Self-link/Spam fighting May 12, 2008 3:46 PM Subscribe
After seeing this post and the posting history of the author, I had a bit of an idea.
Why not add an average word count requirement to the three-post minimum before making an FPP?
This would prevent people from being able to post after the common "I agree", "Thanks for posting this", "Those were funny robots!" comment histories we see on many of the self-linkers that squeeze in.
You wouldn't really even have to publicize it - just throw up some sort of vaguely worded "You are below the comment threshold for posting" message or something if somebody tried to post without meeting the average.
I doubt that there would be too many innocent bystanders affected by this - and you could even give the member the option of memailing an admin if they thought the message was in error.
I suppose I could have memailed matt directly on this one, but where is the danger in that?
I eagerly await your praise or flogging.
Why not add an average word count requirement to the three-post minimum before making an FPP?
This would prevent people from being able to post after the common "I agree", "Thanks for posting this", "Those were funny robots!" comment histories we see on many of the self-linkers that squeeze in.
You wouldn't really even have to publicize it - just throw up some sort of vaguely worded "You are below the comment threshold for posting" message or something if somebody tried to post without meeting the average.
I doubt that there would be too many innocent bystanders affected by this - and you could even give the member the option of memailing an admin if they thought the message was in error.
I suppose I could have memailed matt directly on this one, but where is the danger in that?
I eagerly await your praise or flogging.
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum."
posted by monju_bosatsu at 3:50 PM on May 12, 2008 [8 favorites]
posted by monju_bosatsu at 3:50 PM on May 12, 2008 [8 favorites]
interesting that they put stuff in Music - I hadn't seen that before with the spamlinkers.
posted by heeeraldo at 3:51 PM on May 12, 2008
posted by heeeraldo at 3:51 PM on May 12, 2008
Yeah, not a bad idea. Really we should internally write some code that scans user accounts and "if comments on mefi = 3 and total words used = less than 10, then EMAIL THE ADMINS ON THE RED FUCKING PHONE WE HAVE A SPAMMER TO BE"
posted by mathowie (staff) at 3:51 PM on May 12, 2008 [8 favorites]
posted by mathowie (staff) at 3:51 PM on May 12, 2008 [8 favorites]
interesting that they put stuff in Music
we're thinking it's probably not their own at this point.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 3:52 PM on May 12, 2008
we're thinking it's probably not their own at this point.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 3:52 PM on May 12, 2008
Yeah, not a bad idea.
I'm fucking fist pumping in my kitchen right now.
posted by davey_darling at 3:54 PM on May 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
I'm fucking fist pumping in my kitchen right now.
posted by davey_darling at 3:54 PM on May 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
I agree with Matt that it might be a good thing to build into our OH SHIT admin alert system, but to be clear I think it'd be bad to implement it as a blind automatic block the way you've proposed it here, davey_darling. As much as it's annoying that self-linkers and spammers do their thing, I don't know if we really want to move over to an automated system based on a heuristic, no matter how good it is. Accidentally pissing off innocent users or thwarting legitimate uses of the site is something very much worth avoiding whenever possible.
Our early-detection stuff at this point (a combination of honed instincts, more eyes on stuff now than a few years ago, email alerts on weird stuff, and some decent What's This Now, Eh Wot admin tools that pb has built) is pretty good -- I'd say most of the time we're not surprised when a newish user does actually self-link. Cleanup in those cases is usually nearly instant.
But even if we're 4/5 on identifying self-linkers who actually dodrop the bomb, we've probably identified a lot more potential future self-linkers than have actually done the deed. And we've eyed folks as likely baddies who have then gone on to be just fine, too. With everything except the craziest, most egregious red flag, we're likely to just keep an eye on 'em and move when they do.
(I remember we pre-emptively refunded a guys money, months ago, when it was just super obvious he was going to be up to no good, and even that got some flak in metatalk, for reasons that I can totally appreciate.)
posted by cortex (staff) at 3:56 PM on May 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
Our early-detection stuff at this point (a combination of honed instincts, more eyes on stuff now than a few years ago, email alerts on weird stuff, and some decent What's This Now, Eh Wot admin tools that pb has built) is pretty good -- I'd say most of the time we're not surprised when a newish user does actually self-link. Cleanup in those cases is usually nearly instant.
But even if we're 4/5 on identifying self-linkers who actually dodrop the bomb, we've probably identified a lot more potential future self-linkers than have actually done the deed. And we've eyed folks as likely baddies who have then gone on to be just fine, too. With everything except the craziest, most egregious red flag, we're likely to just keep an eye on 'em and move when they do.
(I remember we pre-emptively refunded a guys money, months ago, when it was just super obvious he was going to be up to no good, and even that got some flak in metatalk, for reasons that I can totally appreciate.)
posted by cortex (staff) at 3:56 PM on May 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
It would be even better if you could rig this word count widget to an actual ice pick that flies out of the screen and stabs mother fuckers in the eye.
posted by The Straightener at 4:03 PM on May 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by The Straightener at 4:03 PM on May 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
Why not add an average word count requirement to the three-post minimum before making an FPP?
