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Visit The *EVEN NEWER* Barrow-Downs Photo Page |
07-08-2009, 09:10 PM
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#1 |
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Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 3,448
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How do we stop them?
for unknown reasons there has been a surge in "New" Members trying to sell stuff on our sacred area....how do we stop them?
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Morsul the Resurrected |
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07-08-2009, 09:26 PM
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#2 |
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Shade of Carn Dûm
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Washington, D. C., USA
Posts: 299
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Yeah, I've noticed that too. I guess all we can do is click the "report post" icon on the bottom of each post, and let the admins delete the thread and/or user. Not much you can do to keep them out without also shutting out potential new sincere members. I wish there was, but I can't imagine anything.
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But all the while I sit and think of times there were before, I listen for returning feet and voices at the door. |
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07-08-2009, 09:30 PM
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#3 |
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Gruesome Spectre
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Heaven's doorstep
Posts: 8,037
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I don't think it's possible to forestall their appearances. All the admins and mods can do is act on them once they tip their hand.
On a related note, I've seen a spate of spammer-looking new user names in the past couple of days- two randomish personal names coupled with a number. x/d with Radagastly
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Music alone proves the existence of God. |
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07-08-2009, 09:31 PM
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#4 |
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Spirit of Mist
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Tol Eressea
Posts: 3,381
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If you report spammers, we will delete their posts/threads and ban them as quickly as we can.
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Beleriand, Beleriand, the borders of the Elven-land. |
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07-08-2009, 09:31 PM
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#5 |
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Doubting Dwimmerlaik
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Heaven's basement
Posts: 2,466
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Note that mods can ban a spammer as soon as it is spotted, but it may take a little time for the admins to remove the post. I try to bury the spam thread by posting to another thread in the same section so at least it's not visible on the main page.
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There is naught that you can do, other than to resist, with hope or without it.
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07-08-2009, 09:32 PM
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#6 | |
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Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 3,448
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Quote:
also thank you to Mithaden for his quick response! 
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Morsul the Resurrected |
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07-09-2009, 04:04 AM
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#7 |
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Princess of Skwerlz
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles)
Posts: 7,500
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We already have the built-in anti-spam barrier when registering, but apparently spam bots get more sophisticated all the time. Don't worry; there are always mods and admins looking in throughout the day, though not constantly, depending on the time zones. We get rid of spammers ASAP.
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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...' |
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07-09-2009, 05:23 AM
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#8 |
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Curmudgeonly Wordwraith
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ensconced in curmudgeonly pursuits
Posts: 2,509
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Perhaps we can construct a Downer spambot that automatically goes to the spammer's site, but does nothing but offer Tolkien quotes in Chinese.
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And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision. |
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07-09-2009, 07:21 AM
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#9 |
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Shade of Carn Dûm
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: In a paper bag
Posts: 396
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Well, I am a relatively new member and I post a great deal, but I try to say something worthwhile.
People are trying to sell stuff? 
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Joined together wrote our names upon the page Seven times alliance our loyalties we gave |
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07-09-2009, 07:29 AM
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#10 | |
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Gruesome Spectre
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Heaven's doorstep
Posts: 8,037
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Quote:
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Music alone proves the existence of God. |
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07-09-2009, 07:33 AM
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#11 | |
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Shade of Carn Dûm
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: In a paper bag
Posts: 396
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Quote:
Yay! 100th post!!!!
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Joined together wrote our names upon the page Seven times alliance our loyalties we gave |
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07-09-2009, 07:44 AM
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#12 | |
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Gruesome Spectre
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Heaven's doorstep
Posts: 8,037
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Quote:
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Music alone proves the existence of God. |
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07-09-2009, 10:01 AM
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#13 |
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Mellifluous Maia
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: A glade open to the stars, deep in Nan Elmoth
Posts: 3,489
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Neg-repping them with a string of insults doesn't really help, but it's quite satisfying.
 I'm curious about the lower levels in the new rep system....
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07-09-2009, 10:40 AM
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#14 |
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Pilgrim Soul
Join Date: May 2004
Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle...
Posts: 9,458
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Oh yes I do that too ....
 Though since the system has been reset it doesn't catapult them quite so far down... of course I also report them at the same time...
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“But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.”
Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace |
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07-09-2009, 10:53 AM
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#15 |
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Maundering Mage
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 4,648
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Also, when you report a post an e-mail is sent out to the pertinent admins and mods so that even if we are not hanging out on the Downs that day we see our e-mail and generally respond quickly to delete them.
