Affiliates: Please read

200 replies
Good morning, folks. Time for a reminder of the rules.

We've been getting a ton of useless one-line posts and general spam lately. This is generated largely by affiliates directly pimping their offers or posting for sig file exposure. Please re-read the rules on affiliate links:

(5) No Affiliate Links Allowed - Promote Your Own Domain/s Only. It's either this or we have to cut out sig files altogether which we do not want to do.

(6) Anyone Caught Promoting The Same Site/Offer Will Be Deleted. Program owners are telling their members to come here and make posts to promote their offer in their sig files. This has caused tons of useless messages to be posted and it is clogging up the forum. Anyone caught doing this will have to be removed. This is not an ad forum - it is a discussion forum.

Edit: We have no problem with someone pointing to their WSO within their sig.

Edit: Due to certain people trying to find a loophole I needed to add yet another edit. Please do not try to get around these rules by getting your own domain name and simply redirecting it to an affiliate program. You Will Be Removed From Here When Caught.

If you want to promote an affiliate program do it on your own domain. Your own web site. Not a "pre-made" web site. Your own web site, a real one. Then put THAT web site in your sig file.
Notice a few things there... "Same site/offer," "not a 'pre-made' web site," no redirects, etc. So, getting your own domain and posting a clone of the affiliate site with the creator's name and yours at the bottom is not allowed here. That is no different than a redirect or a framed affiliate link for purposes of this policy.

Anyone who tells you otherwise is asking you to risk getting banned for their own benefit. This may not be someone you want to promote.

The policy has nothing to do with the individual products you may choose to promote. It exists to prevent behavior that's harmful to the discussions that go on here. Specifically, the posting of countless short and useless comments and threads, made solely for sig file exposure. That kind of thing wastes the time of a lot of people.

The thread containing those quotes is at the top of every page in main discussion. It is labeled "Forum Rules - Please Read This Before Posting On The Forum."

There is no excuse for violating those rules. There is no reasonable way to claim you didn't know, other than to say you chose not to read the rules.

If you have a link in your sig file pointing to any page that violates these rules, please adjust your profile to remove that link. And please do not continue posting pointless one-liners for sig file exposure.

While we're at it: Knock it off with the "See my sig file" comments. You know who you are...


Paul
#affiliates #read
  • Profile picture of the author bay37
    Thank you, sir.

    I noticed a large influx of sig. link spammers lately. Pretty sure most of them are hired forum posters switching IPs through a VPN service and creating new accounts/posts in bulk.
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    • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
      Pretty sure most of them are hired forum posters switching IPs through a VPN service and creating new accounts/posts in bulk.
      In that case, they can be reported to the affiliate program provider. You can probably get the affiliate ID from the pages. Most of them aren't careful about that.

      Clickbank will nuke the affiliate account(s) if they hear about that kind of behavior. If it's the result of advice within the product or the affiliate training materials, they will have a chat with the merchant also. Other programs/providers may have different policies and approaches, of course.


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    • Profile picture of the author freemen14
      Thanks Paul. There are many way's we can promote OTHER people's products outside of the WF w/o having to spam on our sig's. If you don't know how just read, read, read.
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  • Profile picture of the author aaron_nimocks
    useless one-line post
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    • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
      Aaron,
      useless one-line post
      Have I told you today that you're a smartass?


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    • Profile picture of the author warriorkay
      Originally Posted by aaron_nimocks View Post

      useless one-line post
      Yeah, you know who you are,

      But seriously, it's a good idea for one
      to read the rules before getting involved
      in any forum. And since forum rules
      do differ from one forum to another,
      being a long time member in one
      forum doesn't mean you know all
      the forum rules,

      Kingsley
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  • Profile picture of the author lgibbon
    Banned
    I say name and shame the people sending them here.
    They are the ones to blame.
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    • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
      Les,
      I say name and shame the people sending them here.
      They are the ones to blame.
      I don't know that the merchants are responsible. Sometimes they are, other times they have suggestions that aren't followed correctly, which result in inexperienced affiliates breaking the rules.

      In any case, it's not necessary to name them in order to make the point. Since we can do it without that, I don't see any reason to be specific.


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    • Profile picture of the author bay37
      Originally Posted by lgibbon View Post

      I say name and shame the people sending them here.
      They are the ones to blame.
      I wouldn't do that. It can be really hard/impossible to prove who is doing the spamming (or paying/teaching the spammers). Don't jump to conclusions too quickly.

      Just do what Paul suggested^, if you have enough time/patience (or both).

      EDIT: damn, why am I so slow to reply...
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      • Profile picture of the author lgibbon
        Banned
        Originally Posted by bay37 View Post

        I wouldn't do that. It can be really hard/impossible to prove who is doing the spamming (or paying/teaching the spammers). Don't jump to conclusions too quickly.
        Yes you're right It is difficuly to prove,
        but if you see what is going on here,
        self appointed experts arriving at the forum,
        building up a huge following with lecture type posts
        which they keep bumped up for weeks on end,
        and then vanish from the forum leaving dozens of followers
        with their affiliate sites in there sig files.

        Difficult to prove yes.
        But it's happening and that's for sure.
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        • Profile picture of the author paulie888
          Originally Posted by lgibbon View Post

          Yes you're right It is difficuly to prove,
          but if you see what is going on here,
          self appointed experts arriving at the forum,
          building up a huge following with lecture type posts
          which they keep bumped up for weeks on end,
          and then vanish from the forum leaving dozens of followers
          with their affiliate sites in there sig files.

          Difficult to prove yes.
          But it's happening and that's for sure.
          Due to the popularity and size of this forum, I'd imagine it'd take a lot of manpower and time to thoroughly check and see if these people are just ignorant (some newbies are just posting quickly to get their post count up without any sig link), or real spammers posting one-liners for sig link exposure.

          Hopefully this thread will serve as both education and a warning to the would-be spammers. I've noticed more posters utilizing affiliate links recently, and I'll have to be vigilant and do my small part in reporting them.

          Paul
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          • Profile picture of the author CyberSorcerer
            Originally Posted by paulie888 View Post

            Due to the popularity and size of this forum, I'd imagine it'd take a lot of manpower and time to thoroughly check and see if these people are just ignorant (some newbies are just posting quickly to get their post count up without any sig link), or real spammers posting one-liners for sig link exposure.
            Needless to say, I do click on everyone's sig links to see what there doing, how their promoting, what products their promoting, etc. Seeing how newbies are my primary target, I especially click on most all their links. Normally I can tell who they've been learning from, if it's one of the big courses, by how their promoting, as I've taken most all of them.

            I realized a few sig were in violation but being pretty new here I didn't want to seem like I was causing trouble by reporting all these. Anyway I'm sure the mod's will eventually get to them all on their own in time.

            After I get a little more established, I might take a more active role in reporting violations. Currently though, I stir up enough controversy on my own without any help.
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            • Profile picture of the author Ken Strong
              Originally Posted by CyberSorcerer View Post

              I realized a few sig were in violation but being pretty new here I didn't want to seem like I was causing trouble by reporting all these. Anyway I'm sure the mod's will eventually get to them all on their own in time.
              Not likely -- the mods don't have time to check every one of the thousands of new posts that are made here every day. They depend on members reporting violations when you see them.

              After I get a little more established, I might take a more active role in reporting violations. Currently though, I stir up enough controversy on my own without any help.
              There's no controversy involved in reporting posts. The mods are the only ones who see the reports. If you're not sure, go ahead and report and let the mods decide whether action should be taken or not. Believe me, you'd have to really go overboard with some pretty frivolous reports before anyone would say anything to you about it.
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            • Profile picture of the author Ray Erdmann
              What's been bothering me lately is not so much the sig spammers, but the countless 1-line posts, especially in the 'war room' where someone is giving something away for free!

              Too many "thanks for this great gift"...or..."thanks for the share, I'm off to try it now"...and when you look at their post counts, it's all from people who have about 100 or less posts!
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              • Profile picture of the author Ken Strong
                Originally Posted by Ray Erdmann View Post

                What's been bothering me lately is not so much the sig spammers, but the countless 1-line posts, especially in the 'war room' where someone is giving something away for free!

                Too many "thanks for this great gift"...or..."thanks for the share, I'm off to try it now"...and when you look at their post counts, it's all from people who have about 100 or less posts!
                Not to sound like a broken record (what's a record?), but feel free to report them.
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                • Profile picture of the author Julie McElroy
                  I am relatively new here and just learning all the ropes - I am not a spammer (ick), but I do sometimes leave the "great product, thanks" type posts - I try to elaborate, but I do it, not for my sig, but to give feedback and so others can see the positive feedback. I will try to elaborate a bit more with those type posts! *Sorry! Also, I am wondering if a review on your blog that has an affiliate link in the post - is THAT illegal? Just checking - I don't want to get banned!
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                  • Profile picture of the author Buildingfutures
                    Originally Posted by Julie McElroy View Post

                    I am relatively new here and just learning all the ropes - I am not a spammer (ick), but I do sometimes leave the "great product, thanks" type posts - I try to elaborate, but I do it, not for my sig, but to give feedback and so others can see the positive feedback. I will try to elaborate a bit more with those type posts! *Sorry! Also, I am wondering if a review on your blog that has an affiliate link in the post - is THAT illegal? Just checking - I don't want to get banned!
                    Correct me if I'm wrong, but you said it's YOUR blog.

                    If thats the case, then no, its not illegal. Direct linking your affiliate link to your sig is.

                    But you're posting your blog, which in itself will have more than just that one affiliate link. It will have content, links to other sites that you might not make money with, etc. I'd say post your blog's main page in your link though, not a direct review post.

                    And those 'thanks great product' posts are alright. If you've reviewed the product, try to offer an overview of your impression of it.

                    IT makes for longer, more detailed posts.

                    Hope that helps,

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                    • Profile picture of the author Julie McElroy
                      Originally Posted by Buildingfutures View Post

                      Correct me if I'm wrong, but you said it's YOUR blog.

                      If thats the case, then no, its not illegal. Direct linking your affiliate link to your sig is.

                      But you're posting your blog, which in itself will have more than just that one affiliate link. It will have content, links to other sites that you might not make money with, etc. I'd say post your blog's main page in your link though, not a direct review post.

                      And those 'thanks great product' posts are alright. If you've reviewed the product, try to offer an overview of your impression of it.

                      IT makes for longer, more detailed posts.

                      Hope that helps,

                      -Sean
                      I appreciate the feedback. I asked about the affiliate because the link will go to my blog, but the blog has a link, I know there are some gray areas!!
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        • Profile picture of the author bay37
          Originally Posted by lgibbon View Post

          Yes you're right It is difficuly to prove,
          but if you see what is going on here,
          self appointed experts arriving at the forum,
          building up a huge following with lecture type posts
          which they keep bumped up for weeks on end,
          and then vanish from the forum leaving dozens of followers
          with their affiliate sites in there sig files.

          Difficult to prove yes.
          But it's happening and that's for sure.
          Yes, but... what can you do about it.

          It would not fit the "atmosphere" here to ban those people outright. I would go as far to say that they have become a HUGE part of this community, even if they only do it to show off their sig. links/build up hype (end goal).

          There are three ways to go about it:

          1. Allow everything (bad).
          2. Allow most things, but no "right-in-your-face" promotion (this forum).
          3. Ban everyone who starts a self-promo thread/post aff. links, etc (some places do this).

          2 and 3 both work great and (such forums) attract different types of people. I think both 2 and 3 have their place and are needed...