Be careful with technological solutions to social problems. Forcing people to write more didn't work in grade school, no reason why it would now. And considering some of the more timid comments and posts from new users, I'd be hesitant to implement rules about how much they write or don't write.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:04 PM on May 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
Be careful with technological solutions to social problems. Forcing people to write more didn't work in grade school, no reason why it would now. And considering some of the more timid comments and posts from new users, I'd be hesitant to implement rules about how much they write or don't write.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:04 PM on May 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
Yeah I sort of feel that with very few exceptions, we ferret these out and jump on them almost instantly. I could see maybe a "hold for mod aproval" thing if someone was posting this crap in the middle of the night but at the end of the day even though these things are annoying, I don't think they're harmful. Until we can find a way to sort of do the "head on pitchfork" sort of deterrent work (and that goes badly here because people get too gleeful and then the same people who spammed us complain that we're googlebombing them so that just = MORE work for us) what we have seem to work almost as well as it could, I think.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 4:05 PM on May 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 4:05 PM on May 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum."
Point made, but easy to flag.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 4:09 PM on May 12, 2008
Point made, but easy to flag.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 4:09 PM on May 12, 2008
I'm sorry Dave, but this mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it.
posted by iamkimiam at 4:19 PM on May 12, 2008 [6 favorites]
posted by iamkimiam at 4:19 PM on May 12, 2008 [6 favorites]
I'm fucking fist pumping in my kitchen right now.
Although everyone needs a hug, I really don't think this is the appropriate venue in which to share your masturbatory habits.
posted by Floydd at 4:43 PM on May 12, 2008 [12 favorites]
Although everyone needs a hug, I really don't think this is the appropriate venue in which to share your masturbatory habits.
posted by Floydd at 4:43 PM on May 12, 2008 [12 favorites]
How about a minimum favorite level before giving posting rights?
Obviously this would suffer from some of the same 'using technological means to solve social problems' issues as having a minimum word count but it would be much tougher to game.
Persuading other members to favorite comments would be trickier than just having to write more words in your own comments. The only easy way around the minimum favorites rule would require the spammer to create a whole bunch of sock puppets to favorite from which would push up the price of the spam run, hopefully to beyond the point at which it is economic to spam.
If the minimum score was published beforehand then people would know that they're going to have to hang around a while before they can post (which wouldn't necessarily be a bad idea). This would hopefully avoid cortex's concerns about thwarting legitimate users - whilst people would be stopped from posting until they had enough favorites they'd be fully aware of that fact, it wouldn't be a secret heuristic that would jump out and block them without them knowing about it beforehand. (The word count heuristic would pretty much have to be secret to avoid making gaming it too easy)
posted by koshmar at 4:45 PM on May 12, 2008
Obviously this would suffer from some of the same 'using technological means to solve social problems' issues as having a minimum word count but it would be much tougher to game.
Persuading other members to favorite comments would be trickier than just having to write more words in your own comments. The only easy way around the minimum favorites rule would require the spammer to create a whole bunch of sock puppets to favorite from which would push up the price of the spam run, hopefully to beyond the point at which it is economic to spam.
If the minimum score was published beforehand then people would know that they're going to have to hang around a while before they can post (which wouldn't necessarily be a bad idea). This would hopefully avoid cortex's concerns about thwarting legitimate users - whilst people would be stopped from posting until they had enough favorites they'd be fully aware of that fact, it wouldn't be a secret heuristic that would jump out and block them without them knowing about it beforehand. (The word count heuristic would pretty much have to be secret to avoid making gaming it too easy)
posted by koshmar at 4:45 PM on May 12, 2008
I think the better option for weeding out spammers is to have everyone's first mefi post be pending until one of the mods approves it, then letting people post normally after that. It would suck a little and lose some timeliness and also put us on the spot when we approve stuff, but it would kill all these drive-by spammers dead. Of course, there would be an out where you leave one meh post to get past it then follow it up with your crap, but at worst we'd be at the same place we are now with regards to that (catching and banning quickly after).
posted by mathowie (staff) at 4:49 PM on May 12, 2008 [7 favorites]
posted by mathowie (staff) at 4:49 PM on May 12, 2008 [7 favorites]
I'm sorry, your favorite has been deleted as spam.
posted by found missing at 4:49 PM on May 12, 2008
posted by found missing at 4:49 PM on May 12, 2008
I'm fucking fist pumping in my kitchen right now.
I really wish I could unread this sentence. The combination of words is making me weep. So I'll remix it and share my misery.
I'm fist fucking in my kitchen right now! Pumping!
posted by loquacious at 4:50 PM on May 12, 2008 [3 favorites]
I really wish I could unread this sentence. The combination of words is making me weep. So I'll remix it and share my misery.
