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

[dotty.]

Lol, they're not the rules society, they are the consequences !

[AB Editor]

Hi Dotty,

Suspensions are temporary/permanent based on our own judgement. Monday is usually when we review, but it can happen over the weekend if I get a chance.

Spare.

[Sqad]

Ed

What is the difference between a permanent suspension and a ban......practically speaking?

[dotty.]

I have started having Mondays off now I am at a new store, as I will be working alot of Sundays, I will usually be having a lie in though otherwise I would step up and help you with the review process.

[jno]

society, I am guessing that if the Ed suspends someone permanently it's not because he's been better or worse, but just because he (or she) has provided a lot of useful posts that could be helpful if they're left in the archive. If someone's done nothing but chat then no loss to the nation if they're banned and all the posts vanish. (Assuming they've been bad, of course.)

[dotty.]

Sqad I just covered that, a permanent sespension means your posts stay but you don't and a permanent ban is your are wiped from the site,

[pastafreak]

I'm not sure I understand the point of permanently suspending someone-yet leaving their answers,etc. Can't that lead to confusion?
Does that mean that the perma-suspended member can come back with a new username?...and if so-do they need to hide their identity in order to stay on....?Will they get zapped in the same manner as banned members?
See-this just leads to more questions.
And-not knowing or wondering why someones been suspended-when it is not obvious-can leave us even more in the dark about the reasoning behind suspensions.

[dotty.]

That's true pasta i agree, sometimes I wonder how other posters follow what is going on, people can spot someone has gone really quickly but I never seem to see it!

[jno]

well, everyone was pointing out to doc why he was suspended, for spamming, so it was no secret to anyone but him. So he can do a reverse flounce and come back when he wants, preferably with a big fish for the Ed by way of apology. I don't know why some other people have been banned, but that's because I don't read every single post everyone makes and I've probably missed some instance where they've been abusive or broken the rules. I don't lose a lot of sleep over it though - only five minutes last night over doc's plight.

[tigerlelly]

Presumably I'd get an e-mail telling me if I was to be banned/ suspended but how did other ABers know about doc and ummmm?

[ummmm]

I was a bit rude to Jayne...which I will apologise for.

[anneasquith]

i am totally confused by the suspension /banning process ie is it temporary or permanent, i know ed you have explained it......................now yesterday an aber got suspended and stated it was a mistake and would be back posting today. but while suspended posted with a new username blatently stating who they were, so what was the point of suspending ? and today we have ed giving the reasons why 2 abers were suspended (now reinstated) i assumed no dialogue was permitted re action taken by the ab staff......................

[dotty.]

Oh actually I was reading that ummm, was that for real then, I was reading it as you were both mates acting out an argument, you get on with JJ don't you?

[pastafreak]

I think what's a bit worrying is that there seems to be no warning system....ie-the Ed saying publicly to someone that they are treading a fine line...and to be very careful in what they continue to post.
I do know that some of our fully banned members did have warnings.....but with suspensions it seems a bit random....for want of a better word. Particularly when certain very abusive trolls have the ability to keep appearing on here.

[tigerlelly]

ummmm- ok, but how did the others work out that you'd been suspended?

[zzxxee]

didnt read what you said to jj ummmm but shes a good sport im sure it wasnt to bad im sure she will accept your appology x

[dotty.]

ahhh vibra, my first LOL of the day!

[pastafreak]

I saw what ummmm said to jj as an observation...but certainly not abuse...and not the sort of remark that would lead to further sparing between the two of them. Sometimes,things need to be said-even if a bit critical. That's how I saw ummmm's comments.

[pastafreak]

*sparring.....