by Rae M.
Member since:
April 13, 2008

Why is that Spam?

May 23, 2008 05:52 PM EDT (Updated: May 23, 2008 05:54 PM EDT)
views: 132 | comments: 39

A little while ago I posted a link for a cosmetic web site that is selling makeup really cheap.  Somebody marked it as Spam, and the article has been flagged.  I am still relatively new here, but I was under the impression that you can share great finds with people.  How is this spam?  I am not gaining any thing from the company who I provided the link to.  I have no affiliation with them.  I simply saw a good deal and wanted to share it.

Isn't it just common courtesy that if you are going to flag someone that you should at least tell the person why you are flagging them?  I would never do that to someone else, I would tell them if they are doing something wrong and give them an opportunity to fix what they did wrong before flagging them.

Just blindly flagging someone with out telling them what they did wrong and not even bothering to leave any type of comment is just wrong. 

I am a senior member on a lot of different sites and I would never do this to another member, especially a new one. 

Can somebody tell me why that article was spam? 

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Comments: 39

Rhetta A. May 23, 2008, 6:01pm EDT
I"m sorry that happened to you. I share sites from time to time and haven't been flagged yet. I can't imagine what the reasoning was.
Peter Joseph Swanson May 23, 2008, 6:12pm EDT
Somebody was being a bit much.

I mean REALLY.

If they don't want new lipstick JUST MOVE ON !!!!
Rae M. May 23, 2008, 6:17pm EDT
Peter: LOL, I like your attitude!
Laura C. May 23, 2008, 6:44pm EDT
i'm not sure since I didn't see the link you posted....maybe if you post it in some of the groups that are for that people won't flag it...i'm sorry your first experience here was like that....some people just flag for no reason...maybe they were jealous that you found the like and not them!
Amy H. May 23, 2008, 6:49pm EDT
Thank you for submitting your content to:
The group: We Comment Back
Laurun M. May 23, 2008, 7:04pm EDT
Boy, you really are new here! You will be surprised at some of the things that people do. Wait till you get your first drive-by 1. (that is when someone hits you with a 1 rating and they don't tell you why nor do they comment) I think a lot of people think that because they are not face to face that they can just do things like that. There is also an option here that, if the poster doesn't like a comment that someone posted on their article or photos, they can delete it. So it is all good. Seriously, I too, am sorry that this happened to you. There truly are a lot of great people here on gather, and, although we sometimes don't have the same point of view, lots of us can agree to disagree. Welcome here, have fun, and don't take any of that personally.
kelldogg ! May 23, 2008, 7:06pm EDT
some people just do it to be mean . . . it's pretty much inevitable. i was flagged once for posting a blog entry as "impersonation". i don't see how i could really impersonate myself! we pretty much use this site for everything nowadays. i can't say for sure why you were flagged b/c i don't think i read the article. i've seen people be flagged for using this site to sell things like a telemarketing gimick but posting a link for a great find shouldn't have warranted a flagging. i wouldn't worry about the spam. it'll happen often since it's an optional feature on this site that doesn't require any explanation.
Donald M. May 23, 2008, 11:01pm EDT
Welcome to gather Rae, I was flagged one time when a young lady had been telling us her grandmother was very ill, came to my page and in a comment and told us all that her grandmother had passed away. Immediately someone flagged it. Everyone who had commented read and reread the article and found nothing against the TOS. The article was reposted by gather the following day.
Donald M. May 23, 2008, 11:02pm EDT
I have not seen your article so dont have a clue, what was flagged.
Kevin (''The SiteWizard'') V. May 23, 2008, 11:05pm EDT
While I agree that some people may do this out of animosity, in this case your article does violate Gather's publishing guidelines. Whether Gather will uphold their own policy in this regard is unknown though, and you will likely not find out until early next week.

Basically, articles linking to external sites/products/events must have independent educational or entertainment value. If you removed the link(s), does the article still have value?

If not, then the article is spam. This is especially true if the site being linked to is commercial in nature.

