Spammified means Horrified!
If you have not read this, do so now:
Spam will destroy the integrity of the WA website and membership. Don't do it!
I am posting this because I see more spam in the last week than I have in the last 3 months I have been a member here.
Unfortunately, almost everyone who reads this will probably have already read the above policy on Spam. However, I would encourage everyone to not only report spam, but share with everyone that Spam is not and can not be tolerated at WA!
There are many types, shapes, and sizes that spam comes in, but when someone posts a commercial directly to "MY Space" wall here at WA, it is time for us to all start reporting it especially when it is a blatant violation.
The integrity of this website is so important to your business, and if we don't maintain it, your business will lose credibility if found to be associated with this website if spam continues to be allowed.
Please do not spam on members websites and do not spam at WA!
Recent Comments
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Remember we are here to help each other, as it says in the spam rules. We are not here to exploit each other
Yeah David,
I am with you on this one. Blatant disregard is a sign of disrespect. Don't be afraid to use those spam buttons guys!!!
There's a lot of "sneaky" spam as Kyle calls it. As he says in # 6: "No blog or forum posts that are created for the pure purpose of promoting a product. This does include product reviews. Rants are OK."
Does this mean we can or cannot promote our own websites that DO promote products and services? Because there's a fair amount of that going on and it so obvious, it's a complete turnoff. I'm not referring to the requests to look at a site for assistance.
The above has contributed to souring my experience and opinion of WA. That and the nothing-to-offer comments here like "that's a good question, but I don't know the answer." And also the inability of people to feel they can only be cheerleaders and not offer dissenting views without getting jumped on (sometimes through PMs). Meh.
Liz, I interpret this as being able to promote our website for the purposes of learning and training. NOT for any purpose promoting a product, service, or engaging others to purchase anything. There is some questions going around concerning the self promotion on this website by leaving poor comments like "Nice post", "Can't help you", "Hope you find the answer", etc. in order to gain rank. I am personally guilty of leaving (which I have now stopped) comments like "I am new here and I am sorry I don't know the answer, but I think it might be:". I do this on purpose so that it will later show me as a notification when someone else comments with the correct answer. This is how I have learned a lot here, but like I said I have now stopped doing it. However, it is really obvious others who leave comments like "Nice Post" all the time or it is clear they never read the question or blog post and are just commenting to gain rank. I think this is spam also.
I've already mentioned I don't like those nothing-to-offer comments in order to gain rank or for whatever reason the poster does it. I agree it's spam.The posts I want to follow I just keep in a separate folder in my email. I never thought to post just anything so I could be notified later.
As far as blog spam (WA blogs that is)...if you have a website about Nike running shoes, and here, on WA, you blog about foot health, equipment for a marathon, and sports drinks, is that a promotion or not? You're not blatantly promoting your products and services, but you ARE promoting yourself as an expert in your niche, which in turn, is promoting your site and whatever you're selling/promoting on your site. Do you see the fine line?
Perhaps Kyle or Carson or some other representative here at WA could answer. For me, it's extremely annoying so I won't follow anyone who does it. And I don't see that we're encouraged to do it.
Agree that there should be some sort of update as to more specifics regarding the spam policy by Kyle or Carson, but when I see someone put an obvious commercial on a person's page several times, or another person goes to a person's website and deliberately posts spam there, I find it absolutely absurd. Thus the reason I did this post.
I've started reporting those types of comments as spam. It's blatant rank spamming and not at all helpful to the community. Another member is constantly asking inane questions to try to improve his rank - that's another form of spam. ~Marion
Good idea and yes, asking a lot of questions will get you ranked. I think the idea behind that is *all* involvement is helpful but quality of helpfulness can't be ranked unless it can done by members. With the current algorithm in place, I know who benefits most.
Thanks for pointing this out again for everyone. I love WA and joined because of the "safe haven" it provides for me to learn and hopefully help others down the road - without any self promotions, upsells, affiliate sales, etc., etc.
Hi David
Maybe we need to petition Kyle and Carson to make spam part of the training.. once you've gone premium, you can't access the rest of the courses until you've watched a clip on it..? Or maybe that's a bit draconian.. :)
C
I think with the surge in membership and everyone coming into WA at different levels, that that is an excellent idea!
Some new members don't understand the philosophical intent of this community and need to be educated in it - they don't necessarily mean to encroach. Then there is always that element that will spam everyone and everything in a futile and ignorant attempt to turn a buck.
Agreed! Just like sometimes I will purposely leave a comment of "I don't know the answer". I will try to add something helpful and useful as well, but the point of doing so for me is to get notified then later when others leave a comment so that I can learn what the answer is.
However leaving a commercial on a person's wall or on their website is clearly very different.
Thank you....At this early stage of my membership, I have not seen this as of yet.
Hopefully, you and everyone who can identify SPAM, will send these alerts out as a policy reminder. If members choose not to be rule abiding..not only do we eradicate the SPAM, most likely the offending member. That would so unfortunate given the incredible opportunity WA gives to all.
Thanks David-Salt.
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What would be really good (especially for us whose computers stop a lot of spam) is a description or examples (not in fact!) of the various types of spam. Then I would certainly report spam.