Here at Aquarium Forum we want a nice safe environment for all of our users. For this reason we have put many actions into place to stop automatic spam-bots, spam-posters, etc.

This works 99% of the time.

This means the spam that is now coming through on the forums is user created (not auto-matic).

I am now enacting a zero-tolerance rule regarding spam.

Define Spam: Spam is the abuse of electronic messaging systems to send unsolicited bulk messages indiscriminately. ...

If you are posting a website too another fish forum or something like that this is considered spam!

If you are linking to an article on another fish site that is relevant too the topic of the thread this is OK however it may be edited by a moderator if needed.

All messages pertaining to selling of good that have nothing to do with fish keeping in general will be looked at as spam.

Eg: Selling cement frag plugs or industrial grade water pumps from your personal site, or posting a link to a site that sells these items is fine (as long as it is relevant too the topic of the thread)

Trying to sell your knock off Coach purses will be met with a ban.

For accidental or otherwise small first time offenders this will be a 3 day ban!

for all cases of blatant spam this will be an IP perma-ban.

People come too aquarium forum to discuss fish and fish related topics. They do not come here too read spam messages.

-Thank You

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"For accidental or otherwise small first time offenders this will be a 3 day ban!"

Good luck with that one, you will drop members over time like flies, especially if its accidental.

Dont get me wrong yes I am ANTI SPAM too but to ban someone on an accident is just plain wrong. I know as an admin and multiple site owner id never implement a 3 day ban on a small first time or accident.

Im shocked MH stands behind this.

I'm just reading it now, WhiteDevil... but overall the core idea behind this is good.
I'll review the topic some more and take it from there. Cheers

J, the core is awesome, its just that one bit because there are things out of peoples control. Ban a member if their account is compromised? there are all sorts of technicalities that can fall under that little bit that can damage a good reputation.

The other thing IM not clear on is the linking to other sites? I mean if its relavant to the convo and that other site/forum has the info a member needs why not link them to it? Especially with fish that there are not alot of members here who keep be it salt of fresh.

The linking with other sites is simple.

Other sites can be linked (be it a site with information, another forum, or even a stores website) as long as it is posted to answer a question or holds relevant information regarding the original topic.

Linking to other sites is not what we are trying to get rid of. Its the blatant spamming of products or ones personal site for nothing more then to get a visit count from our members.

Eg of what i mean by accidental would be say someone linked his dog collars store website on the fish forum. Given he may have simply wanted to show his dog collar store too people but it was in a completely unrelated way.

Now if a member posts in the tiki hutt about where to buy dog collars they are looking for a reputable source. I see no issue with a member posting hid dog collar store in that context.



EDIT:

Again the final say goes with MediaHound the 3 day ban for first time offenders is deff strong but IMO needed. He may simply not agree and a warning may be all that's needed. On the other hand with blatant spamming I believe we see eye to eye. It's happening more and more and I want to make members aware we are not going lightly with this issue. They don't come to Aquarium Forum to have too look at an adult ad.

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Well I think the people who create accounts to spam unrelated products will for sure not be reading this thread, so all these discussions are moot anyway.
But the ideas presented are really not new either, these rules were pretty much always in place aside from specifics on how they will be dealt with:
AquariumForum.com Rules
Everyone who breaks the rules is reviewed on a case by case basis. The good news is its quite rare that someone does break the rules, we have a great community here and I am very appreciative of the quality of members that we've amassed over the years.
Thanks to everyone for making our community such a great place that it is.

I agree with most everything in this but would like to add that if a person feels something is spam or questionable all you need to do is click on the report button. I know I have used it a few times lately for some posts, hope I am not being a PITA

Not at all Scott, your reports have helped us a lot to combat spam immediately after its noticed. Thank you!

What ever spammer :D

Wow I just found some cheap fake nikes on this link

www.mediahoundisaspambot.com

lol sorry man I had to