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@maltster
maltster started a discussion

I checked the new members today (Sept. 3rd) and three out of the seven ! latest members are self-advertising people - ( no whisky related infos just a business website). I think we should restrict this place to be a whisky lovers platform...

12 years ago

16 replies

@systemdown
systemdown replied

While I don't disagree, I wonder if that's the right way to go (and if it's feasible - i.e. who makes the call that a user is not a "whisky lover"? What if a noobie simply decides to plug their business and/or a friend's business, but is here to talk whisky - do they get removed before giving them a chance? Not sure if that's the kind of community Connosr wants to be - not that I know what that is by the way, purely conjecture based on the well-meaning nature of the site's regular users!)

I'd have a problem if these people were spamming threads and/or creating bogus reviews just to increase their visibility but if they're merely registering and leaving it at that, can't we just ignore them?

They won't get in our way, and one can quite easily carry on interacting with fellow Connosrs as normal by way of discussion topics, reviews, comments etc.

12 years ago 1Who liked this?

@systemdown
systemdown replied

@Wills Thanks, thought this sounded familiar!

12 years ago 0

Sroberts86 replied

As there are no discussion being bombarded etc. I imagine if you don't go and look for them you probably wouldn't even notice the issue.

12 years ago 1Who liked this?

@cowfish
cowfish replied

Creating a user on Connosr that pimps a business is a bit useless (other than for google juice potential that doesn't really affect users) - the people who check new users know to ignore them and noone else sees them unless they join in the conversation, at which time they become a part of the community. It's corporate shills and bloggers who stick around and post self congratulatory stuff who could really cause problems (says the blogger who works for a whisky retailer...)

12 years ago 2Who liked this?

@systemdown
systemdown replied

@anne14 Hi there, yes everyone deserves a chance, as you say. Speaking of which, care to talk about whisky instead of shamelessly plugging yours or an affiliate's web site with your first post on this site?

Maybe you could tell us about your favourite whisky by joining in some other discussions or posting some reviews? Interested in what you might have to share with the community. Cheers.

12 years ago 0

@BlueNote
BlueNote replied

@systemdown. Good one. This is beginning to get out of hand. I frequent some boating forums where these shills have actually started to take over. They stick there plugs right in the middle of discussions and annoy all the serious participants. They are fairly obvious by their names, so maybe the administrators can cull them out before they get this far.

12 years ago 1Who liked this?

@cowfish
cowfish replied

@BlueNote @SystemDown Our new friend Anne is the first person plugging less than relevant sites that I've seen on here. Generally on this type of board the effort of joining in and posting (broken) links to websitse that you are pimping outweighs the benefits (especially as lots of people complain as soon as they appear, getting the links taken down before many useful hits occur). However, making a profile with some links in is often thought to provide a bit of google-juice, even though it probably doesn't.

Half arsed attempts like @anne14's will hopefully be the worst we see.

12 years ago 0

@Wills
Wills replied

I hope that at least someone gets it (Breaking Bad) and not everyone now is thinking "that german idiot..."

12 years ago 2Who liked this?

@jeanluc
jeanluc replied

@Wills thanks for pointing out my last note on this connosr.com/wall/discussion/… which explain the spam account filters and the approval process a little further.

Yes "anne14" was an example of a user who got through but FYI we have removed that account now.

Just a note to mention that until an account is 'approved' by the site admin it won't trigger any alert emails such as "Anne14 replied to a discussion", so at least they don't impact your inbox.

Unless you're checking the list of new members frequently, these accounts shouldn't be too much of problem but we do revisit and refine the sign up filters quite frequently.

We've always said that we want to keep registration open so people can join and participate instantly, but there is a fine line there so that's why we restrict the functionality of new accounts.

As always we're happy to hear suggestions and feedback.

12 years ago 1Who liked this?

@jeanluc
jeanluc replied

@Wills - huge Breaking Bad fan :)

12 years ago 0

@Wills
Wills replied

@Jean-Luc I just started watching one week ago and now I am at the end of season 2. It's the best serial I watched so far!

12 years ago 0

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh replied

@Wills Hahaha I got it my friend!! Enjoyable show! I give you a +1 AND a dram in your honor for that mention! A glenrothes 1998 vintage when I get home tonight!

I've already commented on the self promoters, but honestly other then the whisky stones person who said chilling the whisky made the aromas and flavors come out stronger and our lovely friend Anne I haven't seen any of those advertisers post anything in the forums, etc.

To be honest I think the only problem with them at this time is when I go to look how many members there are that are actual whisky geeks like me (I'm sorry if I offend anyone with that term) and I see 6k+ people I now have to go "How many of those people are real whisky geeks and how many are just the advertisers?"

To be honest I'd love it if some of those advertisers were whisky guys. I mean we have a few of the distilleries, brand ambassadors, etc on the site but I never see/hear anything from them.

12 years ago 0

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh replied

@Jean-Luc I've never really had too much an issue with those advertisers, however I would like to say a HUGE Thank you for creating this site! It's favorited on every PC in my house, both mine and my wife's hahaa, close friends, and my work computers. You guys have done such an awesome job with it and to the horror of some of my family it's became a huge and fun part of my life! (They're convinced if you drink whisky straight you must be an alcoholic hahahaha)

12 years ago 2Who liked this?

@BlueNote
BlueNote replied

I'll second that @SquidgyAsh. This is the best run, most useful and most active whisky forum in existence. We can live with these little irritations. Thank you Jean Luc. Good job all round.

12 years ago 1Who liked this?

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