Is this spam? #6

This is NOT the Spam Reporting Thread.

This thread is to discuss whether a particular post/profile/group is spam.

Posts/profiles/groups should NOT automatically be flagged based solely on someone asking here whether they are spam. READ THE DISCUSSION and make a considered judgment first.

Thank you.

I'm not at all familiar with what kind of venues are allowed. Are these spam?

http://www.librarything.com/venue/97103/Getalways-Internet-Services
http://www.librarything.com/venue/97101/Bespoke-Tour-India

Overenthusiastic author?

http://www.librarything.com/profile/HGKeller
http://www.librarything.com/topic/187922#5070254

>3 southernbooklady: Looks like that to me. There seem to be a bunch today. Did LT make some "Self-published authors guide to drumming up sales"? I've run into others today mainly pushing their work, but in a vague trying-to-fit-in way.

Well, he's ignoring my suggestions, both on thread and privately, to read LTs terms of service and tips for authors. I'm flagging him.

I agree that his posts are spammy and should be flagged (as they are, by now), but should we flag the profile, too?

I'm waiting on flagging his profile to see if he does it again after all those flags. Then I would be inclined to e-mail LT staff.

How about this one?
http://www.librarything.com/topic/187901

I'd say the first one, no. The last two definitely.

>8 Ennas: and >9 gilroy: You know, I don't disagree with the idea that the last two messages were over the top (at least a bit), but here's the thing.

JaeKamel has been on LT since 2009, and I gently point out the following profile (dammit, DO NOT flag this profile), associated with this comment:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/99055#2208447

http://www.librarything.com/profile/BannedBooksLibrary

I suspect that Jae Kamel is used to conversations where he's the only participant (or close enough), since he also has a group of which he is the only member (it's where the comment above is from). I'm not sure those last two comments in >8 Ennas: should have been flagged either. Yeah, they seem a bit self-aggrandizing, but I'd say this is more a lack of social skills than it is spam.

I did a lot of research when I saw that comment last night (and should have posted my conclusions here when I did, but I was very tired). Did anyone leave a comment on his profile about the flagging, and why? How about a comment on that thread explaining it?

>8 Ennas: I don't see the flagged posts as spam. Surely all part of the discussion promoted in the OP?

>10 Lyndatrue: I have counterflagged but I am in a minority among the zealots ;-)

The problem I have with the last two posts is that they seem to be there, not to promote a discussion, but to promote his own website.

While Lyndatrue seems to be correct, that he likes to talk to himself, he wouldn't need to tell himself to follow himself.

>12 lilithcat: I agree that it seems he's looking for followers, but (until today) I don't think he was visible to anyone.

I'm trying to formulate a good example comment to leave on profiles for these edge cases, and I really think that the comment ought to be a public one, not private, so that others can see it's been done. What good is it to flag posts out of existence if no one says "This is what you did, and please consider not doing it again."

It still bothers me.

>10 Lyndatrue: , >13 Lyndatrue:

While I see your point that he's used to speaking to himself, I feel like he's been here long enough, seen enough of how the site runs, to know better. Six years is enough time to grasp the way a community runs. So I'm more inclined to NOT give him leeway for obvious self promoting posts where they don't belong.

I agree with >14 gilroy:.
I think the profile and the first 2 posts should not be flagged, but post 3&4 should.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/188514
http://www.librarything.com/groups/putneynaturebookscoo
http://www.librarything.com/profile/Putney-Nature

Appears to be a publisher promoting their own work. Do people agree? I left a message on profile but have not flagged anything.

> 16

Yes, I agree with you. It's not kosher to start a group to promote your own books. I can't flag the post as it's "join to post", and I wouldn't flag the profile, but I would flag the group.

>16 amysisson: If it is a publisher it is very low profile. I think it is probably a legitimate user.

ETA The library of 68 diverse nature books looks like a real collection.

>16 amysisson:

It's not a publisher; the books come from a variety of publishers. The library describes itself as a "book co-op", though I can find no evidence elsenet of that particular entity "Putney Nature Books Co-op" existing. I don't see any problem with it.

Regarding post #16, I do not think the talk topic, the group, or profile are flaggable. I see nothing wrong with the catalog or the creation of the group.

http://www.librarything.com/profile/AbMa14 is posting "reviews" that are only suspicious-looking links and ratings. I didn't want to click on the links to check them out, and the profile name looks spammish.

People are allowed to link to their reviews on other sites. If you aren't willing to follow the link you have no idea whether it is OK or not.

Quite honestly, spammers don't normally bother to enter books just to post a link. This person joined and entered one book in September, entered three more books and one review now.

No, I don't think it is spam.

The thing is, the profile name is odd, and the links don't look like blogsite links - they look like something else. I know people are allowed to post bare links as reviews (although I disapprove of it), and I'm not willing to risk viruses or worst to test these out. I was just trying to be helpful.

>23 gwernin: The link is to animoto.com which seems to be a legitimate site offering help with creation of videos (I haven't followed the actual link). An unusual medium for a review, perhaps, but I don't see it as spam.

