I won't visit your site, if you post links with every comment.
Not sure where to post this. There isn't a "Bitch and Moan" section.
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I find it irritating and distasteful that some people post links to their website or blog, with each comment they make at Serious Eats Talk. I'm not talking about references or contributing information to the topic at hand. I'm talking about making pseudo-signatures after each post.
I understand S.E. doesn't have a full-blown forum with "signatures" and such, but that's no reason to be Spammers with your URL.
As somebody who has been Admin over a large active forum in the past, I understand everybody wants visitors. Everybody wants traffic. That's normal.
But I just want to say right now, those who spam their address at the end of their posts -- It's a TURN-OFF, and is having the opposite effect than you intended, at least on me. It makes me want to NEVER visit your site, and it gives me a bad impression.
Anyway, just a little early Saturday morning rant. I apologize. No offense intended to the signature spammers. Just being honest. :)
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Comments are closed: 40 Comments:
I don't have a problem with it, and can't even see how that can be compared to spammers(I own a internet business, so I know what I am talking about).
In this foodie family I enjoy having the opportunity to view the blogs, so I can see a little more about that person, and see what recipes and thoughts they have to offer the world.
Just my thoughts...
Lilartist at 8:03AM on 06/14/08
I've actually enjoyed visiting many blogs due to their use as a "signature" on posters' comments. It's kind of a non-issue really. If I've visited the link a poster uses as a signature, I don't really notice it in subsequent posts.
chiff0nade at 8:32AM on 06/14/08
Doesn't bother me one iota if they're contributing, not just advertising. In fact, it makes it easy to visit and I appreciate easy.
PerkyMac at 8:32AM on 06/14/08
JUST DON'T CLICK ON THEM!!!
Wow-----it's just that easy!
finsbigfan at 8:34AM on 06/14/08
I don't see a problem with it.
KarynMC at 8:58AM on 06/14/08
While I don't care because it hasn't gotten out of hand (yet), I can see your point, FFC, as we have an outlet for advertising one's website -- our profiles. If someone is so inclined to find out more about a poster, they can click on their profile, as I have done. There is a "website" section where one can put their blog or any website they wish instead of pimping it out each time they reply.
What REALLY bothers me is when people inject their large signatures every single @#$@#$ time they reply or forward an email message. The way blogs roll is almost like an email message, but the pseudo-sigs doesn't bother me here because they're easy to ignore...kinda like it's easy to ignore small animals along the side of the highway versus dead deer.
I'm also one of those people who hate the usage of "emails." Do people really say, "I received 3 mails today" when referring to mail they received in their physical mailbox?
Cassaendra at 9:08AM on 06/14/08
I am with Perky and finsbigfan.
izatryt at 9:10AM on 06/14/08
...kinda like it's easy to ignore small animals along the side of the highway versus dead deer.
@Cassaendra - Kind of a gory analogy but I see your point...ROFLMAO.
We don't have this problem here at SE but if you post on regular "bulletin" or "discussion" boards, signatures can literally take up inches in a post so when anyone posts "LOL" as a response, the signature makes up most of the response block. Now that's annoying.
chiff0nade at 9:36AM on 06/14/08
Your profile page is the preferred place to let everyone know about your blog or website. If signatures become a nuisance the way chiff0nade has described them, we may remove them from posts/comments.
Alaina Browne at 10:13AM on 06/14/08
FFC, I'm kind of with you, but not to the extent that I would have ever brought it up or flat out refused to visit a site. Because there is the profile page (and I have clicked on posters' profiles and then to their sites), and there are occasional "blogroll" threads. And of course, as you say, if it's relevant to the thread, then posting the link is fine.
It doesn't really bother me the way that most people do it here. But it's in the direction of shilling on the site, which I don't appreciate.
For an example of a truly offensive level of shillery, I'd look squarely at wineandfoodtube. Kudos to SE for taking the posts down promptly. I'm not sure what they think they are doing here, but it's irksome indeed.
