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

On Wed, 09 Jan 2008 01:00:02 -0500, quasi <quasi@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Tue, 8 Jan 2008 21:39:04 -0800 (PST), "Mariano Suárez-Alvarez"
<mariano.suarezalvarez@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Jan 8, 10:10 pm, The World Wide Wade <aderamey.a...@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 people using this convention (probably, sci.math
regulars) are going to filter posts by newbies not aware
of the convention?

Read some of the replies -- this issue has been already addressed in
two different ways ...

(1) Having a continually posted advisory (kind of like an FAQ).

and/or

(2) Having some regulars who volunteer (in shifts) to scan unfiltered
messages so as to directly advise newcomers

But understand that it's a tradeoff.

I suspect we have already turned off many potential new participants
due to the deluge of spam. I'm sure we have lost some regulars as
well, for the same reason. Moreover, I'll bet some current regulars
are near the point of bailing out.

So sure, there is a definite chance of losing some valid posts by
those who are unaware of the convention and who don't see the
continually posted FAQ, but the tradeoff works in favor of the health
of sci.math.

I think it's a better choice than switching to a moderated group.
Almost no work required (since no moderators), and no direct
censorship.

quasi
.

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