dougharps
2372 posts
May 07, 2025
2:08 PM
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Don't you spammers have something better to do than infiltrating a harmonica forum? There has been more spam lately than valid posts.
Harmonica content: I am still playing harp a lot, but spam turns my stomach and gives me the blues... in a bad way.
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Doug S.
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TetonJohn
447 posts
May 07, 2025
2:30 PM
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Took me a couple of seconds to decipher "FN."
Got it.
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Gnarly
Alternatetuning
3192 posts
May 09, 2025
2:06 PM
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Doug is usually pretty easy going.
Guess the spam is a sore spot.
Help Mr. Wizard!
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nacoran
10457 posts
May 12, 2025
10:43 AM
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Unfortunately, there isn't a great way to keep it from getting in. I check all the applications against spammer lists and have learned some tricks to spot spammers from the types of emails they use and the types of names they use. If something is on the edge I'll even deny it but send a message to contact me if they are real (spammers usually don't have the time for that) but at the end of the day, if they submit a name and email that looks good I don't have other tools to filter with. On FB we see how long they've had their account, a preview of what they are posting (if they post something when they sign up), have security questions, and can even click on their profile if we want to double check it, and spam accounts get flagged quickly and removed.
I looked into trying to use some sort of alternate authentication system for members here, but, for instance, the FB login plugin got discontinued when FB decided they'd rather host than help other sites link to them. The social media sites can push notifications to help keep people engaged in ways we can't.
The really frustrating thing for me, is we shouldn't be a target for spam. The way our pages pop to the top when there is a new comment make it easy to remove spam once it's there, so it's not even like they are getting long term links out of it. They are just making more work for both sides.
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Nate
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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dougharps
2374 posts
May 12, 2025
3:59 PM
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Nate, my comment in no way was a criticism of your efforts. I very much appreciate all ypu do to keep this old forum going. I imagine dealing with the very active FB is quite a challenge.
It just seems silly for spammers to work their way onto this forum so they can try to push products and services unrelated to blues or harmonica.
Some recent spam even incudes harmonica narratives seemingly responding to the thread, then including an unrelated spam link. I guess those may be bots with AI, because it would be a real waste of time for a human.
Consider my posting this thread as a cranky old geezer yelling about rabbits in the harmonica garden.
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Doug S.
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nacoran
10458 posts
May 13, 2025
10:19 AM
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Wouldn't it be funny if someday the AI was good enough so the spam posts actually became useful? "Hey Frank, you said your harmonica doesn't sound as cool as Kim Wilson. Have you tried playing in 2nd position? That's where you move over one step on the circle of fifths. You said you have a C harmonica. Try playing along with songs that are in G, and, though you've been told to get clean single notes, try double stops, where you pull just a little of the next not over in to dirty it up a little. Hope that helps, and if you need help writing academic papers, try this link..."
:p
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Nate
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RobDawg
24 posts
May 15, 2025
4:51 AM
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yes. I got excited thinking wow look at all these new threads. Thank you Nate!
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