Enjoy unlimited access to all forum features for FREE! Optional upgrade available for extra perks.

New members - gratuitous bumping

Discussion in 'General Board' started by aZooZa, Mar 6, 2010.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. aZooZa

    aZooZa Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2005
    Posts:
    4,875
    Likes Received:
    253
    I wouldn't want to discourage members signing up here, but there are a lot of gratuitous posts lately that bump others' threads and contain useless comments.

    Maybe something could be formulated to include in the 'welcome' email to suggest new members don't adopt this annoying behaviour.

    I know some of us older members do it now and then, but perhaps that's not unreasonable on the odd occasion given that we also contribute serious content.

    Maybe I'm being picky but I'm finding it increasingly aggravating.
     
  2. Domain Forum

    Acorn Domains Elite Member

    Joined:
    1999
    Messages:
    Many
    Likes Received:
    Lots
    IWA Meetup
     
  3. newguy United Kingdom

    newguy Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2009
    Posts:
    3,092
    Likes Received:
    122
    It wouldn't be so bad if the reason for posting was relevant, but often it seems to be four or five words which don't really add anything of value. A look through their other posts leaves you no further forward as to what they have contributed elsewhere, or if they even have any domain names, or have bought or sold any. Still, I suppose it's hard to do anything about it, unless it starts getting totally ridiculous.
     
  4. rob

    rob Founding Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2005
    Posts:
    5,966
    Likes Received:
    119
    Make all links nofollow from here and public name-and shame list of 'companies' who spam.

    :)
     
  5. monaghan United Kingdom

    monaghan Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 2007
    Posts:
    2,126
    Likes Received:
    78
    You could make the facility for new users to post links and put a homepage link by request to admin, this would hopefully deter spammers whilst leaving those who contribute free to continue as normal.
     
  6. Admin

    Admin Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2004
    Posts:
    11,120
    Likes Received:
    464
    I actively watch for obvious spammers but its a constant battle.

    Admin
     
  7. Systreg

    Systreg Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2008
    Posts:
    8,110
    Likes Received:
    397
  8. rob

    rob Founding Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2005
    Posts:
    5,966
    Likes Received:
    119
    One thing I have found is handy is to create an extra manual profile field, call it 'pets name' or something.

    Most spammers, manual or automated will fill it in. Its then easier to pick out spammers, be it raw mysql or viewing a users profile.

    The ICQ field works for that as well :)
     
  9. stender United Kingdom

    stender Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2005
    Posts:
    2,501
    Likes Received:
    30
    Why not charge to have a signature? You can let the regulars off.
     
  10. grantw United Kingdom

    grantw Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 2005
    Posts:
    4,694
    Likes Received:
    93
    Totally agree with this and don't think it would make much difference to the forum at all, maybe just a few less replies that are only posted for a cheap backlink anyway!

    Grant
     
  11. Skinner

    Skinner Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2008
    Posts:
    4,616
    Likes Received:
    140
    People wouldn't realise and spammers would still hit it.

    I set one of my busy wordpress sites to nofollow and it still gets 50+ spam comments a day.
     
  12. grantw United Kingdom

    grantw Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 2005
    Posts:
    4,694
    Likes Received:
    93
    Maybe, but I think not appearing on lists like this would be a big plus for starters:

    http://www. reviewerofsites.com/dofollow-non-nofollow-forums-list

    Grant
     
    Last edited: Mar 6, 2010
  13. Admin

    Admin Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2004
    Posts:
    11,120
    Likes Received:
    464
    Won't regulars complain if their signatures become nofollow?
     
  14. grantw United Kingdom

    grantw Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 2005
    Posts:
    4,694
    Likes Received:
    93
    I certainly wouldn't. Personally I'm here for the excellent posts and to be part of it rather than a link building exercise :)

    Grant
     
  15. Admin

    Admin Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2004
    Posts:
    11,120
    Likes Received:
    464
  16. newguy United Kingdom

    newguy Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2009
    Posts:
    3,092
    Likes Received:
    122
    Same here. I had to shut off comments on a relatively new blog which was nofollow. It received so much spam, it was impossible to find the legit comments amongst the crap.

    Why not just set the number of posts needed to post a sig to a really high amount. As in a couple of hundred. Nobody is going to post that long to get a sig link, and if they try, it will be very easy to spot their nonsense one line comments, amongst the genuine contributions and they can be banned.
     
  17. aZooZa

    aZooZa Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2005
    Posts:
    4,875
    Likes Received:
    253
    I agree. If anyone's that interested they'll copy and paste signature URLs.
     
  18. Skinner

    Skinner Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2008
    Posts:
    4,616
    Likes Received:
    140
    Can signatures be made, to be the only links that are NOT nofollow ?

    Maybe Have to be a member for 8 Weeks + and have 100+ Posts, before you get a signature, then only signatures are followable, all other links are no follow ?

    I'll admit, I have used my signature to help get a site indexed quickly, just means I'd have to hit gumtree instead.

    Anyone got a hazmat suit I can borrow :p
     
  19. alex

    alex Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2007
    Posts:
    842
    Likes Received:
    47
    I like the idea of only allowing a signature once a larger number of posts have been submitted and time passed. However, it may reduce spammers linking to sites etc, it won’t stop people actually posting general crap. Although my main reason for using AD is for the community and information, it is useful having signatures with links for indexing purposes. It wouldn’t stop me using the forum by any means if I didn’t have them, but it is a nice bonus.

    A page naming and shaming companies is a good idea, but I guess you have to be careful about defamation.

    Maybe the best way to deal with crap comments is for us to make admin/moderators aware and for them to send a warning with a guide to appropriate and inappropriate posting. If they contnue they’re banned!
     
  20. monaghan United Kingdom

    monaghan Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 2007
    Posts:
    2,126
    Likes Received:
    78
    I guess a carefully crafted page with companies that have advertised in a way considered to be spam could be produced. (on a page SEO'd to the max of course :))
     
  21. newguy United Kingdom

    newguy Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2009
    Posts:
    3,092
    Likes Received:
    122
    Maybe we can have a section only accessible to members with a set number of posts or certain reputation (or the exisiting paid members area), where offenders are pointed out or. Some people are probably hesitant about pointing out issues they see in an area viewable by all people. Either that or they simply don't know how best to inform others.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.