I'm fist fucking in my kitchen right now! Pumping!
posted by loquacious at 4:50 PM on May 12, 2008 [3 favorites]
Also, the email addresses of BANNED FOR LIFE spammers should be left up on the profile pages. As public items. If only for the harvesting-bots to come collect them and sell them.
posted by loquacious at 4:52 PM on May 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by loquacious at 4:52 PM on May 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
I think the better option for weeding out spammers is to have everyone's first mefi post be pending until one of the mods approves it,
Would it work like the Anonymous AskMe submission queue, where some post numbers are reserved for future anonymous questions, and thus posts would no longer necessarily appear on the front page in numerical order? If so, as a deleted thread addict, that would make me sad.
posted by dersins at 4:56 PM on May 12, 2008
Would it work like the Anonymous AskMe submission queue, where some post numbers are reserved for future anonymous questions, and thus posts would no longer necessarily appear on the front page in numerical order? If so, as a deleted thread addict, that would make me sad.
posted by dersins at 4:56 PM on May 12, 2008
How about a minimum favorite level before giving posting rights?
George W. Bush is the worst president ever!
(see how easy it is to get favorites?)
posted by Leon-arto at 5:00 PM on May 12, 2008 [8 favorites]
George W. Bush is the worst president ever!
(see how easy it is to get favorites?)
posted by Leon-arto at 5:00 PM on May 12, 2008 [8 favorites]
How about a minimum favorite level before giving posting rights?
Oh good lord no. I understand your reasoning, but no.
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:12 PM on May 12, 2008
Oh good lord no. I understand your reasoning, but no.
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:12 PM on May 12, 2008
I still think you should post the personal information of the spammers and self-linkers on their now-defunct profile pages. I can't think of a single reason not to.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 5:22 PM on May 12, 2008
posted by Optimus Chyme at 5:22 PM on May 12, 2008
How about a minimum favorite level before giving posting rights?
Wow, would THAT be uncool. Not everyone who participates on the site does so in such a way that they're likely to garner favorites.
posted by desuetude at 5:28 PM on May 12, 2008
Wow, would THAT be uncool. Not everyone who participates on the site does so in such a way that they're likely to garner favorites.
posted by desuetude at 5:28 PM on May 12, 2008
I still think you should post the personal information of the spammers and self-linkers on their now-defunct profile pages. I can't think of a single reason not to.
I would add that people banned for spamming should have a short message to that effect added. The "this account is disabled" generic isn't... what was that Dutch word again?
posted by Meatbomb at 5:30 PM on May 12, 2008
I would add that people banned for spamming should have a short message to that effect added. The "this account is disabled" generic isn't... what was that Dutch word again?
posted by Meatbomb at 5:30 PM on May 12, 2008
I agree with this idea, but I want to modify it so that people need to write at least three comments that form a coherent narrative in the style of a terrible trash romance novel. I submit the following as an example of how this would work.
Comment #1: It had been years since Harold had seen Regina but still his love burned strong for her. And yet here it was, the letter he had long wanted to see. It was a letter from Regina, addressed to him, and it contained the words he had never thought he would read. "My dearest Harold, I have reconsidered my position and I wish to rekindle our relationship. I dearly wish to see you again. I will meet you below the Interstate Bridge at midnight on the 25th. Please be there. I believe our lives will never be the same." Harold put down the letter, his heart all a flutter. He was sure Regina was right; their lives would never be the same. But his natural tendency to lean towards the side of trepidation made him think that something was bound to go wrong.
Comment #2: Harold held Regina's dying body in his arms. He had arrived at the interstate bridge where she had bid him to meet her in her letter several days earlier, but had arrived only to see a masked man shoot her dead. He had rushed after her assailant but had failed to catch him. And now he felt he had failed her. Holding her close, he looked down at her face, his tears washing away her spattered blood upon her beautiful face. "Regina" he sobbed. "Regina, I'm sorry. I wish I had been here sooner. Maybe I -" "Shhhh" she said looking up at him, her face showing only happiness. "This is the end my love, but I am happy that I could see you and feel you once more; even if it was only for a short time." "I feel the same" Harold replied. "Hold me close" she asked, her voice becoming quieter, her eyes closing. "Hold me close until the darkness takes me. I love you Harold.... I love..." And then she was still.
Comment #3: Twenty five years had passed since that terrible night when Harold had lost Regina. Harold was now in his mid fifties, and had never managed to form a stable relationship following the traumatic events that had led to her death. He had been living in a small apartment for most of that time, but he was preparing to move into a bigger apartment. Most of his stuff had already been packed. Not much remained now, except the contents of that wardrobe. He opened the doors and started to remove various miscellaneous items he had stored in there. Toward the bottom he found what he had really been looking for. It was a tattered old shoebox. He took it out of the wardrobe and sat down on his matrice which lay nearby. He opened the shoebox and took out a letter. It was the letter Regina had handed him twenty five years ago. The letter that told him she wanted to see him again. The letter that had indeed changed both their lives oh so long ago. As he read through the letter, tears welling in his eyes, he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder. He spun around and saw Regina in a ghostly form. "My love" she said. "It has been twenty five years since my death. Twenty five years since the twenty fifth day. I have come for you. I have found a way we can be together forever." The shock was all too much and Harold felt his heart spasm. He was experiencing a heart attack. As he died he found himself leaving his earthly body. He looked at Regina who stood above his body and they smiled. Finally they had indeed found a way to be together and destroy the lives of their enemies.
