Spam button suggestion

LydiaJ

Spambots have started popping up all over the place posting irrelevant and annoying posts in the middle of legitimate useful threads. Would it be possible to move the spam button so that it reports a single post rather than a whole thread, please?

Premier_2

Whilst the idea appears good on first sight, it probably would be open to abuse.

There are unfortunately some sub-forums that have a number of posters (often that have come en-masse from another forum outside of MSE) who like to dominate there with their opinion. Consequently, they don't like anyone outside of their 'gang' posting contrary advice, even when supported by well known and respected independent sources.

There is a risk that those posters will abuse such a facility removing any post by a user they dislike, resulting in an horrendous additional workload for the Forum Team.

Don't forget:

If you spot a spam, illegal, offensive, racist, libellous post or PM please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL]


This icon, , is already available to allow quick and easy reporting of any particular post.

orc_2

Its quite remarkable really, I make a suggestion on this thread, only to have it deleted.

I suppose someone must have taken offense, wonder who that could have been? Any guesses?

The act of reporting my post sums up why real abuse should not be tolerated but falsely reporting a post as abusive needs to be clamped down on, with sanctions taken against the person making the report if the abuse report is found to be false by the site team.

Funnily enough and unusually, I find myself in agreement with this part of the post above:

"There is a risk that those posters will abuse such a facility removing any post by a user they dislike, resulting in an horrendous additional workload for the Forum Team."

That is exactly what happened to me. Small minded people who don't have great skills of communication sometimes resort to underhand methods of censorship.:rolleyes:

I would appreciate feedback from the MSE team on these issues.

I suggest that if posts are deleted that an email should be sent by the site team to the poster concerned with an indication of what was wrong with the post, ie why it infringed site rules. A warning can also be issued.

Many thanks.:D

rsykes2000

orc wrote: »

I suggest that if posts are deleted that an email should be sent by the site team to the poster concerned with an indication of what was wrong with the post, ie why it infringed site rules. A warning can also be issued.

Many thanks.:D

I don't know how many posts are deleted / hidden daily, but I suspect this would be an admin burden too far for the site team and would simply take up far too much of their time.

orc_2

Thanks for the feedback and comment rsykes2000, which is appreciated.

I'm just posing the question really. I am wondering why one of my posts on this thread was deleted.

I am getting the impression that I am being stalked by some kind of sad person, who has nothing better to do, but report my posts. Their life must be quite sad to do that for amusement.

If there are no balances, and posts are deleted purely at the instigation of a complaint which has no basis, the site can leave itslf open to "other" accusations.

I know who reported it and it was not offensive, abusive or against site rules in any way.

I just think it is polite and only fair for someone on the site team to point out the error of my ways, if any.;)

Likewise, I would like to know if it was a malicious complaint and what steps can be taken to prevent a recurrence, as that is abuse. That would save the site team time in the long run.

That way, I can be sure it does not happen again.

Indie_Kid

rsykes2000 wrote: »

I don't know how many posts are deleted / hidden daily, but I suspect this would be an admin burden too far for the site team and would simply take up far too much of their time.

This is what I got told when a thread of mine was deleted.

orc_2

sh1305 wrote: »

This is what I got told when a thread of mine was deleted.

I take it you had not said anything against site rules.

Did you have a stalker perhaps? Or was someones nose out of joint?

Did you ever get an explanation?

I bet the person who reported my post and got it deleted is even watching this thread.

Being familiar with site rues of other forums I am aware of rules and guidance issued to mods, site helpers, board guides etc. So I do now that guidance is available.

Thanks for feedback.

savemoney

I really wish you could click spam button on each individual post as spammers are getting wise to this and posting in threads already started to vane attempt to promote there referral/web site/blog or whatever

Former_MSE_Dan

Hey folks,

Just to clarify something being discussed here, rsykes is correct, we simply do not have the resource to send explanation of why every deletion happens.

Dan

fermi

MSE_Dan wrote: »

Hey folks,

Just to clarify something being discussed here, rsykes is correct, we simply do not have the resource to send explanation of why every deletion happens.

Dan

And according to Martin below, in most cases it's advisable not to, even if you did have the resources.

MSE_Martin wrote: »

Decisions are not explained deliberately. Often threads are deleted without explanation. This is based on legal advice. If we start 'accusing' people of things, eg spamming, being racist, being abusive, being wrong etc then we are open to legal challenge and therefore we are advised to delete without blame - often things are deleted simply because we dont have the resources to manage it properly.

edgex

Premier wrote: »

Whilst the idea appears good on first sight, it probably would be open to abuse.

There are unfortunately some sub-forums that have a number of posters (often that have come en-masse from another forum outside of MSE) who like to dominate there with their opinion. Consequently, they don't like anyone outside of their 'gang' posting contrary advice, even when supported by well known and respected independent sources.

There is a risk that those posters will abuse such a facility removing any post by a user they dislike, resulting in an horrendous additional workload for the Forum Team.

Don't forget:

If you spot a spam, illegal, offensive, racist, libellous post or PM please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL]


This icon, , is already available to allow quick and easy reporting of any particular post.

thought i should pick up on this last bit:


the 'report post' button is only any good if you have an email programme installed & setup on that computer, as it tries to send an email to the abuse email address
it does not use a webform, like the spam button does