Re: Flags on group, Post #16

http://www.librarything.com/topic/188589

The nature book group has gotten several flags. I wanted to counterflag, but there is no option for groups, is there?

I am thinking slowly. In the posts I don't see a violation, but combined with the profile I wonder:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/188597
http://www.librarything.com/topic/188598
http://www.librarything.com/topic/188599

http://www.librarything.com/profile/iGOeBooks

Robert

>27 Mr.Durick:

I had the same reaction, but since I blew it on the nature book group, I'm feeling more like I should give the benefit of the doubt unless I'm sure.

>27 Mr.Durick: I saw that too. It's really weird. I started three different replies, and to those posts, and deleted each one. The user has been here for a year (although it *is* a free account), and I have no idea what those posts were about. The profile pictures, and the "review", and all those tags... it's just unreal. It isn't really spam, but I can't say what it *is*, either.

Unless it keeps up, I'd guess it might as well be ignored.

>27 Mr.Durick: It is odd, especially the three identical threads posted one after another.

Unrelated to spam - that profile page has the worst example of corporate jargon ever.

>27 Mr.Durick: The 'member', who admits to being an organisation in LT terms, seems to run an epublishing business as well as writing all the works it publishes. This is commercial activity but then publishers are given some slack.
I don't like the way the author rates and reviews his own books -some of the reviews have already been flagged. I don't see why 'organisations' like this should have free accounts.
The posts are selling an idea rather than a product so I won't flag them.
It occurs to me that it might be nice to have an 'Ignore Organisations' button but maybe I would miss something useful.

>32 abbottthomas: If we got rid of authors who rated (five stars!) and reviewed (it's brilliant!) their own books, LT would lose quite a few members.

>33 RidgewayGirl: I suppose authors see their works as their children so one shouldn't be surprised at their enthusiasm but I'd be happier with a more unassuming approach ;-)

>33 RidgewayGirl:
We aren't anywhere near as bad as GR with regard to Authors who Review and Rate. So I don't think we'd lose as many as we suspect.

I just cannot bring myself to rate my own stuff.

The other thing that bugs me, aside from authors self-rating their works, is one person having multiple accounts and rating the same work multiple times. The record I've seen is bluetyson rating the same short story four times. I don't think it's even intentional; he (I think he) reads hundreds and hundreds of short stories, or used to, and I'm guessing he imported the same data more than once for some reason, perhaps thinking it didn't "take" the first time.

>31 RidgewayGirl:

The threads aren't identical.

>37 cpg: The same information. It looks like they typed them one after another.

>38 RidgewayGirl:

No, they don't have the same information.

Thank you for the consideration of my Putney Nature Book Co-op group. We really just want to share our libraries in a more formal way than perusing what's on the short shelf in our friend's bathroom. Co-ops are not always commercial enterprises and in this semi-rural part of VT illustrate how we work together in our village. These books are not for sale and at most will be gifted to folks who really like them. The Putney Nature Guy.

>40 Putney-Nature: Good morning, Putney-Nature. I am hoping that at least two more people will go counter-flag your group so that it will be flag-free.

http://www.librarything.com/groups/putneynaturebookscoo

Sorry that your start here was a bit rocky, and I hope that you stick around, and make use of some of the excellent features that Library Thing offers for those with small libraries.

>41 Lyndatrue: There is no way (that I can find) to counter-flag a group. The original flaggers have to remove their flags or an LT employee can do it if we don't clear up our own mess.

>42 TheoClarke: Ah, yes, I'd forgotten that it wasn't possible. Hopefully lorannen will be able to step in and clear it. I'm about to leave a brief plea for her.

Watch this one

http://www.librarything.com/topic/188647#

I expect an edit any moment.

yep

http://www.librarything.com/profile/jozafjikeeed

>44 2wonderY: You called it ;-)

http://www.librarything.com/profile/joycebanda
http://www.librarything.com/topic/188771

I'm really not sure what the purpose is of this.

Huh. Guess they don't understand the profile layout, as they put the description in as a comment...

>I'm flagging the post and I'll leave a message. If she is who she says she is, she is the author of Political Parties in Africa Through a Gender Lens, so she is pushing her book.

Ah! That makes sense.

She says she is "one of the most powerful women in the world" - are you folk sure you want to mess with her? Watch your backs! ;-)

http://www.librarything.com/topic/188776
http://www.librarything.com/profile/kingqueen1243

??

correction to #48 - She appears to have written only the Foreward to the book, but she may be the wife of the primary author. I can't tell. One online version lists her as author. Another lists Rumbidzai A. Kandawasvika-Nhundu, and she may be Mrs. Rumbidzai A. Kandawasvika-Nhundu. In any case, it's a collaboration.

http://www.librarything.com/work/15812180/book/116830342

I hope she comes back around and joins in Talk. She sounds interesting. She's very good at self-promotion.
And then there is THIS

Abbott, you've got my back, yes?

>52 2wonderY: The book seems to have been deleted everywhere except in your library. Man, I sleep a little late, and miss all the fun.

She never added it herself. I did so just to save a link to the free online version. My guess is that Ms Banda won't be back. Too many other sites to plant.

