What to do with users like this? Advertising in posts

[Lucius]

I often see users promoting their websites by posting one line of text, or others who do the same thing by posting a wall of text with their links in it. I report them to moderators as advertising, especially if it's a forum user who does this systematically.

Three days ago I reported one user who is doing promotion of his news site for months on this forum, report is still unhandled and this is a bit odd when looking at the post history of this user. I wonder why things like this aren't punished instantaneously and with temp bans? This would certainly be a clear message that such behavior is not acceptable.

Reported post : Bitcoin Price Analysis: What Has Triggered 30% Surge?
User Post History : Prateek_sharma

Another example of how to promote exchange by posting something relevant and useful :

Breaking Down FUD on Halvings/Promoting My Exchange Edit: // thread deleted.

[Welsh]

I'd say temp ban due to most of their posts being of low quality, and obviously trying to push a website with their low quality posts too. Its up to the global moderators what they deem temp ban worthy though. If they were at least putting some major effort into the posts before linking their website then I could understand this not being so black, and white. However, that certainly isn't the case here.

The global moderators probably deal with 1000s of reports a day, and it might take them a little while to get through all of them. Especially, when handling bans.

[dkbit98]

I don't think this post you reported is promoting anything, that news website is not his probably,
and no need for all members to write long and boring posts as they would mostly be edited copy/paste.

But maybe he should move some of his previous post to proper sections.

[Welsh]

I don't think this post you reported is promoting anything, that news website is not his probably,
and no need for all members to write long and boring posts as they would mostly be edited copy/paste.

But maybe he should move some of his previous post to proper sections.

It doesn't have to be their website, though. These posts are still very low quality. Some of his posts are literally "Alright".  Although, apparently the user has written up a review on the website  that they're constantly posting about;

Hey Everyone!

I wrote up a nice Lbank review. I would love to hear your thoughts on the lbank exchange and their features.

Take A quick look at: Lbank Review

Please let me know if you have any questions about the Lbank review!

Almost every single post is pushing that website, and for the ones that aren't promoting the website they are very low quality posts. Plus they aren't even participating in the threads that they're posting. Thus, I would deem that as the only reason for posting; to advertise the website, and would fall under this guideline:

24. Advertisements (including signatures within the post area) in posts aren't allowed unless the post is in a thread you started and is really substantial and useful.[9][e]

[tmfp]

I actually left that account negative trust due to the scams it was promoting in these sneaky posts.
At the same time another legendary was meriting them.
WTF.

[Deathwing]

There are a few of those in the Turkish section and every time I see it, I immediately report them. It is so damn annoying to see, several lines of somewhat comprehensible information and just a read more link to their own website.

They have levelled up recently though, I've seen one of the sites giving a tutorial on how to buy Bitcoin/Ethereum etc. with Credit Card (very short, few lines and sites with no detail whatsoever) and then linking their own site so that you can purchase there.


If there were to be rule implemented to combat this, I would be all for it.

[dkbit98]

Well I proposed not allowing newbies to post outside links or create topics, but I was attacked by some oldtime members...
like it would be some kind of members right violation or something idk

[Harlot]

I don't say that I lile what we have now but I think site promotions regarding sites related to artivles, news, blogs are harmless as long as it's relevant and not about the main purpose of the thread. But for posts with links involving money then this should be heavily moderated as they are illegaly promoting something outside of the signature area. Yes website links for articles are also promoting their site but as long as it's relevant to Bitcoin and crypto I think that we should give them a pass.

[Deathwing]

Well I proposed not allowing newbies to post outside links or create topics, but I was attacked by some oldtime members...
like it would some kind of members right violation or something idk

No. This would kill almost all of the announcements threads. The whole problem is not Newbie's posting links. There are a lot of helpful newbies helping each other out there. The problem is some websites, mostly news and/or site that you can purchase coins from with a lot of commission do this. The best way to deal with this is just nuking these specific accounts who keep doing this.

[hugeblack]

If he writes that news and the wording in the subject is good, I don't think that can be considered spam.
Therefore, the ruling differs from one user to another and it is better to give a temporary ban as mentioned by @Welsh.

I actually left that account negative trust due to the scams it was promoting in these sneaky posts.
At the same time another legendary was meriting them.
WTF.

I do not think that you will search the history of user posts before sending Merits. that topic (alone) does not seem to be a Spam topic> Maybe those who gave Merit admired the content of the article.

[Jet Cash]

I think OgNasty may have awarded the merits because he thought the thread might create interesting discussion, and that is something that merit sources should do. Unfortunately being a merit source is quite an onerous and unpaid responsibility, and we don't have time to research  all of the posters we review. The only thing that we can do is to put the posters on ignore, but something has to trigger that action ( such as all caps titles, or quote pyramids ).

