Re: One way to combat spam in sci.math ...

On Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:10:28 -0800, The World Wide Wade
<aderamey.addw@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

would be to include a code word, that we all agree on, in the subject
line. For example: (Newton). Eg, the subject line of this post in this
scheme would be

One way to combat spam in sci.math ... (Newton)

We could then create a filter in our newsreaders to kill all posts in
sci.math whose subject line did not include "(Newton)".

So as not to visually distract, I recommend a single non-alpha
character, placed at the beginning (to allow easy sorting).

For example, a hyphen.

Of course anyone, even spammers, could still use a leading hyphen, but
most of the spammers are oblivious, so it should work.

If others think a leading hyphen is ok, I'm willing to start
immediately, as an experiment, just to see how well it works.

One obvious issue is that new arrivals to the group will be unaware
and thus their messages would get filtered out by those regulars who
ignore all messages without the leading symbol. One way to resolve
issue that is to have, at any given time, some regulars who are "on
duty", volunteering to scan for legitimate posts by newcomers, and
advising them to repost with the appropriate subject line prefix.

quasi
.

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