What do you think? Is this spam? I didn't flag (yet), but some people did.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/188752#

> 55

I don't think it really is. It's annoying, but it's not clearly commercial.

>55 Ennas: >56 lilithcat: If you go to his homepage and follow the link to his website I don't think that there is any doubt that this is commercial activity, whether or not it is successful. His earlier posts could have been seen as reasonable discussion but I don't think this is. Even if he is being given publisher slack by TPTB I think this is worth a flag in this group. I suppose we may yet get a reply to your polite post, lilithcat, but I won't hold my breath.

Are online bookstores allowed as Locals?

http://www.librarything.com/venue/97238/niePrzeczytane-pl

It was added by a long-time member.

I believe they are allowed, because of the "From Where?" feature.

Here is a new member
http://www.librarything.com/profile/WDA_Lynelle

a publishing house who has listed and rated the books they've published.

I don't have a problem with that, but then this member
http://www.librarything.com/profile/lynelle.clark.5

appears to be at least closely associated with the publisher and has reviewed and rated 4 of the books (5 stars all, of course)

with the beginning line
"I received the book from the author for an honest review."

What think ye?

From her blog: "I am the Social Media Marketer for WDA Publishing as from January 1, 2015. The company wants more exposure for it's authors and asked me to join their team."

In that case, I would think her reviews prior to that time would be fine, but afterwards {ETA} the reviews for that publisher's books would be promotional/marketing as part of her job, such that that relationship really should be disclosed (i.e. they shouldn't be presented as if they were simple reader reviews rather than a publisher's reviews of their own books). I'd send it over to staff, who could maybe intervene.

If the reviews she did for the publisher were on the publisher's LT account, that would be better, since then at least the relationship of book to reviewer would be clearer; there's nothing wrong, of course, with her having her own personal non-work LT account, but it doesn't seem right to me to use that to market the books for her employer.

> 60, 61

It is not against the TOS for authors/marketing people/publishers to review and rate their own books.

Personally, I think it should be, but that's not my decision to make.

So it may be spam, but it's not flaggable.

"I am the Social Media Marketer for WDA Publishing as from January 1, 2015. The company wants more exposure for it's authors and asked me to join their team."

Oh, man, really? They couldn't find a marketer who knows grammar and the correct use of apostrophes? (There's something that should be against the TOS!)

>61 rsterling:

It's not against the TOS to lie or misrepresent yourself in a review. In this case it's clear that a marketer reviewing the books she is marketing is lying through her teeth about the "honest review", but that's perfectly acceptable on LT. I think that's wrong, and this case may be clear enough to get Tim to make a new rule on the issue.

I didn't weigh in (in post 61) on whether the reviews are against the TOS. I do think the relationship should be disclosed, and that the reviews should not be presented in a misleading way, as if they were ordinary/disinterested member reviews. Whether that strictly violates the TOS, I'm not sure. (Perhaps someone could get creative in applying the no-sock-puppets rule, or the old no stacking-the-deck-in-your-favor rule?) But either way it's not cool, and gets close enough to a "teachable moment" to maybe ask staff to intervene. That's the route we're supposed to take (not flagging) with overzealous publishers and authors anyway.

'Reviewers must not be paid for their reviews, except in free books and similar non-monetary perks.'

The author and publisher are different, but the marketer is being paid to market the books, and I would think that reviews would be included in that.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/188899

...more like hacked, I guess?

I'm not sure it's a hack. She's been a member for quite a while and has been adding books as recently as today. But hack or not, the post is flaggable.

I saw this group earlier today and used google translate. Unfortunately, that translation is poor. Someone has since flagged the group. The creator of the group has 2 legitimate works cataloged. I am reluctant to flag unless someone can confirm that it is spam.

http://www.librarything.com/groups/audioteca

>69 MsMaryAnn: I don't believe it's spam, no. It appears to be discussing the potential of using the application "whatsapp" to accumulate readings. While I don't know that it's a good or even useful idea, it doesn't appear to be spam.

I'd have been able to tell more if it wasn't limited by the latest LT trick of damaging URLs (cutting them off for real, and not just in the displaying thereof).

>71 Lyndatrue: Thank you. BTW, I found the same problem with URLs being cut off in connections and reported it last week.

I googled the first few sentences and see if any other site comes up. And voila! There is one.

http://www.ivoox.com/podcast-voces-audioteca-colectivaxxxxxxxxxxx

Now I consider it as a spam. (I wasn't sure so I did nothing this morning.) Should I flag it...

Edited later... I shouldn't put the address. Ooops, sorry.

>73 Yamanekotei: You're right, of course. It's spam. I'm off to flag the group. Not sure about the profile, though. What do you think?

>74 Lyndatrue: I won't flag the profile unless s/he attempts to spam next time around, because that account has two books listed, you see...

Just joined, no books. Perhaps should be watched?
https://www.librarything.com/topic/189012#

>76 Taphophile13: Hmmm. Looks like spam, smells like spam but is it spam? Waiting for others to weigh in.

Looks definitely spammy.

I think it's just an enthusiastic youngster who is thrilled to find a source of free manga.

