Moderators who can't recognize spam

midnight_spree · 10-03-2012, 07:36 AM

Hello,

Apparently there is at least one moderator of this forum who has no idea what spam is. Therefore, being the helpful person I am, allow me to explain.

from Wikipedia: Spam is the use of electronic messaging systems to send unsolicited bulk messages, especially advertising, indiscriminately.

from Google: Irrelevant or inappropriate messages sent on the Internet to a large number of recipients

Spam is therefore NOT purposely searching out a community of music lovers that you believe may be able to answer your question, then asking that question in the appropriate sub-category of that forum that deals with the relevant style of music.

I suppose it's possible that the question violated some rule of the forum, but seeing as that I read all the stickies at the top as well as the " MusicBanter Forum Rules UPDATED 08/14/12" post before posting, that rule would have to be pretty obscure and therefore not worthy of a lifetime ban!

but identifying that post as "spam" (which was the reason given for the ban) is pure unquestionable incompetence on the part of the moderators here.

In closing, I would like to point out that the majority of people who come to a forum for the first time are looking for something, usually information of some sort. If you go around banning everyone who starts out their first post by asking a question or asking for help from the community, you will be turning away countless people who could end up contributing to your community

P.S. I'm sure this post will be deleted by a moderator, but hopefully it's the same moderator that deleted the post before, and he reads it first and learned something.

**Janszoon** · 10-03-2012, 08:02 AM

If your account was banned in error we certainly apologize but you have to understand we get a lot of spam and other forms of solicitation here. We try to manage it as best we can but as with anything there are bound to be some mistakes here and there. You could have simply asked about it here nicely sans the insults and one of the mods would have been happy to help you. Anyway, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you're just having a bad day or something. What was the title of the thread that was deleted and what section was it in?

midnight_spree · 10-03-2012, 08:29 AM

Thanks for your reply.

just read this thread: musicbanter.com/announcements-suggestions-feedback/65209-does-any-one-know.html

I see the problem now. Not only do the moderators of this forum not understand the word "spam," but they also don't know the meaning of the word "promotion." Therefore the following rule is interpreted in a very strange and draconian way that I never would have expected before posting:

Quote:

Band/Music Promotion
Joining MusicBanter to promote your (or someone else's) music is also prohibited. Any accounts being used for promotion will be banned and their posts deleted. Links to music in signatures are allowed, provided the account isn't being used for promotional purposes.

I'll just go find a forum where they A) understand basic English vocabulary and B) actually respect musicians (I know, pretty rare in forums about music!)

P.S. Yes, I am offended at being called a spammer and pissed off, as I imagine a lot of people end up being around here the way this place appears to be run.

Paedantic Basterd · 10-03-2012, 08:37 AM

I don't know who it was that dealt with your thread, but not one of us would allow you to dump your link on us and leave. We are a community foremost, and if you would like our attention, contribute to it first.

After three months residency, members are welcome to share links.

**Janszoon** · 10-03-2012, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midnight_spree

Thanks for your reply.

just read this thread: musicbanter.com/announcements-suggestions-feedback/65209-does-any-one-know.html

I see the problem now. Not only do the moderators of this forum not understand the word "spam," but they also don't know the meaning of the word "promotion." Therefore the following rule is interpreted in a very strange and draconian way that I never would have expected before posting:

I'll just go find a forum where they A) understand basic English vocabulary and B) actually respect musicians (I know, pretty rare in forums about music!)

P.S. Yes, I am offended at being called a spammer and pissed off, as I imagine a lot of people end up being around here the way this place appears to be run.

Once again, I'd be happy to help you if you'd give me a little information about the post that was deleted. What was the content of your post?

Paedantic Basterd · 10-03-2012, 08:57 AM

I can't seem to find the stub of the thread in question to have a look myself. How long ago was your thread removed, which forum was it in, and what was its title? Any luck Jansz?

midnight_spree · 10-03-2012, 09:00 AM

Hi Janszoon,

I appreciate what I perceive to be a sincere desire to help. It is the case, however, based on the thread I posted about above, that my previous post seems to have violated the perception of the rules by many around here, though not the letter of the rules, even though it was not a thread for self promotion but an honest question about my music that I am unable to answer myself and I have been struggling with for almost a week now. In any case, if that's the prevailing attitude on these forums, it is unlikely the post will result in any useful responses, so might as well just let it die.

I appreciate your attitude. I find the attitudes of several other members of those community including the one who posted right above you and several of the members posting in the other thread I linked to above to be quite unpleasant, however. Specifically there seems to be a tendency to assume right away that other people are wrong or bad, and so I have a bit of a bad taste in my mouth about these forums because of the whole situation, so I think it best to just move on. I might revisit here at some point in the future.

Thanks.

