| testimonials abuse?? it's spam
Posted: 8/28/2007 3:50:02 PM | from the faq "Profile: Testimonials New Feature - How it Works"
http://forums.plentyoffish.com/datingPosts5151971.aspx
This is how it works:
The person whom you put on "your" favourite list will be able to write a testimonial about you, and have it visible on your profile.
NO ONE can write a testimonial about you, unless you have them on your list - simple as that.
The above, is the only condition that need be met for someone else to write a testimonial about you.
Consequently, if you wish to write a testimonial to someone - you must be on their favourite list.
i'm wondering if, perhaps, more conditions need to be imposed. such as conditions directed to content.
first, let me say that i understand the original intent of the testimonial feature was to let users know that someone was for real, that you'd met them, they were who they portrayed themselves to be, weren't right for you, but were worth your time. in some cases, perhaps the person lives too far away, but has corresponded or spoken with the other and gotten to know them. for example, the intended use expanded amongst forumites who became acquainted and developed friendships. the common denominator is (should be) that the writer of the testimonial knows the recipient well enough to write something substantive about the recipient that will give the reader insight into that individual.
today i ran across a profile and found a testimonial that i consider to be spam, and absolutely worthless. it is akin to the chain-mail posts, etc. that one sees on my space. this is the exact text of the "testimonial".
___$$$$$_____$$$$____$$$$$______$$$$$___$$$$$$____$$$$____$$___$$___$$$$$_ __$$___$$___$$__$$___$$__$$____$$___$$__$$_______$$__$$___$$___$$__$$___$$ _$$________$$____$$__$$__$$___$$________$$______$$____$$__$$___$$__$$_____ _$$________$$____$$__$$__$$___$$________$$$$$$__$$____$$__$$___$$___$$$___ _$$__$$$$__$$____$$__$$$$$____$$__$$$$__$$______$$____$$__$$___$$_____$$$_ _$$____$$__$$____$$__$$_$$____$$____$$__$$______$$____$$__$$___$$_______$$ __$$___$$___$$__$$___$$__$$____$$___$$__$$_______$$__$$___$$___$$__$$___$$ |""HONK!^^^^^^^^^| ___$$$$$_____$$$$____$$___$$____$$$$$___$$$$$$____$$$$_____$$$$$____$$$$$_ | | __ "(@ ) "(@ )''.______===|==|__|..., ] """""" """"""""""""""""|(@ )(@ )*************(@)**** YOU'VE BEEN HIT! YOU'VE BEEN CONSIDERED ONE OF THE SEXIEST ON POF! ONCE YOU'VE BEEN HIT U HAVE TO HIT THE SEXIEST PEOPLE. IF U GET HIT AGAIN U KNOW THAT U R REALLY SEXY
the initial profile i viewed had 3 of these testimonials. i tracked back and found at least a dozen profiles with one or more of these "testimonials". someone considers you sexy? big deal. what do they have to say about you as a person?? i guess if people want to allow this crap on their profiles, it's their right (altho' i personally don't see why they would...as it reflects greatly upon themselves and their potential shallowness, etc.). however, i consider it spam, and don't believe admin ever thought this feature would be misused in such a way.
what, if anything, should we do to nip this testimonial spam in the bud? should the user's profile be reported? should the guidelines for writing testimonials be altered?
my opinion is that such profiles should be reported, and that better guidelines should be instituted. | |
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| testimonials abuse?? it's spam
Posted: 8/28/2007 3:55:23 PM | I saw that too, babe. I guess we're both online too much. 
I didn't think too much about it. Prolly just someone else that I didn't want to date. | |
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| testimonials abuse?? it's spam
Posted: 8/28/2007 4:05:28 PM | ha ha. got me, there, bro'.
in fact, i did have a date with this guy a long time ago...nice enough, but...shallow. go figure... | |
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| testimonials abuse?? it's spam
Posted: 8/28/2007 5:35:12 PM | I'll agree that there should be a way to nip this testimonial spamming trend.
I've seen the GORGEOUS one starting to appear all over.
I really don't think that's what Marcus intended the feature to be used for. | |
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| testimonials abuse?? it's spam
Posted: 8/28/2007 7:35:18 PM | more conditions need to be imposed ... should the guidelines for writing testimonials be altered?
Its already covered under various "No Spam" Policies.
Anything that applies to Profiles would also apply to Testimonials.
i ran across a profile and found a testimonial that i consider to be spam, and absolutely worthless. should the user's profile be reported?
If you wish to contact that User and make them aware there is Spam on their Profile, that would always be appreciated.
Best to file a Report via the Report Link at the bottom of that Profile, as well as the Forum Rule Violations - Report Thread, in addition to e-mailing any of the Forum Moderators |
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| testimonials abuse?? it's spam
Posted: 8/28/2007 7:42:27 PM | looking at the 1st page of the top 500 list today, 4 of the 1st 5 people on it, have that spam testimonial on their profile. (Some have it on their profile numerous times)
this "500 hottest" group seems to be consistently pasting it on each others profiles | |
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| testimonials abuse?? it's spam
Posted: 8/28/2007 9:06:52 PM | | fine, ticket. i will happily report any i see with this spam testimonial. but, how about some word from on high...dictating what is an acceptable testimonial vs. what is not...i still think some more direct guidelines are in order... | |
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| testimonials abuse?? it's spam
Posted: 8/29/2007 5:47:16 AM | Is this just limited to the testimonials or peoples profiles in general?
Would things like this on profiles be considered as spam? I've had this one myself and know a lot of people who have various stuff like the one below on their profiles.