          It must be hell running a large forum like this one.
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          • Profile picture of the author tpw
            Originally Posted by paulie888 View Post

            Hopefully this thread will serve as both education and a warning to the would-be spammers. I've noticed more posters utilizing affiliate links recently, and I'll have to be vigilant and do my small part in reporting them.

            Paul: Spammers don't read. They post and move on.



            Originally Posted by bay37 View Post

            2. Allow most things, but no "right-in-your-face" promotion (this forum).
            3. Ban everyone who starts a self-promo thread/post aff. links, etc (some places do this).

            Wouldn't we be lying to ourselves and others if we suggested we do this only for fun?

            Don't we all start threads to self-promote ourselves, and respond to threads for much the same reason?

            The only real difference between us and the spammers is that we try to give something in return for the opportunity to build our reputations or drop a link. The spammers take links where they can get them with zero regard for others.
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            • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
              Originally Posted by tpw View Post

              Paul: Spammers don't read. They post and move on.
              That's why we need Letters of Marque and Reprisal for Spammers so we can hunt them down and seize their stuff.
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            • Profile picture of the author bay37
              Originally Posted by tpw View Post

              Wouldn't we be lying to ourselves and others if we suggested we do this only for fun?
              As I said, this is what Warrior Forum is, and it's not a bad thing (in my opinion).

              There are places where you simply don't start a thread, no matter how much good info you put in there, to simply swap your sig. link for a link to a WSO some ten pages into the thread...

              What I'm trying to say is this:

              You have written many informative posts over the years. Helped a lot of people, answered tons of questions, had some fun, etc. People know you and respect you. You come up with a good product/service some day down the line and promote it via your sig. link (among other methods). Good stuff, nothing wrong with that (in my opinion).

              Now consider this... You have 500 or 5000 posts under your belt. Have helped a lot of people (or not - irrelevant in this case), etc. You plan to launch a new product. As a sort of pre-launch thing you go to your favourite forum and start a thread directly related to the technique/method described in your upcoming product. The thread becomes popular, you answer a ton of questions and then BAM - ten days later - your new product sig. link is plastered all over that thread. <-- Bad stuff, me not like.

              --------------------

              Yeah, I hope you can see where I'm coming from. There are tons of these (type 2) threads, and they never get killed. In fact, many of them are very popular.

              Are they a good thing? Everyone will have a different opinion.

              Do you think that the forum would be better off without such threads? Maybe, maybe not. Even I have grown accustomed to this stuff, to me - and I'm a relatively new member - they seem to be a big part of what WF is.

              If it was all different - I'm pretty sure I would still be here and do my own thing... And probably enjoy it just as much as I do now.

              I think I've gone waaay off-topic. :p
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              • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
                Steven,
                There are actually problems that are just as serious, if not more so.
                Yep. Many of them. Step outside the forum and MOST of them are more serious.

                As a rule, we get more done in a thread like this by focusing on the more prevalent activities. We can't police every post for accuracy. It's not possible, or desirable, even if every moderator knew everything about every topic.

                Nothing is perfect, or ever will be.


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                • Profile picture of the author Ken Strong
                  Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

                  Nothing is perfect, or ever will be.
                  Well, then I'm taking advantage of the 100-year moneyback guarantee.
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                  • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
                    CS,

                    As Ken pointed out, you don't get noise from the mods for reporting posts, even if they don't happen to agree that the post in question is in violation.

                    It's not uncommon for a mod to report something and ask the other mods what they think. Or for a mod to look at a report and choose not to act on it, if they don't see it as an issue. This isn't an exact science, after all. You report posts, and see what happens. That helps you to understand the mods' thinking on how decisions are made.

                    About the only way you'd hear anything from a mod about it is if you're constantly reporting posts for what look like frivolous or malicious reasons, or you keep re-reporting the same post. Even then, I'm not aware of anyone ever having been penalized in any way for reporting what they see as possible violations.

                    Posts don't even have to be violations to warrant reporting. It's helpful to us when people report stuff that's in the wrong section, for example, when it has an unclear subject line. We move it to where the people with more experience and interest in the topic can offer answers, and everyone benefits.

                    Moderating isn't about punishment. It's about providing the best way for people to use the forum to get the most benefit from it.


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                    • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
                      Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

                      ...or you keep re-reporting the same post.
                      Sometimes, that's hard to avoid, especially when you get someone that pops in and posts a dozen spam posts. Then it gets hard to remember which ones you've already reported, especially when waiting 60 seconds between reports.
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                      • Profile picture of the author bay37
                        Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

                        Sometimes, that's hard to avoid, especially when you get someone that pops in and posts a dozen spam posts. Then it gets hard to remember which ones you've already reported, especially when waiting 60 seconds between reports.
                        Not sure how the system works, but this might be a good way to do it:

                        Report one of the posts and add a note to check "the last ten or so" of that users posts for possible spam-stuff.

                        EDIT: Paul beat me to it yet again. DAMN MY SLOW BRAIN.
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                        • Profile picture of the author tpw
                          Originally Posted by bay37 View Post

                          EDIT: Paul beat me to it yet again. DAMN MY SLOW BRAIN.

                          You are a young one... You are forgiven to be slower than an old man like Paul.
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                          • Profile picture of the author bay37
                            Originally Posted by tpw View Post

                            You are a young one... You are forgiven to be slower than an old man like Paul.
                            It's so frustrating. Happens way too often. Ahhhhhh! ***

                            Question for Paul -

                            What would happen if I (before launching my next product about say... Adsense) started a really good and info packed thread (about Adsense) with some testing data, specific advice, etc. With a goal to, obviously, build up pre-hype and then sneakily pimp my product. And someone reported me for starting "one of those threads"?

                            *This is a 100% fictional scenario*

                            edit: *** oh and... I see what you did there.
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                            • Profile picture of the author tpw
                              Originally Posted by bay37 View Post

                              It's so frustrating. Happens way too often. Ahhhhhh! ***

                              Question for Paul -

                              What would happen if I (before launching my next product about say... Adsense) started a really good and info packed thread (about Adsense) with some testing data, specific advice, etc. With a goal to, obviously, build up pre-hype and then sneakily pimp my product. And someone reported me for starting "one of those threads"?

                              *This is a 100% fictional scenario*

                              edit: *** oh and... I see what you did there.

                              EDITED FOR FACTUAL ERRORS:

                              Since everyone at the forum is a moderator, and the official mods approve or deny our requests for moderation ... I feel competent enough to answer for you...

                              I would probably warn you in the thread that you are better to place that post in a WSO... and leave it at that...

                              One of my fellow moderators may come along later and report you to the upper-level mods...


                              What Paul and the other mods do with it remains to be seen...
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                            • Profile picture of the author Ken Strong
                              Originally Posted by bay37 View Post

                              *This is a 100% fictional scenario*
                              I'd keep it that way if I were you.
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                        • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
                          Originally Posted by bay37 View Post

                          EDIT: Paul beat me to it yet again. DAMN MY SLOW BRAIN.
                          Slow brain? Learn how to fix it with... Oh, wait... Never mind.
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              • Profile picture of the author tpw
                Originally Posted by bay37 View Post

                Yeah, I hope you can see where I'm coming from. There are tons of these (type 2) threads, and they never get killed. In fact, many of them are very popular.

                Are they a good thing? Everyone will have a different opinion.

                I tend to avoid threads that talk about specific products and services.

                I am more interested in techniques, solutions and testing case studies, but I do enjoy the occasional humor thread.

                Those type 2 threads are going to have a life with or without me, and to each his own.

                And some of my more humorous threads may have a life without you in it, and that is fine too. To each his own.

                I can see where you are coming from. There is nothing wrong with your point of view.

                So long as the process does not interfere with the operation of the community for the benefit of the majority, then there should be no problems.

                What trashes up the community is someone popping up and saying check out MySuckySite.com and then no one answering that thread, or those who do answer help the dude add link juice to his domain, without offering value to the community.

                Another issue is when someone posts a thread that is about YouAllLoveMyDomain.com and hoards of people flood into the thread to kiss the OP's ass and tell him how absolutely wonderful he is. Let the ass kissers go to his site to stroke his little ego.

                When someone starts another thread on a topic, and someone asks him about his site, JustAnotherWebsite.com, and he gets the opportunity to self-promote, "because someone asked", that is cool with me.

                The other scenario is that someone starts a thread asking about a specific domain, InterestedInThisDomain.com, and the owner pops in to answer questions for the public, that is cool too.

                I don't like options #1 or #2, and I steer wide of those threads.

                But options #3 and #4 both strike me as fair play threads that should be allowed to exist for the indefinite future.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
    Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

    While we're at it: Knock it off with the "See my sig file" comments. You know who you are...
    Sorry, Paul. I'll try to remember that.
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    • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
      Dan,
      Sorry, Paul. I'll try to remember that.
      See my note to Aaron... Consider yourself 'told.'


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      • Profile picture of the author tpw
        Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

        Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

        Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

        While we're at it: Knock it off with the "See my sig file" comments. You know who you are...
        Sorry, Paul. I'll try to remember that.
        Dan, See my note to Aaron... Consider yourself 'told.'

        Paul

        LOL... He told YOU!!!
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        • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
          Paul, how does this apply to the SEO linkers?

          I'm referring the folks who load up their sig files with obvious keyword links like

          best keyword location
          keyword location
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          • Profile picture of the author tpw
            Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

            Paul, how does this apply to the SEO linkers?

            I'm referring the folks who load up their sig files with obvious keyword links like

            best keyword location
            keyword location

            The only time I see that as a problem is when some Jack Wad loads keywords in anchor tags within a post, such as those people did with the Original Content Penalty.

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          • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
            John,
            Paul, how does this apply to the SEO linkers?
            I was just typing up a response to that as you posted this.


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    • Profile picture of the author Dhira
      Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

      Sorry, Paul. I'll try to remember that.
      LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Worner
    Paul, unless i missed something, there is no mention about people breaking forum rules by posting affiliate links in replies, often happens in the review section.

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    • Profile picture of the author Ken Strong
      Originally Posted by Chris Worner View Post

      Paul, unless i missed something, there is no mention about people breaking forum rules by posting affiliate links in replies, often happens in the review section.

      Chris
      When you see that, use the Report Post button and it will be taken care of.

      The Reviews section has additional rules listed in the Stickies at the top of THAT section, that are in addition to the ones Paul is referring to here.
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    • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
      Chris,
      Paul, unless i missed something, there is no mention about people breaking forum rules by posting affiliate links in replies, often happens in the review section.
      Good point. That is covered in the rules post in the review section, but it's also commonly ignored, as you say.

      The mods there seem to be doing an excellent job at weeding those out. It's less of a problem now that there's a minimum posting limit in that section.


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  • Profile picture of the author Lazy
    Didn't read the rules carefully enough when I started, which was a BIG mistake. Thanks for the post.
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    • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
      Originally Posted by Lazy View Post

      Didn't read the rules carefully enough when I started, which was a BIG mistake. Thanks for the post.
      It happens. How you handle it once they're pointed out to you is the thing that matters.

      This is yet another of those rules that seem silly to sensible people. Back when the forum first started, no-one would have considered posting useless one-liners like that. Too much credibility at stake in too small a group. So, we didn't care if there was an affiliate link in a sig file. Then a few merchants started instructing their affiliates to post in forums as a way to get exposure for their links.

      WHAM!