First FPP: Reasons and Methods of Natural Detox There are many health food stores, nutritionists, and people in general who perform body detoxification methods on their body each and every day. The main reason for doing so is because they truly work and many people find that these detox plans help them to stay healthier as well!
posted by Effigy2000 at 5:33 PM on May 12, 2008 [16 favorites]
Comment #1: It had been years since Harold had seen Regina but still his love burned strong for her. And yet here it was, the letter he had long wanted to see. It was a letter from Regina, addressed to him, and it contained the words he had never thought he would read. "My dearest Harold, I have reconsidered my position and I wish to rekindle our relationship. I dearly wish to see you again. I will meet you below the Interstate Bridge at midnight on the 25th. Please be there. I believe our lives will never be the same." Harold put down the letter, his heart all a flutter. He was sure Regina was right; their lives would never be the same. But his natural tendency to lean towards the side of trepidation made him think that something was bound to go wrong.
Comment #2: Harold held Regina's dying body in his arms. He had arrived at the interstate bridge where she had bid him to meet her in her letter several days earlier, but had arrived only to see a masked man shoot her dead. He had rushed after her assailant but had failed to catch him. And now he felt he had failed her. Holding her close, he looked down at her face, his tears washing away her spattered blood upon her beautiful face. "Regina" he sobbed. "Regina, I'm sorry. I wish I had been here sooner. Maybe I -" "Shhhh" she said looking up at him, her face showing only happiness. "This is the end my love, but I am happy that I could see you and feel you once more; even if it was only for a short time." "I feel the same" Harold replied. "Hold me close" she asked, her voice becoming quieter, her eyes closing. "Hold me close until the darkness takes me. I love you Harold.... I love..." And then she was still.
Comment #3: Twenty five years had passed since that terrible night when Harold had lost Regina. Harold was now in his mid fifties, and had never managed to form a stable relationship following the traumatic events that had led to her death. He had been living in a small apartment for most of that time, but he was preparing to move into a bigger apartment. Most of his stuff had already been packed. Not much remained now, except the contents of that wardrobe. He opened the doors and started to remove various miscellaneous items he had stored in there. Toward the bottom he found what he had really been looking for. It was a tattered old shoebox. He took it out of the wardrobe and sat down on his matrice which lay nearby. He opened the shoebox and took out a letter. It was the letter Regina had handed him twenty five years ago. The letter that told him she wanted to see him again. The letter that had indeed changed both their lives oh so long ago. As he read through the letter, tears welling in his eyes, he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder. He spun around and saw Regina in a ghostly form. "My love" she said. "It has been twenty five years since my death. Twenty five years since the twenty fifth day. I have come for you. I have found a way we can be together forever." The shock was all too much and Harold felt his heart spasm. He was experiencing a heart attack. As he died he found himself leaving his earthly body. He looked at Regina who stood above his body and they smiled. Finally they had indeed found a way to be together and destroy the lives of their enemies.
First FPP: Reasons and Methods of Natural Detox There are many health food stores, nutritionists, and people in general who perform body detoxification methods on their body each and every day. The main reason for doing so is because they truly work and many people find that these detox plans help them to stay healthier as well!
posted by Effigy2000 at 5:33 PM on May 12, 2008 [16 favorites]
I think the mods are doing a fine job catching self-linkers and spammers. I don't think anything is particularly needed.
posted by Kattullus at 5:39 PM on May 12, 2008
posted by Kattullus at 5:39 PM on May 12, 2008
How about we just make the temporary filler post one full of Markov until it gets approved.
Yeah, I had three offers, one from the recordings. I am in the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Undead thread is heartwarming. Not for the last few mornings. Their morning show is really funny/dumb since I don't have crazy anecdotes, really. It's more that things fell apart. It's more the part where not every idea that acting like a lot of people at your discretion.
Man, some window washers just descended silently on the moon, he added, cost only a breach if it is just us here, no one knows I'm a BRILLIANT special snowflake doing in reality. There have, I believe, been 241 commenters in the place where you shouldn't and/or falling down while wearing the rantypants. Then they are the smartest person!
posted by mrzarquon at 5:40 PM on May 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
Yeah, I had three offers, one from the recordings. I am in the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Undead thread is heartwarming. Not for the last few mornings. Their morning show is really funny/dumb since I don't have crazy anecdotes, really. It's more that things fell apart. It's more the part where not every idea that acting like a lot of people at your discretion.
Man, some window washers just descended silently on the moon, he added, cost only a breach if it is just us here, no one knows I'm a BRILLIANT special snowflake doing in reality. There have, I believe, been 241 commenters in the place where you shouldn't and/or falling down while wearing the rantypants. Then they are the smartest person!
posted by mrzarquon at 5:40 PM on May 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
that wasn't really a suggestion, more of an excuse for me to copy/paste markov
posted by mrzarquon at 5:40 PM on May 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by mrzarquon at 5:40 PM on May 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
I still think you should post the personal information of the spammers and self-linkers on their now-defunct profile pages. I can't think of a single reason not to.
One reason is that people who have already established themselves to be kind of weak on the Taking The High Road front aren't the best people to wind up if we want to spend our evenings relaxing instead of fielding pissed off legal threats or settling spiteful paypal complaint resolutions, etc.
There's part of me that really likes the idea of a wall of shame, but it's the same part that really liked running Linux on a spare 386 in college. Fine ideas if you have the time and the inclination.
