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New Spam Fighting Tool for Sphinn Users
Went Hot: December 18, 2007 - 4:01 pm
Posted By: Michelle 255 days ago
Topic Type: Discussion
Category: Sphinn Zone
28 Comments
Comments
If you are a registered, logged in Sphinn user, you'll note a new link next to the "Save" link under each story called "Report as Spam."
Users can click this link if you feel a submission is spam. Once 5 users have clicked the link, the story is removed from the page and sent to a holding cell for review by an admin or moderator.
If it is determined to be spam - it gets zapped. Moderators may disagree with users however, and choose to re-queue the item. If this happens, that link will change to say "Acquitted" and the story can no longer be reported as spam by users. More info on the process and procedures at our Spam Jail info page.
Thanks for everyone's continued vigilance in keep Sphinn as free of spam as possible!
YAY! Or is that w00t nowadays?
Thank you for this tool.
Note: You must be logged in to see the "Report as Spam" link.
Excellent Michelle ... thanks!
@crimsongirl - thanks for adding that note. I'll update my post to clarify. But yes, any tools we release on the site will be for logged in users only. Similar to the "Save" button - you won't see that if you're not logged in either.
@sebastian - i think they both work. as would "word" "whoohoo" and "booyaa" ;-)
@JohnWeb and @JeffQuip - you're welcome!
I almost did not see it. Plans to add a little icon we can vizualize as a spam button?
@planetc1 - yes in fact. immediate plans. we tested using just a button, but it had the unfortunate effect of making every story appear to be tagged as spam, so we backed off from that. Will be adding an icon the size of the "save" icon to assist in bringing attention (but not too much) to the spam reporting feature.
The site would be a little more safe from malicious intent if the link only showed for users who have been members for a few weeks or more, and who have made at least a few dozen contributions of some sort.
I second g1smd...is there anyway to keep it away from someone who is just trying to hide posts...I really don't want this to be abused as this is a needed feature...Can it also be used to report a comment as spam????
I third g1smd, but have an additional question.
If somethnig gets flagged as spam, then acquitted, where will it appear? At the top of upcoming? Where it would've been naturally?
yay
Spam is No Bueno
Great new tool... Thanx
@g1smd - we're flagging every hit of the spam button and monitoring its usage. So malicious users will only get so far (then they'll get banned). And things aren't automatically treated as spam - that's where the moderation comes in. The mods will determine what is or is not spam and only then is something truly kicked to the curb. We do have plans to weight the reports. So people in better standing let's say, will have greater influence in getting something pulled quicker. But right now, it's still a democracy :-)
@SlightlyShadySEO - if something gets pulled then pushed back, it will go right where it was - not back to the top (wouldn't want people reporting things that *aren't* spam in the hopes it gets reposted at the top, right? ;-) Best case scenario, things that are reported are quickly dealt with so nothing sits in limbo for very long. We'll be watching this as well.
I understand the concerns here - and as we all know - anything can be gamed by really determined people. But we'll be able to figure out easily enough who those people are and will deal with them as we have the others that have gamed the systems here at Sphinn. It's a short term gain at best.
This is great news. Beats having to use that contact us form all weekend! ;)
Everybody's always hatin' on the poor spammers...
Nicely done James Dunn...now if we could just get 4 more!!
Now I see it. Looks great!
I totally see the need for this tool but as someone who just got a post flagged as Spam I am wondering what the effect of having this shown to users is. IMO there's nothing spammy about my post and yet it is sort of guilty without proof just by displaying that "(1)" up there. It might even encourage others to hit the flag link, avoid voting or avoid the article altogether. I guess that would be fine if it is Spam but what if it isn't? Does it really matter if users see the number of Spam votes? Seems like the functionality would work just as well if the number wasn't displayed and it could eliminate bias from the system.
Then again maybe I am being a wee too sensitive and should take my Spam flag as a badge of honor.
That's a concern I hadn't thought of -- that someone might try to harm the rep of a story by planting a fake spam report. As noted, if things really get pulled, moderators can review them. It might be that we'll need to reconsider showing that something's been reported -- that way, there's no rep harm, the story just disappears. But let's see how it goes for the rest of this month.
my bad, i clicked the spam button on this story.
Great tool, but I agree - the spam vote number probably isn't necessary and might prompt abuse. I too accidently clicked on a spam link before realizing what it was. Ooops!
@Michelle - I'm curious. If something is not bad (but not so good either) yet we see the Sphinn system being gamed for hot-ness, does that count as something that should be considered spam?
ex: No new info here, but the story got gamed to go "hot" anyway: http://sphinn.com/story.php?id=19540
Don't use spam as a way to fight perceived gaming. We have a desphinn feature that will be coming on in about two weeks that's better suited for that. Spam is really meant for off-topic stuff that someone's submitted on purpose, against the guidelines.
Quick, someone post some spam so that I can report it! :)
There's one spam post out there today with (4) reports. Go click on that one. :-)
I don't know if it's connected but "show/hide this comment" hides all the rest of the page for me (including the right-hand column).
And when I click it to "show", font type seems to be some default Times New Roman from that line downwards.
(see example here: http://sphinn.com/story/19540)