I was cleaning up comment spam when I got an email from Jim Elve of Blogs Canada.
Recently he closed off comments at the E-Group blog while he dealt with the same kind of spam flooding I and many others contend with. He followed a string of some of the sites in a piece of spam (I remain amazed when I use MT Blacklist and see the URL’s coming out of one comment)
The commenter’s “name”, phentermine, links to his site. None of the other URLs link, though. Despite this, I have been deleting 40 or 50 of these comments each and every day. It’s driving me out of my flippin’ mind.
Why do they do it? I suspect that even though the URLs don’t link, they perceive that there is still some value to having those URLs mentioned in a site that has high Google rank. BlogsCanada has exceptionally high Google rank coming at #6 out of 36,000,000+ results in a search for “blogs.”
The new NoFollow strategy depends upon the spammers having an ounce of common sense. My experience suggests otherwise. They’re determined to post and, if allowed, post they will. The ones who are abusing BlogsCanada are using some technical means of posting with many, many different IP numbers. IP blocking is ineffective.
I mentioned the Google tag for comment spam earlier this week.
Some technicans are saying it is like trying to use an H-bomb to stop vandalism. I do agree bloggers and readers are being affected.
It is insane spending the amount of time most of us do getting rid of this garbage. And as a reader, the extra steps I have to take to comment at some blogs are frustrating.
A Canadian technican has come up with a better idea. He believes some technical fixes for comment spam hurt bloggers. (like the Google tag) He proposes a pro-active approach that addresses the ISP’s (internet service providers)
So Jim has tried this anti-spam pro-active idea.
I addressed my ISP, it hadn’t occurred to me to write the ISP the comment spammer was using. Nor did it occur to me to use the laws we already have in place to remind the providers this behaviour from clients is harmful to all of us.
It takes a minute or two to write an email. It will take another minute or two to write law enforcement when the IP’s are non-compliant.
I was politely dismissed by the law enforcement when I wrote partly because I was unsure of what needed to be said. Half the battle is who to approach and how to approach them, giving the right information to the right people.
It will be interesting to see what happens to Blog Canada’s complaint.
I have some comment spam I haven’t finished sweeping out yet. This might be worth a shot.:^)
Published 3 years, 7 months ago
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I thought I would ease your anger and give you some encouragement as well as some humor. I heard this song. Here is the post from the writer of the song:
http://www.davidj.org/songsanalyzed/benediction_susan.html
You might have some copyright enfringement.
Have a wonderful day in the Lord! 
HAHA Just joking.
Serious, after hearing this song it really encouraged me in the Faith and I thought you might want to check it out.
This same referrer spammer has been attacking sites everywhere. I have an entry with links and tips on keeping him out here:
http://brownpau.com/archives/2005/01/referrer_spam_attack
The server-side solution, in a nutshell, is here:
http://cavlec.yarinareth.net/archives/2005/01/11/killing-referrer-spam/
(The issue is referrer spam, but it’s the same person doing both the referrer and weblog spam, so the blacklists will work for both. You and Jim can email me if you need help.)
Hey Paulo!
Thank you. I’ll be happy to send this on to Jim.
And dh: I think I’m okay as long as I use Bene Diction. LoL.
That was encouraging. Back at ya.
I hope you enjoyed the Susan Ashton’s song “Benediction”. It is really good.
I did DH…it was needed and appreciated.:^)
Hey Mr. Bene Diction as a follower of Jesus Christ what do you mean when you say you are mad as hell?
I’m not speaking for Bene, but the phrase “mad as hell” typically means that one is extremely angry. I’m not aware of any change in definition when used by either a Christian or non-Christian. I don’t know Bene personally, but I’m willing to bet he’s not terribly superstitious, and doesn’t fear the word “hell” when used in a non-religious context. Here are some adjectives that might help out:
http://thesaurus.reference.com/search?q=mad+as+hell&db=roget
George:
It is a line from the 1976 movie Network.
One of the best and most lucid black comedies ever made. Hope that puts what I quoted in context for you.
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/MovieSpeeches/moviespeechnetwork2.html
Thanks Drina.
Yea that’s fine BD its from a movie so I guess that makes it ok. I personally don’t expect it from a follower of Jesus Christ especially someone like yourself who might have a bit of influence over others (I don’t know that am just assuming that). Hell is a very real place and to use that kind of language I think takes away from your credibility as a Christ follower.
I was reminded of that again this morning in church as our pastor preached on Titus 2
“7Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
To just flippantly use the word hell as a descriptive just doesn’t seem like a God glorifying thing to do.
My two cents
That’s your choice George.