      We got hammered with literally thousands of nonsense posts with links for the same program. The first time, we just said "No links for..." and left it at that. Shortly afterward, it happened again, and we knew we needed to do something more.

      Now, with automated posting software available to any idiot with a connection, the stuff would overrun the place if we allowed them.

      I think a lot of people would be... annoyed... if we enforced that rule completely. Which is to say, link to someone else's site in your sig for link juice, and you get banned. The posts made for those purposes are just as pointless, and they are more persistent. The only reason we don't push that more is the time required to check them all.


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      • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
        Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

        link to someone else's site in your sig for link juice, and you get banned
        I would like this rule.

        Because it means you have to establish that it's your site.

        And the canonical way to do that is to expose your WHOIS data to the world, so we can compare your registered name to the WHOIS record...

        Goodbye fake names, goodbye WHOIS privacy, I'm pretty happy about that idea.
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        • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
          Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

          I would like this rule.

          Because it means you have to establish that it's your site.

          And the canonical way to do that is to expose your WHOIS data to the world, so we can compare your registered name to the WHOIS record...

          Goodbye fake names, goodbye WHOIS privacy, I'm pretty happy about that idea.
          Or, the WF could ask you to put a snippet of code on your site to authenticate it, which would probably be a lot less hassle and much easier for the mods because it could be automated.
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          • Profile picture of the author Janet Sawyer
            Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

            Or, the WF could ask you to put a snippet of code on your site to authenticate it, which would probably be a lot less hassle and much easier for the mods because it could be automated.

            Dan,

            I think that's a brilliant idea and so easy to do too, I hide my who is information to protect myself from the "nutters" as do a lot of women here, but I'd have no problem placing a WF code snippet into my sites.
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          • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
            Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

            Or, the WF could ask you to put a snippet of code on your site to authenticate it, which would probably be a lot less hassle and much easier for the mods because it could be automated.
            A global footprint that means "this site is in a Warrior's signature" might not be such a great idea.
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            • Profile picture of the author tpw
              Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

              A global footprint that means "this site is in a Warrior's signature" might not be such a great idea.

              Agree. There are people who have a Mountain View, who might use those things to trigger more penalties.

              However, because I have just said this, there is a likelihood that someone may pick up on my words, and use them to convince others that such a penalty already exists...

              Then I could be credited for creating two Search Engine myths in as many weeks...
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            • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
              Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

              A global footprint that means "this site is in a Warrior's signature" might not be such a great idea.
              It doesn't have to be permanent. I've had to authenticate my sites on several other sites this way. The site gives you a code snippet to put on your site, you put that code on your site, you tell the site the code is there, and then it checks and confirms the code is there. Once that's done, your site is authenticated and you can remove the code from it.
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              • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
                Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

                Once that's done, your site is authenticated and you can remove the code from it.
                Step 1. Put code on site
                Step 2. Put site in signature
                Step 3. Sell site on Flippa...
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                • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
                  Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

                  Step 1. Put code on site
                  Step 2. Put site in signature
                  Step 3. Sell site on Flippa...
                  Once I've sold it on Flippa, and it is no longer mine, why would I want to keep the site in my signature?
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                  • Profile picture of the author tpw
                    Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

                    Once I've sold it on Flippa, and it is no longer mine, why would I want to keep the site in my signature?

                    No one else would either. They would just wait until the sale was completed, then remove the link.
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        • Profile picture of the author AFI
          Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

          I would like this rule.

          Because it means you have to establish that it's your site.

          And the canonical way to do that is to expose your WHOIS data to the world, so we can compare your registered name to the WHOIS record...

          Goodbye fake names, goodbye WHOIS privacy, I'm pretty happy about that idea.
          This is a flawed system. Like we already determined, my domains are not in my name. They could be in a spouse's name or even a business partner's name. This method wouldn't work.
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          • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
            Originally Posted by AFI View Post

            This is a flawed system.
            All systems are flawed. You pick the flaws you can live with. I can live with these.
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          • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
            Banned
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                • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
                  Suzanne,
                  Seems you might have been able to politely state that when asked by a mod rather than the "it's none of your freaking business" answer.
                  I didn't even get to see those posts, but I can imagine. A p*ss*ng match between Jennifer and Les? Yoiks.

                  Anyway... I can see too many holes in the idea for it to be anything useful. And I'm pretty sure it's not the sort of thing Allen is going to want to screw around with. Y'all are missing some of the biggest downsides, but I'm thinking he probably wouldn't.

                  Jennifer,
                  How was I supposed to know he was a mod?
                  How would that be relevant in this case? "Members are moderators," remember?

                  I didn't see the fight, so I'm not going to presume anything about who was right and who was wrong, or even if anyone fit either of those descriptions. Let's not start whatever fight it was all over, eh, folks?


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                  • Profile picture of the author AFI
                    Paul,
                    It was completely relevant that I didn't know he was a mod because he was questioning my whois info and why it's not under my name. Had he said he was a mod I would have politely answered. However he came across as some creepy old guy trying to nose his way into my family's own business. So I told him to mind his own business. End of story.

                    I've since apologized to him and it's a non issue.
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                    • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
                      Jennifer,
                      I've since apologized to him and it's a non issue.
                      The issue I see isn't whether your assumptions about Les were right or not. It's about the way you chose to express them.

                      When challenged, you respond with an approach that doesn't exactly create a flattering image of you. I suspect that impression isn't a whole lot more accurate than your assumptions about Les, but we don't have anywhere near as much to go on when dealing with you.

                      The number of people who've put as much effort into this forum as Les Gibbon is very small indeed. Think: single digits.

                      Given your responses, I think I can safely make one prediction: If you'd dealt with as many sneaky creeps here as Les has, you'd be at least that cranky. Assuming you managed to maintain your focus for that long, which very few people can.


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                      • Profile picture of the author AFI
                        Like I knew any of that about him. I've only been here 3 months! When someone gets into my family business you better believe I'm gonna get cranky. I'll go to the end of the earth to protect my family and I think it's safe to assume you and everybody here would too.

                        And if it paints an unflattering picture of me, so be it. I'm not here to make friends. I'm here to learn about Internet Marketing. I couldn't care any less what people think of me. I'm a type A personality. People either love me or they hate me and I'm fine with that.

                        I think I've proven myself for the short time I've been here and shared my knowledge with people who have asked questions. I think it's pretty obvious by now that I'm not a fly by spammer so for him to question my Whois records seemed attacking as well as creepy.

                        But then again no one here seems to be able to put themselves in MY shoes so I don't know why I'm wasting my breath. I really dont need to hear that the guy is some Warrior Forum Demigod. To me, he was questioning my honor and integrity by saying my Whois is dishonest.


                        Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

                        Jennifer,The issue I see isn't whether your assumptions about Les were right or not. It's about the way you chose to express them.

                        When challenged, you respond with an approach that doesn't exactly create a flattering image of you. I suspect that impression isn't a whole lot more accurate than your assumptions about Les, but we don't have anywhere near as much to go on when dealing with you.

                        The number of people who've put as much effort into this forum as Les Gibbon is very small indeed. Think: single digits.

                        Given your responses, I think I can safely make one prediction: If you'd dealt with as many sneaky creeps here as Les has, you'd be at least that cranky. Assuming you managed to maintain your focus for that long, which very few people can.


                        Paul
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                        • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
                          Jennifer,

                          You seem to have missed part of my comment: "I suspect that impression isn't a whole lot more accurate than your assumptions about Les."

                          As I said, my view on it has nothing to do with whether you knew anything about Les. It could have been any member, and the perspective would have been the same. I pointed out Les's contribution so you, and others, would know for future reference. Nothing more.

                          None of us are exempt from being called on our comments.

                          You are not required to explain yourself. You are even entitled to overreact if you choose. I'm just offering the thought that this approach may not be in your own best interest in the long term. You're certainly free to reject that thought, on whatever basis you choose.

                          Just remember that it's a choice.


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                          • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
                            Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

                            Just remember that it's a choice.
                            And that Paul is just making an observation, not a threat.

                            Paul often advises me about things I'm doing which he feels are counterproductive, too. He's frequently right. Not always, but frequently. Sometimes he can feel aggressive, but he's honestly trying to help, and he won't usually be offended if you don't take his advice.

                            But you should really think about it. I don't agree with him on this, myself, but maybe you do. And when Paul offers you help, you should always give very serious thought to accepting it.
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                            • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
                              Caliban,
                              And that Paul is just making an observation, not a threat.
                              Thank you. I can see where someone who's feeling attacked might take that as a threat. The pointer is appreciated.

                              No threat involved, Jennifer. As far as I've seen, you haven't broken any rules. Being snarky isn't exactly a terminal offense around here anyway. (And it's hardly my stone to throw.)

                              It might be more useful to rephrase that sentence: "Remember that it's a choice, because the people you offend will certainly remember it."


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                              • Profile picture of the author AFI
                                Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

                                Caliban,Thank you. I can see where someone who's feeling attacked might take that as a threat. The pointer is appreciated.

                                No threat involved, Jennifer. As far as I've seen, you haven't broken any rules. Being snarky isn't exactly a terminal offense around here anyway. (And it's hardly my stone to throw.)

                                It might be more useful to rephrase that sentence: "Remember that it's a choice, because the people you offend will certainly remember it."


                                Paul
                                I didn't take it as a threat. I'm not THAT sensitive. :p
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                                • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
                                  Jennifer,
                                  I didn't take it as a threat. I'm not THAT sensitive. :p
                                  Cool. I didn't think you were, but CD's pointer did leave me wondering if I'd seemed more harsh than I intended. It's usually better to clarify when it's not needed than to not when it is.

                                  Mind you, I don't mind seeming harsh when I intend to be.


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                                  • Profile picture of the author AFI
                                    Although I think it's pretty uncool that Les, the wonderful Warrior Forum Adonis has completely ignored my apology.

                                    So perhaps my original assumptions were not all that far off.

                                    Just sayin...(as everyone else says around here)
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                                    • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
                                      Jennifer,
                                      Although I think it's pretty uncool that Les, the wonderful Warrior Forum Adonis has completely ignored my apology.

                                      So perhaps my original assumptions were not all that far off.
                                      Would you be so kind as to let that one drop, please? That whole argument was deleted for, I assume, a good reason.

                                      Start it up again, and I'm going to treat it as re-posting a deleted thread.


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                          • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
                            Originally Posted by Michael Oksa View Post

                            Not only would that be operating from an assumption of distrust, but you would also see a major uptick in reports to the Help Desk.
                            • "I just added the snippet of code, and haven't seen anything yet"
                            • "Where do I get the code snippet?"
                            • "Why can't I get the snippet to work?"
                            • "I think I did it right, but I'm not sure...HELP!"
                            • "How do add a snippet to my WordPress/Blogger/HTML/etc. site?"
                            Now, adding a snippet of code sounds really simple to a lot of us participating in this thread, but it could be beyond the scope of new people, and I think they should be allowed to link to sites of their own as well.

                            Nah. The idea of adding a snippet for verification purposes would just cause a whole new set of problems. AND...as others have mentioned, the truly dishonest would just find a way around it.

                            All the best,
                            Michael
                            Given the almost universal popularity of the plugin which adds Google Analytics code to a Wordpress site, where you have to copy/paste the GA code into the plugin rather than, say, your footer.php file, I'd guarantee you are right.
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                  • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
                    Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

                    A p*ss*ng match between Jennifer and Les? Yoiks.
                    Suzanne is well aware of p*****g competitions, she has a special device. She showed it to me. She, Bill and I discussed this in great detail in another thread and came to a number of conclusions about p*****g competitions, namely, in the snow.

