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#1 2010-03-22 12:20:04

Lightnin
Scratch Team
Registered: 2008-11-03
Posts: 1000+

The many different flavors of Spam...

What is Spamming?

These days, the word "spam" means a lot of things. In email, spam means a message sent to try and convince people to buy stuff. On forums, it takes the form of links to commercial sites. What about on Scratch?

On Scratch 'spamming' is when Scratchers post lots of links to their projects so that others will see them and increase their views and love its. There's a fine line between "show and tell" and spamming. Think of it this way: If someone comes to a party and says "Hey check out my new project!" that's cool - it's nice to see what others are up to. But if they say "Hey check out my new project!" every 5 seconds to everyone in the room, it gets old pretty fast. That's a kind of spamming, so we politely discourage it.

But lately there is a new kind of spam that's becoming a problem on our forums. It's called SEO spam.  "SEO" stands for Search Engine Optimization.  SEO spam is when professional spammers create accounts on sites like ours for the purposes of putting links to their company or product. When google sees the link on our site, it thinks that it's probably a good company, so it increases their ranking in the search engine results. That turns into $$$ for the spammers, which just encourages them to make more spam!

So if you see links to other websites that don't really have anything to do with the conversation, especially by "new" Scratchers without a lot of posts or projects, please flag them! In many cases we'll remove the link even if we're not sure, just in case it is spam. It's still ok for Scratchers to link to sites that they think are cool, especially if they are related to programming or Scratch related stuff. But if you aren't a long time member of the community, we might remove the link until we get to know you a little better.

Scratch On!

Help Scratchers make the leap to 2.0!
http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/6844/transitionteam.jpg

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#2 2010-03-22 12:24:21

technoguyx
Scratcher
Registered: 2008-10-18
Posts: 1000+

Re: The many different flavors of Spam...

That's good to know, I never knew the spam was to appear in search engines, but I obviously knew it's for money.  tongue

http://getgnulinux.org/links/en/linuxliberated_4_78x116.png

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#3 2010-03-22 12:32:37

BWOG
Scratcher
Registered: 2008-09-19
Posts: 1000+

Re: The many different flavors of Spam...

technoguyx wrote:

That's good to know, I never knew the spam was to appear in search engines, but I obviously knew it's for money.  tongue

I thought it was just so people who saw the post would click it.

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#4 2010-03-22 13:14:38

illusionist
Retired Community Moderator
Registered: 2008-07-02
Posts: 1000+

Re: The many different flavors of Spam...

I will be watching.

Thanks Lightnin!  big_smile

http://i.imgur.com/8LX1NrV.png

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#5 2010-03-22 14:58:13

TheSaint
Scratcher
Registered: 2008-11-04
Posts: 1000+

Re: The many different flavors of Spam...

Thanks for notifying us!

http://www.abadak.com/media/catalog/category/north-carolina-state-wolfpack-fan-gear.jpg
Previous Game--> Dragon Defense

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#6 2010-03-22 15:18:51

Lucario621
Community Moderator
Registered: 2007-10-03
Posts: 1000+

Re: The many different flavors of Spam...

Yay! $$$!

Wait... That's bad! Lol.

http://i.imgur.com/WBkM2QQ.png

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#7 2010-03-22 16:04:36

Dazachi
Retired Community Moderator
Registered: 2009-09-12
Posts: 1000+

Re: The many different flavors of Spam...

Thanks for telling us.

Dazachi, Retired Community Moderator
May also know me as OJACheung.

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#8 2010-03-22 17:12:55

coolperson
Scratcher
Registered: 2007-08-21
Posts: 1000+

Re: The many different flavors of Spam...

Yeah, spammers can make a lot of cash from google. I'm actually thinking about making my own sites & programming it with python, and then I'd put google ads on.