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:41 PM on May 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
One reason is that people who have already established themselves to be kind of weak on the Taking The High Road front aren't the best people to wind up if we want to spend our evenings relaxing instead of fielding pissed off legal threats or settling spiteful paypal complaint resolutions, etc.
There's part of me that really likes the idea of a wall of shame, but it's the same part that really liked running Linux on a spare 386 in college. Fine ideas if you have the time and the inclination.
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:41 PM on May 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
Perhaps we could invite all new posters to receive a Personality Test and evaluation free of any charge or obligation. A test of this kind would normally cost them $500.00 and up. It is offered here free of charge as a public service. If you they are not happy with their life, they can find out why.
posted by found missing at 5:45 PM on May 12, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by found missing at 5:45 PM on May 12, 2008 [3 favorites]
This might be computationally prohibitive, but why not keep track of the number of four-letter-or-more words in comments by an account?
Have a variable for each account called, say, FourLetterCount
Each time the user posts a comment, as part of the parsing of said comment the number of unbroken groupings of more than four letters is added to the current value of FourLetterCount. This keeps updates to that variable down to a once-per-comment operation.
If the user attempts to post with less than three comments, OR less than 250 four-or-more-letter words, then pop up "Hey you should participate a little more before making your first post!"
Caveat: when implementing this feature for the first time, you'd have to run a pass on all existing comments for all users.
Seems like this would be reasonably non-obvious and frustrate the spammers.
posted by Ryvar at 6:14 PM on May 12, 2008
Have a variable for each account called, say, FourLetterCount
Each time the user posts a comment, as part of the parsing of said comment the number of unbroken groupings of more than four letters is added to the current value of FourLetterCount. This keeps updates to that variable down to a once-per-comment operation.
If the user attempts to post with less than three comments, OR less than 250 four-or-more-letter words, then pop up "Hey you should participate a little more before making your first post!"
Caveat: when implementing this feature for the first time, you'd have to run a pass on all existing comments for all users.
Seems like this would be reasonably non-obvious and frustrate the spammers.
posted by Ryvar at 6:14 PM on May 12, 2008
There's part of me that really likes the idea of a wall of shame, but it's the same part that really liked running Linux on a spare 386 in college.
The nerd part?
Sorry.
posted by chococat at 7:06 PM on May 12, 2008
The nerd part?
Sorry.
posted by chococat at 7:06 PM on May 12, 2008
Maybe it would be easier, like somebody suggested long ago, to put the first time FPPs into an approval queue?
posted by dhruva at 7:11 PM on May 12, 2008
posted by dhruva at 7:11 PM on May 12, 2008
Wait!!!! You are all missing the point! WHERE THE HELL ARE THE FUNNY ROBOTS?!
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 7:26 PM on May 12, 2008
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 7:26 PM on May 12, 2008
One reason is that people who have already established themselves to be kind of weak on the Taking The High Road front aren't the best people to wind up if we want to spend our evenings relaxing instead of fielding pissed off legal threats or settling spiteful paypal complaint resolutions, etc.
This is very important.
The number of banned jackasses that try to take up our time either fighting about their $5 or the minutia of the rules has meant that our post-banning plan is usually to get them or their links off of the site as quickly as possible. This is why we have the "I am not a spammer" checkbox for first time posters. It's embarassing that it's necessary.
Any sort of revengefilter fantasies need to happen on some site where people can't email/IM me personally to bitch about them.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:28 PM on May 12, 2008
This is very important.
The number of banned jackasses that try to take up our time either fighting about their $5 or the minutia of the rules has meant that our post-banning plan is usually to get them or their links off of the site as quickly as possible. This is why we have the "I am not a spammer" checkbox for first time posters. It's embarassing that it's necessary.
Any sort of revengefilter fantasies need to happen on some site where people can't email/IM me personally to bitch about them.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:28 PM on May 12, 2008
I like all of these ideas, but I still think the mods do a fine job of weeding out the spammers. About a month or so ago a friend of mine who I'd been encouraging to join the site (he's a smart guy with a very funny writing style) made his first post. Jessamyn was worried about it, but looked over the favorites he'd gotten (which were mostly from me) memailed me to make sure he was legit, and let it stay up once I'd given her my assurances.
As helpful as heuristics can be, thoughtful moderators who go the extra mile to actually check out the content on their site works much better, even if it is more time consuming for them.
posted by Navelgazer at 7:38 PM on May 12, 2008
As helpful as heuristics can be, thoughtful moderators who go the extra mile to actually check out the content on their site works much better, even if it is more time consuming for them.
posted by Navelgazer at 7:38 PM on May 12, 2008
You might thing that kind of site would be the deleted thread blog, but apparently people contact the mods here to bitch about the posts there. Hopefully that will be alleviated now that I made a contact email over there.