                    Although a woman can pee further than a man only men are capable of peeing in italics...and in my case broken french as well.
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  • Profile picture of the author Buildingfutures
    Well, if spammers and newbies would just look at my sig, they might find something that helps with their longevity around here. OR not. They might just want to raise that thread from the dead and it will have to be put down by Paul.
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
    Yes, but... what can you do about it.
    The first thing is to delete almost all posts that look like articles within the discussion areas. That irritates some folks, because they put a lot of time into writing the things, only to have them go *poof.*

    Hopefully they're smart enough to write them in a text editor and save them on their own machines. Some of the content that's deleted is actually quite good. The issue is that it's not appropriate for a discussion area. It's often well-suited for a member's blog, though. Or a give-away report. Or the article section. Or the War Room.

    We have no problem with people developing an audience through their participation here. None. In fact, we rather encourage it. The problem is when they do it at the expense of the members.

    The question is usually, "What if everyone started doing it?" You can be sure that if it works, everyone will start doing it. Or if they just think it might work.

    Almost all moderation decisions are based on the answer to that question.


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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
    Paul, obviously this is important for new people to know as well as those who
    have been here a while who haven't taken the time to read the rules.

    I have several frustrations with this whole issue.

    1. The people who don't care, won't care. They'll continue to abuse the
    forum. Those either on the fence or unaware of the rule and the reason
    behind it will hopefully refrain from breaking it. But the spammers...they
    won't stop until they're physically stopped by the mods.

    2. Too many important threads like these end up eventually getting buried.
    And then it's "out of site, out of mind." Plus, new members (those we get
    every day) never get to see it. Making them a sticky is pointless because
    we already have that...the forum rules thread itself. So this thread, as
    valuable as it is, has a limited life span. And then the problem starts all
    over again.

    3. There are actually problems that are just as serious, if not more so.

    For example, today, somebody started a thread suggesting that keyword
    researchers take keyword phrases with trademarked domain names and
    buy them. This can lead to serious legal trouble down the road.

    Point is, there is way too much bad and dangerous advice being tossed
    around this forum that can land people in a boat load of trouble. And a
    newbie won't know what's good or bad.

    This January I celebrated 8 years running my own business and can honestly
    say that a lot of what I have seen is not good. It has lead a lot of
    people, including myself back in the early days, down a dark path. I did
    things 8 years ago that I am not proud of simply because I didn't know
    any better.

    I realize that there are only so many mods here and so many hours in
    the day and that there is only so much of this garbage that we can clean
    up...and that's my last frustration.

    And no, I don't have a solution, though I wish I did.

    The best I can come up with is simply this.

    Each member keep a look out for anything that they think will be detrimental
    to the group as a whole and report it.

    If we do that, we can help the mods do their job and maybe even make
    it a little easier for them.

    Sorry for the long ramble but I felt this needed to be said.
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
    Dan,

    The way to deal with that is to state in the second report (or the first, if you've already seen the pattern) that we should look at the poster's recent posts for a lot of pointless one-liners. After that, you can ignore them, as we'll be able to catch them all based on that single report.

    An occasional goof-up with re-reporting the same post isn't even going to be noticed. It's just part of the process.


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    • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
      Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

      The way to deal with that is to state in the second report (or the first, if you've already seen the pattern) that we should look at the poster's recent posts for a lot of pointless one-liners. After that, you can ignore them, as we'll be able to catch them all based on that single report.
      Okay. I was under the impression that there was some kind of automation involved whereby, if x people reported the same post, it would vanish until the mods reviewed it and made a determination.

      That was always my thinking behind reporting each of the spam posts, hoping that others were doing the same so the whole lot of them could vanish and not clutter the forum with spam.
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      • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
        Dan,
        Okay. I was under the impression that there was some kind of automation involved whereby, if x people reported the same post, it would vanish until the mods reviewed it and made a determination.
        That's the way it works. The thing is, it's very uncommon for that many people to report ALL of the pointless posts. Especially when you get someone skipping from one forum to another, leaving them spread around like breadcrumbs in a windstorm.

        There are clues that we look for, but the best way to make sure is to report them. The challenge with reporting every one of a dozen or more pointless one-liners is that, once we've looked at the recent posts and nuked the stuff that shouldn't be there, the rest of the reports just take up time that's better used on other issues.

        A balance thing. It always comes back to that.


        Paul
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

      Dan,

      The way to deal with that is to state in the second report (or the first, if you've already seen the pattern) that we should look at the poster's recent posts for a lot of pointless one-liners. After that, you can ignore them, as we'll be able to catch them all based on that single report.

      An occasional goof-up with re-reporting the same post isn't even going to be noticed. It's just part of the process.


      Paul
      Paul, I was under the understanding that if a member was making
      numerous spam posts that instead of reporting each individual post, we
      were to open a help desk ticket and report the person. At least that is
      what I've been doing.

      If this isn't the correct procedure, please advise.
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      • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
        Steven,
        I was under the understanding that if a member was making numerous spam posts that instead of reporting each individual post, we were to open a help desk ticket and report the person. At least that is what I've been doing.

        If this isn't the correct procedure, please advise.
        I wouldn't do it that way. It will get to a moderator more quickly if you report it, and it will leave Thomas more time to deal with the things the help desk is meant for.


        Paul
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  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    Originally Posted by duja View Post

    this is generated largely by affiliates directly pimping their offers or posting for sig file exposure.

    LOL .......
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    • Profile picture of the author bay37
      Originally Posted by tpw View Post

      LOL .......
      The Internets are broken, lol.

      It is time for me to stop spamming and go back to work.
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    • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
      What would happen if
      That would depend on a lot of things. The most important would be whether this was something the poster regularly discussed. The second most important would be if it looked like normal discussion or pre-selling.

      People are generally more qualified to give advice on the same topics they center their products around. Telling them they can't talk about anything they also sell products on would be foolish. It would be like saying, "Hey! You know about that, so shut up."

      Not a useful approach.

      One of the signs of a pre-sell, even a carefully covered one, is an unnatural pattern of bumping. There are others, but it wouldn't be useful to describe them publicly. That would just give more people ideas on how to get around the process and treat main discussion like a free WSO section.


      Paul
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      • Thanks for this friendly reminder. We all know that WF is the haven of Internet marketers and the training ground of newbies. The willingness of the warriors to help their fellow warriors is made evident by the exchanges that have been done in the different useful threads in this forum. Our selfless sharing of ideas and solutions is the very bloodline of WF.
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        • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
          San,
          Paul is the boss?
          Nope. Never have been, here. I correct that impression whenever I can, but I don't always catch the references. Thank you for pointing that one out.

          It's not "my team." I am one of the moderators. We're a team, but there is no "captain." None of us has any more authority than any other.

          I tend to spend more time explaining what's going on, but that's because I believe someone should. Any moderator can choose to do that, or not, at their own discretion. It's something you have to be careful with.

          As far as linking to someone else's site, that depends. Charities are fine. If you really believe a resource is that useful and you aren't getting a commission from it, that's going to be okay in most circumstances.

          The rule is intended to prevent abuse, not good will.


          Paul
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          • Profile picture of the author tpw
            Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

            San,Nope. Never have been, here. I correct that impression whenever I can, but I don't always catch the references. Thank you for pointing that one out.

            It's not "my team." I am one of the moderators. We're a team, but there is no "captain." None of us has any more authority than any other.

            I tend to spend more time explaining what's going on, but that's because I believe someone should. Any moderator can choose to do that, or not, at their own discretion. It's something you have to be careful with.

            As far as linking to someone else's site, that depends. Charities are fine. If you really believe a resource is that useful and you aren't getting a commission from it, that's going to be okay in most circumstances.

            The rule is intended to prevent abuse, not good will.


            Paul

            I knew Allen is the boss, and I stand corrected about Paul.
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            • Profile picture of the author Bill Farnham
              Originally Posted by tpw View Post

              I knew Allen is the boss, and I stand corrected about Paul.
              You know, for a guy that had 400 posts 90 days ago you were bound to screw up at least one post in that last 2,000 at the rate you're going...:p

              ~Bill
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          • Profile picture of the author sanssecret
            Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

            I tend to spend more time explaining what's going on, but that's because I believe someone should. Any moderator can choose to do that, or not, at their own discretion. It's something you have to be careful with.
            I know we only get to see a tiny snippet of what you guys have to put up with so I can well understand why some mods prefer to keep a lower profile.

            Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

            As far as linking to someone else's site, that depends. Charities are fine. If you really believe a resource is that useful and you aren't getting a commission from it, that's going to be okay in most circumstances.

            The rule is intended to prevent abuse, not good will.


            Paul
            Thanks. I kind of figured I was okay with it but nice to have it confirmed.
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      • Profile picture of the author Roland Hop
        I just joined this forum today (FINALLY) after lurking around for quite some time
        This all seems like common sense to me, but who needs common sense when you have greed right? Spamming is only a short term fix (if you can even call it that) to a long term problem.
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  • Profile picture of the author Underground SEO
    Originally Posted by SviegertmanLive View Post

    Sviegert Says:

    "To me it sounds like the typical thing where a few people doing stupid stuff which then ruins it for the rest. It's like the drinking laws and the drinking and driving laws in this country.

    If you are not going to post something of honest value in the forum than just don't post."
    Seriously mate do you want to try and cut out the 'sviegert says' on every post you make. We know it's you saying it, that message doesn't need to be reinforced and also there's no need to quote yourself. If you contribute anything revolutionary to this world in which we live then no doubt someone will quote you in future, unlikely but possible.

    So in conclusion, 'ben says' can you stop, pretty sure I'm not the only one who would like you to.
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    • Profile picture of the author tpw
      Originally Posted by fryerben View Post

      Seriously mate do you want to try and cut out the 'sviegert says' on every post you make. We know it's you saying it, that message doesn't need to be reinforced and also there's no need to quote yourself. If you contribute anything revolutionary to this world in which we live then no doubt someone will quote you in future, unlikely but possible.

      So in conclusion, 'ben says' can you stop, pretty sure I'm not the only one who would like you to.

      Bill says:

      He is just an affiliate dropping his link on a thread advising affiliates not to drop links on threads, without first offering value to the discussion.

      I guess he saw an opportunity to get a link and did not think about reading the thread.
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    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by fryerben View Post

      Seriously mate do you want to try and cut out the 'sviegert says' on every post you make.
      It got your attention, didn't it?

      I think it's imaginative and kind of funny.
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  • Profile picture of the author Robert Colle
    Hhahaha I hope those who are doing that, that is spamming the forum gets the warning loud and clear. As far as I am concerned that has nothing to do with me.

    ******Look below!! Do you see a signature?***************

    Of course not why did you even look if I had one you wouldn't need to, because it will be as big as this
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  • Profile picture of the author Asher
    Can I make a suggestion? Link this thread to the
    original forum rules thread. If there's a link from the
    rules to a separate thread, it just might help a little
    bit.

    Asher
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  • Profile picture of the author King Shiloh
    Banned
    Affiliates,

    Isn't it time you started thinking of getting you own product, at least to save yourself some forum marketing troubles?