Coolperson- 2012 National Vex Robotics Finalist!
http://www.scratch.mit.edu/ext/youtube/?v=sn7p84DQFyk

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#9 2010-03-22 20:07:12

Greatdane
Scratcher
Registered: 2007-06-05
Posts: 1000+

Re: The many different flavors of Spam...

When I reported a user to 'Amos' of the Scratch Team they told me that the user was posting links to exploit Search Engine Optimization. I didn't know what that meant, but know I know. Thanks a bunch for telling me!

By the way, only Google ranks searches by links. Ask.com or Bing don't.

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
        ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

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#10 2010-03-22 20:32:45

fg123
Scratcher
Registered: 2008-11-13
Posts: 1000+

Re: The many different flavors of Spam...

Thanks so much Lightnin'!

Hai.

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#11 2010-03-22 22:00:20

Ace-of-Spades
Scratcher
Registered: 2010-01-08
Posts: 1000+

Re: The many different flavors of Spam...

I personally enjoy people flavour the best but.. oh we're not talking about the canned meat?

11110010100011010100011010101000100011011011001010111100101000110101000110101010001000110110110010101111001010001101010001101010100010001101101100101011110010100011010100011010101000100011011011001010
110101010010001010101010101010101010101010100110101010010101010010101001101011010101010010101010101

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#12 2010-03-22 22:25:26

illusionist
Retired Community Moderator
Registered: 2008-07-02
Posts: 1000+

Re: The many different flavors of Spam...

Ace-of-Spades wrote:

I personally enjoy people flavour the best but.. oh we're not talking about the canned meat?

O_O

http://i.imgur.com/8LX1NrV.png

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#13 2010-03-23 00:01:21

shockwave
Scratcher
Registered: 2007-12-29
Posts: 64

Re: The many different flavors of Spam...

but what kinds of sick minds would come onto a site SPECIFICALLY marked .edu just to make MONEY!!?!?!?!??!????!$$%Pr

=^..^= meow. Come look at Fact blaster or else.
• http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/shockwave/2005372 • Also, my latest "educational" game, Cola Crisis:http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/shockwave/1702364

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#14 2010-03-23 01:00:29

Chrischb
Scratcher
Registered: 2008-07-24
Posts: 1000+

Re: The many different flavors of Spam...

A spam summarization!  smile
There's been lots of debate on what it really is... xP

I'll be sure to flag them.  smile

Last edited by Chrischb (2010-03-23 01:02:05)

I fall: It's a tragedy. You fall: It's comedy.
Hmph enjoy your fall - I get a lovely spring... without pans of new leaves.

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#15 2010-03-23 01:08:11

Jonathanpb
Scratcher
Registered: 2008-07-25
Posts: 1000+

Re: The many different flavors of Spam...

Thanks a lot, Lightnin! It's good to see that there's a nice topic about this...

I don't like commercial spammers - everyone doesn't like them.  big_smile

Last edited by Jonathanpb (2010-03-23 01:09:10)

"Human beings... must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it.
-Charlotte Brontë

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#16 2010-03-23 01:10:52

Jonathanpb
Scratcher
Registered: 2008-07-25
Posts: 1000+

Re: The many different flavors of Spam...

Ace-of-Spades wrote:

I personally enjoy people flavour the best but.. oh we're not talking about the canned meat?

Please try and keep your posts useful and on topic.  smile

shockwave wrote:

but what kinds of sick minds would come onto a site SPECIFICALLY marked .edu just to make MONEY!!?!?!?!??!????!$$%Pr

Those people aren't like us - they don't have a proper life. They just want money...  sad

"Human beings... must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it.
-Charlotte Brontë

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#17 2010-03-23 08:33:17

Jazman111
Scratcher
Registered: 2010-02-27
Posts: 54

Re: The many different flavors of Spam...

Jonathanpb wrote:

shockwave wrote:

but what kinds of sick minds would come onto a site SPECIFICALLY marked .edu just to make MONEY!!?!?!?!??!????!$$%Pr

Those people aren't like us - they don't have a proper life. They just want money...  sad

100% true, Jonathan.

http://i41.tinypic.com/149nj3t.jpghttp://www.danasoft.com/sig/HelloWorld121895.jpg
Either at school or home, Scratch.mit.edu isn't blocked.