>79 2wonderY: I concur. Can't see this as spam.

It's certainly suspicious, but if it was spam by most definitions I'd expect to see the identical text many places in Google, and I don't. Even if I did, by LT standards I don't think it would qualify as spam.

I'd say we leave it and see what the group does.

I don't read Danish, but this looks spammy:

http://www.librarything.com/profile/spilleautomater

ETA this is Norweigian and yes, it's spam

http://www.librarything.com/work/15897353/book/117474666

I took at least some of the author CK off.
http://www.librarything.com/pic/4788702

>84 MarthaJeanne: That person also posted a Little library in venues. Maybe just experimentation but I deleted it.

>84 MarthaJeanne: and >85 Collectorator: I honestly wonder if the original account was compromised.

http://www.librarything.com/profile/lissacoffey

Both the entries were made today, and while the information about Jodie Michalak is correct (for certain values of information), I'd say that an account name of Lissa Coffey doesn't seem to match up.

I am trying to decide whether to flag the account (on the expectation that whoever created it is long gone. Jodie is on places like tattoo.com, and the profile certainly seems to fit her.

Here's the odd thing: Lissa Coffey is also one of those media personalities.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lissa-coffey/

I wonder if the account was created by someone attempting to set up the author page...

http://www.librarything.com/author/coffeylissa

Okay, now my head hurts. I still think the profile ought to be flagged (but I'm thinking it over).

After seeing this comment from MarthaJeanne, I'm flagging the profile. It may be Jodie, but it surely isn't Lissa Coffey.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/77149#5115911

This might be too hard to check and not be worth the effort. It looks like spam but could just be part of the play of the thread.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/60335#5098320
http://www.librarything.com/topic/60335#5116715
http://www.librarything.com/topic/60335#5116717
http://www.librarything.com/topic/60335#5116719

There may be more, but these are what showed up when I looked at the most recent and scrolled back a little way.

http://www.librarything.com/profile/warranty

Robert

If someone wants to bury spam in a topic that is thousands of messages long in which I can find no obvious meaning at all, I'm not going to worry about it.

Yeah, I thought maybe.

Robert

>89 Mr.Durick: Spammy enough for me. I flagged the profile and posts.

>89 Mr.Durick: Me too.

No links, but she is clearly (look at her profile) marketing herself as a health care provider/author:

Post:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/189809#

Profile:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/EvieTMcduff

I looked at it and came to the reluctant conclusion that it is not quite flaggable.

I might change my mind if she does it frequently.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/189812

I'm flagging the other one too now.

Flagged her profile, too. This is ridiculous.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/189813
https://www.librarything.com/topic/189814
https://www.librarything.com/topic/189815

Okay, I joined in.

Robert

She is gone now.

Test

Are you spam?

http://www.librarything.com/topic/189843

I am sure this is not a spam, but I kind of felt uneasy reading it: it's not her blog post. Isn't it against a LibraryThing copyright policy? Or is it ok because it shows where it came from?

Yes, of course. I have flagged it and written a response. I wouldn't do that for spam, but thought I might as well here.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/189842# is also copyright violation. She even mentions it.

I am going to risk being hunted down and sued by Thatcher Penguin Books in order to reprint it here:

That's pretty darn blatant!

>102 MarthaJeanne: LOL "copywrite"! :-D

I fixed it. Not totally awake yet, I guess.

AGAIN! http://www.librarything.com/topic/189864

The publisher's description of the book explains Bane's method so well, I am going to risk being hunted down and sued by Thatcher Penguin Books in order to reprint it here:/

And then an Amazon link, to boot!

Copy of the one we had already killed. I know. Yet she thanked me for cluing her in on the other thread. Shrug.

I note that she is posting in a group she created apparently for the sole purpose of directing traffic to her blog, which is listed as the "group website".

Is editing buggy today? I can still see http://www.librarything.com/topic/189843 and read the original post despite hopkinshj saying she would delete it as well as MJ's "copywrite".

> 109

I wonder if it's not possible to edit a post after it's been flagged? Or perhaps she felt it unnecessary since it doesn't show (without clicking on "show") after the flagging.

>109 abbottthomas: I had fixed copyright here, but not there.

I'm to the point where this blatant disregard for the rules, even as an author in her own group, deserves a flag to the profile, if for no other reason than to bring staff into the mix.

She is still trying to sell that book.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/189875

This group has been deleted.

This topic has been deleted.

Thank goodness.

I guess I was not the only one to flag her profile with series of posts after friendly warning.

http://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=Antony_Millen

So I'm reviewing reviews of books I've read and I stumble across this lot. The reviewer has signed every review with an ad for his own writing. I wanted to flag them but then became uncertain if this is a breach of the TOS or not.

Hmm. Tacky, to be sure, but I don't think it's actually flaggable. Probably a polite profile message asking him to stop doing that is the best we can do.

Agree with lorax. Tacky, but not a TOS violation.

Is it spam when you write a completely unintelligible post?

http://www.librarything.com/topic/190073

It feels spammy, but it has no links and I don't think it's actually saying something...

