Spam Spam Spam

[NYatKNIGHT]

Most spam comes from a new member and a post or posts containing any number of links, either blatantly or slipped into otherwise regular conversation.

[ZippyTheChimp]

What IS "spam," as considered by the moderators of this forum?

Spam originated as mass-emails (advertising), usually from automated senders to huge address lists. Sometimes, when a website asks you for your email address, they are "harvesting addresses" that are sold to spammers. That's why it's a good idea to have a secondary email to provide to sites. That way, if the filters aren't blocking the spam. you can delete the address and use something else without having to tell everyone that your address has changed.

Spam on a forum like WNY is a little different, in that there's no bulk posting. Spammers usually work off a list of popular and/or related forums, and register on dozens at a time. Then they'll come back to each forum, and paste in a standard post with an advertising link. Sometimes they'll try to hide it in a related thread, but more often it's blatant multiple posts, sometimes one in each sub-forum. All these posts are deleted and the users banned, but they don't really care. The theory is that the more forums they post on, the better the chance that some will remain as free advertising.

Sometimes, I see a banned spammer return and attempt to open a thread, which is blocked. He will either cross off WNY from his list as a waste of time, or re-register a new user ID to start the process all over again.

I think new members mess up when they initially join up on Wired New York, because they're excited about the content, and they really don't yet have a feel for the community.

New members with good intent are hardly ever confused with spamming, which is blatant advertising.

See internet trolling.

Unlike spamming, trolling is difficult for us to identify, but unless someone has a lot of patience in setting up the troll-identity, veteran members aren't suspect. So if a veteran makes a troll-like post, you might get a argument from another member in the discussion, but it's ignored by moderators.

However, if a newcomer makes the same troll-like post as #1, warning flags go up. Since there's no familiarity with his posting-personality, he is immediately suspect.

So my advice to a newcomer is to first of all, read the rules. Maybe read through several of the threads in Forum Issues. Get to know the place.

[ZippyTheChimp]

I just banned someone whose profile showed...

Interests: Suffering internet.

[Merry]

Crikey! Has Hurricane Sandy washed up all the spammers on the shores of WNY?!

Or is it because Zippy isn't here to blow them back out to sea?

Hope all is well with you and your family, Zip.

[Derek2k3]

That crossed my mind as well. There's still isn't any power in BPC. Hope everything is okay Zippy.

[hbcat]

Crikey! Has Hurricane Sandy washed up all the spammers on the shores of WNY?!

Or is it because Zippy isn't here to blow them back out to sea?

Hope all is well with you and your family, Zip.

i was thinking the same thing. And, yes, we hope you are ok, Zippy.

[hbcat]

The spammers are using the blog feature. Should these get reported? I guess we can ignore them.

[Edward]

Zippy was not here since Tuesday, hopefully he is OK.

[Edward]

The spammers are using the blog feature. Should these get reported? I guess we can ignore them.

I cleaned up the spam, including the blogs, so please do report if you see spam.

[eddhead]

I want to echo good wishes to Zippy. Hope all is well

[ZippyTheChimp]

Hello folks. On behalf of my family, I appreciate your kind thoughts.

I am truly blessed. No one I know has suffered any physical harm, although several friends have had significant property loss. That's where we've been for a week, and came home to vote tomorrow. Then it's back out for at least another week.

We rode out the hurricane at home, and were never in any danger. BPC fared rather well, and residents were safe as long as they stayed inside. Only a few buildings had power outages, and I think they were proactive shutdowns to avoid equipment damage. One Gateway Plaza building had basement flooding, and lost power for several days.

When the sea breached the esplanade, I knew that West St was in trouble. BPC is about at the same elevation as Greenwich St, so that makes West St a river valley. That's where all the water collected. On Tuesday, the streets were messy but dry, and the traffic signals operated. We briefly became Battery Park City Island. It was a weird reversal of a barrier island that usually has the most storm damage. We had lights while the "mainland" was dark.

I found out that a friend of mine who lives in Long Beach LI lost his home. His son lives in the area, and his home was also destroyed. Both lost their cars. We've been helping them salvage what they can and move in with relatives. The area is a disaster zone.

I've been staying with my sister, who lives in Glen Cove (mostly downed trees and spotty power outages there). She ordered me to pick up her friends in Neponsit; they'll be staying with her while they repair damage. The Rockaways is also a mess.

I've browsed around the site. Sorry that some of you have suffered loss, but I'm glad no one was hurt.

I'll check in from time to time.

[Annie741]

Good to hear from you Zippy & news of BPC.

And now for the long haul of clean up & helping New Yorkers get back their lives.

All the best for your friends & family.

[hbcat]

It's good to see you back, even if only for a visit, and know that you are ok.

[Ninjahedge]

Zip, I know about LBI, my folks are on the island just south of that.

Major wreckage.

I am hoping for the best for all and I am glad that you are all right.

[mariab]

Same here. Now everyone can get back to proper bickering about politics & religion (hopefully not).