I’ve had a few emails and comments recently suggesting that I allow all comments, at least once they have made it through one of any number of spam filters, to be approved by default and then moderated only as a double check.
Much as I would love to do this, and I really would, it simply won’t work. And now, before I push Upstart Blogger into what I hope will be the next phase in it’s continuing pattern of growth, is an ideal time to explain why it won’t work and why it will probably never work.
Comment spam filters weed out obvious spam comments. The advertisements for enhancement products, and I’m sure you know exactly what I’m talking about, are often so clumsy and crass, much like their eventual customers no doubt, that they are easy to spot and swat automatically.
These filters allow the vast majority of blogs to stay spam free.
The problem, for me in any case, arises when a blog achieves a position where it’s audience is great in both number and intellect, and therefore extremely valuable to potential advertisers.
Upstart Blogger has an intelligent readership that is growing, day by day and month by month, in number.
And that makes Upstart Blogger a preferred target for the more personal and inventive spam pushers. Over the weekend, for instance, Upstart Blogger attracted fifteen comments all of which were very subtle spam. Links to various make-money-blogging schemes, that sort of thing. Six of these comments were heavily disguised affiliate links to the biggest scam in the blogosphere, the reverse funnel system. All of these comments made it through the filters since they were hand written and showed no obvious signs of malicious intent.
Even captcha systems won’t stop these people since they are just that, people. They can read the distorted letters and numbers, do the mathematics, or perform whatever hoop jump is required of them. Such captcha systems would simply annoy legitimate contributers.
When I took the reigns of this blog I made it clear that I had no time for the scam bloggers. I value and respect everyone who reads this blog and I am very careful about who I link to.
I moderate comments because it is the only way I can make 100% certain that nothing nefarious slips through the net. As soon as a bullet proof comment spam filter makes an appearance I will be amongst the first to give it server space.
Is it not possible to block comments with links in them, and let others trough?
Big fan. I use modio in my blog… though it’s got to change as sadly I might have broken it and it doesn’t display correctly on all browsers.
But that’s not what this comment is about. I use Spam Karma 2 (a Wordpress plugin) and it’s almost unbeatable. When it has been beaten it’s an easy fix and it seems to improve each time.
Worth a look at least?
Be well,
Irv
Doesn’t WordPress have a setting to allow people who have already made a good, “ham” comment to automatically be approved and skip the moderation queue?
Ashley - I definitely see where you’re coming from. I struggle with moderation on my blog, where I write heavily about multi-level marketing schemes. The members of these schemes spend inordinate amounts of time trolling the internet for any chance (no matter how slim) to market their scams. My blog attracts them, and quite simply, I don’t allow them to promote their junk. The only way I can stop that is through moderation, but it’s inconvenient for my regular (good) commenters. I wish there was a better way.
I’ve said before, as Josh pointed out, that you could allow previously approved commentors to skip the moderation queue. You’ll still be moderating the conversation, it just won’t be help up while you do.
Ack spammers of the spawn of Satan. I am getting tons again at the moment and it drives me mad. Evil spam gits. (And I am one of the intelligent readers, hee hee.)