>117 lorax: >118 lilithcat: What about reviews that have an Amazon link to the book? Reviewer writes before link "Book Selling Site". Tacky or TOS?

> 120

There is nothing that I'm aware of in the TOS that bars someone from including an Amazon link in the review.

>119 zjakkelien:

That post has been deleted, but I suspect that a spammy link was subsequently added.

"Word salad" spam probes are a common technique - if they get through, the "payload" follows. LT rules do not prohibit word salad, though, and in fact specifically prohibit us from flagging posts for being nonsensical, so the appropriate response is to flag them once the spam follows the probe.

>120 MsMaryAnn:

Links in reviews are appropriate. Reviews that consist of links to external reviews are appropriate. If the review is only a link to something that is not itself a review, a blue flag (but not a red flag) is appropriate.

>122 lorax: Thanks lorax!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/190459

This isn't the usual spam; I think it's a kid fooling around. But is there any way to alert the staff to keep an eye out? She may not be 13 but that's hard to say.

>124 amysisson: It is just barely possible that she meant to create a location called "buccoo" rather than "boccoo" (the one is in Tobago, the other is in Poland). It's odd, but I'm still on the side of "kid fooling around" (for now). It's interesting that an account created just today adds one book, and then creates an unpopulated location...

checking recent picture uploads, I see several new member profiles that are definitely businesses and only here for business promotion, but no Spam activity.

http://www.librarything.com/profile/envisageclinic
http://www.librarything.com/pic/4819296

http://www.librarything.com/profile/wsidigitalwave

http://www.librarything.com/profile/gmsupplies

>126 2wonderY: Curious, isn't it? What possible commercial benefit could these companies possibly get from listing here? If you hadn't brought the profiles up on this thread I, for one, would never have come across them. I suppose that, as the listing is free, there is no downside at all to joining LT but it is hard to see a way of changing that which didn't risk deterring new 'genuine' members.

It may be that these businesses will eventually start active promotion but I'm sure that the doughty spam-killers would soon deal with that. Otherwise does their presence disadvantage those of us who make proper use of LT in any way?

>126 2wonderY:
Well, they have already been disappeared.

>127 abbottthomas: They attach active links to their spam profiles, usually to their profile images, so unless you look at the images, you don't see the spam.

http://www.librarything.com/groups/noisebridge

No posts, one link, creator joined LT yesterday, no books cataloged.

>130 henkl:

It appears benign. I checked the link and it is an educational non-profit located in San Francisco.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/190941

fishy... very fishy post...

Especially when she and the author both joined today and are the only two with that book. And both only have that book.

I posted on her wall. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong, but it certainly looks suspicious.

How is this possible?

http://www.librarything.com/profile/baconwithmyadidas

A new free account with (already!) 766 books catalogued.

Posting it here so as to keep an eye on it. Looks fishy to me.

That can happen if the books were imported. It's an odd glitch in the system. That user is also on Goodreads, so I'm guessing she imported from there.

She seems legit.

>136 lilithcat:

It started out as a glitch, now it's a feature.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/191105#

It looks suspicious...

Author self promotion?

>135 2wonderY:
Yup, standard upload glitch.

http://www.librarything.com/profile/ChayahiChaya

Do you consider this spam also? This person hasn't done any posting that I know of.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/191215
http://www.librarything.com/profile/flidcde1973

I haven't clicked the link to verify what it is but the member just joined today.

ETA: Google search indicates that the link goes to Georgia—the country, not the state.

>142 Taphophile13: It's spam, and so's http://www.librarything.com/topic/191216#. Flag mercilessly the posts, and the user!

http://www.librarything.com/topic/132383#3223996

The link leads to advertising for her seriesnot to a blog about reading.

>145 MarthaJeanne: Seems pretty inoffensive to me.

>146 abbottthomas: To me, too.

>145 MarthaJeanne: Seems like the user misunderstands the difference between a group and a thread. But still harmless.

Is this spam or just an overeager author?
https://www.librarything.com/topic/191341#

>149 Taphophile13: I call it spam, and am now considering flagging the profile as well. He seems to be a publisher (according to the comment above). One more flag, and the comment is gone.

(Just in case this happens again, the profile is:

https://www.librarything.com/profile/englishmajorpub

...and no, I didn't flag it... For now.)

http://www.librarything.com/topic/191358
http://www.librarything.com/profile/Alwas1951

Ohhh wrong topic... above post IS spam.

>151 MarthaJeanne: Not only is that group spam, but I also flagged the profile.

http://www.librarything.com/profile/margomarga

>151 MarthaJeanne: , >154 Lyndatrue: Both gone now.

I'm not sure what this is:

https://www.librarything.com/catalog/LaloSuarez/desarrollodesoftware
https://www.librarything.com/profile/LaloSuarez

>156 Taphophile13: I don't know anything about this kind of stuff but it has something to do with this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tor_(anonymity_network). The new member is adding more books as I type. Maybe staff should take a look?

Staff should indeed take a look, but in the meantime, the profile should be flagged. A lot. It's always Friday night when this happens, you know?

>157 MsMaryAnn: I just left a message for Tim. I assume he knows a lot more about these things than I do.

