What if a trusted forum member suddenly started spamming?

Jolie Level 1

December 15, 2012, 9:19 am

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What if a trusted forum member suddenly started spamming?

What would you do if one of your best forum members (who had contributed many discussions/responses), suddenly started spamming links/ads or added too many links in their signature line? Would you ban that person? What would you do?

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Beverly

Maybe the reason this person was so prolific with their 'helpful' posts was to build trust, so that at some point they could start spamming links.

12 years ago

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angie828

Ask the person why they are doing it and tell them that you can not have this on your site and ask them to please stop.

12 years ago

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augusta

I think such a person had that thought right from time,so he or she was waiting for the right to strike.

if you're lenient enough issue a warning it the person still continues then a ban is in order.

7 years ago

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Beverly

Ask the person why they are doing it and tell them that you can not have this on your site and ask them to please stop.

A warning will usually work; or a temporary ban. If the person only joined to build posts and then sell links, they have probably been planning it for awhile. By the time these link sellers start spamming links and such, they have many hundreds of posts.

12 years ago

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robertman11

Ban. Spam is unacceptable from anyone.

12 years ago

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QuirkyJessi

I would talk to them first.

If they were a long time member, then I should be able to approach them and ask them to back off. If they were a newer member, but had provided quality content first, then I would assume they were probably like Beverly mentioned and simply had been building it up to gain trust/access. Spamming is still spamming, though, and either they would need to stop or they would get banned regardless.

12 years ago

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angie828

I agree quirkyJessi. If they do not stop I would not allow them to post. They would for sure get banned.

12 years ago

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Everett

Ban. Spam is unacceptable from anyone.

Hello,

I agree, if I saw this happening I'd automatically ban them without questioning why they were spamming. Absolutely no need to question anyone whom is spamming, especially if they are a 'trusted' forum poster. It doesn't give them any right to spam.

Kind Regards,
Everett

12 years ago

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angie828

Hello,

I agree, if I saw this happening I'd automatically ban them without questioning why they were spamming. Absolutely no need to question anyone whom is spamming, especially if they are a 'trusted' forum poster. It doesn't give them any right to spam.

Kind Regards,
Everett

What if they did not see it as spam? Or did not think that they were doing anything wrong?

12 years ago

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Everett

What if they did not see it as spam? Or did not think that they were doing anything wrong?

Hello,

Glad you asked this question!

Then we'll have a debate as to what is labeled spam, and what is not. Generally most people know forum etiquette.. especially in a business environment. We wish that no one spams.. maybe one day.. one day.. lol

Kind Regards,
Everett

12 years ago

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evie

Warning them is a good idea then if they can not get it straight, ban them.

12 years ago

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Tommy Matalino

What would you do if one of your best forum members (who had contributed many discussions/responses), suddenly started spamming links/ads or added too many links in their signature line? Would you ban that person? What would you do?

If that happens to my forum, I'll be thinking that the account is either hacked or compromised. If I have any other way to contact that member, via email or chat, I'll contact him and ask questions. In the meantime, to prevent from spamming, I'll definitely put a temporary ban on the account.

12 years ago

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Beverly

If that happens to my forum, I'll be thinking that the account is either hacked or compromised. If I have any other way to contact that member, via email or chat, I'll contact him and ask questions. In the meantime, to prevent from spamming, I'll definitely put a temporary ban on the account.

A temporary ban is always a good idea as it gives you time to get the situation sorted out. As you say, it's possible the person's account could be compromised. Anyway, even if the spamming is just a lack of good judgement by the account owner, the temp ban will give him a few days to think about not doing it again.

12 years ago

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LizAnne

What kind of spam are you talking about? For instance, do you mean advertising links or just one word answers that could be seen as spammy?

12 years ago

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blueeyes

Some see something as spam and then others do not. Maybe they do not even realize that they are spamming?

12 years ago

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Pixie06

I think the best thing to do is to tell the member to stop doing this. However, if they continue the best thing to do will be to give them a warning. If their behaviors still don't change then banning them from your forum is the wisest thing to do.

7 years ago

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Corzhens

For a good member who had posted nicely to be suddenlyspamming, there must be a valid reason. I wouldn’t be rash as to ban that
poster. Give him the benefit of the doubt by messaging him in asking for the
reason why he was spamming the forum. One good reason is his account may have
been hacked or had been used by a friend (it is normal for close friends to
share passwords). Get the facts before you make a judgment.

7 years ago

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SEOClerks

What if a trusted forum member suddenly started spamming?

What if a trusted forum member suddenly started spamming?

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