Maybe you can rent the movie, watch it with your pastor and discuss.
Every day of my life I fail to glorify God, since you and the people this post is directed to aren’t my opponents, I’ll work it out with Him.
Since you speak bible - if I caused you to stumble I’m sorry.
My friends that don’t speak bible understand what I said in the title.
“Speak bible”… what a cool way of wording it, Bene!
All too often I “speak churcheeze”… not regularly helpful.
Blessings and peace - Richard B.
I don’t think the line from Network is at all flippant. But what do I know? Did I just get smited by the church warden?
Seen a lot of speaking bible this past week - it was like aliens trying to communicate in some cases (the spongebob squarepants nonsense)
It was a mini-sociology course
The bible thumping religious speaking warriors stampeding over to ‘liberal’ blogs to set them straight - some of it is shameful reading. It’s as if evangelicals have become addicted to conflict.
Thank God, there are churched people that speak english and speak it with great grace, clarity, humour and humility.
Yea, as followers of Christ lets just make light of a very real place called hell. If that’s what being liberal is all about, carry on BD and maybe you could let us know how God blesses that.
Forgive me George, but just how is the tone of your comments giving glory to God?
George:
Richard Hall and Richard Bott just stepped in.
You don’t really want that.
They have earned respect out here in the blogosphere.
And you just crossed the line with that last comment buddy.
Do not start with me or anyone else here about liberalism/conserativism or any ‘ism’ George, I’ve run out of patience at your inability to listen in text. You’ve pushed all weekend, back off and drink some decaf.
Let’s try again.
I suggest you watch Network if you can.
Then come back and talk to me about what and who God blesses.
And George, if you even think about pushing Richard H or Richard B, Drina, or anyone who has the courage to speak what they think and feel at this blog, there will be hell to pay.
BD,
There are always people who will use Christianity to bash rather than to uplift. I won’t say that I’ve never ever done it myself, but I’ll usually allow myself to be called to task.
I was a legalistic bible-thumping new believer when I was in my late teens, I was horrible - which is precisely why George is now being treated like an out of control 6 year old.
It is his choice.
I’m pretty cautious about talking about hell, although to be honest, Gehenna (the word Jesus used for hell) was a garbage dump outside the city boundaries.
My mother talks about going through hell during a rough time in her life. I’ve met few women more godly than her. Somehow, I doubt God is offended by her when she says this.
George, the type of confrontation you did here is probably better done privately.
Bene, I hope that spam problem is getting better.
Thanks Darryl it is, and I appreciated your help with stopping the spam.
Thanks for the clarification on the original word Jesus used as hell. The corresponding word is Hinnom, The Valley of in Jeremiah.
ouch!!
Bd what does that mean a “legalistic bible-thumping new believer”?
You are an smart guy George, make your own decisions about what I said about myself.
Please extend Richard the courtesy of answering his question…
*Yea, as followers of Christ lets just make light of a very real place called hell. If that’s what being liberal is all about, carry on BD and maybe you could let us know how God blesses that.Posted by george*
*Forgive me George, but just how is the tone of your comments giving glory to God? Posted by Richard Hall*
We’re interested in, and awaiting your response.
OK BD I’ll apologize for that tone, sometimes I still give knee jerk reactions to what I read from professing Christians. I read that again and yup I confess that tone is there.
What I won’t apologize for though is challenging professing Christians on their salt and light. I don’t understand speech like that from people who are professing Christians. It just seems to me that as we walk with Christ and grow in Him that will be shown in our conduct and our speech. Not about being legalistic, just showing the fruit of our conversion. I am constantly amazed how the world has so much of an influence on people who profess to be Christians but who in so many ways are not seperate from the world at all.
People who say they are first of all a follower of Christ but then have more to say about politics then they do about the gospel. I’m not talking about you personally because I don’t know you at all I’m talking generally about what I read on many a blog.
Our number one priority as followers of Christ should be to be on mission with Him to make disciples and to redeem a lost world to Almighty God.
I personally want to grow in that and pray that God gives me a continuos burden for the lost, who, if they don’t come to receive Christ as Lord and Saviour are going to Hell, that place that you are ok with using in terms of an adjective.
If we are truly saved, and know it, that should be our greatest burden it seems to me. We all have people in our lives that need to hear the good news of the Gospel, as His followers that’s where our focus should be.
By our fruit they will know us.
Now maybe you can answer my question
Look the words up George, or ask your pastor.
Better yet, bring him over to this thread and use it as a discussion about zealousness, anger and applying the word of God.
George, the Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers Canada help fellow officers such as yourself with their needs and teach reaching out effectively to others.
http://www.fcpocanada.com/