Spammers, Reporters and Bullies

[AB Editor]

Good Day everyone, hope we're well.


I wonder if we can discuss and agree the best way to deal with spammers?

The Editors do their best to get to reports as soon as they come in. Those which have come through today have been picked off asap.

I would suggest though that those who spot spammers avoid posting on their threads. By posting on their threads - even to say "reported" pushes the post back into the "latest posts" box which encourages others to look and comment.

While this is of little benefit to the spammers (they'll be gone shortly after anyway) it is a bit like forcing ad breaks into everyone else's AnswerBank viewing.

The following is mostly directed at the CB crowd:

There also seems to be a habit of some users of trying to "shout down" anyone who reports - something along the lines of "no one likes a grass".

This is nonsense. We provide functions to keep the site free of trolls and banned users. Use them.

The only time "no one likes a grass" has weight is in prison. If you are currently serving time in jail, I can only suggest a visit here: http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Law/ to see where you went wrong.

I noticed a rash of bullying bubbled up last night. If you've found your account suspended, and you were involved, please don't contact us about it - it is permanent.



I hope you have a good weekend.

Spare Ed

[anneasquith]

like you EMMB i am confused, surely an aber is suspended or banned. and re the "bullying that bubbled up last night " why was it not dealt with at the time ? i was under the impression AB had moderators,

[Jan1957]

Does it matter? They'll only be back with a different name and probably get banned again.

[annie0000]

Is it just me that puts the title of this post to the tune of Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves in their head?

[dotty.]

Oh dear, I want to ask what happened last night, but I am sure I was here last night, it must have been a russle in a carrier bag cos I have no clue lol

[cazzz1975]

I believe the AB team are due to roll out a selection of new stuff for the site, maybe just a suspension suffices for now?

obviously if/when they are allowed back on the site the suspension will be lifted, however reading his OP is does suggest that the suspension will be a permanent one for that particular username.

[boxtops]

Ed, I think this is a good idea, but it's awfully tempting sometimes to respond to the spammers.... the one who was trying to sell us plots of land in the Congo a few days ago was a case in point.... I do agree though, sensible voices have from time to time said "don't keep this one going, it's fuelling the fire", and to be honest some of the stuff which vanishes has been quite nasty in the past. I wasn't here last night so don't know what that was all about (don't tell me, anyone, it only digs it up again). I'm must admit on the odd occasion that I've reported something offensive, I wouldn't tell the OP, it's not like they can take back the post.

[dotty.]

oh i read that one, and TT's posts are still there, he's just lost his pic and his profile says suspended, he's been here since 2006 and so does know the score i guess

[jno]

oh nertz, did I lose the opportunity to buy the Congo? All the good offers have always gone by the time I wake up.

[boxtops]

They were offering a house and car, too, jno, you missed out on a good deal. Only thing is, they didn't give a contact address ;-(

[naomi24]

Drat! Me too!!

[dotty.]

Hey, here's an odd thing, if you click on tonyted's jellymen default avatar to openm his profile page, in the tab at the top his own avatar picture shows really tiny at the start of the link addy, most peculiar!

[sara3]

they all do that, Dot.. even yours!

[dotty.]

yes sarana but tonyted has lost his picture cos he's suspended,

[jno]

oh well, I've just paid my annual visit to SAB, since people were talking about it.

What a very strange place.

[sara3]

ohhhhhhh, gotcha.. sorry, I'm behind the times!

sarana?

[jno]

EMMB, I'm sort of hoping for some Star Galaxy work surfaces in the AB kitchen, for a start. I think the cupboards should be properly built in but they'll probably just get them from Ikea again.

[dotty.]

I've just posted on one of nob's threads in SAB , wonder if i will get a mention, maybe some people would get a kick out of seeing how many times they could get a link from AB posted on a thread in the pubchat bit of SAB highlighting the fun we are havin here. Or not.