Self promotion is NOT the same as spam

One-Eye

mclarkie wrote: »

I don't think I've ever come across genuine spam on the forum.

Genuine spam usually gets deleted very quickly. It is usually some idiot who makes the same post dozens of times on the end of threads and not just on the comping forum. It seems they rarely start a new thread. For an example see HERE (post #2), but usually the only thing you see are the traces of it such as HERE (post #3). In both cases the spam itself has been removed.

If you think about how it probably works behind the scenes, MSE staff will have different procedures or different teams for dealing with spam and self-promotion, so clicking the Spam button for self-promotion is just causing disruption for them. We should all be happy to try and make it easier for them.

brightonman123

can newbies be blocked from posting to comps section, until proved themselves elsewhere..?

JessicAhh

I think that's a reasonable suggestion, Brighton, but they could then potentially post elsewhere on the site and annoy another board. But... "I'm alright, Jack" so great idea... :rotfl:

Kirri

Roger_Rampant wrote: »

If it is obviously self-promotion then as far as I am concerned it is spam, and I will continue treating it as such.

I agree and think MSE has a funny definition of spam...

JessicAhh

We are being told not to click the spam button for self promotion posts.

I think whether we agree they're spam or not is irrelevant. Given we have the pleasure of a free forum, I would have thought the best course of action is to do as we are told.

I think the gist of Glad's message wasn't really in the title - the whole spam vs self promotion thing is a minefield... But I think Glad's point was don't press the spam button for self-promotion.

I suspect the spam and self promotion reports get treated differently. If the team see something labelled as "spam", they will look and say, "well, it's a comp. Not spam" and re-release to the forum. There's no reason for them to look at the post reports and spam reported posts together.

cagsd

For me, spam is when you get someone registering and then immediately posting the same, irrelevant, post on every single forum. I remember one a while ago, can't even remember what it was for but nothing to do with comping, and they were posting faster than we could get them deleted!!
If I see or suspect self promotion, I click the report button and send a brief report.

mjm3346

JessicAhh wrote: »

We are being told not to click the spam button for self promotion posts.

I think whether we agree they're spam or not is irrelevant. Given we have the pleasure of a free forum, I would have thought the best course of action is to do as we are told.

I think the gist of Glad's message wasn't really in the title - the whole spam vs self promotion thing is a minefield... But I think Glad's point was don't press the spam button for self-promotion.

I suspect the spam and self promotion reports get treated differently. If the team see something labelled as "spam", they will look and say, "well, it's a comp. Not spam" and re-release to the forum. There's no reason for them to look at the post reports and spam reported posts together.

Self-promotion can be spam under the forum rules, often it isn't but when it is the spam button should be used the same as it is in any other part of the forum.

Unless someone complains about a post being deleted I am not sure if posts removed by use of the spam button are actually looked at by anyone and I have never noticed one returned to the board - even if they are looked at there will almost certainly be post on the thread saying it's self-promotion so there would be no need to match up any reports to the thread.

Luckyone

I've clicked spam for this one:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5046108

xxx

mar30

Well done :T

Moneybot

Luckyone wrote: »

I've clicked spam for this one:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5046108

xxx

Ummm why? :huh:

Self promotion possibly but spam no.

Did you read Glad's op?