posted by puke & cry at 7:41 PM on May 12, 2008
posted by puke & cry at 7:41 PM on May 12, 2008
The number of banned jackasses that try to take up our time either fighting about their $5 or the minutia of the rules
Sorry, it just seemed like an important point at the time. Maybe if you people were more clear about what an internet is, we could have avoided that problem.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:44 PM on May 12, 2008
Sorry, it just seemed like an important point at the time. Maybe if you people were more clear about what an internet is, we could have avoided that problem.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:44 PM on May 12, 2008
think
posted by puke & cry at 7:45 PM on May 12, 2008
posted by puke & cry at 7:45 PM on May 12, 2008
I don't see a way to flag comments specifically for spam. Why not add this option, and then if someone has five or more spam flags on their comments and they have three or fewer FPPs, put their next post in lockdown until admins approve it (or ban the user)?
posted by Happydaz at 7:56 PM on May 12, 2008
posted by Happydaz at 7:56 PM on May 12, 2008
Spam is one of those things that really, really breaks the guidelines. Just flag it like that and we'll see it. If someone is getting spammy comments flagged, we're pretty much going to raze and either watch or ban as necessary anyway.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:04 PM on May 12, 2008
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:04 PM on May 12, 2008
It's just a shame I forgot to write down the password to the contact email. Damn... At least I remembered to set a forwarding rule.
posted by puke & cry at 8:33 PM on May 12, 2008
posted by puke & cry at 8:33 PM on May 12, 2008
So I'll remix it and share my misery.
I'm fist fucking Pum Ping, right? In my kitchen, now!
posted by PeterMcDermott at 8:36 PM on May 12, 2008
I'm fist fucking Pum Ping, right? In my kitchen, now!
posted by PeterMcDermott at 8:36 PM on May 12, 2008
I signed up in 2005 and amassed hundreds of favorites in anticipation of this very moment, where I could finally slip by the mods' watchful eyes to say:
v1@gra c1@lis cheap statsfy your woman now with all night action albatross be gone without replica watches r0lex bags replica pens please your lady with a wider longer rod and more stnanima action teens cheap prescription legal xanax cartier
posted by SassHat at 8:47 PM on May 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
v1@gra c1@lis cheap statsfy your woman now with all night action albatross be gone without replica watches r0lex bags replica pens please your lady with a wider longer rod and more stnanima action teens cheap prescription legal xanax cartier
posted by SassHat at 8:47 PM on May 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
Once Metafilter gains sentience, this won't be a problem any more.
posted by lore at 9:23 PM on May 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by lore at 9:23 PM on May 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
The conversation has been moved to the Trash
Women need more and more these days
but the problem is that you have small one.
Human growth does not stop at puberty. - Feel the power of your new tool.
after suffering for so many years as 5 inches is amazing
Those locker room stares will be for the right reason.
Performance in bed is set to soar.
Your manhood is set to GROW!
Feel like a brand new man with this.
here's how you can upsize: Huge, thick and amazingly long all this can be yours.
Begin a sex hero
Get a new social life once you have this
12 sweet pills for free- hot special offer-4 or 12 mega pills for free.
Now you can penetrate hardly.
Even James Bond uses these pils to pleasure his girls.
Be the man she always wanted. Boost your confidence with your new-found instrument.
Fire your gun at full blast.
Get a rocking new lease of life with your new tool.
Give them this!
Fill your bedroom with fire once and for all!
Be a superlover!
Contact your doctor or seek emergency medical attention for any
erection that lasts longer than 4 hours.
Filter messages like these.
posted by exlotuseater at 9:29 PM on May 12, 2008
Women need more and more these days
but the problem is that you have small one.
Human growth does not stop at puberty. - Feel the power of your new tool.
after suffering for so many years as 5 inches is amazing
Those locker room stares will be for the right reason.
Performance in bed is set to soar.
Your manhood is set to GROW!
Feel like a brand new man with this.
here's how you can upsize: Huge, thick and amazingly long all this can be yours.
Begin a sex hero
Get a new social life once you have this
12 sweet pills for free- hot special offer-4 or 12 mega pills for free.
Now you can penetrate hardly.
Even James Bond uses these pils to pleasure his girls.
Be the man she always wanted. Boost your confidence with your new-found instrument.
Fire your gun at full blast.
Get a rocking new lease of life with your new tool.
Give them this!
Fill your bedroom with fire once and for all!
Be a superlover!
Contact your doctor or seek emergency medical attention for any
erection that lasts longer than 4 hours.
Filter messages like these.
posted by exlotuseater at 9:29 PM on May 12, 2008
Very Good. I like this.
posted by click at 12:13 AM on May 13, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by click at 12:13 AM on May 13, 2008 [1 favorite]
This suggestion may sound unsavory but perhaps there could be a fine associated with linkspamming? Make it clear, in big bold letters on the signup page, that if you are caught self-linking you will be charged some large amount of money? Considering that the spammers are giving up their paypal information in the first place, might this not be a deterrent?
posted by ooga_booga at 12:35 AM on May 13, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by ooga_booga at 12:35 AM on May 13, 2008 [1 favorite]
I think the less publicity spammers get, the less incentive they will have to try and spam.
Remove them quickly, and then go clean off your katana.
I'm all for any system, new or old, that helps the mods have relaxing evenings. Go for it.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 2:55 AM on May 13, 2008
Remove them quickly, and then go clean off your katana.
I'm all for any system, new or old, that helps the mods have relaxing evenings. Go for it.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 2:55 AM on May 13, 2008
What was wrong with the favorited comments threshold?