    Make it your New Year resolution. It's not late yet.
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    • Profile picture of the author Sarah S
      I usually feel too timid to post on threads like these since I'm still fairly new here, but in this case I feel compelled to say (and ask about) a few things that bother or perplex me:

      1. Someone mentioned several posts pack (I think it was Steven), that people are giving incorrect or misguided information, and this worries me too, even more than pointless one-liners. The other day, for example, a person asked about their rights to use random images from Google and other places on their own sites, and someone actually responded that any image without a digital watermark is free to use wherever and however you like. Fortunately, half a dozen people or more instantly set the record straight, but the potential for this kind of "advice" getting spread around to newbies who don't know any better is a bit frightening, especially if it implies grounds for a possible legal issue.

      2. I've noticed a lot of posts that would have been much better off as PM's. For example: "Hey, just sent you a PM." Does this really need to be posted on the thread? The other person already has the PM, and I'm surprised at how many people feel the need to mention it on the thread for everyone else to see as well.

      3. For as much as people complain about newbies who post one-liners on a regular basis, I also see this sometimes from veteran Warriors with high post counts. It kind of gives the sensation that some people have "earned the right" to post a short one-liner, because they've been around so long, or have a following. It seems like newbies routinely get reported for cheeky little one-liners, whereas the same comment by a seasoned marketer will sometimes even get thanked, no less. What are people's thoughts about this? Does it seem like some marketers feel "entitled," or am I over-analyzing the situation? It's not really the posts themselves that bother me, just the idea that some people are punished for them, and others get away with it. (Please note: This is not directed at ANY marketer in particular, it's just something I've pondered recently.)

      4. Besides the obvious spam, hating, self-promotion, etc., is there a list of what other other kinds of posts you should report? For example, it never would have occurred to me to report someone for saying, "Thanks for this free WSO, I can't wait to go and check it out!" It is a short post, but gosh, I could have easily made that same 'mistake' of genuinely thanking someone in earnest for their help, and if I got reported for it I think it might sting a little, since my intentions would have been good. I'd be interested in knowing what other kinds of things like these are reportable. (Or is that kind of post actually okay?)

      The truth is that I really love coming here and spending time perusing the forum a bit everyday, because I've learned so much from seeing expert advice at every turn. I hope I haven't given the impression that I don't appreciate the forum, but since this thread is about negative things that are going one, I just thought I'd come and get it off my chest.

      Whew! Haha

      -Sarah
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      • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
        Sarah,

        On points 1 and 2, I agree.

        On point 3... No-one gets grief over a single one-liner, or even 3 or 4. It's when they start cranking them out as the only (or near-only) thing they post that we do something about it. That is almost always a precursor to PM spamming or posting ads in the discussion forums as soon as they can insert links into their posts.

        It is true, however, that people who've contributed a lot get more leeway than someone on their first day. That's true in almost every group.

        On #4... Report the obvious for now. You'll pick up on the edge cases as you go along.


        Paul
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      • Profile picture of the author tpw
        Originally Posted by Sarah S View Post

        I usually feel too timid to post on threads like these since I'm still fairly new here, but in this case I feel compelled to say (and ask about) a few things that bother or perplex me:

        ...

        3. For as much as people complain about newbies who post one-liners on a regular basis, I also see this sometimes from veteran Warriors with high post counts. It kind of gives the sensation that some people have "earned the right" to post a short one-liner, because they've been around so long, or have a following. It seems like newbies routinely get reported for cheeky little one-liners, whereas the same comment by a seasoned marketer will sometimes even get thanked, no less. What are people's thoughts about this? Does it seem like some marketers feel "entitled," or am I over-analyzing the situation? It's not really the posts themselves that bother me, just the idea that some people are punished for them, and others get away with it. (Please note: This is not directed at ANY marketer in particular, it's just something I've pondered recently.)

        4. Besides the obvious spam, hating, self-promotion, etc., is there a list of what other other kinds of posts you should report? For example, it never would have occurred to me to report someone for saying, "Thanks for this free WSO, I can't wait to go and check it out!" It is a short post, but gosh, I could have easily made that same 'mistake' of genuinely thanking someone in earnest for their help, and if I got reported for it I think it might sting a little, since my intentions would have been good. I'd be interested in knowing what other kinds of things like these are reportable. (Or is that kind of post actually okay?)

        The truth is that I really love coming here and spending time perusing the forum a bit everyday, because I've learned so much from seeing expert advice at every turn. I hope I haven't given the impression that I don't appreciate the forum, but since this thread is about negative things that are going one, I just thought I'd come and get it off my chest.

        Whew! Haha

        -Sarah

        Sarah: Don't be intimidated by asking.

        The first two parts did not need further comment, so I am leaving them out.

        #3 - It is not so much one liners, but people who don't even pretend to attempt to add value to the forum community.

        I am one of those who do the occasional one-liners. In fact, I got a Thanks on this thread for posting:
        LOL ........

        Most of those one-liners as the experienced Forum members do them are running conversations and long-running jokes.

        We can say two words some times, where the speaker and those participating know exactly what is being said, while others who missed previous threads may not.

        For example, I make comments to "Tiger"... Tiger knows who he is, but few others do...

        I use it as a term of endearment for a person whom I consider close to a friend. But I also use it, because it was funny as hell when he was first called Tiger.

        I am a joker, so Tiger makes sense to me and probably a half-dozen others.

        The Warrior Forum really is a community of like-minded people, who have similar interests, and occasional cliques.

        Some people are really close to us, others we are friendly with, and strangers we are helpful to, until the stranger shows that he is not quite up to doing anything more than throwing turds on our living room carpet.

        We tend to protect the community we cherish, and as such, those with sacks full of turds to share with us, usually get swept out the door rather quickly.

        Any stranger not bearing brown gifts is welcome to come into our community and to be one of us.

        You will see differing levels of "entitlement threads" here at the forum. Those who feel "entitled" to consume our time without offering any value back are often smacked in the hand.

        As a community, we tend to notify new people of bad behavior when they come in and start showing it. Those who are apologetic and seek to remedy the problem are free to join the community with no further concern.

        The others either ignore our posts or try to force us to exempt them from the rules. Those people usually get warned many times, before they get the ban hammer.

        Those who feel an entitlement to suggest that we owe them something, such as those who feel they are entitled to us to make their businesses successful for them, are usually stomped hard with the sole of several boots.

        Some may argue that I feel entitled to make one-liner posts and jokes, and that may be right. I don't feel entitled because I am someone special, but because I am among friends.

        I cut up in class and around family and friends all the time. I do it here in the forum as well.

        If people tell me about it, I don't get offended. I just go on.

        If the powers-that-be were to tell me, "Bill chill out on the smart ass", I probably would.

        I have been dressed down in private for other things that I have done here, and that is fine. I should have been. Sometimes our egos do get the better of us, and it is best if we do.

        But the only people who have dressed me down for my wise ass comments are those who generally dislike me anyway and do not share my sense of humor. If someone doesn't like me, what do I care?

        I cannot please all of the people all of the time, and if I tried to do so, it would drive me insane when I failed, which I inevitably would do.


        #4 - As to reported posts, we have all had posts and threads deleted. We seldom know why, and the mods are too busy putting out little fires every where to hold our hands and tell us why.

        Single reported posts are never an issue.

        It is only a pattern of ill-behavior that gets most folks in trouble around here.

        And we old-timers can attest that the mods here show great patience with people, who probably don't deserve the kind of rope they were given.

        All I have to say is the "reshash king" and the old-timers know who I am talking about.

        He was given enough rope to string up an army of men...

        He earned several temporary bans, before he finally scored a lifetime ban.

        Reported posts are the ones were the information is sent directly to the mods. Those are done with the Report Button

        Those indicate a post that the mods should take a look at. The mods always have the final call on the outcome.

        And just because we don't always understand the outcome, it does not mean we were wrong to report.

        If you report someone to the mods, that is anonymous.

        Members can also Infract each other using the Infraction Button

        Infractions are public, and an email will be sent to the person you infracted telling them who and why they were infracted.

        Other members can reverse those infractions.

        And other than the fact that it notifies the community that someone is unhappy with me, Infractions mean absolutely nothing.



        I know it seems that we are being hypocritical, but for example, "posting one liners" isn't the real issue. The real issue is playing games to drop links, without bothering to read or participate with the group dynamic.

        I hope this helps make things more clear to you?


        Bill
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        • Profile picture of the author sanssecret
          Originally Posted by tpw View Post

          Since everyone at the forum is a moderator, and Paul is just the boss who approves what we do or disapproves of what we do ... I feel competent enough to answer for you...


          What Paul's team does with it remains to be seen...
          Paul is the boss? Damn, when did he get promoted? I really must listen (read) more carefully what is going on around here. I always miss the good stuff. Congrats Paul. :p

          Paul, a question about not linking to someone else's site. How hard and fast is this rule because I have done it previously? My intention was simply to direct folks to what I consider to be an excellent source of information and to hopefully get them to sign up to someone's list. (note the someone shall remain nameless in this post, but it is someone I consider every single one of you should learn from).

          It wasn't an affiliate link. (Don't think I've even signed up for the affiliate link from this guy?) I know it's ok to link to other threads and to other folks WSO's if you think they're good. I just kind of assumed it was ok to do the same thing linking to someone else's site if you thought it was worthy.
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          • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
            Banned
            Originally Posted by sanssecret View Post

            Paul, a question about not linking to someone else's site. How hard and fast is this rule because I have done it previously? My intention was simply to direct folks to what I consider to be an excellent source of information and to hopefully get them to sign up to someone's list. (note the someone shall remain nameless in this post, but it is someone I consider every single one of you should learn from).

            It wasn't an affiliate link. (Don't think I've even signed up for the affiliate link from this guy?) I know it's ok to link to other threads and to other folks WSO's if you think they're good. I just kind of assumed it was ok to do the same thing linking to someone else's site if you thought it was worthy.
            I link out to other sites occasionally. It is never done to promote a site or to get people to sign up to someone's list. In fact, if it were just a squeeze page, I wouldn't link out. The only reason I ever link out to another site is to point out a resource that has been useful to me or that someone is asking about that would help them. I also give my recommendations to products I've actually bought if the conversation is actually going in that direction where someone is asking for that info. A recent example is someone was specifically asking about pricing info products and as I had just purchased a really good one, I posted the link to where to get it. Not an affiliate link ... just a link.

            People know when they have ulterior motives for posting links and many are trying "to get away with" self promotion or shilling other's products. It's usually pretty easy to spot and it gets reported. People who are genuinely trying to be helpful ... that's a different story ... at least to me and I've never gotten any flack for posting useful resources.
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            • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
              Originally Posted by Sarah S View Post

              I usually feel too timid to post on threads like these since I'm still fairly new here, but in this case I feel compelled to say (and ask about) a few things that bother or perplex me:

              2. I've noticed a lot of posts that would have been much better off as PM's. For example: "Hey, just sent you a PM." Does this really need to be posted on the thread? The other person already has the PM, and I'm surprised at how many people feel the need to mention it on the thread for everyone else to see as well.

              Whew! Haha

              -Sarah
              Paul has already weighed in on his feelings on this one. I thought I'd just throw in an explanation of why people do it.

              Most of the time, it's an attempt to get around the rules on self-promotion and PM spam.

              Someone posts a problem or question, or maybe asks for a recommendation.

              Being a good little opportunist, our spammer sends a pitch for a product or program, then makes that "sent a PM" post to 'prove' they weren't spamming.

              As a side benefit, anyone else with a similar question or problem might see that, and ask for the same information. Our spammer now 'has permission' to send out more pitches.

