How to report a member?

HAve you tried other avenues first like contacting the member and asking why? Some members do generic pasting because they are disabled and have trouble writing but enjoy looking and it is easier to cut & paste a comment. If I were you I would ask them first to discover why.

I see a specific person doing this ALL the time.. some articles are very sad things and the comment this person leaves is "awesome" "very nice" really annoys me!

Some people ... geesh!

not sure I have the gahter comminuty group they help me out all the time

sandy go to Sitewizard.gather.com his name is kevin he helps me out

To some it could be annoying if they do not understand were the commenter is coming from but to truly understand before reporting a member give them a chance to explain. I have a friend here at gather who does exactly this type of comments and it is to show me that they appreciate my piece even if it is a sad article like the one of my Grandbaby who is blind. But I appreciate that they have only so much time/ and it easier with there handcaps to make generic comments. That they were there is an honor to me even if it is only awesome. To me they are saying my posting is awesome not the content. And were would we all be with out our friends who continually post to our stuff.

Awesome!

This is what one of the comments being made:

"Hey guys its brilliant. The whole dream team thing on http://www.cricketnirvana.com/?um=1 is brilliant. You can make and manage you own team. You earn points as your team members perform. I am sure I'll never be rich enough to own a team so this is really cool. I can 'e-own' a team. "

I consider that spam. Not a genric comment or things along that line. I am sorry I should have posted that part in the article.

I think you should email this person. I wonder if some people are just copying and pasting the same comments. Maybe they think they are "upping" their points.

Sandy,

It depends upon what the situation is. For example, posting the same "Thanks for sharing" on EVERYTHING is considered spam. However, some members have begun mixing up these comments and rotating their use, which makes it more difficult to take any action against them.

If you feel that their behavior is blatant, then I suggest you send samples (along with their username xxxxxx.gather.com) to Gather at support@gather.com.

Haha i was kidding..just being a smart@$$..I understand I get the same thing.

i dont know of thats breaking the rules. but you could find out.

You have a better chance of being struck by lightning while riding a pink zebra than to get gather to do anything about it. Even though it would be considered comment spam to post "nice image" nine frillion times, they never do anything about it lol Just look at it this way a page view is a page view.

But what you just posted, is something they will get upset about. Email support@gather.com the user name and what they are posting. They'll be zero'ed out pretty quick

Sandy,

I just read your comment above, with sample. THAT comment is spam, and should be reported...especially if this person is posting ONLY this information on content in the community.

Like Kevin said... the sample you provided is definitely spam and you have every right to report comments like that. Gather has seen an increase in comments like that lately, but once they get word of them, they remove the member immediately.

Well that settles that.

I have never wanted to report anyone for this because You get points for any comment don't you ?? I just don't find it annoying I guess

Just delete the comment - Sandy

It IS annoying, but I think the reason she wants to report it is because it's obviously something that is against the rules. I mean, if we have to follow the rules - shouldn't everyone else? I know a comment is a comment and you get points for it regardless, but still... it's bothersome.

go to the "help" tab and then go to FAQs......there you can find the editorial policy and a link to contact the support people.

well Sandy Now I get it yes that would be annoying

I've been getting similar on some of my posts. I'll have to ck it out

I would email this member first. I know a lot of people do that. Just copy and paste into every single persons content. Makes no sense to me. I tend to try to remember not to say the same things over and over again.

I would go that route first.

Comment spam. Yuck. Most members who do this are in it for just the points; otherwise, why bother? I'd send the complaint straight to Gather. I think it's just an issue of him never being 'caught' so he thinks he can get away with it.

Oh that is definitely spam. Not only are they in it for the points, they are trying to get free advertisement for something or other. How annoying.

There's another poster who promotes his book on every post he makes. He directs users to a .edu site where an online version is posted.

I don't know the policy, but it is certainly against the 'spirit' of Gather and I would send their info to the Gather support site too. But then I like to first give people a chance to mend their ways... they may not think this is inappropriate.

I already reported this one. But if they delete this member, he/she will probably be back and at again with another name shortly. Happens.

GM, that's different. The one about the book. Lots of foks do that who are active members. The ones we have to concern ourselves with are those who sign up strictly to spam.

This member made that spam comment on and article the other day that was really a sad article. Something about someone's loved one being sick or something. Then here comes this advertising comment. Poor judgement.

But for an active member to direct us to his/her book, I don't think that's spam. Not when he/she is comment on content first, then suggesting we read his/her book.

good luck... i've seen those kinds too... i just delete them...

This type of stuff does not bother me, at all, and I wonder why some are so bothered as to go out of ones way to get a person kicked off, when they could just delete.

But, that just me.

I've wondered about this too -- mostly because I use a prewritten comment to notify people of when they've hit ten comments (in Comment Speedway) or an 8.0 and five ratings (in Rating Resurrectionists), at the same time I remove content from the group. Since the only content these are posted on are content that has been posted to these two groups, I tend to figure that it's an acceptable use of the comment system.

On the other hand, Jim Bostick has been quoted as stating that making a comment, regardless of the content, does not earn you Gather Points, which would imply that the genericness of comments is irrelevant.

Advertising completely irrelevant, off-topic, off-Gather websites via mass comment, however, is something Gather responds with extreme prejudice against, and should be reported to support@gather.com.

This comment is to let you know that this content has reached ten comments, and as such has been removed from Comment Speedway! Congratulations!

I had one to comment on one of my articles and the comment they left had absolutely nothing to do with the article.

