Penis
Eden dared me to do that. This post really has nothing to do with penises, penile enhancement, or really anything penile. It does, however, deal with being a dick.
Everybody knows that while blogging is about the outlet, the chance to get your thoughts and ideas out there, the comments matter. Nobody likes feeling like they’re shouting into the void, and the comments let us know that we’re not. That we’re part of our very own self-selected communities. That there’s someone listening who understands, and who cares about what we have to say. And that’s why spammers really suck. They get your hopes up that someone is listening, that what you said actually struck a chord somewhere, and then you find out that you just happened to use a key word–like lets say “ortho” or “depo” or “typhoid”…”viagra”…”penis”…”boob”…that causes the spambots to start circling your posts like vultures around a wildebeast.
I’m getting a lot of spam these days. More spam than comments, actually. Which, frankly, sucks. There are few things more demoralizing (in the bloggy world, anyway) to see you’ve got 15 new comments, only to find out that 14 of them are ads for cialis and at home hypnotism, and some penile enhancement device that I really don’t want to think about too deeply. I mean, I’m still thrilled and excited by that lone comment, but by the time I’m done deleting the rest I’m so annoyed that it feels like some of the shiny has been rubbed off.
So, I’m thinking of turning on some sort of comment moderation. I’m torn about it, especially since I spent a good couple of months sending out humiliating, “Hi! Your blog thinks I’m spam but I swear that I am in fact an upstanding member of the blogging community who has just left and intelligent and insightful comment on your post so please please please take me out of the filter!” messages after WordPress decided that I was persona non grata. But I’m also sick of the tramadol people posting comments 17 times a day. I don’t want to control the conversation or impose some sort of police state on the comments–I’m a big believer of the Greater Fuckwad Theory of the Internet (and also Rule 34, but that’s a completely different post)–but I do want the spamming to end.
Oh, and speaking of fuckwads and imposing a police state, is anyone else having trouble with commenting over on iVillage? I’ve had at least half a dozen emails asking me what’s happened to someone’s comment and my honest answer is “I don’t know; I’m just the blogger.” If there’s comment moderation going on, nobody told me. But then again, the last memo I got was, “you’re fired.” so I don’t think I’m exactly in the loop. I do think it’s odd though, that comments like Nat’s are being published, but longtime commenters are having theirs held. So, I’m asking you, is there something weird going on with the comments over there? Is that why I’m hardly getting any? Because I didn’t want to say anything, but holy radio silence, Batman!
Comment by Julie Pippert
A blogging buddy of mine just shut off comments. Says she enjoys blogging a lot more now. Short term, long term, who knows. I do know that comments are the greatest high and lowest low for me in blogging. Sometimes posts ripped out of my heart get 5 comments and “ha ha ha my laundry mildewed in the washer I left it there so long” gets 35. We’ve posted explorations of this at BlogRhet…if you haven’t read, the comments to that are interesting!
GL figuring it out. And when you do, let the rest of s know.
Posted on October 17, 2007 at 10:10 pm
Comment by ann adams
I haven’t been over there lately but I think I had trouble getting a comment through when I was there before.
In a little over two years, I’ve had one evil troll and maybe half a dozen spams (if that many). Word verification on blogspot seems to be doing its job and I’ve never wanted comment moderation. It strikes me as elitist even though I understand the reasoning. I’d still have to read the comments and delete them to what’s the point.
Verification (some kind of code) makes sense.
I love comments. If it hadn’t been for comments, you and I wouldn’t have met.
Posted on October 17, 2007 at 10:35 pm
Comment by ann adams
should be “so what’s the point”. What I obviously need is a proofreader.
Posted on October 17, 2007 at 10:36 pm
Comment by sheenu
i’m here and still reading…ever since the solo mum days! apologies for being a silent reader. i know what you mean about the value of feedback/comments.
will try and make my presence felt more often!
keep writing.
s
Posted on October 18, 2007 at 4:08 am
Comment by Nikki
Hi there. I’ve been reading for quite a while now, but have never commented. Thought now might be a good time. And I’ll definitely comment more often. So glad you started THIS blog. I don’t know what’s going on at iVillage, but I definitely don’t like it. I’ve been reading a few blogs over there. But I think I’m done now….
Posted on October 18, 2007 at 8:09 am
Comment by landismom
OMG, I get more spam than comments every day–though happily, the akismet filter keeps them out of my email in-box. Still, there’s nothing quite so depressing as going to my blog’s dashboard and seeing that I got yet another 70 spam that are advertising porn and prescription drugs.
Moderate away. You shouldn’t have to read that stuff in your email.
Posted on October 18, 2007 at 8:27 am
Comment by Eden
Penis viagra boobs bigger thicker longer stronger
There. I’ve done my part.
Posted on October 18, 2007 at 10:58 am
Comment by Kirsten
I KNOW!!! It’s making me crazy — here I am with all my radical lactivist vitriol and I’m silenced!! That Nat-weirdo soooo needs to be taken down. I’m being reduced to nonsensical half-comments, shouted aloud to the screen: “…try nursing a 3 year old!” “….Peeing???!!!! what??!!” “your family needs to get a grip and understand that boobies are for babies….”
I think I can calm down now. I’m gonna go read Mothering.com.
Posted on October 18, 2007 at 11:29 am
Comment by Stacey
Span in your notes? That is a whole new low for spammers. Glad to see your still willing to be open though at leat for the time being.
Posted on October 18, 2007 at 11:56 am
Comment by bubandpie
Do those word verification thingies help?
I took mine off and for awhile I was getting a fair bit of spam, but lately it’s died off (knock wood).
Posted on October 18, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Comment by Boo'sMommy
I just saw a new post over @ Ivillage from you - did they hire you back?
And then just not let you get comments? I am confused!
Posted on October 18, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Comment by webmaster
No Boo. I’m just finishing out my contract. I’ll be there until December 7th. I’d stay here though. Those posts are because I have to; these ones are because I WANT to. I’m sure you can tell the difference.
Posted on October 18, 2007 at 4:34 pm
Comment by thordora
BOOBIES!
Had to do it.
Posted on October 19, 2007 at 10:15 am
Comment by Carrie
I’ve stopped going to Ivillage. I read you here and Fish at her travel blog. There wasn’t anyone else besides GG that I liked there.
Posted on October 19, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Comment by Kate
Hey there, you know I read, constantly, in fact I have just set you as my home page again (how scaryily stalkerish is that!!). I was tempted to add rude words but everyone else took them all.
Anyhow, Im thinking that the request for an email addy isn’t helping to stop the crap so maybe go for a letter or word verifier, we won’t complain promise!!
Posted on October 19, 2007 at 4:50 pm