There's no proven link between favorites and quality. A very good poster may not generate any favorites, and a terrible one may get tons. And for ten bucks it would be pretty easy to game.
(Favorite this comment if you agree, disagree, or have terminal stage syphilis.)
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 4:44 AM on May 13, 2008
There's no proven link between favorites and quality. A very good poster may not generate any favorites, and a terrible one may get tons. And for ten bucks it would be pretty easy to game.
(Favorite this comment if you agree, disagree, or have terminal stage syphilis.)
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 4:44 AM on May 13, 2008
I would be against implementing this idea as an automatic feature, and very much against using favourites. If I remember correctly, when I first joined I was quite conscious of the fact that I was joining a community that had quite high levels of discourse (generally. Bucket of cocks aside), and as a result was conservative with my comments and posts.
Favourites are an especially bad idea - they're such a subjective criteria anyway. People use them for everything from "A++ good comment" to "lulz", so the time taken for a new user to accumulate enough to pass the threshold might be months. Couple that with perhaps a conservatism in posting as people lurk and get a feel of the site that genuine users will be unable to contribute.
posted by djgh at 5:59 AM on May 13, 2008
Favourites are an especially bad idea - they're such a subjective criteria anyway. People use them for everything from "A++ good comment" to "lulz", so the time taken for a new user to accumulate enough to pass the threshold might be months. Couple that with perhaps a conservatism in posting as people lurk and get a feel of the site that genuine users will be unable to contribute.
posted by djgh at 5:59 AM on May 13, 2008
This seems like a solution to a mostly non-existent problem. Also, what's to stop some whacko from posting the full text of some ancient treaty as a comment? Meatbomb, I'm looking at you.
posted by Mister_A at 6:27 AM on May 13, 2008
posted by Mister_A at 6:27 AM on May 13, 2008
Eh, how often does this happen? It's not a huge problem given the $5 fee, and it gets caught right away. I'm more worried about insidious types who know the rules and break them in non-obvious ways.
posted by delmoi at 6:44 AM on May 13, 2008
posted by delmoi at 6:44 AM on May 13, 2008
What we need is a MetaFilter IQ test before being able to post.
1. Who of the following is a Portuguese author:
a) Mathowie
b) jonmc
c) MiguelCardoso
d) The Tron guy
2. Longboating is:
a) 9622
b) Commenting with elephant-pisssing images
c) Idiotic
d) All of the above
3. There is ___ cabal
a) only one
b) MiguelCardoso
c) a cabbage
d) no
posted by Plutor at 7:30 AM on May 13, 2008
1. Who of the following is a Portuguese author:
a) Mathowie
b) jonmc
c) MiguelCardoso
d) The Tron guy
2. Longboating is:
a) 9622
b) Commenting with elephant-pisssing images
c) Idiotic
d) All of the above
3. There is ___ cabal
a) only one
b) MiguelCardoso
c) a cabbage
d) no
posted by Plutor at 7:30 AM on May 13, 2008
I like the idea of something that alerts the admins more than a system that outright prevents new users from commenting. I mean, we never know when the next three word comment might become a site meme, and it's not impossible that it could come from someone who just signed up.
posted by quin at 7:45 AM on May 13, 2008
posted by quin at 7:45 AM on May 13, 2008
I'm fucking fuck fisting pump fuck a fist kitten right now.
posted by BobFrapples at 8:44 AM on May 13, 2008
posted by BobFrapples at 8:44 AM on May 13, 2008
Every new member should have to buy me a beer in person before they are allowed to post. This will solve many problems: spamming, sobriety, my prodigious alcohol budget.
posted by klangklangston at 8:45 AM on May 13, 2008
posted by klangklangston at 8:45 AM on May 13, 2008
klang, that's not even remotely feasible.
To make it work, we'll need to establish a beer ambassador for every major geographic region. Dibs on PDX.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:58 AM on May 13, 2008
To make it work, we'll need to establish a beer ambassador for every major geographic region. Dibs on PDX.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:58 AM on May 13, 2008
Heh, I read that as "every n00b will have to buy me a beer in prison." This is incorrect, correct?
posted by Mister_A at 9:04 AM on May 13, 2008
posted by Mister_A at 9:04 AM on May 13, 2008
West coasters can pick from buying beer for mathowie, pb, cortex or klang. East coasters (including Canada) have to buy ME a beer. I like this plan.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:10 AM on May 13, 2008
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:10 AM on May 13, 2008
All these New England states are yours, jessamyn, except Rhode Island. Attempt no mooching there. Beers there should be bought for me. Drink them in peace.
posted by Kattullus at 9:16 AM on May 13, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Kattullus at 9:16 AM on May 13, 2008 [1 favorite]
jessamyn, I will buy you a beer next time you're in Philly for some Big LibraryThing, provided my kids have graduated from college and moved out. See you in '28!
posted by Mister_A at 9:17 AM on May 13, 2008
posted by Mister_A at 9:17 AM on May 13, 2008
Are all you people insane? Self-link posts followed by tar, feathers, and MeTa posts are what makes MetaFilter so awesome.