>159 Taphophile13: I just left a message also, and one for Loranne as well. Please flag the profile.

>160 Lyndatrue: Just flagged as you suggested. The wiki article >157 MsMaryAnn: cited is very interesting.

>156 Taphophile13:-159 Profile flagged. Friday night, yeah.

>163 Collectorator: Thank you. \blush\

I also messaged Tim and flagged the profile. How many flags does it take until the member is suspended for "unusual" activity?

150 "works" and counting.... tick tock, tick tock

Killed 'em. Other factors were conspiring against a quick automatic spam assignment.

>167 timspalding: Glad to hear they're dead. Does that also make all the links (disguised as books) vanish?

Never mind. I figured it out. Yes, they're gone, and thank you very much, Mr Spalding.

XXOO

>167 timspalding: Oh, good! Thank you.

Is there such a category as "enthusiastic publisher"?

http://www.librarything.com/topic/191510#

I'd make a response, suggesting that this would be more appropriate in the hobnob with authors place, but it's still early (for me), and I lack kindness. I considered flagging it, to be truthful, and may yet do so. It's a new account, and I often think of this kind of thing as hit and run.

I thought that myself. Don't respond there. It's better to respond to the profile so the topic can disappear if people decide to flag it.

Nothing obvious but not sure what the links are. Does anyone know?

https://www.librarything.com/groups/stepinthegame
https://www.librarything.com/topic/191602#
https://www.librarything.com/profile/swqa

>172 Taphophile13: I didn't click on the links but it looks awfully spammy to me. I flagged. Sue me.

>172 Taphophile13: All gone!

One to watch, but they haven't Spammed yet:

http://www.librarything.com/profile/asanduffgroup

Is this just posted in the wrong place?

http://www.librarything.com/topic/157113#5173036

>176 MsMaryAnn: It certainly looks like promo to me. Maria's review looks like a publisher's blurb.

Re 175

"Asanduff Group of Companies supports local businesses, communities, and people with the highest quality products and services. Asanduff specializes in the areas of cocoa production, trucking & hauling services, residential & commercial construction, building material, concrete blocks manufacturing and business consulting.
Tags: cocoa beans, construction company, trucking services, hauling services, bulding material, concrete block manufacturer, business consulting"

I would flag his profile due to this picture comment.

>178 Yamanekotei: Exactly. The profile alone is not spam. The picture comment and tags are.

And they are now "suspended for unusual activity."

Publisher profile pictures have live links to her marketing site. Opinions?

http://www.librarything.com/pic/4863487
http://www.librarything.com/pic/4863488
http://www.librarything.com/pic/4863489
http://www.librarything.com/pic/4863490

http://www.librarything.com/profile/JudithDCollins

She's been a member for over a year and she is using her catalog for lots of other books besides those she represents professionally.

What do you think about this review :
http://www.librarything.com/work/56846/reviews/96155486
Is this spam ?

>182 Louve_de_mer: I wanted to flag it as an abuse of service (and did, but took the flag back off). There isn't any good way to flag it as spam. It isn't really a review. Also, yuck.

I don't think it's really spam, no, but I'm now back on the desire to block certain reviewers (which was requested a while ago, in another thread).

>182 Louve_de_mer: I think the person has a strong opinion of the book, colorful language and all. It may be offensive to some but it's not spam.

Yes, I agree with >184 MsMaryAnn:. In fact, I went and read some of her other reviews.

>181 2wonderY: The member is very active on LT with cataloguing and book reviews. Technically speaking, the links don't belong there but could be included in her reviews, which she doesn't do. I think that if she was really intent on driving traffic to her site/blog, the links would be in the reviews not buried in profile picture comments.

>184 MsMaryAnn:, >185 2wonderY: The second paragraph is an incitement to subscribe to a Youtube channel, that is what may be a problem, not the vocabulary. The other reviews seem ok, though.

>187 Louve_de_mer: I'm such a troglodyte. YouTube channels? Huh.

>188 2wonderY: Sorry, my english language is not fluent enough, I can't explain.

>187 Louve_de_mer: Um, how are you seeing that as an advertisement to a YouTube channel? It's just them stating an opinon with no included link. TV speak in a review. I'm not seeing it as an ad.

>188 2wonderY: You can subscribe to specific sets of videos on YouTube. Instead of calling them subscriptions like normal, they call them channels, like TV channels.

>190 gilroy: This : Incest! Timetravel! Stolen babies! More incest! Family history! Teenage debauchery! Groundhog Day! Murder! All that....and more. Coming up next on What The Actual Fuck Channel.
But maybe I misunderstood.

I took it as a colorful description of cricketbats' opinion of the book but apparently there really is a youtube channel called "What The Actual Fuck" —although it doesn't seem to have anything to do with book in question. I still don't see it as directing traffic to a specific link or site so I'm okay with it.

The picture links in >181 2wonderY: are closer to the line for me. She appears to be a professional reviewer, trying to send people to her marketing site.

