Kitchen spam!

[TravellingMum]

ha ha .. yes I have a feeling I could probably pop round for a cuppa actually!!!!
Judging by some of the English used

Alllie - that sounds a good idea, but alas I have no clue about the reality! Plus our poor mods are busy pushing out k****en sales people. (it is almost a swear word now isn't it?!)

[MumtoMonsters]

Whenever it's been mentioned before it was always decided that we wanted to be open and friendly to all our members and so we wouldn't limit their access to anything (links, Faith's Corner, etc.). I don't know whether that sentiment still holds true to the forum as a whole, but that's why it hasn't been done so far.

[camper]

I'd never realised that time zone was the reason I was seeing so much k*tchen spam - it really has got rather intense lately. Another big thank you to the mods from me - you are much appreciated.

[KateGladTidings]

Whenever it's been mentioned before it was always decided that we wanted to be open and friendly to all our members and so we wouldn't limit their access to anything (links, Faith's Corner, etc.). I don't know whether that sentiment still holds true to the forum as a whole, but that's why it hasn't been done so far.

But last time it was discussed, didn't we still have the newbies pen? So they did used to be restricted! I think it's still in the spirit of the forum to hold new members off from posting links for a token number of posts, and I can't really see anyone being too upset about it. The newbies pen was used to "prevent the board being strafed by spammers" and I think we can agree that the board is indeed being strafed right now...

[MumtoMonsters]

Actually the last time it was discussed the newbie pen had already been deactivated and the agreement was that additional Spam Zappers was the answer.

[KateGladTidings]

Just as an example of the scale of the problem, here's a list of new members that have joined today. Note how many of them have already customised their profiles with links:

no.say.kudung.orange 0
http://www.kitchenideas-uk.co.uk
Fri Jun 14, 2013 6:45 am

bledug07 0
http://www.kitchensnottingham1.co.uk/
London
Fri Jun 14, 2013 6:36 am

Mawar123 0
http://www.kitchensswansea1.co.uk/
Fri Jun 14, 2013 3:44 am

bayikawak 0
http://www.kitchenspictures.co.uk/
Fri Jun 14, 2013 3:20 am

cicikecil 0
Fri Jun 14, 2013 3:14 am

impywipy 0
Fri Jun 14, 2013 3:03 am

fluberat 0
http://www.kitchensnorwich1.co.uk/
Fri Jun 14, 2013 2:55 am

alleen14 0
http://kitchensbradford-uk.co.uk
Fri Jun 14, 2013 2:54 am

paundra 0
Fri Jun 14, 2013 2:35 am

aqqyuh 0
http://www.kitchenscardiff1.co.uk/
Fri Jun 14, 2013 2:28 am

modaro11 0
http://www.kitchenssouthampton.co.uk
Fri Jun 14, 2013 2:27 am

gedang99 0
http://fittedkitchens1.co.uk/
Fri Jun 14, 2013 2:24 am

wongjowo 0
http://kitchencabinetssale.co.uk/
Fri Jun 14, 2013 2:21 am

carter05 0
http://www.kitchensliverpool1.co.uk/
Fri Jun 14, 2013 2:19 am

semibugil 0
Fri Jun 14, 2013 2:05 am

ungsumansii 0
http://www.kitchensonline-kitchensonline.co.uk/
Fri Jun 14, 2013 2:04 am

titik123 0
http://fittedkitchens1.co.uk/
Fri Jun 14, 2013 1:47 am

pabelass 0
http://www.lowpricekitchens.co.uk/
Fri Jun 14, 2013 1:45 am

jumatmumet 0
Fri Jun 14, 2013 1:42 am

wahyusri 0
Fri Jun 14, 2013 1:40 am

jarene55 0
http://www.kitchensonline-kitchensonline.co.uk
Fri Jun 14, 2013 1:35 am

celsi 0
http://www.used-kitchens.co.uk/
Fri Jun 14, 2013 1:30 am

kaptentarno 0
Fri Jun 14, 2013 1:28 am

karepkudewe 0
http://www.kitchensnewport1.co.uk/
Fri Jun 14, 2013 1:16 am

None of them have posted yet, so they haven't been zapped, but I predict we have some potential spammers in there - and they probably wouldn't bother posting if they couldn't post links. Out of these new members, 17 are spam-like, 7 are potential real life weaners. So, it's the minority of new members that would be affected by any new rules - the majority of people joining are spammers!

I think when we discussed FC, the reasoning was that someone might be new and yet still desperately need sanctuary (although the last time someone posted something emotional as their first post, eyebrows were raised). I can't see a situation where someone would desperately need to post a link when they've just joined. It may mildly inconvenience some people, but they'd reach the post limit soon enough anyway. If, as Allie says, it could all work automatically and save the mods work I think it would be an ideal solution.

[PerpetualMadness]

I don't necessarily think preventing linking for the first few posts is going to discourage anyone from posting or make it feel like us/them. Especially if it could be done automatically. The kitchen spam is ridiculous when I log in first thing (around 6 am) then the mods zap it. It's very impressive but it really does feel like an attack.

[KateGladTidings]

In fact, i am being a bit dumb here....these spammers may have no intention of actually posting. By signing up to the forum and leaving a link in their profile, their link is on here, which is enough for SEO purposes.

Allie, am I right in thinking that marking links as "no-follow" might help? I don't know much about SEO, but have been doing some content for an SEO client, which involves scattering links over the interweb. But in a "writing content for blogs and article directories" way, not in a spammy way!!

[KateGladTidings]

I don't necessarily think preventing linking for the first few posts is going to discourage anyone from posting or make it feel like us/them. Especially if it could be done automatically. The kitchen spam is ridiculous when I log in first thing (around 6 am) then the mods zap it. It's very impressive but it really does feel like an attack.

Exactly. The mods are doing an awesome job, but it would be better to have a permanent solution. If I "view new posts" after a mod zapping, there are only 3 or 4 threads there, so I don't get to see them all.

[ToothFairy]

Kate, I recognise at least some of those names as ones I banned and deleted posts by at about 6.30 this morning!

[KateGladTidings]

Hmm, they were §till on the members list when I posted that at 11. Do banÑed members still appear on the list?

[AB&M]

I think they do Kate - you can't have the same name as a banned person as they are down on the list still.

[meerkatsmum]

I have no idea how these things work but if new members couldn't post links until, say their 5th post, may we be making the problem worse? Would the spammers then post more so that they can then post a link? Or is spamming automatic and they wouldn't know they need to or find it worth it?

And I lol'd at "newbie pens".

[MrsDale]

As a newbie (this is only my second post!) I wouldn't see a problem at all in not being able to post links until a post limit had been reached, I'm sure I could direct someone towards a relevant website by description if necessary! So it sounds like a good idea to me, but would the spammers get wise?

[KateGladTidings]

I think they do Kate - you can't have the same name as a banned person as they are down on the list still.

ah ok! their links are still on the site tho, so it won't deter them from coming back with new personas. They know they will get banned, but their link will remain somewhere on the site, so they can do it as often as they like, and they have still achieved their aim. That's why I think banning the links is getting to the root of the problem iyswim...