Bloggers Declare War on Spam
Published September 16, 2004
"Blogging will survive comment spam, however the blogosphere as we know it today will not be the same as a result of it," he told me via e-mail. "The ability to comment on blogs has been a large part of the phenomenal success blogging has had over the last few years. Expect a correction in blog numbers as the industry suffers from burnout, suppliers fold, are bought out or merge, and as the novelty for some wears off from newer distractions, less time and intolerance of comment spam."Blog Bloke has a slightly different take on the problem. Interactiveness is what sets blogging apart from the old school static websites of yesteryear, and commenting is a big part of that success.
Spam will always be a problem, but remove commenting from blogs? The Bloke says no, for that would surely kill the communal appeal of blogging and in so doing lose it's power and intimacy - something that has made blogging special. And what about group blogs such as Blogcritics that have created huge communities from the use of commenting? Removing comments would certainly sound their death bell.
The Bloke sees a brighter outlook for the blogosphere. Just as email hasn't waned in the onslaught of spam, neither will blogging. Enact tougher laws, better technology to stop them or track and prosecute the culprits... whatever.
The bottom line is blogging is an empowering technology that is too important to slip beneath the cracks because of a few rotten apples. Once the spammers realize they are wasting their time they will (hopefully) disappear and move on to more lucrative mischief. And besides, if you are being spammed that means your blog is popular and is perhaps the price we will just have to pay.
*This post also appeared at BlogBloke.com and News Blog
- Bloggers Declare War on Spam
- Published: September 16, 2004
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- Section: Culture
- Writer: Blog Bloke
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Comments on this articleComments
Thanks BB, obviously a critical topic for us right here. Besides moving off of MT, which we are in tthe process of doing, the best approach we have found thus far is just to stay on top of it and delete the comments as they appear. YOu can just sense the frustration when the fucker's efforts go for naught as the comments disappear as quickly as they arise.
We are lucky enough to have someone like Phillip (with help from TDavid), who has devised a tool for us to quickly and easily delete an/or edit comments.
Oh, and regarding David Winer, he's an elitist idiot: commenting is an absolutely essential part of blogging in that interaction and feedback is THE added dimension that blogs have over the regular press.
I have to agree with Marc, moving off MT has made our spam almost totally disappear. Althought not practical for BC, shutting down comments after a few weeks (or a month) helps as well.
I use MT on my blog, but since implementing MT-Blacklist as well as requiring the use of the Preview button my comment spam has dropped to zero.
I looked at Wordpress, but I didn't like the interface as much nor did I like how it handled categories.
Vic
I recently installed MT Blacklist for my MT-powered blog, which has reduced comment spam significantly and has cut the time it takes to eradicate what new spam does appear. But I am curious about making use of the "preview" button mandatory -- how is that accomplished?
You just go into the individual entry template and remove the code that displays the "Post" button.
Vic
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/19872)
First thing to accomplish in the spam fight is to get off the shit pile that is Movable Type. Since I shifted to wordPress my spam has dropped by 90%, what does get thru is easily deleted by the click of one button.