Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > United States
Reload this Page >

Is this a new record for spam?

Search

Is this a new record for spam?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 5th, 2016 | 04:21 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
Is this a new record for spam?

I've been avoiding the US forum, but this morning took a look. Out of the first 25 threads only 7 were legit -- the other 18 were all spam. Is this a new record? Is any attempt being made to curb this?

And yes, I DO realize I can just skip over the ads -- but it's still annoying to me, even if some of you want to insist there's nothing wrong or bothersome about all of them.
NeoPatrick is offline  
Old May 5th, 2016 | 05:08 AM
  #3  
 
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 19,736
Likes: 0
I managed to get a pretty good price for my wife's diamond.
vincenzo32951 is offline  
Old May 5th, 2016 | 05:23 AM
  #4  
Community Builder
Conversation Starter
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 75,015
Likes: 50
Pretty bad but not nearly a record. The 'Korean' spammers several months ago would post 100+ every night.
janisj is online now  
Old May 5th, 2016 | 06:39 AM
  #5  
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,611
Likes: 0
It has been bad every morning lately. It appears that the moderators are not checking up very often.
Keith is offline  
Old May 5th, 2016 | 06:42 AM
  #6  
 
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,476
Likes: 0
Even moderators must sleep.

I have invented the perfect spam. It is a skin cream that makes you illiterate and think you are the perfect lover.
IMDonehere is offline  
Old May 5th, 2016 | 08:37 AM
  #7  
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,886
Likes: 0
It seems like most of the spam is posted between about 2 and 5 am. Can't the instant post be turned off for those hours - somehow shifted into a separate folder or something - and then reviewed first in the am before posting.

It' really annoying to me since many of them are linked to NY and I do a quick run through that while having breakfast. I am so sick of reporting them. Then I stop. Then I get so mad I start reporting agin.
nytraveler is offline  
Old May 5th, 2016 | 08:47 AM
  #8  
 
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,476
Likes: 0
The Fodor's boards have the sophistication of Pong. I am sure it is a Catch 22, if there was more traffic, they would invest more money and they don't want to invest with the hope of attracting more traffic.

Other sites have algorithms and other devices that prevent such spam.

You can't even correct a posting after submit is hit and of course, there is no facility for posting photos. Who would want photos on a travel board?

It seems Fodor's problems go way beyond spammers.
IMDonehere is offline  
Old May 5th, 2016 | 09:02 AM
  #9  
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 17,471
Likes: 2
SPAM; Hey Vin; Many requests for plaques hanging in the church and the Pastor will have an announcement soon.
iris1745 is offline  
Old May 5th, 2016 | 09:21 AM
  #10  
 
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 19,736
Likes: 0
iris (everyone else ignore): So I heard.

Friends of ours told a story about a couple who attended Mass there and sat in a pew that normally wasn't theirs. They discovered a plaque with their grandparents' name on the pew. Didn't even know it was there.
vincenzo32951 is offline  
Old May 5th, 2016 | 09:25 AM
  #11  
 
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,250
Likes: 0
What is so tiresome about hitting the triangle and then hitting send. Two clicks and done. They're smart enough to read and figure it out.
Inakauaidavidababy is offline  
Old May 5th, 2016 | 10:09 AM
  #12  
Community Builder
Conversation Starter
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 75,015
Likes: 50
Triangling works -- but honestly I don't think the triangles for the obvious spam threads are even all that important -- they are so obvious and get cleaned up every day that I can see.

Individual spam or advertising posts buried in legit threads might be more of a 'triangle issue' sine the editors can't be expected to read every thread/every day.

What seems silly/extra effort IMO are those who triangle a post or thread . . . and then post "triangled" or similar to tell us they did it. When the offending post is zapped, the 'triangled' remains and simply keeps the thread topped.
janisj is online now  
Old May 5th, 2016 | 01:11 PM
  #13  
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,693
Likes: 0
It has gotten so bad that the US forum has become unusable for those who are early risers. If Fodors cared enough they could fix it, IMHO.
SusieQQ is offline  
Old May 5th, 2016 | 01:30 PM
  #14  
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,533
Likes: 0
Shucks, I was all ready to jump in about one of Hawaii's favorite canned foods.
curiousgeo is online now  
Old May 5th, 2016 | 01:40 PM
  #15  
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,801
Likes: 0
Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, spammity Spam, wonderful Spam.
NewbE is offline  
Old May 5th, 2016 | 02:16 PM
  #16  
Conversation Starter
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 23,191
Likes: 0
Also an early riser - it is annoying. About 90% start with http. Can't Fodors block any post that includes this, in the same way they block certain words (I once was attempting to post a legitimate word to describe anatomy and got a pop-up warning that my post did not meet "standards"). so add "http" as the 8th word you can't use.

I know there are still hidden spam posts, but this would be a start.
gail is offline  
Old May 5th, 2016 | 02:27 PM
  #17  
Conversation Starter
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 27,868
Likes: 0
I agree - any topic that contains a link or is written in a foreign language should not be able to be posted.

I wait until it's cleared before I even attempt to read anything. They are most prevalent here, but I have seen them in the Africa board as well; others to but US is definitely the preferred board.
DebitNM is offline  
Old May 6th, 2016 | 01:22 PM
  #18  
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,326
Likes: 19
When you are looking at the US Forum after work here, about 2am in the US, there is aways heaps of spam at the top. I used to flag it, but have given up, now and just go down until I get to a real post. I agree it is very annoying.
nelsonian is online now  
Old May 7th, 2016 | 01:30 AM
  #19  
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,326
Likes: 19
9.30pm here in NZ, 17 spam postings when I opened the US forum tonight.
nelsonian is online now  
Old May 7th, 2016 | 04:06 AM
  #20  
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,544
Likes: 0
I find them much more interesting than some of our self-absorbed regulars...
garyt22 is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement -