Okay, so we're working through the guidelines, and one of the areas that we are most definitely going to revise/clarify BIG TIME is in regards to what constitutes SPAM.

(Can I get a loud, collective 'AMEN!" from the ActiveRain Choir?)

Just so we are all on the same page here:

The first point of our ActiveRain Community Guidelines states:

  • Do not advertise yourself or your services in the comment section of another members blog post.

    • (What part of 'DO NOT' do we NOT understand here?)

    This practice is normally referred to as "Comment SPAM." It is something that bothers and annoys the large majority of members in our community. We get a fairly significant amount of 'Contact ActiveRain' mail complaining about other members who consistently promote or advertise within the confines of their blog comments. Here is an example:

    Hi Gloria, As you know, a big part of being involved here on ActiveRain is to help each other. The best way that I've found is by visiting each others' website, to improve Internet search rankings. I checked out your website, and I liked the pretty sunset design, that's really cool.  If you have a second, please return the favor by checking out my website at http://www.dontyouhatespam.net/

    01/21/2008 02:30 PM by George Spamalot  Edit Delete Report as Spam

     

    This comment adds absolutely NOTHING to the discussion. It has no bearing or relevance on the topic. Conversational blogging is about engaging the reader. It's about establishing a meaningful dialogue. The 'Comment Section' of someone else's blog post it is NOT, I repeat, NOT the place to promote your business, website, widget, services, etc..

    There are other, more effective ways to use this network for promoting your business/services.

    Interrupting the conversation is NOT one of them!

    for Your Contiuned Reading Enjoyment:

    "Removing Your Own Spam"

    "Comment Junk Mail"

    "The Karma of Comments"

    ~     o     ~     o     ~     o     ~     o     ~     o     ~

    social-media-is-a-conversation

    Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SOUNDBITEBLOG and Crabbing in the Hood, or e-mail:  kitsapagent@gmail.com

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    Post is included in group: Active Rain Newbies
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    65 Comments on "Would You Like a Side of SPAM with Your Comments?" - Blog Tips for Rain Drips

    20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

    JAN
    23
    2008
    205,833 Points 2 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
    		Amen to this!  I hate shameless self-promotion!
    7:46pm • #46
    970,263 Points 245 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master
    		hahahah....I remember the action one...some lady promoting escort service...haha.
    9:45pm • #47
    JAN
    24
    2008
    402,651 Points 29 Featured Posts Outside Blog

    Rich,

    I'm glad to see you're addressing this on a more serious note now.....I cringe everytime I see someone using someone else's post for their own self-promotion.

    Jo 
    7:59am • #48
    823,519 Points 155 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

    AMEN!  As you no doubt are aware, I am one of those who won't tolerate spam.  I always delete it and I always report it, whether it's in a comment or comes via ActiveRain contact form.  I feel badly that I have to put it in General Comments, that there is no category I can check that says  _ Reporting SPAM

    Would that be hard to add?
    9:30am • #49
    520,578 Points 229 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
    		Margaret - It gets to us just the same. We appreciate your vigilant support!
    9:39am • #50
    337,556 Points 30 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

    kinda reminds me of where you and I started. I'm still so glad my first mistake was with you. Kinda uncanny  if you think about it, huh? My first comment was with the Don.

    cheers 
    9:36pm • #51
    520,578 Points 229 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
    		Gary - oh please! Now everytime you call me that, I'll think of how Fredo was killed out on Lake Tahoe!
    9:53pm • #52
    JAN
    25
    2008
    Excellent post....You couldn't have made it any clearer.  Nobody likes spam.
    12:58am • #53
    1,360,460 Points 93 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

    either Bob or Rich or Cheryl (as the owner of the blog post ) ought to thnunk the spammer in this comment thread on the noggin for his spam link:

    http://activerain.com/blogsview/350673/Open-Letter-To-HouseValues

    Comment with a link just after a Bob Stewart comment in Cheryls very popu;ar post.  This vendor is branching out and visiting outside blogs of ActiveRainers  now and comment spamming them.  He's not visited mine yet and there (at least on my WP.org blog I can just edit out the link to his site that he leaves in all comments.  I would not just delete it though.