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#18 2010-03-23 09:21:51

what-the
Scratcher
Registered: 2009-10-04
Posts: 1000+

Re: The many different flavors of Spam...

Some good detail there of what spamming is and why people do it. Hopfully some day there could be a good program that can prevent it. Until then we just have to keep flaging it.

http://imageshack.us/m/64/9034/ddfss.pngMy site
Find someone post count. Click posts under username. Find number of pages. Times that by 40 for min and 60 for max and you have a rough estimate of post count.

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#19 2010-03-23 09:54:23

markyparky56
Scratcher
Registered: 2008-03-20
Posts: 1000+

Re: The many different flavors of Spam...

i dont see why they do it, most of the people on this website are below the minimum age for working, it just doesn't make sense.

http://j.mp/jgVnTq
Check out my game engine development site: NewDawn I'm a Level 171 Scratcher.I am http://bit.ly/nkvLNT

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#20 2010-03-23 11:53:45

technoguyx
Scratcher
Registered: 2008-10-18
Posts: 1000+

Re: The many different flavors of Spam...

markyparky56 wrote:

i dont see why they do it, most of the people on this website are below the minimum age for working, it just doesn't make sense.

They might not know that. All they care about is advertising their stuff.

http://getgnulinux.org/links/en/linuxliberated_4_78x116.png

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#21 2010-03-23 12:00:36

markyparky56
Scratcher
Registered: 2008-03-20
Posts: 1000+

Re: The many different flavors of Spam...

technoguyx wrote:

markyparky56 wrote:

i dont see why they do it, most of the people on this website are below the minimum age for working, it just doesn't make sense.

They might not know that. All they care about is advertising their stuff.

hmmm... its pretty obvious since they have to go through everything from signing up to going to the forums, but then they probably dont look.

http://j.mp/jgVnTq
Check out my game engine development site: NewDawn I'm a Level 171 Scratcher.I am http://bit.ly/nkvLNT

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#22 2010-03-25 08:27:30

Jazman111
Scratcher
Registered: 2010-02-27
Posts: 54

Re: The many different flavors of Spam...

what-the wrote:

Hopfully some day there could be a good program that can prevent it.

I agree.
Bit.ly links should be blocked/filtered...

http://i41.tinypic.com/149nj3t.jpghttp://www.danasoft.com/sig/HelloWorld121895.jpg
Either at school or home, Scratch.mit.edu isn't blocked.

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#23 2010-03-25 08:29:10

Greenboi
Scratcher
Registered: 2010-01-30
Posts: 1000+

Re: The many different flavors of Spam...

^I agree^

With Punbb hosting they can change and filter bad words, but not links that I've heard of  hmm

http://i.imgur.com/gpzfz.png
MAH SHOP

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#24 2010-03-25 08:35:39

Jazman111
Scratcher
Registered: 2010-02-27
Posts: 54

Re: The many different flavors of Spam...

Greenboi wrote:

^I agree^

With Punbb hosting they can change and filter bad words, but not links that I've heard of  hmm

Bit.ly is a URL shortening site, like TinyURL. It is used mainly in Twitter and unofficial Twitter desktop clients like TweetDeck, because of how small the link is.

http://i41.tinypic.com/149nj3t.jpghttp://www.danasoft.com/sig/HelloWorld121895.jpg
Either at school or home, Scratch.mit.edu isn't blocked.

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#25 2010-03-25 09:16:58

markyparky56
Scratcher
Registered: 2008-03-20
Posts: 1000+

Re: The many different flavors of Spam...

What about is.gd

http://is.gd/

http://j.mp/jgVnTq
Check out my game engine development site: NewDawn I'm a Level 171 Scratcher.I am http://bit.ly/nkvLNT

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