Watching this one, because it is usually accompanied by spam links. They may be holding off to be unobserved.

http://www.librarything.com/pic/4865147
http://www.librarything.com/profile/playibcbetgame

>193 2wonderY:

The profile blurb translates as:

For the steps to play a very important ibcbet and must have it, your information correctly, we focused on understanding the new ongsamachik want to play (b) but do not know how to do well in the first episode can be read if you have any at all, I would like to be part of the fun, not like other distribution we recommend our Web site to give you a full-range! Because we know what you want, whether it is a study of three events should be plain, but it is a must to add to the experience. These things do get our ibcbet attention extremely quite a lot of people get to know at all. Today, the development of better, like this graph rises throughout the making of the good life gets a sacred trust to come to open a website maxbet. The considered to indicate that I want to know that the site is very stable, and it has no closing date of course. 100%. So sign up and play at any stage to Britain to increase what we have done is to give the award to join us more support. But before the Web, no one can know by viewing our new website lay open.

Flagging it.

Normally, I'd consider this an "enthusiastic author" and just move on... (after flagging it)

However, it seems awfully spammy to me.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/191782#
http://www.librarything.com/profile/KavithaYarlagadd

I haven't flagged the profile. However, even though stated in the link that it's downloadable from Amazon, a direct search doesn't find it. Honestly, I wish Amazon policed all these self-publishing authors a bit better.

Edit: it's also been flagged (the topic, not the profile) over on the regular Spam thread.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/191312#5177462

Edit again: Sometimes they learn. I see that the author has now posted in the "correct" place, provided by amysisson in her profile comment. I won't flag the profile, although I'm leaving this information here just in case...

http://www.librarything.com/topic/187028#5177475

It's always nice when someone seems willing to follow the rules, once the rules are pointed out.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/POETAMITAVA

https://www.librarything.com/topic/191788
https://www.librarything.com/topic/191787

This member has catalogued one book, but then the book s/he catalogued's only other member is the author. The author was warned regarding a book promotion some six months ago. Should I flag this member as well? I flagged above posts anyway.

>196 Yamanekotei:

I think this is the author as well. I'm thinking sock puppet here.

Something to keep an eye on?

http://www.librarything.com/profile/glorianarie
http://www.librarything.com/profile/glorianarie/recommendations/bymember

>198 MsMaryAnn:
The first part of the recommendation is copied directly from Amazon.

Aren't recommendations usually "if you liked this, try this other book"? I have no idea where this appears except on her profile page. And I don't think we can do more than downvote recommendations.

>199 Taphophile13: The profile is gone now.

I forget, what's the status of author reviews of their own books?

http://www.librarything.com/work/16063017/reviews/118971797

>201 2wonderY:

Still not marked, see the RSI at http://www.librarything.com/topic/189223 . (Keep in mind Tim said in 2010 that they were working on an icon to indicate that a review was by the author, so it's not likely to actually happen anytime soon, but there is an RSI.)

I was just at the library and saw a guide for self publishing e-books. Out of curiosity I checked the chapter on advertising in social media. I wish more authors read this. It basically said that jumping in and advertising your book is just going to make people mad and less likely to buy your book. (It also said that reviews on Amazon aren't really all that helpful as people don't trust them to be unbiased.)

Keep an eye on this new member

http://www.librarything.com/profile/LimonZest

I've got a feeling...

Possibly worth keeping an eye on?

http://www.librarything.com/topic/191930

This over enthusiastic author uses a URL shortener making the links rather cryptic. Posting in the wrong place but is it spam?

http://www.librarything.com/topic/191949

I don't know what this is. Just joined, has 122 books - no titles, no authors. The dewey dec #s were all identical but are now gone.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/cechsbooks
https://www.librarything.com/catalog/cechsbooks/yourlibrary

Can someone explain what this is?

An import gone wrong, maybe?

Possibly a bad data transfer? He's got company, with 860 people with the same no title entry.

And now the dewey #s are back.

It looks like he's manually editing them. Four now have titles and proper associations.

I'd agree, import gone wrong. 243 books with 4 that have titles.

I left a message suggesting he contact staff.

>214 Nicole_VanK: It isn't spam, no. Kinda dumb, especially without any corroborating evidence, but not really spam. The account's been around for a year. Who knows? Maybe "tzarmedia" is all those things Claes9 is suggesting. Maybe not.

Yeah, I guess. Just wanted a second opinion. Thanks.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/192087# on the Children's Literature group, http://www.librarything.com/groups/childrensliterature

The poster, KSPublishing, http://www.librarything.com/profile/KSPublishing, joined yesterday.

Is this spam, or a teachable moment?

Spam post but also teachable moment, IMO. :-) Flagged it, posted usual message on profile.

>217 Cynfelyn: I'm going to keep my comments to myself (they would be very unkind), but at the least, it needs a comment on the profile. I'm flagging the post, though (which is as it should be). I'm not the first. There are several people who follow this thread who make very kind comments on new user profiles. Hopefully one of them will show up and do so.

Publishers should especially know that this kind of behavior wins no allies, and can tend to annoy...

ETA: Speaking of kind commenters, I see that one showed up (>218 amysisson:) while I was typing...