              If they get reported and/or smacked for it, they can try to forum lawyer their way out of it by claiming the information was requested...
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  • Profile picture of the author kenbuch
    Its Definitely a welcome development so most of the members will not forget the forum rules so quick.
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  • Profile picture of the author AFI
    I'm glad I saw this thread. I was promoting a friend's banner in my sig. Oops!
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    • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
      Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

      It's not about why you would do it. It's about whether you could. The automated system would be unable to detect the change in ownership. That's a leak in the system which could be exploited. We don't need to know how; it's clear to me that it breaks the underlying rule of "don't promote someone else's domain."
      As you said, "you pick the flaws you can live with." I think these are ones that could be lived with. The likelihood of someone selling a site yet keeping it in their signature is small. In most cases, it's probably going to happen when people have stopped using the WarriorForum and forgotten the link is in their sig.

      At any rate, if something looks suspicious, people could be asked to re-authenticate their sites. I would bet these cases would be rare.

      I would think it is more likely that someone may not have their name on their WHOIS registration than that they would continue to link to a site they no longer own.
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    • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
      Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

      I'm aware that many people would find this rule distasteful and not want to put their sites in their signature. And while that group certainly contains many ethical and honest people, it also includes the vast majority of the scammers and spammers and fly-by-nighters.

      So we sacrifice sig links to the sites of those ethical and honest people - like yourself - who have a legitimate position against this policy, in return for losing all the scammers and spammers and fly-by-nighters.
      I disagree. You will punish the ethical and honest people while doing very little to eliminate the scammers, spammers and fly-by-nighters.

      Because, all the rule is ensuring is that their WF name match the name on their domain registration.

      So, these scammers, spammers and fly-by-nighters aren't going to say, oh, noes, I can't have a sig link on WF no more, I gots to go elsewhere now. No, what they'll do is register a domain name under a fictitious name and then set up a WF profile under that same fictitious name.

      So they won't be gone.

      And they'll have a field day, because the system has created an illusion of security. If they have a link in their signature, that must mean that the WF has okay'd it. So, people may be more vulnerable to the scammers, spammers and fly-by-nighters than they were before.

      In the end, the situation gets worse, not better.
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      • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
        Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

        Because, all the rule is ensuring is that their WF name match the name on their domain registration.
        Whereas your rule just ensures that they can put a piece of code on a website.

        Both of these systems can be gamed, but gaming the domain registration has larger repercussions outside of the Warrior Forum. If you put false contact information on a domain registration, you can lose your domain.

        And we don't really care about the name, anyway. We care about the contact information being visible. If your name is exposed, so too is an address and a phone number and an email where you can be contacted.

        If those don't really contact you, you can lose every domain you own with those contact records.

        While "put this code on your website" might be more convenient and cause less distress, it has no teeth. There's no benefit to the WF membership in general.

        Wouldn't you find it preferable if you could run a WHOIS on the signature of a WF member and know how to contact that member? Wouldn't you be more protected as a consumer?
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        • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
          Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

          If you put false contact information on a domain registration, you can lose your domain.
          And a scammer, spammer or fly-by-nighter isn't going to care. They'll just register another one for ten bucks and use that until they get caught.

          Wouldn't you find it preferable if you could run a WHOIS on the signature of a WF member and know how to contact that member? Wouldn't you be more protected as a consumer?
          I just check their WF profile. Or look for the contact information below their avatar.
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          • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
            Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

            And a scammer, spammer or fly-by-nighter isn't going to care. They'll just register another one for ten bucks and use that until they get caught.
            This is my fundamental reasoning.



            Notice how the number of honest people who refuse is small and the number of dishonest people who refuse is large?

            I don't think anyone would refuse to put a snippet of code on their site, so it has no externalities. I think this externality - even with the collateral damage to honest people - is worth it.

            Ideally, I want WHOIS privacy to be illegal. I think it is an abomination and a violation of every principle on which honest and ethical business rests. And any step in that direction is probably a step I'm willing to take.
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            "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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            • Profile picture of the author tpw
              Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

              This is my fundamental reasoning.



              Notice how the number of honest people who refuse is small and the number of dishonest people who refuse is large?

              I bet you just made up that image, in the same way that 124% of all statistics are pulled out of thin air by people wanting to make it look like their theories look more like fact.
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              • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
                Originally Posted by tpw View Post

                I bet you just made up that image
                Well, yes, Bill. When I draw a Venn diagram to illustrate WHAT I THINK WILL HAPPEN, I make it up.

                Extrapolating on this principle, he said that "dishonest people tend to believe that most people are dishonest, and honest people expect the majority to be honest."
                Your respected advisor is right.

                You will notice that the "Honest people" circle is larger than the "Dishonest people" circle. This is not a coincidence.

                You will also notice that the honest people are largely not refusing to expose their contact information. This is also not a coincidence.

                These are reflected in the diagram because I expect most people to be honest and willing to accept public WHOIS records.

                Draw your own conclusions.
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            • Profile picture of the author Ken Strong
              Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

              This is my fundamental reasoning.



              Notice how the number of honest people who refuse is small and the number of dishonest people who refuse is large?
              Now I KNOW it's true -- it wouldn't be in purty colored overlapping circles if it wasn't!
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            • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
              Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

              I don't think anyone would refuse to put a snippet of code on their site, so it has no externalities. I think this externality - even with the collateral damage to honest people - is worth it.
              On their site. It's going to be difficult to put that snippet of code on someone else's site. It could be done, sure, but it's going to be hard for an affiliate to convince a vendor to stick on snippet of code on a specified page or in a specified location.

              Ideally, I want WHOIS privacy to be illegal. I think it is an abomination and a violation of every principle on which honest and ethical business rests. And any step in that direction is probably a step I'm willing to take.
              But that's a separate issue. And I don't entirely agree. There are valid reasons why some people choose WHOIS privacy. Some dishonest people may hide behind it, but the WHOIS privacy services won't protect them in the event of a lawsuit, so, in my opinion, it's a bit of a moot point. As it is, it can protect the innocent while not protecting the guilty as much as they would hope. And privacy is something that I think is important enough that we can endure some dishonest people out there.
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            • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
              Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

              This is my fundamental reasoning.



              Notice how the number of honest people who refuse is small and the number of dishonest people who refuse is large?

              I don't think anyone would refuse to put a snippet of code on their site, so it has no externalities. I think this externality - even with the collateral damage to honest people - is worth it.

              Ideally, I want WHOIS privacy to be illegal. I think it is an abomination and a violation of every principle on which honest and ethical business rests. And any step in that direction is probably a step I'm willing to take.
              100% of the yellow area is the problem, though I do understand your reasoning.

              Personally, I think the system is okay enough the way it is.

              And, I for one, do not see me as adding a snippet of code to prove a site is mine. Why? Because it ASSUMES that I am dishonest. Guilty until proven innocent. Granted, this is a private forum, but if we build everything on a foundation of distrust, then that would be a problem.

              Right now, most affiliate sites don't last very long in sig files. And the REAL key to getting anybody to click on a sig...the BIG "secret"...in my opinion, is not whether the site is yours or not, but it's being a contributing member of the forum.

              Will some slip through the cracks? Yep. But most of them get caught. And, if the current number of people who slip through is less than the people who would be in the yellow area, then you are (in effect) punishing more honest people when compared to the number of people linking to sites they don't own.

              To be clear, not only would I not get behind such a suggestion, I would actively oppose it.

              All the best,
              Michael

              EDIT: I am referring to the idea of adding a snippet of code as it relates to the yellow area. ALSO, you forgot another intersection of the red area though. Those who are paranoid. They may be honest or dishonest, but their motivation for keeping their personal info private is not based on ethics, but rather their state of mind.

              There ARE legitimate reasons for keeping personal data private, such as somebody who has been the victim of abuse, or is being stalked. Should they not be allowed to have websites because they have a true need for privacy?
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              • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
                Originally Posted by Michael Oksa View Post

                100% of the yellow area is the problem, though I do understand your reasoning.
                And I agree, the yellow area is a problem. It's the downside of the purple area. Similarly, the blue area is the downside of the green area.

                If I'm right about the relative sizes of the areas, then I think this is worth it. But I might not be right about them.

                Personally, I think the system is okay enough the way it is.
                I'm mostly thinking about this as an interesting gedankenspiel. I don't think any changes are going to be made at all, and I think that's probably the best choice.
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    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by tpw View Post

      And Caliban, expecting everyone to fit in YOUR box is WRONG!!!
      I'm not in charge here.

      All I'm saying is that this is a solution I would get behind.

      You don't have to get behind it. You can get behind whatever solution you want.

      But in the end, what matters is what solution the site admins get behind. And I don't think they're going to get behind any automated solution.

      Out of the automated solutions I can see, this is the one I support.

      Don't like it? Tough. This is my opinion. Get your own.
      Signature
      "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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  • Profile picture of the author 82ana
    I reckon most my posts are useless but I'm not guilty of self promotion. No sireee!
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
    Caliban,

    I don't know how much time you've actually spent looking into whois data, but I know how much I've spent at it over the years. My experience is that, unless you're looking at domains used directly in serious spam runs, the numbers are overwhelmingly lopsided toward legit folks who are just concerned about having their personal information out there.

    Argue all you want about whether that should be allowed. That's a valid argument, but not one that's ever likely to be dealt with here. Your assumptions, however, have no basis in reality that I've seen.


    Paul
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    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

      the numbers are overwhelmingly lopsided toward legit folks who are just concerned about having their personal information out there.
      The interesting thing to me isn't how many people HAVE private records, but how many will INSIST on them. I think you'll find a lot of people who have private records have turned it on because it was free... not because they had any particular desire for it.
      Signature
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      • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
        Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

        The interesting thing to me isn't how many people HAVE private records, but how many will INSIST on them. I think you'll find a lot of people who have private records have turned it on because it was free... not because they had any particular desire for it.
        Or maybe they saw it was free, THEN considered the benefits to themselves before deciding to use private registration.

        The freebie was just the hook that got them to look into it. Then they may have thought, "Hmm...if I keep my info private, then I don't have to worry about being tracked down by one of them crazy internet people I've heard about."

        That's my guess.

        BUT...

        How in the world can either one of us even begin to pretend to know what everybody's intentions are when getting (or not getting) private registration.

        Also, just because you're not concerned about sharing YOUR private info doesn't mean others feel the same way. There are all kinds of personalities out there, and some of them are quite nervous about such things. Nothing nefarious.

        All the best,
        Michael
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        • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
          Originally Posted by Michael Oksa View Post

          Also, just because you're not concerned about sharing YOUR private info doesn't mean others feel the same way.
          I have said this many times before.

          If you do not want to provide public contact information, you do not get to operate a business.

          That information doesn't have to be your house, but you have to have something.

          You already can't operate an email list without disclosing contact information. You shouldn't be able to operate a business website without it, either.
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          "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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          • Profile picture of the author tpw
            Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

            If you do not want to provide public contact information, you do not get to operate a business.

            That information doesn't have to be your house, but you have to have something.

            Caliban.... What do you do when you paint yourself into a corner?

            We have to disclose our contact information in order to operate a business...

            But we don't have to disclose our home address...

            What if our place of business IS in our house?

            Are you suggesting we lie in the Whois records to hide our home address from whack jobs we meet online?

            If I took any of the numerous death threats that I have received from people online seriously, ALL of my Whois records would be private, not just some of them.

            Women have better causes than I to be concerned about whack jobs knowing how to find them.

            So the choice is obvious...