Paedantic Basterd · 10-03-2012, 09:08 AM

If you'd come to us calmer, I'd have chosen my words more carefully. The reality of our community is that we see many more accounts drop links in threads, never to be seen again than we do people who even attempt an introduction thread. It states in the rules that self promotion isn't allowed until three months of membership have passed. It's really not all that long to a contributing member. Time flies here when people participate.

I'm sorry that we, and our forum got off on the wrong foot, but hopefully you can see why these rules are in place and why they are interpreted as they are. You're welcome to stick around if you've any interest in our community left.

midnight_spree · 10-03-2012, 09:22 AM

I don't know, I might stick around. I was enjoying reading through the board for an hour or so before I found myself suddenly perma-banned and unable to access anything and had to create this new account to complain about it.

midnight_spree · 10-03-2012, 09:31 AM

Deleting the thread and sending me a PM as to why would definitely have avoided this whole situation. I maintain that there is no way a reasonable person could mistake my post for spam.

10-03-2012, 07:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
midnight_spree Groupie Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 5	Moderators who can't recognize spam Hello, Apparently there is at least one moderator of this forum who has no idea what spam is. Therefore, being the helpful person I am, allow me to explain. from Wikipedia: Spam is the use of electronic messaging systems to send unsolicited bulk messages, especially advertising, indiscriminately. from Google: Irrelevant or inappropriate messages sent on the Internet to a large number of recipients Spam is therefore NOT purposely searching out a community of music lovers that you believe may be able to answer your question, then asking that question in the appropriate sub-category of that forum that deals with the relevant style of music. I suppose it's possible that the question violated some rule of the forum, but seeing as that I read all the stickies at the top as well as the " MusicBanter Forum Rules UPDATED 08/14/12" post before posting, that rule would have to be pretty obscure and therefore not worthy of a lifetime ban! but identifying that post as "spam" (which was the reason given for the ban) is pure unquestionable incompetence on the part of the moderators here. In closing, I would like to point out that the majority of people who come to a forum for the first time are looking for something, usually information of some sort. If you go around banning everyone who starts out their first post by asking a question or asking for help from the community, you will be turning away countless people who could end up contributing to your community P.S. I'm sure this post will be deleted by a moderator, but hopefully it's the same moderator that deleted the post before, and he reads it first and learned something.

10-03-2012, 08:02 AM	#2 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	If your account was banned in error we certainly apologize but you have to understand we get a lot of spam and other forms of solicitation here. We try to manage it as best we can but as with anything there are bound to be some mistakes here and there. You could have simply asked about it here nicely sans the insults and one of the mods would have been happy to help you. Anyway, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you're just having a bad day or something. What was the title of the thread that was deleted and what section was it in? __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm

10-03-2012, 08:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	I don't know who it was that dealt with your thread, but not one of us would allow you to dump your link on us and leave. We are a community foremost, and if you would like our attention, contribute to it first. After three months residency, members are welcome to share links.

10-03-2012, 08:57 AM	#6 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	I can't seem to find the stub of the thread in question to have a look myself. How long ago was your thread removed, which forum was it in, and what was its title? Any luck Jansz?

10-03-2012, 09:00 AM	#7 (permalink)
midnight_spree Groupie Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 5	Hi Janszoon, I appreciate what I perceive to be a sincere desire to help. It is the case, however, based on the thread I posted about above, that my previous post seems to have violated the perception of the rules by many around here, though not the letter of the rules, even though it was not a thread for self promotion but an honest question about my music that I am unable to answer myself and I have been struggling with for almost a week now. In any case, if that's the prevailing attitude on these forums, it is unlikely the post will result in any useful responses, so might as well just let it die. I appreciate your attitude. I find the attitudes of several other members of those community including the one who posted right above you and several of the members posting in the other thread I linked to above to be quite unpleasant, however. Specifically there seems to be a tendency to assume right away that other people are wrong or bad, and so I have a bit of a bad taste in my mouth about these forums because of the whole situation, so I think it best to just move on. I might revisit here at some point in the future. Thanks.

10-03-2012, 09:08 AM	#8 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	If you'd come to us calmer, I'd have chosen my words more carefully. The reality of our community is that we see many more accounts drop links in threads, never to be seen again than we do people who even attempt an introduction thread. It states in the rules that self promotion isn't allowed until three months of membership have passed. It's really not all that long to a contributing member. Time flies here when people participate. I'm sorry that we, and our forum got off on the wrong foot, but hopefully you can see why these rules are in place and why they are interpreted as they are. You're welcome to stick around if you've any interest in our community left.

10-03-2012, 09:22 AM	#9 (permalink)
midnight_spree Groupie Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 5	I don't know, I might stick around. I was enjoying reading through the board for an hour or so before I found myself suddenly perma-banned and unable to access anything and had to create this new account to complain about it.

10-03-2012, 09:31 AM	#10 (permalink)
midnight_spree Groupie Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 5	Deleting the thread and sending me a PM as to why would definitely have avoided this whole situation. I maintain that there is no way a reasonable person could mistake my post for spam.