the phpBB forum that discusses strategies that forum admins can use to combat spam. I sent this URL to the moderator this afternoon, and I’m posting it here so that members can see what is available to the forum admins, as well as to illustrate what they are up against.

http://www.phpbb.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=1437125

The response I received from the moderator to my earlier IM is as follows:

moderator:

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the ‘heads-up’ on recent spam postings on the forums.

So that you know, we monitor the forums at various times throughout the day, including nights and weekends. Although there’s no set schedule here, it means that spam (as well as other questionable posts) is dealt with typically within a 12-24 hour period on a routine basis. Posts are reviewed for spam, obscene language, personal attacks - basically anything that violates the Registration Agreement that all members must adhere to. Anyone who violates the terms and conditions of the Agreement is removed from the member database and their posts are deleted - this includes all spammers.

It’s instructive to note that although the amount of spam has recently increased on the forums, it still accounts for just a few percent of the total of all member posts. Since we deal with it as it occurs, no additional involvement by our forum members is really necessary.

The best advice I might suggest is to simply ignore the spam with the realization that it is short-lived and will be removed. That said, thanks again for bring this to my attention.

Forum Moderator

At this point, I think I need to stop making comments as regards this issue. I only created this thread so that others can see what I had posted in the deleted thread, which, once again, I’m sure was deleted by mistake.

The admins and moderators have a difficult and thankless job, a job that is very much akin to shoveling sand against the tide! IMHO, I believe that we (myself especially…) need to support them in their efforts, and just be patient.

Humbly submitted.

EricK · January 11, 2010, 7:28pm

Trolls however are a different story.

Voltor07 · January 11, 2010, 7:29pm

Well-said!

mayidunk · January 11, 2010, 7:40pm

Thanks, Voltor.