Well done HQ

ok. I have copied and pasted gransnet HQ's reply. I presume that that is ok with GNHQ.

Hi soontobe,

When it comes to spammers, we do need the thread to be reported to us as there's no guarantee we will have seen it. It also helps if that person then posts on the thread to say that they've already reported it - otherwise we're flooded with reports of the same thread/post! But this isn't a hard and fast rule, and the spamming rules are separate from the trolling ones, as they aren't the same thing. Interacting with them is generally short lived, as we try to delete spam as soon as possible, but there's no particular rule against it. It's generally up to the poster themselves (unless what they're posting is abusive/unacceptable in turn).

Hope that clears it up.

Best,
GNHQ

They do not see spammers as trolls.

I will still say that I still cant see why writing "reported" at night is any different from day time.
But GNHQ are the boss, so anyone can do what they like with regards to spammers.
[They did send this to me earlier today, but I wasnt around much]

Ah! I see! You think that writing "reported" is the same as reporting it and GNHQ getting it deleted, It's not. You report it via the "report" button on the pinky-mauve strip above the post. GNHQ delete it when they get the message - but they are not there at night, so it has to wait until they get to work in the morning.

You have not reported any, then?

#laptops

No, I havent reported any.

I think I understand how to report though.
If say POGS at night, writes "reported" on her post, and then presses the pinky-mauve Report on the strip, GNHQ receives the report. And then acts on it in the morning.

I am not sure if I am confused or not?!

I have reported spam to GNHQ on occasion but haven't usually bothered to post "reported". I shall do so in future if the occasion arises again.

Apologies in advance but what is spam' and how is that different from 'trolling' (I thought a troll was an Alpine dwarf in myths and legends)

I don't think you have quite got it soontobe.

A troll deliberately causes trouble. Spam is more to do with sneaking an unauthorised advert in under the wire.

Loopyloo - spam posts are similar to spam e-mails. They are generally trying to sell goods or services which may or may not exist sometimes with the idea of getting personal details of anyone who responds. For example the e-mails purporting to come from HMRC saying that you are due a tax rebate when what they want to do is get your bank details.

Trolling is where someone will pick on someone when responding to replies on threads on various social media. Some of this trolling can be very nasty. Trolling can also be of a more general nature where people post hoax threads on a website.

Spam/reporting tutorial coming up.

"Spam" is a post intended to make you buy something, or get you to follow a link to someone's website so that you boost their visitor numbers. At is an advert of a kind, not from a real member, but someone who has just joined so as to be able to send a post advertising what they want to sell or promote. Very often they are part of a bulk post-out, like the junk mail that comes through the letterbox with monotonous frequency and goes straight into the recycling. (From the Monty Python song, where spam is everywhere)

A "troll" is someone who joins to send a post pretending to be what they are not, so as to con people into responding. Often they post something controversial or insulting so as to get people all worked up to answer, then they reply with something even more insulting, or else they act as though they are really hurt and upset by the sharp answer they got and are going to leave Gransnet because of it. Then some people are concerned about this hurt poster and get into a fight with whoever argued with them in the first place. Meanwhile the troll is reading it all with glee and laughing their socks off.

To report a post, you click on the "report" button. That brings up a reporting window where you can choose whether you are reporting it as spam or for some other reason. Submitting that sends it to GNHQ and you get back an automatic acknowledgement. Then after someone has looked at the post you are reporting, it is either deleted or not, as they decide. you get a proper answer from GNHQ then. THAT is why it makes a difference whether it is day (when someone can delete it quickly) or night (when it waits until someone is on duty)

Adding a post saying reported is a separate move. you can do it or not.

If you want to see the reporting window for yourself, you can see it by clicking on "report" for any post - it only sends the report once you submit it so you can back off without sending it.

hope this helps.

But spammers cause trouble. And hurt. No?

x post with Elegran.
I will now settle done for the tutorial.

How do spammers cause hurt? Probably a pain in a backside or two at GNHQ, but - hey! [shrug]

The worst they can do is clutter the threads up and break our train of posts.

Thank you very much for taking the effort to post the long post Elegran.