            1. Expose ourselves and our family's safety to the threat of whack jobs with bad intentions;

            2. Lie about our contact information; or

            3. Close our business....


            I guess since some of us choose to be careful AND honest, I reckon we should all just close our businesses and go get a job...
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            • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
              Bill,

              The FTC says a PO box is sufficient. Registrars accept them without blinking. I don't see where Caliban has painted himself into any sort of corner.


              Paul
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            • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
              Originally Posted by tpw View Post

              Caliban.... What do you do when you paint yourself into a corner?
              I'm not painted into a corner.

              What if our place of business IS in our house?
              Your contact information does not have to be your place of business. It just has to end up getting to you when someone contacts you there.
              Signature
              "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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          • Profile picture of the author tpw
            Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

            I don't see where Caliban has painted himself into any sort of corner.
            Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

            I'm not painted into a corner.

            Your contact information does not have to be your place of business. It just has to end up getting to you when someone contacts you there.

            LOL My rants keep disappearing like my wife when she has money to spend. jk

            In Caliban's prev post, he said this:

            Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

            I have said this many times before.

            If you do not want to provide public contact information, you do not get to operate a business.

            That information doesn't have to be your house, but you have to have something.

            You already can't operate an email list without disclosing contact information. You shouldn't be able to operate a business website without it, either.

            The whole argument is about transparency. Caliban suggests that if we run a business online, we should be completely transparent, and that is why the Whois Privacy should be eliminated.

            Then he suggested I did not have to tell where I actually live (my place of business).

            Honestly, I felt the two ideas contradicted each other. I still do, thus the corner reference.

            If I am going to hide behind a P.O.Box, that is little different from hiding behind a Whois Registration company, who will forward information to me through the Whois Privacy email or physical address.

            He wants us all to be transparent about our businesses, but we can try to hide our home address, so long as people will be able to contact me -- which they can already do through the Whois Privacy company.

            The only difference I see between the Whois Privacy and the P.O.Box is that with the latter, you can see my city and state.

            If both methods accomplish the same ends, then why is one better than another?
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            • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
              Originally Posted by tpw View Post

              The whole argument is about transparency. Caliban suggests that if we run a business online, we should be completely transparent, and that is why the Whois Privacy should be eliminated.
              Absolutely not. I say outright that if you are running a business, your customers deserve to know who you are and where you can be contacted. This does not suggest that you should be completely transparent.

              Complete transparency is a moral choice. Ethically, it's not necessary. I personally find it preferable, but it's not something that should be required of everyone.

              If I am going to hide behind a P.O.Box, that is little different from hiding behind a Whois Registration company, who will forward information to me through the Whois Privacy email or physical address.
              A PO box belongs to one person. A registration company manages domains for millions. They are very different.
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  • Profile picture of the author Buildingfutures
    Do you all know why I have WhoisGuard?

    Because it's free with the domains I buy on Namecheap. Simple.

    When I had godaddy domains everyone and their grandmother could figure out who I was. Not that I minded. Just the occasional email saying I suck at designing to deal with.

    I'd be for a way to authenticate your site in the forum, kind of like google does that one time for adsense or analytics.

    -Sean
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    • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
      Originally Posted by Buildingfutures View Post

      Do you all know why I have WhoisGuard?

      Because it's free with the domains I buy on Namecheap. Simple.

      When I had godaddy domains everyone and their grandmother could figure out who I was. Not that I minded. Just the occasional email saying I suck at designing to deal with.

      I'd be for a way to authenticate your site in the forum, kind of like google does that one time for adsense or analytics.

      -Sean
      Not only would that be operating from an assumption of distrust, but you would also see a major uptick in reports to the Help Desk.
      • "I just added the snippet of code, and haven't seen anything yet"
      • "Where do I get the code snippet?"
      • "Why can't I get the snippet to work?"
      • "I think I did it right, but I'm not sure...HELP!"
      • "How do add a snippet to my WordPress/Blogger/HTML/etc. site?"
      Now, adding a snippet of code sounds really simple to a lot of us participating in this thread, but it could be beyond the scope of new people, and I think they should be allowed to link to sites of their own as well.

      Nah. The idea of adding a snippet for verification purposes would just cause a whole new set of problems. AND...as others have mentioned, the truly dishonest would just find a way around it.

      All the best,
      Michael
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      • Profile picture of the author Buildingfutures
        Originally Posted by Michael Oksa View Post

        Nah. The idea of adding a snippet for verification purposes would just cause a whole new set of problems. AND...as others have mentioned, the truly dishonest would just find a way around it.

        All the best,
        Michael
        It's the internet, you can't trust those wack-jobs who try to sell you products! I mean, for all I know they're just sitting in their mothers basement giggling to themselves for selling someone something stupid and then not being responsive to their helpdesk.

        You can't trust those IM weirdos.

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        • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
          Originally Posted by Buildingfutures View Post

          It's the internet, you can't trust those wack-jobs who try to sell you products! I mean, for all I know they're just sitting in their mothers basement giggling to themselves for selling someone something stupid and then not being responsive to their helpdesk.

          You can't trust those IM weirdos.

          Mother's basement?

          That would be paradise!

          All I have is this crawl space, which I share with a hot water heater, spiders and an odd smell coming from the corner.

          ~M~
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      • Profile picture of the author tpw
        Originally Posted by Michael Oksa View Post

        as others have mentioned, the truly dishonest would just find a way around it.

        Don't people ever stop to realize that if someone intent on robbing you of your wallet on the street will be equally willing to break the law that says he cannot use a gun in the commission of his crime?

        If he will break one law to do you or I harm, he will break two laws to do us harm without a second thought...

        We call em criminals, because they break the law... Not because they break only some laws....
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    • Profile picture of the author tritrain
      Originally Posted by Buildingfutures View Post

      Do you all know why I have WhoisGuard?

      Because it's free with the domains I buy on Namecheap. Simple.

      When I had godaddy domains everyone and their grandmother could figure out who I was. Not that I minded. Just the occasional email saying I suck at designing to deal with.

      I'd be for a way to authenticate your site in the forum, kind of like google does that one time for adsense or analytics.

      -Sean
      So, I should be listing as private whenever possible? I figured it lended to my credibility if I use real info. I haven't had any negative emails. **maybe I should actually check that box some time**
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      • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
        Banned
        Originally Posted by tritrain View Post

        So, I should be listing as private whenever possible? I figured it lended to my credibility if I use real info. I haven't had any negative emails. **maybe I should actually check that box some time**
        I use namecheap a lot and get the free whois guard that is offered but rarely ever use it. I don't hide my info and I haven't had any whacko attacks of any kind. I sell websites so I do want people to be able to contact me if they are interested in one of my sites and having my info available has resulted in some impromptu sales.
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      • Profile picture of the author Buildingfutures
        Originally Posted by tritrain View Post

        So, I should be listing as private whenever possible? I figured it lended to my credibility if I use real info. I haven't had any negative emails. **maybe I should actually check that box some time**
        Perhaps I should have been clearer. Those sites in those days were more of a, personal choice than a business choice.

        AT this point I could really care less who see's it. I'm just too lazy to turn off the whoisguard.
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  • Profile picture of the author Buildingfutures
    Pauls offering help?

    I think I'm entitled to 1345619 hours of his time for my time on the forum. Ready to lend me a hand, Paul?

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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
    Bump.

    Apparently, folks are not getting the message. It's actually gotten worse, rather than better. If this bump doesn't start to slow down the affiliate linking, it may be necessary to start taking stronger action to get the point across.

    I would prefer to avoid that.


    Paul
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    • Profile picture of the author lgibbon
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

      Bump.

      Apparently, folks are not getting the message. It's actually gotten worse, rather than better. If this bump doesn't start to slow down the affiliate linking, it may be necessary to start taking stronger action to get the point across.

      I would prefer to avoid that.


      Paul
      The puppets doing it have been sent here to post, not to read.
      They're never going to see posts like this.
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
    Les,

    Some, sure. I'm thinking that a lot of them are regular members who just followed some bad advice without understanding how bad it is. I'd rather those folks just stop the behavior without being too heavily penalized. If they miss a thread with the title this one has for too long, and have never read the rules (or just don't care), then it's all on them.


    Paul
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    • Profile picture of the author lgibbon
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

      I'd rather those folks just stop the behavior without being too heavily penalized.
      Maybe Paul, but there again maybe that's what the people sending them here are counting on.
      If they send enough people here, and we're taking the soft option,
      they're getting their ad seen.
      If they are nuked on sight they won't be getting seen.
      I agree you might end up getting a few honest users
      probably about 1 in 100 if what's going on lately is anything to go by.
      A small price to pay initially.
      Once these people see they aren't going to get any joy out of sending people here, they'll stop wasting their time.
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    • Profile picture of the author tpw
      Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

      Les,

      Some, sure. I'm thinking that a lot of them are regular members who just followed some bad advice without understanding how bad it is. I'd rather those folks just stop the behavior without being too heavily penalized. If they miss a thread with the title this one has for too long, and have never read the rules (or just don't care), then it's all on them.

      Paul

      I know we don't want to call out any individuals for bad behavior to correct them publicly in a way that could be embarrassing to them.

      But, is this something that you could hint at in a way that would allow the other quarter-million moderators to identify the bad behavior when seen?

      Sometimes when I see obvious stuff like this, I will call a person out in the thread, to get them to see what is going on, and to let them mend their ways, before the hammer falls...

      While they are not obviously reading Paul's threads, they do read their own threads more often than they read Dan's threads about reading everything, before commenting...
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
    Les,

    You may be right. But I think it's worth giving them the option to correct it themselves before bringing out any heavy weaponry.

    On the flip side, if I find that a merchant is selling a product that endorses this behavior, I'm very likely to give them a month or two off from the forum (assuming they even post here) for their trouble.

    Wouldn't be the first time.


    Paul
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
    Bill,

    They're getting called on it. Whenever you see a sig file that says to leave affiliate links out of sig files, that's the warning.


    Paul
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    • Profile picture of the author lgibbon
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

      They're getting called on it. Whenever you see a sig file that says to leave affiliate links out of sig files, that's the warning.

      Yep, and 25% of those have the same sig file back
      the very next day.
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      • Profile picture of the author tpw
        Originally Posted by lgibbon View Post

        Yep, and 25% of those have the same sig file back
        the very next day.

        Wow... That is amazing...

        They probably fell out of the stupid tree and hit every branch on the way down....
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      • Profile picture of the author bay37
        Originally Posted by lgibbon View Post

        Yep, and 25% of those have the same sig file back
        the very next day.
        I counted 16 accounts with the same sig. link in about 15 mins the other day... meaning - it's most likely the same person doing all the spamming (or cheap hired help).

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        • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
          Originally Posted by bay37 View Post

          I counted 16 accounts with the same sig. link in about 15 mins the other day... meaning - it's most likely the same person doing all the spamming (or cheap hired help).
          There've been a lot more than 16 accounts linking to that specific affiliate program. That's not the only program that's been a problem lately, but it has been the most prolific.


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        • Profile picture of the author paulie888
          Originally Posted by bay37 View Post

          I counted 16 accounts with the same sig. link in about 15 mins the other day... meaning - it's most likely the same person doing all the spamming (or cheap hired help).

          I know, it's a pervasive problem made even worse by the fact that every marketer and his brother are constantly telling everyone how important it is to get forum profile backlinks, lol!
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
    Les,

    Yep. Some do. And they get a month off and their sig file blanked for their troubles if they get caught.

