Greekchat spambot

kddani · #1 12-02-2009, 11:42 AM

Granted, it's not technically a "spambot", but it is tacky and intrusive.

Point in case:
http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...d.php?t=109117

A thread about the death of a DZ, and the automatic Greekchat advertising response is a thumbs up? WTF????

33girl · #2 12-02-2009, 11:44 AM

This has only shown up in the last 12 hours. It'll be fixed as soon as possible.

knight_shadow · #3 12-02-2009, 11:45 AM

It'll take some getting used to, but how is this different from a banner ad at the top having a "happy" message in a sad thread?

33girl · #4 12-02-2009, 11:48 AM

I think I know what's causing it - take the GC link (or any link) out of your signature at the bottom. I moderated a post in events that had a spammy signature, and immediately after it was one of the GC advertisements. Once I got rid of the spam, the GC ad went away automatically.

ThetaDancer · #5 12-02-2009, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33girl

I think I know what's causing it - take the GC link (or any link) out of your signature at the bottom. I moderated a post in events that had a spammy signature, and immediately after it was one of the GC advertisements. Once I got rid of the spam, the GC ad went away automatically.

So this is not something that John is approving?

AGDee · #6 12-02-2009, 12:00 PM

I think that was coincidence. Given that the Greekchat.com user says Advertisement under it, where ours say Registered User or Moderator, etc. and when you click on it's name and click on GreekChat.com advertising information, it preps to send a PM to the Forum Administrator.

John · #7 12-02-2009, 12:55 PM

I set these ads up last night. They display after the first post in each thread irregardless of the content of the thread. It's not inserted on a per-thread basis but is simply a site-wide setting.

The thumbs up icon was in reference to the advertising, but I understand that there may be some confusion with that. My apologies for any related misunderstanding. I've removed the thumbs up icon and replaced it with a standard post icon.

Long-time GCers know that GC has been largely advertising-free for approximately 95% of the site's existence (more than 10 years now). If I can sort out a way to continue operating GreekChat without advertising on the site, or with very minimal advertising, you can be assured that I will do so. I would definitely prefer to run GC without advertising, if possible.

The ads will very likely be changing over time as I test different methods and figure out what works best for the site.

FSUZeta · #8 12-02-2009, 01:29 PM

i understand the need to advertise. would it be possible to set up the ads so that they do not intrude on the actual thread content? it is especially tacky when inserted into a condolence thread.

MysticCat · #9 12-02-2009, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John

I set these ads up last night. They display after the first post in each thread irregardless of the content of the thread. It's not inserted on a per-thread basis but is simply a site-wide setting.

They seem to be appearing as the second post on every page, not just as the second post in the thread.

Senusret I · #10 12-02-2009, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John

I set these ads up last night. They display after the first post in each thread irregardless of the content of the thread.

knight_shadow · #11 12-02-2009, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senusret I

iChuckled.

ree-Xi · #12 12-02-2009, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jen

The fact it's mimicking an actual post/er disturbs me.

ITA. There's even the green "online" button.

Even though it takes just a few seconds, scrolling because you think there's a reply, only to see the almost full-window size ad, is rather irksome.

Having it appear on every thread, on every page of a thread, quickly becomes "noise". Lastly, I'm even less inclined to click on any of the links because the "post" is so obtrusive.

Since I don't like to complain without offering an idea or solution, can you make the "post" smaller?

FSUZeta · #13 12-02-2009, 09:02 PM

would it be possible to design the ads similarly to the way ads appear on facebook?

33girl · #14 12-02-2009, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

would it be possible to design the ads similarly to the way ads appear on facebook?

I agree. I personally have a buttload of space at the left side of the page.

AlphaFrog · #15 12-03-2009, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33girl

I agree. I personally have a buttload of space at the left side of the page.

I would prefer them on the right, because my phone scrolls through columns, starting with the left most column - and it already takes forever to get to the actual GC content. I'm assuming any phone that has Mobile Web 2.0 is going to be the same. I think even my Blackberry was that way.