I do wish to take this moment to thank those who do report them as it helps make my job easier.
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“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” |
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07-09-2009, 11:48 AM
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#16 |
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Pilgrim Soul
Join Date: May 2004
Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle...
Posts: 9,458
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Interesting to know the behind the scenes stuff ... I had noticed that there could be a timelag between banning and sending to that abyss and thought it must depend on who was around.
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“But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.”
Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace |
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10-06-2009, 10:40 AM
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#17 |
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Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 3,448
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Evil spammers go away
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Morsul the Resurrected |
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10-06-2009, 11:10 AM
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#18 |
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Doubting Dwimmerlaik
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Heaven's basement
Posts: 2,466
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Eternal vigilance...
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There is naught that you can do, other than to resist, with hope or without it.
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10-06-2009, 11:35 AM
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#19 |
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Pilgrim Soul
Join Date: May 2004
Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle...
Posts: 9,458
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Especially for those who post something seeming innocuous with advertising in the sig....
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“But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.”
Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace |
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10-06-2009, 11:45 AM
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#20 | |
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Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 3,448
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Quote:
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Morsul the Resurrected |
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10-06-2009, 12:16 PM
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#21 |
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Curmudgeonly Wordwraith
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ensconced in curmudgeonly pursuits
Posts: 2,509
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My question is, has anyone actually ever bought anything from a spammer? Has this form of marketing ever proven to be anything but obnoxious? And do the spamites ever consider using a spell-check, because rarely do they post anything coherent.
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And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision. |
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10-06-2009, 12:22 PM
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#22 | |
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Cryptic Aura
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 5,996
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Quote:
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I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away. |
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10-06-2009, 12:27 PM
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#23 | |
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Doubting Dwimmerlaik
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Heaven's basement
Posts: 2,466
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Quote:
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There is naught that you can do, other than to resist, with hope or without it.
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10-06-2009, 01:27 PM
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#24 | |
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shadow of a doubt
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Back on the streets
Posts: 1,125
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Quote:
But yeah, not the most erudite spammers on here...
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"You can always come back, but you can't come back all the way" ~ Bob Dylan |
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10-06-2009, 02:01 PM
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#25 |
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Wight of the Old Forest
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Unattended on the railway station, in the litter at the dancehall
Posts: 3,329
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To begin with, would there be any way of making it impossible to register with a nick that consists of both
I suppose any challenge to actually use their brains (or even be creative) would be to spammers what garlic is to vampires.
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Und aus dem Erebos kamen viele seelen herauf der abgeschiedenen toten.- Homer, Odyssey, Canto XI |
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10-07-2009, 09:53 AM
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#26 |
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Fair and Cold
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: the big onion
Posts: 1,770
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It's mostly bots, guys. Bots are like zombies. Neg-repping them doesn't hurt them. "You gotta shoot them in the head."
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~The beginning is the word and the end is silence. And in between are all the stories. This is one of mine~ |
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10-07-2009, 10:29 AM
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#27 | |
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shadow of a doubt
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Back on the streets
Posts: 1,125
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Quote:
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"You can always come back, but you can't come back all the way" ~ Bob Dylan |
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10-07-2009, 04:52 PM
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#28 | |
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Corpus Cacophonous
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: A green and pleasant land
Posts: 8,390
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Quote:
On the contrary, skip, I find the latest generation of spambots, with their ability to select quotes from the thread and comment on them, rather disturbing. For now, they remain relatively easy to spot, but it is surely only a matter of time before they are able to mingle among us undetected ... In fact, for all we know, there may be regular posters here who are actually fiendishly clever spambots trying to reel us in to buy whatever it is they have to sell. Btw, did I ever tell you about Fantasy Flight Games ...
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Do you mind? I'm busy doing the fishstick. It's a very delicate state of mind! |
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10-07-2009, 06:42 PM
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#29 | |||
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Wisest of the Noldor
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: ˙˙˙ssɐןƃ ƃuıʞooן ǝɥʇ ɥƃnoɹɥʇ
Posts: 6,694
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
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"Even Nerwen wasn't evil in the beginning." –Elmo. Last edited by Nerwen; 10-07-2009 at 06:45 PM. |
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10-07-2009, 07:41 PM
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#30 | |
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Doubting Dwimmerlaik
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Heaven's basement
Posts: 2,466
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Quote:
...and it's quite possible that we may welcome them one day as they will have evolved the ability to write cogent thoughtful on-topic posts (I hope to as well one day).