[Bttzed03]

There are some users doing the same in boards like Altcoin Discussion.

"I was looking for.......and then I saw website xxx"
"My friend told me about website xxx"

or something like that.

I don't say that I lile what we have now but I think site promotions regarding sites related to artivles, news, blogs are harmless as long as it's relevant and not about the main purpose of the thread.

At least they can tell a little about what's in the article and then write something like "you can read the full article at website xxx".

[TalkStar]

Reported post : Bitcoin Price Analysis: What Has Triggered 30% Surge?
User Post History : Prateek_sharma

Yep you are right, this user is using the link of "Coinpedia.org" from the beginning and i found something interesting this after checking his post history. Its clearly intentional and most probably he is the owner of this website. Every single time he used the same website link.

Here is some post link:

1. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5122674.msg51136458#msg51136458
2. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5144188.msg51089232#msg51089232
3.https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1607111.msg51147953#msg51147953

Another interesting thing is that he also advertised an exchange website which is not active now.

Here is the exchange link: https://airfio.com (Inactive now)
His post link where he encouraged others to use this exchange;

1. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5137037.msg50980719#msg50980719
2. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5141771.msg50993601#msg50993601
3. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5137534.msg50920599#msg50920599

[JeromeTash]

I remember that chap so well... almost every post he makes, they are low quality and always directing people to read more from his website including scams. That's why i even had to leave a negative feedback to his profile despite several warnings.

I don't think this post you reported is promoting anything, that news website is not his probably,
and no need for all members to write long and boring posts as they would mostly be edited copy/paste.

But maybe he should move some of his previous post to proper sections.

Look through his post history again... There is on particular website he keeps mentioning

[tmfp]

I actually left that account negative trust due to the scams it was promoting in these sneaky posts.
At the same time another legendary was meriting them.
WTF.

I do not think that you will search the history of user posts before sending Merits.

I do.

Unfortunately being a merit source is quite an onerous and unpaid responsibility, and we don't have time to research  all of the posters we review.

Make time, or don't leave it.

[Bightening]

Another example of how to promote exchange by posting something relevant and useful :

Breaking Down FUD on Halvings/Promoting My Exchange

I’ll like to read this post, and boost my knowledge but when you click the link, it says, ‘The topic or board you are looking for appears to be either missing or off limits to you.’

By the way, The Forum already has created a good feature to advertise your website, and that’s SIGNATURE You can decide to advertise your website there.

[Harlot]

I don't say that I lile what we have now but I think site promotions regarding sites related to articles, news, blogs are harmless as long as it's relevant and not about the main purpose of the thread.

At least they can tell a little about what's in the article and then write something like "you can read the full article at website xxx".

That's really how you can contribute and be relevant to the forum without having the real intentions of just promoting your website here. I've seen different ways of this people on how they want to advertise/promote their website mostly the ones sharing articles are having a conversation with their thread, the ones promoting their services are not and is more interested in answering questions regarding their business rather than what the other things they have posted just to promote their link on the post.

[hosseinimr93]

In my opinion, users like Prateek_sharma should be banned.
There is no problem if someone makes a post and refer to a news website, but when all of the posts are referred to specific websites, that's abusing bitcointalk. Because they are using bitcointalk for another purpose.

[Thirdspace]

I don't think this post you reported is promoting anything, that news website is not his probably,
and no need for all members to write long and boring posts as they would mostly be edited copy/paste.

how can you say he is not promoting... he is promoting the site! making backlinks to boost his site
check his post history, all of his post always linking out to coinpedia.org pages

I'd say temp ban due to most of their posts being of low quality, and obviously trying to push a website with their low quality posts too.

agree, he makes it look like he creates a legit thread for a discussion on something
but his true intention is to create many backlinks to improve his site's seo rank and get visitors/pageviews
I support a temp ban for a warning, then a permanent ban if he repeats it again

[Lucius]

The global moderators probably deal with 1000s of reports a day, and it might take them a little while to get through all of them. Especially, when handling bans.

I know there are just a few mods, and they need to handle a huge number of reported posts, but in this case, they seem rather hesitant to do something. This user is doing the same thing for months, and I think my report is not the first one.

I don't think this post you reported is promoting anything, that news website is not his probably,

That's your opinion, but think about what a forum would look like if everyone was doing the same thing as the mentioned user? Not only that it is a spam, but also advertising against forum rules.

I’ll like to read this post, and boost my knowledge but when you click the link, it says, ‘The topic or board you are looking for appears to be either missing or off limits to you.’

I reported this post, and the whole thread is deleted, that's why you only get that message.