Spammers and timewasters

[Petal]

So, am I alone in wanting to just read interesting threads from fellow makers/enthusiasts, rather than sifting through the spammers and timewasters?

What about if new and old members had to pay a £1 one off fee. Surely this would get rid of them ..?

What do others think?

[CJ57]

I want a £73k Cartier necklace, that’s what I think:)

[Petal]

hahaha and someone with that kind of money to spend on me! :-D

[china]

Unfortunately it is just part of the internet these days.

[ps_bond]

The easy way to get rid of spammers is click on the "report post" button, at which point some mindless drone (me) will remove the offending post and banish the perpetrators.

[CJ57]

The easy way to get rid of spammers is click on the "report post" button, at which point some mindless drone (me) will remove the offending post and banish the perpetrators.
Sometimes it’s difficult to tell whether it’s spam or….:/

[ps_bond]

True. Which is why I tend to look at the IP address location as a guide. Certain origins are more likely to be spam than others.

[CJ57]

True. Which is why I tend to look at the IP address location as a guide. Certain origins are more likely to be spam than others.
Is that something only you can do?

[josef1]

Thanks for doing this Peter, I know Its a constant battle but this forum is good.

[nicks creative stuff]

I would second that…. Thanks for doing what you do…. This forum is excellent….. Nick

[ps_bond]

Is that something only you can do?

The IP address? I think it's a mod/admin function only. But I always look at new posters.
Noting that IP geolocation isn't always correct; it usually manages the correct country though.

[CJ57]

The IP address? I think it's a mod/admin function only. But I always look at new posters.
Noting that IP geolocation isn't always correct; it usually manages the correct country though.
So what was the point of the Cartier post? It’s so much easier to check on the many dodgy emails I get by clicking on the sender and seeing what their actual address is.There are an incredible amount of scams going on there for all sorts of reasons but I can never really work out why you’d want to do it on here especially if it’s just time wasting

[Rotsco]

I've been here a millisecond so maybe I have a differing perspective but is there a reason these posts aren't taken at face value?

Using the Cartier necklace post as an example it could be that the poster is an active viewer, genuinely wants to know if something they are approaching, or considering approaching is possible and would like the thoughts of the experienced artists here. That is one of the reasons the forums subcategory exists isn't it?

Due to the fact there are a lot of very skilled artists here, it can be quite intimidating to even present yourself.
From an outsiders perspective, the forums can be seen to be quite insular. Having your intentions promptly put in question just exacerbates this.

There is a wealth of experience and information to be shared here which is something you should all be proud of.
Despite having what could be no other similarities, it would seem that every person here has a shared interest and a desire to better their craft.
Which I hope is never seen as a waste of time.

[josef1]

I've been here a millisecond so maybe I have a differing perspective but is there a reason these posts aren't taken at face value?

Using the Cartier necklace post as an example

I agree with your comment but I will add that I think you get a feel for what posts are genuine and which are spam after been here a while. The average post is not usually about ripping off a $73,000 necklace and I doubt if your were in a position to make this for a customer you would not be asking on a forum how to make it. I think people are willing to share and help but they don't want to feel they are wasting their time. I could be wrong and it could be a genuine post and If it is I'm sorry for been defensive. I think its made by machine and you would need special tooling for it then assembled by hand possibly either way it would be a night mare to do !!

[Petal]

I agree with your comment but I will add that I think you get a feel for what posts are genuine and which are spam after been here a while. The average post is not usually about ripping off a $73,000 necklace and I doubt if your were in a position to make this for a customer you would not be asking on a forum how to make it. I think people are willing to share and help but they don't want to feel they are wasting their time. I could be wrong and it could be a genuine post and If it is I'm sorry for been defensive. I think its made by machine and you would need special tooling for it then assembled by hand possibly either way it would be a night mare to do !!

I agree with you Joseph. When you've been on here a few years you get to feel who is genuine and who is a time waster. If posters were genuine, then they should introduce themselves, rather than jumping in with 'can you help me with this' blah blah. That's the point at which I switch off, log out and do something else!

[CJ57]

As I feel that the criticism about the Cartier post was aimed at me then I would like to point out that the original post said the customer wanted one as per the photos. It said that the pendant was no problem and as it was a large topaz surrounded by diamonds it was probably a project way above most of our capabilities and I wanted to congratulate them on their skill. If the skill level was of that standard I wondered why help was needed in making the collar. An idea of the budget given the price of the original would also have been of interest and I still say it is illegal to copy a Cartier and who could afford the outlay.
We are in the main really happy to offer advice where we can if it’s realistic. We do so with good humour and patience but we also have other things to do. An evasion of answers to specific questions from any of us is usually a sign that we have to get back to our own lives. If you think we are hard then you should try some of the professional jewellery forums on FB and you would have been sent away with a very rude flea in your ear because some of them take no prisoners.
Not much else to say on this, it’s been a very long lockdown!

[Rotsco]

I apologise if I've caused any offence in any way, or seemed ungrateful.
Truth told it's been a trying year for a lot of people, and I'm seeing more and more people reach out online for some sense of community or connection.
Chalk my comments up to misguided concern.

[ps_bond]

...the customer wanted one as per the photos. It said that the pendant was no problem and as it was a large topaz surrounded by diamonds...

I've had a few of those too. "I want a 1ct diamond in platinum, with diamonds all over it and my budget is £300".

[CJ57]

I've had a few of those too. "I want a 1ct diamond in platinum, with diamonds all over it and my budget is £300".
Given the original was £73k I would have been interested in the budget for a remake

[ps_bond]

Re spammers - case in point this morning:

6 posts in 10 mins ish.
Posting on years-old threads.
No additional content in any posts.
IP address tallies with frequent offenders.

[CJ57]

Aw I missed them, nothing like a bit of spam for breakfast!
Is there a point? Is it always to eventually post a link or is just time wasting? Given the more contrived spam going about such as the PayPal purchases these always seem a bit lame

[Dennis]

They were all replies to ancient threads, but the one I opened was at least relevant to the subject, i.e. gemstones. Had they stuck to one or two, they might have been accepted.

[Petal]

So, going back to my question - why don't we pay a very small fee, as surely this would eradicate all the spammers ?

[china]

So, going back to my question - why don't we pay a very small fee, as surely this would eradicate all the spammers ?

That's not what forums are about

[mizgeorge]

Quite apart from putting off huge numbers of visitors, the administration involved would be mind-bogglingly complicated - and that's before you start thinking about international conversions, taxes, databases and more.

Spammers are a way of life on most forums - I think Peter does a fantastic job of keeping them under control, single handed now for many years since all our other mods and admins fell by the wayside, and whilst I'd happily contribute to a thank you to him for that at a personal level, Cookson's already get most of my money...

[Dennis]

Even if we proposed using SpamOff it would take months of health and safety checks before we got permission.

[ps_bond]

That's not what forums are about

Some are, some ask for a payment for upkeep in return for increased features (access to sales, that kind of thing).
Remembering that this is Cooksons' forum, and they call the shots - the primary purpose is for its customers to use.