OK, SPAM is a term we use a lot around here, as well as spammers. But what exactly is it?
S.P.A.M. - Stupid. Pointless. Annoying. Messages.
IMPORTANT UPDATE
The spam situation is getting steadily worse. I am creating two new threads.
Thread 1 will be for the reporting of spam POSTS only, and has the primary function of alerting mods to the location of these posts should we have missed them. Thankfully due the ungodly hours that myself and the other mods are on this forum, we seem to nuke most of them as soon as they appear, but we can sometimes miss them.
http://forums.ghostbusters.net/viewtopic.php?t=9311 Thread 2 will be for the reporting of Spammer Profiles, even if the user has been mentioned in thread 1. This is for the attention of admins. Only admins have the power to ban Spambots, and it would make the process much faster to have one definitive list of spammer profiles.
http://forums.ghostbusters.net/viewtopic.php?t=9312 Keep up the good work guys! Your help is most appreciated.
There are two kinds of Spam. Spam links posted by spam bots. And that which has been posted by the average user. Whilst these are not as problematic or offensive as Spam Bots. We do frown upon such messages.
Here's a way you can check to see if YOUR post is nothing but spam.
1) Does it lack an aim, or specific meaning that will enable users to reply to it and devlop into an actual discussion?
2) Does it lack in raising any points or asking a serious questions that would make a valid contribution?
3) Is the post of a nature that it might annoy sombody?
4) Is your post less than four words? (excempt in circumstance where the post is summed up in the title)
5) Is it a short statement of what you or a friend have just done, eg “my sisters watching Ghostbusters”
6) Have you posted multiple versions of the same topic in other parts of the board?
7) Is the sole intent of the message to insult sombody?
8) Is it a private message posted on the boards for a specific user?
9) Is it a blatantly obvious remark such as: “What colour is the No-Ghost logo meant to be?” or “Hey I just noticed the logo sometimes faces left”
10) Is the post nearly nothing but emoticons?
11) Is the post made to market something you or your company produces?
12) Is the post a copy of one of those silly chain emails type things?
If the answer is yes to any number of those, then it is more than likely SPAM. And as such, you should not post it. SPAM really is not liked on this forum at all, and unless it has the chance of being a good topic, will most likely be deleted.
DO NOT RESPOND TO SPAM POSTS OR CLICK SPAM LINKS!