The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

what's with all the soccer ads dominating the site lately !?!

MickiColl's picture
MickiColl

what's with all the soccer ads dominating the site lately !?!

this supposed to b a bread/baking site .. and today's post is nothing but ads for soccer .. one right after the other !! where's the monitor !!

Floydm's picture
Floydm

Please yell at the spammers who keep joining the site. Or, better yet, when you see such a post, flag it.

"Where's the monitor?"  

At his day job? Or with his family?  Or asleep?  Certainly not refreshing the forum every 30 seconds round the clock, if that is what you are expecting.

I assure you, I'm no fan of the spam either.  I've blocked dozens of IPs, closed dozens of accounts, and added numerous words to the blacklist.  I don't think any spam posts have been up for more than 8 hours, and most of the times I zap them within the hour.

Also notice how they do things like post "Manchester Uni.ted" or "Online S.t.r.e.@.m.i.n.g", making it very difficult for automated filters to catch them. Fighting spam is an arms race, with no easy solution short of making all posts go into a moderation queue and need approval to post. I don't think folks would be happy here if I took that approach. 

adri's picture
adri

Are you the only moderator in this forum?

MarkS's picture
MarkS

I've been meaning to ask the same thing. Who are the moderators and administrators here? This can be useful information...

Floydm's picture
Floydm

My wife and I run and moderate the site. 

Typically maintaining the site isn't a big deal since we have an extremely helpful, well-behaved bunch of people here, but from time-to-time we get added to one of the list of sites that spammers pass around and the obnoxious posts flare up. I assume that has happened again recently. It will subside eventually.

ericreed's picture
ericreed

Well you two are doing a wonderful job and don't think for a second we don't appreciate it. I'm impressed with how well you're able to deal with the spam to be honest.

RobynNZ's picture
RobynNZ

Goodmorning Floyd

I trust that anyone reading this who only now realises that this site is run by a homebaker who has shared his IT skills to give other  amateur bakers  (the professionals even join in sometimes) a place on the internet to connect and learn, will avail themselves of the link at the bottom of the page titled "Support this site".

Because of time zones I often see spam arrive when you are sleeping and always send up some sympathetic thoughts to you, as welll as clicking the report button. I hope this latest lot with all the video embeds isn't taken up lots of bandwidth, I am ignorant of such things. 

As always, thank you, thank you for this wonderful point of contact with other bakers. I learn such a lot and try to contribute support to newbies, but really take my hat off to the major contributors, the time I can allocate to TFL limits my contribution. 

Cheers, Robyn

edit: also there is an "about" link at the bottom of the page - take a look

Floydm's picture
Floydm

Thank you, Robyn.

Our Crumb's picture
Our Crumb

To cast a supporting vote:  the appearance of those Premier League spams was probably particularly striking because there are so few of them on TFL, thanks to your vigilance, Floyd. 

Thanks, as always, for running such an exceptionally friendly and useful site.  Can't be nearly as easy as you make it look.

Tom

Floydm's picture
Floydm

Thank you, Tom.

Mini Oven's picture
Mini Oven

???  When I click on the "support this site" it looks like the system is fading out and no longer active.  

RobynNZ's picture
RobynNZ

Ohps sorry Floyd looks like I might have inadvertently created more work for you...... Sorry I didn't check it out before I spoke up.

Floydm's picture
Floydm

Ha. No worries. I hadn't noticed it was dead either. Maybe that is why I haven't been seeing much action there, eh? ;)

jackie9999's picture
jackie9999

Could be worse..could be porn!!

I had to chuckle when I saw Floyd's response ... "Maybe that is why I haven't been seeing much action there, eh?"

Still in Canada , eh :)

Floydm's picture
Floydm

Still in Canada , eh :)

Indeed, though we've noticed that in BC folks actually say "hey" instead "eh". Same usage though: "Did you see the Habs beat the Leafs last night? Heck of a game, hey?" I'm still getting used to that.

Janetcook's picture
Janetcook

Hi Floyd,

Just have to toss in my 2¢ worth of appreciation for all that you do on this site.  I had noticed the spam too but also noticed that it disappeared very quickly.  I love this place and am very grateful for how you tend to it for all of us.  Glad to know about the 'support this site' area below.  I did not know it was there.

Thank you for all that you do in keeping this place running so smoothly!
Janet

Floydm's picture
Floydm

Thank you, Janet.