I don't think this crosses any lines, but I found it curious that this person seems to be leaving comments between him or herself as two different users.

http://www.librarything.com/profile/RCrisp12606

Also not sure who he/she is talking to here:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/192125

but as I don't see a book titled Chimera in that member's library, I hope it's not a roundabout way of self-promo.

He/she may just be a little confused, and thinking those messages are obvious to the people for whom they're intended.... ?

>220 amysisson:

I think he's confused. I often see people post things in their own profile comments that, from the content, they obviously expect other people to see.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/192276
http://www.librarything.com/profile/burytghj

Links in Arabic (I think); member joined today.

It's gone.

For me the subject line 'broken links' followed by links in Arabic along with the member name similar to many spam names took the chance that it was innocent down to the 1-2% mark.

>223 MarthaJeanne: Thank you.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/192279

Want to say this is overenthusiastic author, but not sure...

Just as likely to be enthusiastic reader.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/192289#

He seems to be mainly interested in getting traffic on his website.

>228 Mr.Durick: Looks spammy to me.

I dunno, all links here & on reviews go straight to a business of one sort or another. Spam?

http://www.librarything.com/profile/MariaCharly23

>23 gwernin: Looks like spam, . . .

Is it spam or violation of terms of service if a poster's review consists solely of an off-site hyperlink where the actual review can be found?

Should such review be flagged?

I've found several recent reviews by this poster asianamlitfans, that cause me to ask. See here:
https://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=asianamlitfans

Thanks.

>232 Limelite:
My understanding is that a hyperlink to the member's website or blog is permissible. However, looking at the link in the review shows:

"This is a community for people to discuss Asian American literature. This is also a place where you can post your book reviews of new Asian American literature authors you have found and would like more people to read.

If you are a publisher and interested in having us review your Asian American-themed book please send inquiries to: asianamlitfans@gmail.com." \emphasis mine\

It appears to be an aggregate of reviews? It also includes links to where you can purchase the books. It feels borderline to me; I await others’ opinions.

The fact that the reviews are just links is not a problem.

What makes it borderline is that they are links to different people's reviews. I think we need a decree from TPTB.

>234 MarthaJeanne:

It seems to me that if they are links to different people's reviews, that's a TOS/copyright violation, no?

"Red flags are meant for reviews that are a clear violation of the terms of service, such as spam reviews or posting copyrighted material without permission. Note that saying where you got someone else's text does not constitute permission -- it is not okay to copy and paste a review from an external source even if you say where you copied it from. " http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/Reviews

It depends a lot on the terms of their website, since these are reviews posted there. If their terms of service are similar to LTs it would be the same as LT posting our reviews other places, which they do, and is fine.

The profile says that these are reviews from their website. They are listed as an organization.

On the one hand, this seems like a useful list of books, on the otherhand it would be a lot more useful if at least part of the review were copied here. I won't follow links to read reviews anyway, and it seems that their presence here is mainly to direct traffic to their site.

Borderline spammy, but I don't want to flag at this point.

>235 lilithcat:

Linking is not copyright violation, and there is no requirement that a link be to your own review.

>236 MarthaJeanne:

Websites don't get to control who links to them and how. They could restrict reposting of reviews, which is what LT does (what they provide to LTFL and elsewhere is actual text of reviews, not just a link to LT.) There was actually a (US) Supreme Court case about this back in the early days of the web.

Spam profiles

http://www.librarything.com/profile/myaceplumber

http://www.librarything.com/profile/oneexpress

missed one

http://www.librarything.com/profile/michiganwheel

erm, wrong thread, but you get the idea.

No, there is no copyright issue, but it seems to go against the spirit and intent of this site to link to the reviews of others. It feels spammy.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/CohenMarshall

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Steve_Rodriguez

Is this preparation for spam groups? Two new members creating lots of groups. One 6! duplicates of existing groups. The other an almost duplicate, a sort of neutral, the third spammy.

>241 MarthaJeanne: I have also flagged Steve_Rodriguez's third group. Can't see any other reason for doing this apart from spamming. Duplicate groups are a pain, anyhow. Maybe we should ask for a flag for duplicates as well.

>242 abbottthomas: He is gone, and his groups no longer show up.

Might this bear watching? http://www.librarything.com/topic/192917

>244 Marissa_Doyle:

That doesn't look like spam to me, just someone who is either unclear on the concept or is having trouble with importing books.

>245 lilithcat: OK, thanks. Wasn't sure if it would be one of those trial balloon posts.

http://www.librarything.com/groups/intracto

I flagged the group, but not the member. What do you think?

Intracto seems to be an online marketing company.

I see no reason not to flag the member.

http://www.librarything.com/pic/4901513

I can't tell if the link to his music is commercial and considered spam.

>249 2wonderY:

I don't consider that spam. No more than if he'd put it under the "About Me" or "Home Page" module of his profile. (Less so, in fact, because it's not visible!)

He seems to be a legitimate member, registering a book (even if it is his own), as opposed to tire companies and the like.

Continued in another thread as this one is getting quite long.

Supremely tacky, but I don't think it's spam. It may be attempted spam.