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There is naught that you can do, other than to resist, with hope or without it.
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10-08-2009, 02:43 PM
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#31 |
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shadow of a doubt
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Back on the streets
Posts: 1,125
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Just had a vision that goes more or less like this:
Spam-Bot: I like ur post. Thank for sharing. For me it makes perfect sens.
A perky Lush appears with a shotgun and shoots the head off Spam-Bot. Lush: Die evil spammer! Spam-Bot makes a few jerky movements, sparks fly in the air, then it collapses in a heap on the ground. Lush blows the smoke away from the barrel. Lush: That's how we stop them! Behind Lush the smashed head of the Spam-bot is liquefied and reassembled, T-2 style. Spam-bot rises, and dusts itself off. Spam-Bot: Thank for you your kind thuoghts. You have realy helpd me in my job! Bless you and have a nice day. Lush flees in terror
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"You can always come back, but you can't come back all the way" ~ Bob Dylan |
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10-11-2009, 09:19 AM
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#32 |
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Fair and Cold
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: the big onion
Posts: 1,770
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Lush wouldn't flee in terror, because she totally knows her movie plot lines. She'd lure that disgusting abomination down to a factory and straight into a vat of molten steel. And the unknown future shall commence rolling toward us.
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~The beginning is the word and the end is silence. And in between are all the stories. This is one of mine~ |
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10-12-2009, 04:37 AM
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#33 | ||
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Wisest of the Noldor
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: ˙˙˙ssɐןƃ ƃuıʞooן ǝɥʇ ɥƃnoɹɥʇ
Posts: 6,694
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Quote:
 Quote:
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"Even Nerwen wasn't evil in the beginning." –Elmo. |
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10-12-2009, 07:54 PM
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#34 |
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Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 3,448
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The also target OLD threads
__________________
Morsul the Resurrected |
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10-12-2009, 09:12 PM
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#35 |
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Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: May 2009
Location: The Twilight Zone
Posts: 736
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That is true.
I would like to state here that I am going to become more creative when I report them. Instead of just saying It is a spam bot or something along the lines of that, I will say something more like help help the spam bot is coming help. I might also try and stick a crying smiley thing in there. I would just like to let everyone know.
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Medicine for the soul. ~Inscription over the door of the Library at Thebes |
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10-12-2009, 10:21 PM
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#36 | |
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Mighty Quill
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Walking off to look for America
Posts: 2,230
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Quote:
I looked at a thread today thinking that there would be something worth reading on it, I though it must be a new thread. It was from 2003! How do these spam bots find these sundry threads and start posting on them so rapidly? It is ridiculous, the rate that these bots are popping up recently!
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The Party Doesn't Start Until You're Dead.
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10-12-2009, 10:59 PM
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#37 | |
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Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Between the past and the future
Posts: 1,159
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Quote:
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Got corsets? |
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10-12-2009, 11:30 PM
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#38 | |
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Mighty Quill
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Walking off to look for America
Posts: 2,230
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Quote:
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The Party Doesn't Start Until You're Dead.
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12-16-2009, 01:49 AM
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#39 |
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Shade of Carn Dûm
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 347
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Ick, those spammers are really getting out of hand. I know the mods are doing their best (and they're doing very well!) but the quantity of the guys seems to be increasing exponentially.
The 'spammer/user' thing is spreading to other sites as well. I have a 'friend' on facebook who keeps sending me these offers for cheap vintage jewellery but is perfectly civil the rest of the time. What's going on here? Is there a massive spamming conspiracy happening? They just never seem to die do they?  But if we think it's bad here try going onto a poorly moderated site and you will find it is almost nothing but spam. Makes me glad that the Downs tries to keep on top of it. Last edited by Laurinquë; 12-16-2009 at 01:51 AM. Reason: custard pie transformation |
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12-16-2009, 03:30 AM
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#40 |
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Princess of Skwerlz
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles)
Posts: 7,500
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A brief information from the mod/admin team: All of us can ban spammers, but only those who are responsible for a particular forum can delete the thread. Please be patient - sometimes a thread stays around for a bit if the responsible mod hasn't seen it. It will be deleted as soon as possible.
We too wish we could find a way to nip these spammers in the bud - if any of you know of a technique that works against modern spambots, please do let us know!
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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...' |
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