Where exactly is the hurt in letting a posting show up for a few minutes (or, during the night, a few hours)? It will get deleted, and while there may be some traffic to the site from MetaFilter, there's not going to be any long term benefit to the spammer.
Remember, if we get rid of self-linkers altogether, that's one thing less to complain about, and we might have to focus on our own shortcomings.
Oh, and Jessamyn, I'll see Mister A's beer and raise him -20 years.
posted by Deathalicious at 9:58 AM on May 13, 2008
Where exactly is the hurt in letting a posting show up for a few minutes (or, during the night, a few hours)? It will get deleted, and while there may be some traffic to the site from MetaFilter, there's not going to be any long term benefit to the spammer.
Remember, if we get rid of self-linkers altogether, that's one thing less to complain about, and we might have to focus on our own shortcomings.
Oh, and Jessamyn, I'll see Mister A's beer and raise him -20 years.
posted by Deathalicious at 9:58 AM on May 13, 2008
"klang, that's not even remotely feasible."
You're right. Though the internets are a series of tubes, only a goddamned spammer would ever suggest drinking beer through a straw.
Feel free to pass along my email so that all these new posters can arrange our drinking.
posted by klangklangston at 10:07 AM on May 13, 2008
You're right. Though the internets are a series of tubes, only a goddamned spammer would ever suggest drinking beer through a straw.
Feel free to pass along my email so that all these new posters can arrange our drinking.
posted by klangklangston at 10:07 AM on May 13, 2008
only a goddamned spammer would ever suggest drinking beer through a straw.
My straw reaches acroooooooss the room, and starts to drink yourmilkshake beer... I drink your milkshake beer!
posted by Leon-arto at 11:09 AM on May 13, 2008
My straw reaches acroooooooss the room, and starts to drink your
posted by Leon-arto at 11:09 AM on May 13, 2008
Self-link posts followed by tar, feathers, and MeTa posts are what makes MetaFilter so awesome.
This actually rarely happens anymore since they implemented the email-when-a-new-person-posts thing. Also eliminated is the user detective work needed to sniff out self-linkers. All that's done by the mods now.
posted by puke & cry at 11:42 AM on May 13, 2008
This actually rarely happens anymore since they implemented the email-when-a-new-person-posts thing. Also eliminated is the user detective work needed to sniff out self-linkers. All that's done by the mods now.
posted by puke & cry at 11:42 AM on May 13, 2008
All that's done by the mods now.
To be fair to the Scooby Squad, we still get a hot tip now and then—we've taken the grunt work out of a lot of the easily-profiled spammers, but people with more patience or subtlety or just plain dumb spammer luck still pull of things that slip under the radar, and it's nice that folks around here keep their ears to the ground for that sort of thing.
Note that the discreet email to us saying "this looks hinky because..." is the nice thing. Making a big deal of it in thread not so ideal, particularly when it's based not on a rock-solid connection so much as a hunch.
Make signups $20 instead of $5.
Same as in—
Same as in town
DAMMIT
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:56 AM on May 13, 2008
To be fair to the Scooby Squad, we still get a hot tip now and then—we've taken the grunt work out of a lot of the easily-profiled spammers, but people with more patience or subtlety or just plain dumb spammer luck still pull of things that slip under the radar, and it's nice that folks around here keep their ears to the ground for that sort of thing.
Note that the discreet email to us saying "this looks hinky because..." is the nice thing. Making a big deal of it in thread not so ideal, particularly when it's based not on a rock-solid connection so much as a hunch.
Make signups $20 instead of $5.
Same as in—
Same as in town
DAMMIT
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:56 AM on May 13, 2008
Note that the discreet email to us saying "this looks hinky because..." is the nice thing. Making a big deal of it in thread not so ideal, particularly when it's based not on a rock-solid connection so much as a hunch.
Also, don't dash off a delirious ill-considered metatalk about it.
posted by johnofjack at 4:04 PM on May 13, 2008
Also, don't dash off a delirious ill-considered metatalk about it.
Not sure if that was directed at this post, but I assure you that it was very well-considered.
posted by davey_darling at 4:14 PM on May 13, 2008
Not sure if that was directed at this post, but I assure you that it was very well-considered.
posted by davey_darling at 4:14 PM on May 13, 2008
Since the mods are all US-ian, I am happy to take over the Canadian Am-beer-sador coverage. However, as I like in Toronto I think the entire country is encompassed between the lake and St. Clair, so there's room for others to step up to the plate there, too.
posted by SassHat at 4:25 PM on May 13, 2008
posted by SassHat at 4:25 PM on May 13, 2008
Sorry, davey_darling, I was mocking my own metatalk.
posted by johnofjack at 8:22 AM on May 14, 2008
posted by johnofjack at 8:22 AM on May 14, 2008
And I was mocking mine!
Looks like we're square.
mat, you can just paypal me the usual "good idea bonus" I'm sure you dole out once you implement the new system.
posted by davey_darling at 8:40 AM on May 14, 2008
Looks like we're square.
mat, you can just paypal me the usual "good idea bonus" I'm sure you dole out once you implement the new system.
posted by davey_darling at 8:40 AM on May 14, 2008
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
posted by dersins at 3:48 PM on May 12, 2008