-----///\\-----Plz
----///-\\\----Put This
---|||---|||---On Your
---|||---|||---account If
---|||---|||---You Know
----\\\-///----Someone
-----\\///-----Who Died
------///\-----Of
-----///\\\----Cancer
----///--\\\
If this is going to be a problem and we are not allowed to have such things, then instead of people being repeatedly reported for something they may not see as spam, which could result in their profiles been deleted. I think a thread in each forum needs to go up and make people aware, and then also added to the welcome message when new people sign up...
| [= OK. As long as an Institution, Establishment or Entity is not mentioned / Ticketoride] |
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| testimonials abuse?? it's spam
Posted: 8/29/2007 6:19:41 AM | What about this on my profile?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~******~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~******~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I shall be attending
***~*~ 3rd Nottingham Meet Night. 8th September 2007. Walkabout, Friar Lane. ~*~***
*********** September Wakefield meet~Henry Boons~Friday the 07th *************
************Wakefield Fancy Dress Gappers Meet - Sept. 15, 2007************
*************Leeds Flares Meet Friday September 21st @8pm *************
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~******~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~******~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Or this?
-----------------Girls-----------------------
-------------are like apples----------------
---------on trees. The best ones-----------
-------are at the top of the tree.--------
------The boys dont want to reach------
----for the good ones because they ------
--are afraid of falling and getting hurt.----
-Instead, they just get the rotten apples-
--from the ground that aren't as good, --
but easy. So the apples at the top think
something is wrong with them, when in
--reality, they're amazing. They just----
---have to wait for the right boy to------
----- come along, the one who's-----------
----------- brave enough to-----------------
-----------------climb all-------------------
----------------- the way---------------------
-----------------to the top--------------------
---------------- of the tree.-------------------
Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.
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| testimonials abuse?? it's spam
Posted: 8/29/2007 7:13:02 PM | for missy and nopervs: this thread is about abuse of the testimonials feature, by posting the spam "gorgeous".
nonetheless, to answer your questions, i do not believe the cancer ribbon, nor the tree poem are spam. and, nopervs, as long as those meets are pof sponsored, i think it's ok to post your plans to attend those events. | |
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| testimonials abuse?? it's spam
Posted: 8/30/2007 10:08:23 AM | the Gorgeous thing completely annoys me, it shows a lack of creativity. i also consider it spam as its on nearly all the profiles i have seen. its starting to effect my eyes, all those dollar signs are not healthy.
on the other hand Drawing on my fine command of language, I said nothing.
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| testimonials abuse?? it's spam
Posted: 8/30/2007 7:46:25 PM | too true, steve.
that's what makes it spam...it's totally generic, and gives absolutely no clue as to what makes a certain person unique, or worth contacting.
as ticket said: spam is spam, and reportable. | |
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| testimonials abuse?? it's spam
Posted: 9/1/2007 11:56:46 AM | ive seen this on a testimonial what is the view?
saying. + *i'd * + . + . . * + . + * . * + * . + *JuSt * + . + . . * + . + *LiKe . * + * . + *SpRiNkLe * + . + . . * + . + * . * + * . + * * + . + . . * + . yOuR + * . * + *. * + * . + *PrOfIlE . . * + * + * * . + . . + * . * . + *wItH * + . + . . * + . + * . * + * . + *AYaToLlAh * + . + . . * + . + * . * + * . + *Of rOcK * + .. * + * . + * . . * + * + * * . + . . + * . * n rOlLa + . .+ * . * + . + AlL+ * . * + * . + * . . * + * + * * . + . . + * . *NiTe. * + * . + . . + * . *rOlLiN* . + * . . * + * + *LoViN
| [= Nonsense. Troll Material. Not allowed / Ticketoride] |
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| testimonials abuse?? it's spam
Posted: 9/1/2007 3:06:55 PM | Why does it bother either of you?
It isnt on your profiles and it wouldnt be left by either of you for anyone, so why is it such an issue?
I wouldnt have one of those on mine and i wouldnt leave one for someone else like that but as it isnt affecting me in anyway, shape or form i have no problem with it..
Just curious as to why it bothers either of you in the first place? | |
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| testimonials abuse?? it's spam
Posted: 9/1/2007 3:21:47 PM |
nonetheless, to answer your questions, i do not believe the cancer ribbon, nor the tree poem are spam. and, nopervs, as long as those meets are pof sponsored, i think it's ok to post your plans to attend those events.
On the one hand you say this humourmonger but on the next you say this ....
that's what makes it spam...it's totally generic, and gives absolutely no clue as to what makes a certain person unique, or worth contacting.
Sometimes I feel so thick when I read other people's opinions about what constitute right or wrong, spam or no spam because it seems to me that it is a personal thing when you get down to the nitty gritty of it all.
I have to agree with foxymoron here...who gives a crap ?
There will always be sheep who will copy others and enjoy being seen to do the cool/trendy/right thing by posting the same old crap in testimonials...you've got to just sort the chaff from the wheat and make a personal decision on what you find within a profile desirable or not..
It seems to me that it is a bit much to ask for such censorship regarding your idea of spam...I genuinely thought spam was when somebody promotes or tries to sell things/services/idealogies or even themselves...and not insignificant copy and paste jobs.....there are so many people out there who are incapable of being original, leave them be...let those sheep roam unfethered and free. | |
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| testimonials abuse?? it's spam
Posted: 9/1/2007 4:32:23 PM | | Pretty well what applies to Profiles, applies to Testimonials, since it appends and becomes part of it. |
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