The best thing to do is set all new members to be moderated for thirty days.
Most spammers don't even use the same address for that long, so it is
likely that if they do join, they'll never get around to sending their spam.
Anything they do send won't reach the list...
It's advisable that new users watch the postings to get a feel for the
discussions at hand anyway before jumping in with both feet, so there is not
that much activity that requires approval.
It also stops new users from posting FAQ type questions that a simple search
of the archives should answer. And it's not overly inconvenient for new
users to have their postings approved, even if it takes a day or two for the
messages to reach the list.
Also, it should be standard policy for ALL members to have their account set
so that they receive at least the 'daily digest' version of the posts.
Spammers are usually set for 'no mail' or 'special notices only'. This way,
it is easy for you or assistant moderators to clean out the member list once
a month so that spammers waiting for their posts to be unmoderated never get
the chance...
Also, any member whose name in the member list does not link to a Yahoo
profile should be removed. Spammers usually switch email addresses faster
than they can set up a new profiles.
There is a link near their name in the member list to request that they
provide profile information... Click it, give 'em a day or two to respond,
then boot 'em... That's exactly what this function is for!!!! It's not
like members need a name, address, and picture... But most valid users at
least have a profile page, even if it's blank.
Also, the member listing should be set to private. The moderators and the
list owner should be the only people able to access this. There is no
reason that random individuals should be able to see who the members of this
group are and harvest their addresses in bulk for their own purposes.
Scamming the addresses one at a time from the postings isn't productive
enough; the spammers will go elsewhere...
And yes... The member list of this group gets farmed on a regular basis.
And the more members you have, the more spammers will target us.
These are standard practices from many of the most popular discussion forums
on Yahoo. Those who hate spam usually have no problem with such basic rules
and those who do are only making it too easy for spammers to do their job.
Post these rules on the list homepage and in a message that goes out to new
users and most spammers won't even bother to try...
Moderating the entire list is not the answer, and in fact that kind of names
the spammers as winners. We shouldn't let them force us to live in a choke
hold... Just take the simple steps outlined above to prevent them from
getting a foot in the door.
Requiring approval to join isn't nearly as effective as the steps above,
although it could be used in conjunction. However, if the steps above are
followed, approval to join isn't necessary.
Let spammers join... Let them wait... Let them spam... It will never reach
the list and it will waste their time and efforts.
Turn about IS fair play!!!
-Todd
p.s. And personally... If I ever meet someone who confesses to being a
spammer, I'm going to kick 'em square in the nuts!!!!
>From: GAmoore@...
>Reply-To: Logic_Cafe@yahoogroups.com
>To: Logic_Cafe@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: [Logic_Cafe]
>Date: Tue, 6 Feb 2007 13:15:06 EST
>
>Whenever these spammers post, I ban them and delete their messages.
>
>However, they can rejoin the next day under a new name. I am thinking to
>make
>it so people can't join without getting approval first, rather than a
>complete open door policy. Does anyone have any objections?
>
>Greg
>
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
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