    4:08am • #54
    878,677 Points 75 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
    		Rich - The thing that is funny about this is that people assume they are getting link love by adding their websites in the comments. If they only knew that the "no follow" tag was applied much of this type of advertising would stop.
    8:51am • #55
    1 Featured Post Hit Router
    		Rich -- As this place grows, I see more and more of this. . .are we allowed to smite spammers!?!?! I don't see clear regulations against smiting in the community guidelines.
    1:10pm • #56
    1,360,460 Points 93 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

    smite button

     

    Here's a button, Lori. 

    Rich you do have to tell us how the community should deal with it.  I feel like it is the blog owner's place to deal with it but many don't, won't, can't.  

    As ActiveRain gets larger it's only going to get worse. 

    Should we just wait for you to find them.  Grit our teeth as we read through the comments...

    This Smite button comlpiments of ImageChef.com The picture is a link to ImageChef.com

    6:30pm • #57
    520,578 Points 229 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

    Maureen - Let's face it, this stuff doesn't always annoy others as much as you and me. I ran across a member today who didn't know they could 'delete' comments. So we definitely need to educate the masses a bit better.

    Careful about passing that 'SMITE' button around. When it's used, Edison Power has a fit, and the powergrid in a 5 mile radius shuts down!
    7:22pm • #58
    JAN
    26
    2008
    283,378 Points 75 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master
    		 Hi Rich, that's welcome news, you have another Amen from me. What about spam in general, meaning as posts. Even tho I flag a bunch of it in the marketing group, not much seems to happen to either the post or the poster. Any suggestions other than just deleting the post from the group? That doesn't work because they just post more the next day, etc...
    12:34am • #59
    1,360,460 Points 93 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

    comment on a friend's AR blog yesterday:  

    This is great, I'm still building my own vocabulary

    Spammer Name  - Team Spammer Real Estate

    City State

    http://www.teamspammer.com/  - link to the spammers website which starts talking as soon as you connect... "Welcome to  Team Spammers "

    Tell me that's not a spam comment where ever it is left.  I am sure I saw Bob or Rich "thunk this spammer on the noggin" in comments recently when he posted the same comment spam for Team Spammer Real Estate but I guess this spammer has one thick noggin. 

    I asked the blogger in comments (after leaving a comment about the post) whether he was going to delete, ask the spammer to remove the spammy parts of the comment...  Maybe I should not do that.  I would not with a new member or someone I have not witnessed personally getting "thunked on the noggin" for comment spamming. 

    Vendors, real estate educators, coaches often seem to be the worst comment spammers but then again this is just a real estate agent. 

    comment spam in a thread is like the "elephant in the room."   The blogger does not say anything about it.  The others who comment tip toe around the elephant... Or maybe the blogger emails the person to remove the spam parts of the comment.... 

    ActiveRain does need to let the community know they have a smite button on their post.. it say's Delete.  They are in control.  I think many on AR though want the comment no matter if there is spam in it... just for the number.  Many are proud they have NOT deleted comments. 

    6:47am • #60
    JAN
    28
    2008
    1 Featured Post Localism Sponsor
    		This is a great topic.  You know, spammish comments don't work; just like the wrong meta tags on your profile or website don't work.   Rather, AR members who do this simply p people off...And what about the cut and paste comments!?  This is really useful info, thank you!  Oh well, I'm not perfect, but had to comment!
    4:14pm • #61
    JAN
    30
    2008

    Rich, it seems that it is just a lot of common sense. But as they say, common sense is not that common. I completely agree with you in that promoting yourself when commenting on another person's blog is a no-no, particularly when it involves links to another blog or website. My opinion is that each blogger should decide what to accept in their comments, as I believe it has been done up to now. Because as we all know, there are different definitions of what constitutes comment spam or not. 


    2:13pm • #62
    JAN
    18
    2009
    151,411 Points 4 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

    Spam is easy to deal with...especially when it is blatant.  I had a spammer hit one of my rare public posts with copy/paste comment spam so I blasted their posts with info and links to their competition.

    My spammer was a professional marketing coach if you can believe it! I guess they charge people to teach them how to comment spam.  HA!
    5:59pm • #63
    520,578 Points 229 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

    Now THERE'S a brilliant idea!.....ActiveRain's New Anti-SPAM ware, Amanda 'Get Yer Frickin' SPAM off our Site, or I'll KILL you' Hall....
    6:36pm • #64
    151,411 Points 4 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

    My name just keeps getting longer and longer.  I'm gonna need a tricked out name tag pretty soon!
    6:40pm • #65

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