As for notifying members first, this occasionally can have negative consequences for the person extending this courtesy. That is why the reporting process is anonymous.

Good luck Rae!
Sandy (back in Ohio...blah!) May 24, 2008, 12:42am EDT
Did you post a review of the website you were telling people about? I didn't see yoru article. That is why I am asking. If you didn't write a review, than the person who flagged you probably thought you were trying promote a site where they would go to make money off you. That is against the rules to sell things on Gather. maybe that is what they thought you were trying to do.
Rae M. May 24, 2008, 10:51am EDT
Thank you everyone I just deleted the article. It's not worth the hassle.
Donald M. May 24, 2008, 12:28pm EDT
I have asked the question many times, exactly what is spam. Never have gotten an answer that gave all the things that are are against the TOS. [terms of service]
Marilyn M. May 29, 2008, 1:54pm EDT
That's too bad. I don't see how posting a great find is spam.
Sharon P. May 29, 2008, 3:44pm EDT
I don't think sharing a way to save money is spam either.
debra g. May 29, 2008, 3:59pm EDT
i don't understand why it was flagged either,we all like to save money.
Carol P. May 31, 2008, 11:57am EDT
Kevin usually can answer you questions. He has always helped me.
Angel sent from God Secret Sisters Jun 5, 2008, 3:11pm EDT
thats no different then doing the freebe s sites same thing so all freebes should be flagged

Yeah they flagged my articles but it had nothing to do with spamming I took my own pictures of my own family and they flagged it ...There are couple more that are flagged and I would love to know what my articles and pictures are spamming. When others email with an article they do not get flagged for spamming I bet 80% of the people on here email others with their articles... but thats not spamming just me.
Angel sent from God Secret Sisters Jun 5, 2008, 3:13pm EDT
Gather isn't sure what spam is ......because if you think about it everytime your email gets into someone else s email with out their permission is spamming so even Gather spams and they incourage it. But only the ones they want ....
Sarah (I want points) Jun 6, 2008, 1:25pm EDT
I don't know... I've shared sites with people on here through an article as well... it's amazing what people will flag.
April H. Jun 7, 2008, 4:43pm EDT
Because of Triple points I am visiting your content. So sorry for the generic post but this way I get to see more peoples content and help you get those points.
there are some very petty people on here, don't worry about it.
coming thru all you articles and images to help you reach your goal.....
please forgive the generic comment as time is of the essence for you.
Round #2......we'll get you there............
looking over your articles
This makes pass #3
one more look at your articles
4th time.....let us know when you make it
:)
I think this is #5.............
hope this helped with your goal
Last run before the update...I hope you made it!
Wanda H. Jun 30, 2008, 9:19pm EDT
I am covering all your articles as fast as I can. Hope I can help you to your goal in time. So, this is a generic response to your fun and interesting articles.
Angela A. Jul 11, 2008, 5:54pm EDT
I am not sure about this issue.
It's sad that you had to delete your article because someone flagged it.
It is just a fine line these days.
You can't seem to promote anything without someone being offended.
I wish you all the best.
Debby C. Jul 27, 2008, 11:35pm EDT
i think its the trolls
Robin G. Nov 18, 2008, 4:09pm EST
Some real spammy crap is all over Gather, yours didn;t sound like it was a problem. I just saw an article with a banner ad in it, and it has been on Gather for over a year...go figure.
Tom Wa Feb 23, 2009, 9:32am EST
Sorry
Jayrene ~ May 15, 2009, 4:24am EDT
i am new here too, i'm still trying to learn how to get around here... yeah, some people are really like that, trying to be the "almighty" , i've seen those kinds in other sites too.

i have not yet tried posting links, and i hope it wont happen to me...
James Y. May 22, 2009, 2:53pm EDT

I think that if only 1 person has the power to eliminate material on this site...it is too much power.  We are all basically here to share. We all have different interests and maybe also...there are some really unique ideas and messages floating around out there that make us curious to share our thoughts also.  Your turn...

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