Agressive spammers.

[FairyInTheFlowers]

Your last guess would be correct! It is people who make threads or replies that have links that would take you somewhere that would give you a virus.

[fotofashion]

Every group has its rules as to what constitutes spam or undesirable posts. Usually these have to do with advertising, especially that which has nothing to do with the subject under discussion, religion or politics, too. It doesn't take much to get a virus so clicking on some link that just pops up is a dangerous practice.
If you decided you wanted to advertise anything that does not have to do with orchids and their cultivation, that would probably be considered spam. And, if you do want to advertise something that does have to do with orchids, there is a forum for that specifically.
The Yahoo groups I belong to have a clear list of do's and dont's. Violating them will get you on restriction or moderation or outright banned. Some groups put you on moderation automatically when you are new to the group until the mods can see you are serious. HTH
Beverly A.

[Discus]

I get a really huge amount of joy out of red carding spambots...

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Discus

I get a really huge amount of joy out of red carding spambots...

LOL, you're not the only one!

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by Wrebbitrocks

sorry to be so naive, but what exactly do you mean by "spam". i dont want to be part of it and i hope i dont get flagged for doing so unintentionally. in another forum, they consider spam responding to a post about something irrelevant to what the authors posting, or starting a new thread that was been made already/ making it in the wrong forum, OR when someone posts ads or links in their response trying to sell something or mess with your computer. lplease shine some light on this. thanks

Here on Orchid Board spam is having links to other sites where the reason for your post is only to advertise the other site, to raise it's ratings in search engines and/or to get people to click on the links and buy from or otherwise interact with the linked site.

Many of these posts are irrelevant but that does not mean that making posts in the wrong area or irrelevant ones are in themselves spam.

Some of them are getting clever and will actually cut and paste semi-relevant information about the orchid being discussed from elsewhere on the web... but it never quite seems right in the context and will have the spam links to show it's not legit.

We won't ban anyone who seems to be a legitamat user. All spam reports (including infractions) are reviewed and if the user has previous posts where they seem to be genuiniely taking part in the board then they will be sent a message be a moderator asking them to remove the spam links (or the moderator will remove the links and ask the user not to put them back).

Most spammers are fairly obvious when you learn what to look for. Bad English (although bad English is not always a spammer) and either completely off topic or only vaugly on topic.

Sometimes we see ones we are suspicious of but have no spam links. These users are monitored until we make a decision either way. Some spammers will make posts, then about a week later come back and add the spam links. These links raise them in search engine ratings but are likely to go unnoticed as the posts have not been bumped.

Sometimes ones with links are borderline if they may be a genuine user who just thought to advertise as well. In that case we PM the user and remove the links and explain why. Some of those get upset and I'm afriad that just makes it more clear that the reason for being here was advertising and not for taking part.

But rest assured... anyone who (like yourselves) has been taking part in a genuine way would always be warned before being banned and posts deleted. We don't want to stop genuine users.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by TheBlazingAugust

Yes, I have noticed that there are a few that are controlled by humans, (ex. not the abc1234 ones, which are automated spam bots) So we are going to have to be more careful, as in reporting the post if it looks like spam, instead of giving infractions. Of course, if it is obviously spam, then slice away and give an infraction!

I would say that if they have these links and they are new users who have not been previously taking part then don't worry about using the infraction button even on those you think are controlled by humans.

If it's a user who has been genuinely taking part before they later decide to use a spam link then yes, it's best NOT to use an infraction and to just report the post.

We also say that we would rather you don't use the infraction for users being rude or abusive (although the software has infraction options for that). Doing so is likely to upset the situation more, so just report those posts and a moderator will try and diffuse the situation and decide what level of intervention is needed.

[RosieC]

I also want to say that we are happy for some of our longstanding users to advertise their orchid related business in their footers with a simple link.

It is all about intent. If the reason for being here is to take part and join in with the comunity then a simple link to a legitamate orchid related business is not a problem. If the reason for being here is to promote that business then it should be restricted to the classifieds section.

Sue and I at one point discussed a rule that a user should have 100 posts before this was allowed, but it has never been enforced that way. Perhaps it is a good guide line though.

Links to a gallery of orchids photos, to an orchid related blog that does not sell anything are both fine even for new users. Links to other blogs or to ones predominantly selling are a problem.

We've also had instances in the past of someone (who had not posted before) with links to a dodgy looking 'Get wonderful orchids in weeks with this secret method' site selling books on this 'secret method'. That type of thing is considered spam as it seems very like those other 'wonder cures'.

[RosieC]

Finally I just want to say a huge thanks to all of you who keep reporting spam.

Even if you are not sure report it to us.

I had an example yesterday of something reported that when I looked had no spam links. Because I was unsure and didn't want to ban a genuine user I reversed the infraction and put the user on my watch list, but then two more people reported them. When I dug further I found that the links had been deleted when the first infraction was given then replaced when I reversed it, then removed again when the second/third infractions were given. I banned the user at this point.

This is an example that if there is reason for doubt we don't ban the user... but once it becomes clear they are a spammer we have zero tollerance.

[RosieC]

Wow, I've writen a lot

Hope it makes sence!

[Wrebbitrocks]

thanks for clearing that up everyone, especially rosie i remember i responded to a spammer once and was sent a message telling me not to do so again and why. but i didnt know what spamming was consdered here so i freaked a little.