An Alternative Anti-Spam Measure.

[Canary42]

As the current "almost-immediate removal" strategy doesn't seem to stem the flow of Spam, why don't we try an alternative.

When we see spam we all pile in and flame it with critical responses (e.g. useless, dangerous, totally ineffective, etc.), and Ed allows it to remain. I'm not sure whether spammers ever re-visit their posts, but if they do it might deter them from using the Ab platform as this would reduce rather than enhance sales.

P.S. I have already adopted this strategy myself if I can respond in time.

[bednobs]

they dont ever returm grommit

[Canary42]

Yes, I fear you're right bednobs, but even if it puts just a few people off then I feel I've struck a blow for freedom-from-spam. Daft I know, but whatever.

[bednobs]

sorry i meat canary

[aelmpvw]

don't the spammers only benefit if someone clicks on the link?

[wolf63]

I don't think that it matters to the spammers whether the post stays on the site.

Once it has been posted and Google tracks it that is the role of the spammers done.

There are a few AB members that are obsessed with SPAM and mods - neither really bothers me very much.

However, the SPAM does clog up the site and there has to be an easy way of preventing the posting of such threads.

[sunny-dave]

According to Chris/Buenchico :

"The people who post these spam links (and those who're paying them to do so), probably couldn't care less whether anyone actually reads their posts or clicks on their links. It's really an exercise in 'search engine optimisation'. The spammers know that Google ranks sites partly on the number of links there are on the web to those sites."

[Canary42]

/// There are a few AB members that are obsessed with SPAM ///

Guilty!

[aelmpvw]

seeing the word gummies on several 'latest posts' can be tedious . . .

[Ken4155]

Obsessed with spam?

[wolf63]

South Korea are seemingly the highest consumer of Spam in the world - I believe that the US military left loads of it when they withdrew after the war.

Gummies - I bought gummie-type vitamin C tablets and they were so good that I ate the lot. Vit C is dangerous in large doses.

Canary, I can't talk about obsessions. Most of the threads that I start are about cats or dogs. ☺

[Gizmonster]

Why can't we have a system where the first few posts (say 5?) from a first-time poster have to be approved first, before they go "public"?
I'm sure that wouldn't be too difficult to implement??

[Canary42]

/// sorry i meat canary ///

Given that the topic is spam, this typo is very droll :-D :-D

[sunny-dave]

The Eds have said in the past that any pre-approval system would be too slow (especially at weekends and overnight) and would deter any 'real' new members from joining.

The sheer number of CBD and gummy posts must make it worth implementing some sort of text search though (perhaps just on recent members' posts) as it makes the site look very poor when the whole front page is just spammmers.

[Old_Geezer]

It wouldn't stop Google picking it up. So not really useful.

[jno]

they'd just post six times, Giz. A few already do start off with innocuous answers to other people's posts before launching into Full Gummi mode

[Canary42]

///sheer number of CBD and gummy posts must make it worth implementing some sort of text search ///

I think one of the problems is finding a text string which wouldn't inadvertently eliminate a genuine poster's question.

[bobbinwales]

I dont think many genuine posts would be removed if terms like "shark tank" and "CMB Gummies" and any posts with links in the title, but loadsa spam would be avoided.
I know some has argued that keto shouldn't be filtered out as 1in 100 references might be genuine but its a price worth paying to me