    Not gonna get a lot of clickthroughs that way.


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    • Profile picture of the author tpw
      Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

      Les,

      Yep. Some do. And they get a month off and their sig file blanked for their troubles if they get caught.

      Not gonna get a lot of clickthroughs that way.


      Paul

      How about putting a link to this thread in their sig files when you change em...

      Not only do they get to see this thread, but people reading them get to see as well...



      LOL

      You could even do an over ride on the sig permissions. If they are in the litter box, they have to contact support, before they can edit their sig again.
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
    Bill,

    I've done that with a few people. For the newer folks, it doesn't form a clickable link for some reason. Maybe the 15 post rule applies to sig files, too. I haven't looked in to that.

    One would think that your average person would realize that anyone who can edit their sig file has other access as well. But I doubt they stop to think about that...


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    • Profile picture of the author tpw
      Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

      One would think that your average person would realize that anyone who can edit their sig file has other access as well. But I doubt they stop to think about that...

      While I agree that the average person may not realize they are walking barefoot in pig manure, I think you may be giving the average person too much credit for common sense.

      They probably think they just got hacked by some drive-by hacker.
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      • Profile picture of the author paulie888
        Originally Posted by tpw View Post

        While I agree that the average person may not realize they are walking barefoot in pig manure, I think you may be giving the average person too much credit for common sense.

        They probably think they just got hacked by some drive-by hacker.
        Bill, what a wonderfully stinky picture you're painting there. You're entirely right though, the first thought that many would have is of a "no-gooder" hacker getting into their account and causing strange things to happen! They'd not be savvy enough to figure out the true cause of their woes, lol.
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  • Profile picture of the author AFI
    Will do chief.
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    • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
      Jennifer,
      Will do chief.
      [chuckle] Thankee, ma'am. I'm much obliged.


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    • Profile picture of the author lgibbon
      Banned
      Originally Posted by AFI View Post

      Will do chief.
      Wise move.
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      • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
        Wise move.
        Now, now, Les. Be nice.


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  • Profile picture of the author AFI
    I don't understand why you just don't make it so you can't have a sig unless you have like 50 posts or something? What is so confusing? It seems like a simple solution.
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    • Profile picture of the author tpw
      Originally Posted by AFI View Post

      I don't understand why you just don't make it so you can't have a sig unless you have like 50 posts or something? What is so confusing? It seems like a simple solution.

      Or make em read a Rule Sheet, and take a test, before they get Sig rights. LOL

      The only way to find out if someone read the info is to test them.
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    • Profile picture of the author paulie888
      Originally Posted by AFI View Post

      I don't understand why you just don't make it so you can't have a sig unless you have like 50 posts or something? What is so confusing? It seems like a simple solution.
      Jennifer, I was about to post this, but Paul beat me to the punch! The annoying "one-liner" phenomenon is already bad enough as it is, but can you imagine the nightmare Paul would have on his hands if there was a 50-post rule in order to have a sig link? He'd be working overtime to get rid of these worthless posts if your proposed change was implemented.

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      • Profile picture of the author AFI
        Originally Posted by paulie888 View Post

        Jennifer, I was about to post this, but Paul beat me to the punch! The annoying "one-liner" phenomenon is already bad enough as it is, but can you imagine the nightmare Paul would have on his hands if there was a 50-post rule in order to have a sig link? He'd be working overtime to get rid of these worthless posts if your proposed change was implemented.

        Paul
        I gotta disagree with both of you gentlemen respectfully.

        I don't think fly by spammers would be that patient as to wait until they made 50 posts. If so then make it 100 posts. If legitimate people want to have a sig then they'll know it's an earned privilege and worth the wait.
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        • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
          Jennifer,
          I don't think fly by spammers would be that patient as to wait until they made 50 posts.
          You don't think so, but we know so. From real experience.

          I've got almost 24 years experience moderating electronic forums of various types. About half of that right here in the Warrior Forum. I'll pit that against your suppositions any day.


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          • Profile picture of the author AFI
            Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

            Jennifer,You don't think so, but we know so. From real experience.

            I've got almost 24 years experience moderating electronic forums of various types. About half of that right here in the Warrior Forum. I'll pit that against your suppositions any day.


            Paul
            Well they didn't on my forum. And my forum was made up of MLM'ers and such. Working at home Mommies.

            Perhaps women are just more ethical than men.
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            • Profile picture of the author tpw
              Originally Posted by AFI View Post

              Well they didn't on my forum. And my forum was made up of MLM'ers and such. Working at home Mommies.

              Perhaps women are just more ethical than men.

              Or perhaps your forum did not have the fame of being the "one of the biggest internet marketing forums on the web."

              Your bulls-eye was not painted on your forehead quite so obviously.
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              • Profile picture of the author AFI
                Originally Posted by tpw View Post

                Or perhaps your forum did not have the fame of being the "one of the biggest internet marketing forums on the web."

                Your bulls-eye was not painted on your forehead quite so obviously.
                No but it was one of the biggest in its niche. This site is big in the mainstream IM niche and there is an adult forum called GFY that has just as many members as the Warrior Forum and it's #1 in its own niche.

                It's not THE biggest message forum on the web. It's the biggest in its niche.

                You wanna have a go too?
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            • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
              Jennifer,
              Perhaps women are just more ethical than men.
              Maybe. I wouldn't dismiss the possibility. Women do place a higher value on relationships of all kinds. Maybe the value of a link at this forum is perceived as being higher. Or maybe it's some of both.

              Here's a hint, though: Automation.


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            • Profile picture of the author lgibbon
              Banned
              Originally Posted by AFI View Post

              Perhaps women are just more ethical than men.
              Or the "women" are really men.
              That's very common on this forum.
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              • Profile picture of the author AFI
                Originally Posted by lgibbon View Post

                Or the "women" are really men.
                That's very common on this forum.
                Know from experience, do you?

                Sorry that one was too easy and I'm not used to keeping my mouth shut.

                Oh Les, Les, Les.....I don't care if you love me more or Les (lol). I still think you are the Warrior Forum Adonis that you are made out to be. You don't fool me with your sarcasm my friend. You're an old softie.
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          • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
            Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

            I've got almost 24 years experience moderating electronic forums of various types.
            And as someone who's made very detailed studies of how online communities form, develop, and operate - I second Paul's experience. He knows what he's talking about, and he knows it very well.

            I've reached most of the same conclusions through research that he's reached through experience, and where we've disagreed it's been because he has experience out here in the Real World... and I'm mostly just chin-stroking and making ivory tower observations. The ivory tower might be pretty, but you can never forget that the real wisdom comes out of the trenches.
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
    Jennifer,

    We tend not to do things that take away from legit members when we can reasonably avoid it. That's the first reason. The other is a bit less obvious: The spammers would simply auto-post one-liners until they got their sig file, which would then be inserted into every stupid one-liner they'd already managed to get to stick.


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    • Profile picture of the author AFI
      Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

      Jennifer,

      We tend not to do things that take away from legit members when we can reasonably avoid it.
      But you take away PM privileges from newbies? :confused:

      And secondly, you can completely tell when someone is posting just to get their count up. Have member's be aware of it and warn them that they better shape up or ship out.

      Wanna argue about it? I'm good at it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
    Jennifer,

    PMs are limited because they will otherwise be used for spamming in ways that would render the private messaging system completely useless.

    You really don't want to argue with me on these points. I've got way too much experience with moderating to have formed and held opinions on the topic that aren't grounded in hard reality. And you wouldn't even fall into the first 100 people to debate these policies with me.

    That one just wouldn't be a fair fight.

    I'm fairly confident there are a ton of things you know better than me, mind you. But I'd be unlikely to argue them with you. Screws up the batting average.


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    • Profile picture of the author AFI
      Actually Paul, I used to run a work at home forum for moms that had about 50,000 members. So I do know your headaches in moderating. I ended up selling it because I got so sick of it.

      So your assumption is incorrect. I was only making suggestions about what I did on my own forum that actually worked quite well. So I guess I could hold my own.
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  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    LOL

    Jennifer and Paul. It is funny watching you two spar.

    And it is okay to make that observation, because I am helping keep this thread bumped to the top. LOL
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  • Profile picture of the author paulie888
    Jennifer, as Paul pointed out, IMers can do some major mischief with automation - I don't want to name software here, but I'm sure that you're aware of automation tools that make it child's play to spam-post forums till the cows come home.

    Perhaps the forum you moderated attracted a different crowd? Could it be that females wouldn't stoop to such lows and spam-blast forums? lol
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    • Profile picture of the author AFI
      Originally Posted by paulie888 View Post

      Jennifer, as Paul pointed out, IMers can do some major mischief with automation - I don't want to name software here, but I'm sure that you're aware of automation tools that make it child's play to spam-post forums till the cows come home.

      Perhaps the forum you moderated attracted a different crowd? Could it be that females wouldn't stoop to such lows when spam-blasting forums? lol
      No I got what he was saying. I had spam bots creating forum profiles all the time. I just nuked them. Like I said, I had all of the forum hassles too. That is why I no longer own it.
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      • Profile picture of the author paulie888
        Originally Posted by AFI View Post

        No I got what he was saying. I had spam bots creating forum profiles all the time. I just nuked them. Like I said, I had all of the forum hassles too. That is why I no longer own it.
        With a forum of this stature and size, I'd envision a total nightmare for Paul if this rule was implemented. I'm sure he's speaking from experience here. It can get really ugly too - it was late one night in here, and I came across some of the most disgusting pornographic posts that were apparently spam-blasted across quite a few threads, and it understandably took quite a while to remove them.

        With stuff like this happening all the time, I think it's important we take all the steps we can to limit and discourage it as much as possible.
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
    Paul,
    I'd envision a total nightmare for Paul if this rule was implemented
    Not 'Paul." The mods. Please don't talk like I'm the only one keeping this place in shape. That's a disservice to the other folks who do every bit as much as I do around here. Some of them more.

    Back on topic... It seems Jennifer missed some of the more recent and creative innovations in forum spamming.


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    • Profile picture of the author AFI
      Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post


      Back on topic... It seems Jennifer missed some of the more recent and creative innovations in forum spamming.
      This could be true. I owned the forum back in 2004(?) I don't remember.
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      • Profile picture of the author paulie888
        Originally Posted by AFI View Post

        This could be true. I owned the forum back in 2004(?) I don't remember.
        I think they've made vast strides in forum spam-blasting tools since then.
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        • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
          Originally Posted by paulie888 View Post

          I think they've made vast strides in forum spam-blasting tools since then.
          More like a quantum leap...
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    • Profile picture of the author paulie888
      Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

      Paul,Not 'Paul." The mods. Please don't talk like I'm the only one keeping this place in shape. That's a disservice to the other folks who do every bit as much as I do around here. Some of them more.

      Back on topic... It seems Jennifer missed some of the more recent and creative innovations in forum spamming.


      Paul
      Of course, I didn't mean to imply that you were the only one in charge here. I suppose I was just trying to illustrate your plight as one of the mods if such a change was implemented.

      Paul
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
    Paul,

    West of Cleveland, I've personally only had really good corned beef in one place: Lincoln, Nebraska. There's a blues club there that served it up, and it was sooo good. [drool]


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  • Profile picture of the author akshay7
    Hello guys,

    I guess this problem can be encountered if members start reporting effectively. That is, once a report is done, a ban for a 7 days or a longer with a ban mark left on profile. No big guy looking to promote his stuff here would want such a mark. What say?
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