Not as private

I posted this for Greg in Technical Support but thought I'd repost here for those not aware:

I thought off topic was now only visible to active members but I see a post by a brand new person not even at their 3 day active level posting there.
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....st-1310747
I think it's likely spam for their own store, but not sure. Anyway, my concern is that it's still not quite as private as I think many of us assumed, if a very first post can get in there with likely a quick search of key word (I assume this person searched YOGA to get to this particular post).

So just a heads up that some of the personal things you might be sharing can be seen by those who aren't even active members yet.

9 years ago

Off Topic

9 replies

Latest reply was from viva

Greg

Administrator

This is a good reminder. Off Topic was never intended to be *private*, and while off topic threads are less easy to find they are not completely private. It is really what the title says: a place to post things that are not related to the topics of fashion and style. This also allows people to create off topic lookfab blog posts.

As we said when we opened these new categories:

"Please note that your posts in this category, like posts in any other, are open to the Internet. So the normal words of caution apply."

Here's the original post on the off topic and style exchange categories: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....categories

Regarding active members: when these categories first opened, anyone could see them and the topics were always on the front page of the forum. The restriction was that only active members could post new topics there. Later some members pointed out that this created confusion, so we made the topics only appear on the front page for members (all members) and allowed all members to post.

So it isn't a bug that a spammer could post in the off topic category.

9 years ago

(website)

Veteran

Ah, got it. Thanks. I thought it was Active members only who could access it, not just post new in it.

9 years ago

Peri

Veteran

Not the same thing, but I was wondering what those weird posts that show up from time to time are? They have an odd title and then are pure nonsense when you check them out. There have been a few in recent days. They do say a member posted them. Someone actually went to the trouble to register just to post a bunch of junk?

9 years ago

Greg

Administrator

Peri, yes, it is highly likely that what you saw was spam. There is no accounting for the crazy stuff that gets posted by spammers.

I have measures in place to stop automated spammers, but there are places around the world where companies employ legions of people just to sign up manually to forums to post spam.

If you ever see something like this just mark it as spam immediately.

9 years ago

(website)

Veteran

Peri, I think it's lost in translation - those mumbo jumbo posts. Maybe some automated translation program screws it all up changing it from, say Japanese, into English?

9 years ago

Anonymous

Thanks for the clarification on this Mo and Greg. Re spammers- I've noticed a lot of those gobbledegook spam posts when I'm on first thing of a morning UK time and I get rid of them straight away. My son calls me the spam ninja!

9 years ago

Greg

Administrator

Thanks Diane. That is much appreciated. Most of the spam accounts seem to be created around midnight out time, so it makes sense that you would see them first thing in the morning.

9 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Diane, so sweet of you!

I zap 'em when I see 'em, too. Gives me great pleasure!

9 years ago

viva

Veteran

Mo, thanks for pointing this out. It's my own laziness, but I have definitely been lulled into feeling Off-Topic was more private, probably because some of us use it for really personal issues when we need support. It's the downside (upside?) of being a part of such a great community. I really appreciate the gentle wake-up.

9 years ago

Category