How Do We Know

[pastafreak]

...if a thread is advertising?
I know I can usually recognise it...but what criteria do mods or the Ed use?
Signed..."Curious in Plymouth"

[Baldric]

The one you questioned contained a link to a Health Products Retailer with the same name as the product mentioned, (bit of a giveaway imo)

[Stephen_G]

There was one about half an hour ago - Dublin Limo hire. Also dug up two threads from 2006, one of which was looking for Transport in the Glasgow area. Like Baldric said, they usually post their own websites at the end of their posts.

[bhg481]

The fact that it's the first "question" from a new member is generally enough to confirm any suspicions.

[Baldric]

Pasta, if you click on your own 'avatar' then when your profile comes up click on 'answered' you will see the OP you refer to, don't click on anything else, just check 'title' + last line.

[Buenchico]

A quick test is to see if it's a first post from a new member. Any such post which contains a link, or clearly invites one from another new member, is suspect.

The use of Asian English (e.g. 'Please suggest me . . .') is also a tell-tale sign, as are certain patterns of usernames. (We seem to have several spammers who think that a 'forename + surname' username, possibly with a number on the end, looks genuine. So we get spam from 'ArthurHendricks, 'MoiraTwigg001', etc. The reality, of course, is that very few 'genuine' members use their real names).

When I suspect possible '2-part' spam is on its way, I post a 'moderator's note', as here:
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Travel/Question1441082.html
However sometimes spam is so blindingly obvious that I'll simply ban the poster directly.

Moderator's aren't perfect though. (I'm certainly not!). Another mod does seem to have banned a regular contributor (XingWang) this morning, purely because his post looked a bit like spam. (Oops!)

[pastafreak]

Baldric...I seem to remember the product began with an "L", and the retailor with a " B"...and another product with a "V". The two products...major brands which I am familiar with...are as far as I know manufactured by separate companies. Just who is being advertised?

[Buenchico]

>>>There was one about half an hour ago - Dublin Limo hire

That was just one of the four that I've banned today!

[EcclesCake]

He's been around for ages though.

[pastafreak]

Ah Chris...that is the thread I am referring to. It seemed perfectly honest to me....but others have their suspicious hats on today. :-(

[EcclesCake]

Chris if you have an itchy banning finger you might want to look at leesajohnson, looks like a bot to me.

[THECORBYLOON]

I recommend howtospotspamoradvertsandstufflikethat.com...

[Baldric]

///purely because his post looked a bit like spam. (Oops!)///

Chris, use either pastas or my avatar, we both answered the post, follow what I suggested @ 1307 ^^ the OP is titled 'Lam****s,
the last line contains link to 'Lam****s, I reckon 'tis Spam.

[Mamyalynne]

I agree with Baldric, it looked exactly like an advert and if xingwang has contributed greatly over the time they have been a member I for one have certainly missed their contributions.


I am sure if the Ed thinks xing should be reinstated he will do so.

[Buenchico]

EC:
I was already watching that user's posts but I'd not made my mind up about them.

However I now see that another mod has got there before me ;-)

(PS: That's a prime example of a 'forename + surname' username looking dodgy!)

[pastafreak]

Xing was enquiring about something he could buy in Boots,and also queried another brand. So what exactly was he advertising?
As far as I was concerned...the link was provided as information so we could give an opinion.