Sorry, but I think a comment is kind and better than none. Perhaps your education or cultural level is greater than the person leaving the comments you deem inappropriate, but I sense a spirit of good will and reciprocality as an aura from such comments.

I believe you get credit for any comments on an article of yours.

Not much in the information department though.

The sample you posted is spam...I am sure Gather would remove that person...but I get my email box filled with pages from 2 people in particular that always post the same comments. Although it's a little annoying, I don't car, gets me points...but if they were advertising, I would definitely say something!'

I wrote an article about my grandma dieing and some ass copy and pasted a comment saying "great article!"

their way of getting more comments in and more points or cash.

I don't know what you would do in that situation. It looked like you got alot of good advice above.

I say what I feel is ok at the time but I also say

have a great gather day!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does that mean that I spam people? I type every letter on this!

Some times a good comment does not come to mind.

Everyone can post and comment that is what Gather is all about. If you do not like what a person posts, feel free to delete it.

Thanks for asking this question. I was wondering this myself. Sounds like you got some good answers here. I'll see what I can do to stop the ones doing it to my account.

First I want to thank everyone for their comments and all the wonder help that has been give.

Second, I would like to say I have gotten a chuckle at some reponses because I can tell they did not read my comment that I may that made it clear what I was talking about and spam.

Comments like Austin makes to let me know I have enough comments is not what I am talking about. To me those are generic comments. The spam is what bothers me. The ones that sign up just spam the board to advertise to get people to their site for their personal gain. If their thing they are advertising is so great, why not make an article about it so others can respond? No instead they take the cowardly way out by leaving it as a comment to an article that it has nothing to do with.

These type of people I feel should be reported. How can we keep this site as great as it is if we let spammers do what they want by deleting their stuff and ignoring it?
I believe by Gather T.O.U. it is a voilation :

"Gather also restricts the posting of overtly commercial articles on or via the Services. Overtly commercial articles is content the primary purpose of which is to sell a product or services or induces Members to enroll in a promotional or money-making enterprise that may or may not be legitimate in nature. Gather reserves the right to review and remove any overtly commercial articles, at its sole discretion. Articles must provide legitimate informational and/or entertainment value for the community."

and

"post messages that promote pyramid schemes, chain letters or disruptive commercial messages or advertisements, junk mail, spam, or any other form of solicitation"

I am sure there are more if I keep searching. All members need to read the TOU of a site before using it. I do not buy the ..."I didn't know" crap. Because everyone has access to them.

I just wanted to say I did not turn this person in. But I can not access his stuff anymore. So I am not sure if he blocked me. Or if Gather removed him. I hope it was the later of the two.

Sandy -- This article was very informative for other members, and brought up some very good points! ...so please consider publishing it to the The HelpCenter™.

Thank You!!

Gather will see it!
Great topic!

Kevin, i will post it to the help Center. I didn't know I was allowed to do that.

I'm personally thinking of quitting because I have run out of things to say and I do not want to be considered a spammer. How many things can you say about roses, birds, squirrels, cats, dogs, etc.

Hope you got this taken care of.

Sometimes there really isn't nothing more to say than "good video, etc.". If I check something out, I like to at least leave a comment...even if it's a generic one. I don't know if that's considered spam or not.

Hi Sandy,

Thanks so much for posting this article. It is greatly appreciated!


Fellow Gathers,

If you ever come across odd spam comments like this one please let me know right away by email at support@gather.com, or you can forward me a Gather private message to my Gather account (username: crichards).

Please include the username for the member who is posting the comments and/or a link to an article page where one of the comments was posted. Gather takes scams such as these very seriously, and we investigate them right away when they are reported.

Thank you very much for explaining exatly what we need to do.

The obvious advertising/spam stuff-report to gather
The generic,I am in a rush just wanted to say nice pic bye stuff-most people will do this. from time to time to play catch up.

Okay I am confused are you saying that if I leave "nice pic" on several pics of someone that I am a spammer???? What if you like the pic but really haven't anything else to add??? I usually try to leave a nice comment especially when I leave a vote so that they know who dropped by to view their content. But after you have looked at 20 odd pics you kinda run out of clever things to say and nice pic sounds good ... Am I wrong????

Sandy,
I read every comment, and your article is wonderful and informative. You make some good points; however, I'd just ignore it, and chose another hill to die on. A wise man told me that and I now pick my arguments more carefully. Thanks.

The comment you quoted is spam...and gather has agreed...
I often leave a one word comment...sometimes I'm not very chatty.
I never do it on purpose. I try to relate what is shown or discussed.
I was horrified one day tho, realizing I had been saying a lot of "great pix". Maybe I was tired.

Great pix, BTW

;-)

Katherine what you do is what is considered a generic comment. Those do not bother me. It are the ones that clearly try to drive people away from Gather in a comment. That spam I am talking about up above was a comment made in an article that had nothing to do with it. Gather has clearly stated if you read Carolyn R., Team Gather comment above that the comment was spam. Gather took care of the person and they are no longer a member of Gather.

I still dont see how commenting "nice pic" over and over is spamming? Maybe im just stupid? I dont know. When I leave comments like that it is because I dont have nothing else to say and I want my connections to know I was by to see there work. So we are only spamming when we leave comments like that? Wow! Who would have thought?

Patty
Did you even read my article? Or even any of my comments?
I even edited this article before you posted to show the comment I am talking about. The comment was clearly spam. Did you just read the first sentence and move on? Look a few comment above and you will see Gather even says it is spam and they don't people like that here on Gather. If you would of read my comments you would know I am not talking about what you are saying. You would know those are generic comments and generic comments don't concern me.

I have to say that this has been a VERY informative discussion.