Also, I don't really get signatures in general.
renzata at 10:22AM on 06/14/08
since you decided to be so "honest" I'll do the same in that spirit....
I usually do post my blog when I comment which is rare (I only speak when I feel I have a vaild opinion) but when I do, it usually relates to something on my blog, so I know you're not targeting me, however....
How can you be annoyed that someone tries to further themselves and perhaps a business they are trying to start by promoting it? Maybe someone on here goes to the site and tells their friend about it who tells their friend, who wants to advertise on their site? That should be stopped because it annoys you, or your eyes can't tolerate looking it? No one's spamming you, no one's forcing you to go to their blog.
I have an idea, start your own food website where this is not allowed....Remember though, don't advertise it anywhere, you wouldn't want traffic, right?
Get over it, sorry you're just not that special
www.flyboyznyc.com (all day, everyday like the weather channel)
Mheusler at 10:36AM on 06/14/08
How can you be annoyed that someone tries to further themselves and perhaps a business they are trying to start by promoting it? Maybe someone on here goes to the site and tells their friend about it who tells their friend, who wants to advertise on their site? That should be stopped because it annoys you, or your eyes can't tolerate looking it? No one's spamming you, no one's forcing you to go to their blog.
Get over it, sorry you're just not that special.
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Hey Mheeusier, you can kiss my big toe. Ok? :)
I was being friendly and not personal, but you've changed the tone. Anyway, Mr. Personality, that last line of yours.... "sorry you're just not that special"... is EXACTLY what I'm talking about. People posting their links as if THEY ... ARE... special.
But you are not interested in my friendly rant, or to see my point. You just want to twist it back on me. Again, to you Mheusier, I say kiss my big toe. In fact, I have 2 of them. Pucker up.
FastFoodCritic at 11:10AM on 06/14/08
For the record, I enjoy reading other people's blogs too. Love it!
When I find somebody that makes a post that I find interesting, I make a point to visit their profile and see if they have a website. If they do, I visit it. Simple as that.
And I was not not trying to be mean or nasty. I'm glad that at least a couple people, see the point I was trying to make.
By the way, Mheusier, I will borrow some toenail polish from my sister and paint my toes for you. How does that sound buddy?
FastFoodCritic at 11:16AM on 06/14/08
@FFC - Rock on! Looks like Mheusler got up on the wrong side of the rack today.
Since when is expressing your PERSONAL viewpoint a reason for you to be attacked in such a hostile manner? Can't we all agree to DISagree? You know what? I already have my toes painted. *Smack* *Smack* Mheusier!
izatryt at 11:26AM on 06/14/08
Lol sounds like you need a good shrink, I'd put the number on here but I don't want to advertise anybody and make you angrier......
Mheusler at 11:30AM on 06/14/08
1-800-you-nuts
izatryt at 11:39AM on 06/14/08
Personally, I'm not a big fan of gratuitous self-promotion, and I think that linking to your own site in comments falls under that category. Comments on a post should be relevant to that particular post, and a straight link back to your own site is sort of off-topic and, honestly, selfish. You shouldn't be "advertising" in comments - there are other ways to promote your site without adding noise to a comment thread.
It's like being in a conversation at a table, and every time you finish a sentence, before anyone gets a chance to reply, you hand every one at the table your business card.
maxpickles at 11:42AM on 06/14/08
It's like being in a conversation at a table, and every time you finish a sentence, before anyone gets a chance to reply, you hand every one at the table your business card.
ROFL I could picture that. Thanks for the tears of laughter! :D (yes, I'm weird)
Cassaendra at 11:51AM on 06/14/08
Oh, btw, I forgot to post my blog:
http://www.threepotato.blogspot.com
Okay, seriously. I don't see a problem with blogs in signatures or comment sections on blogs. I would have missed a lot of interesting ones (y'know, besides mine. Did you get the URL? Do I need to post it again?) if people hadn't put links in their signatures. That being said, short signatures are the way to go. Dropping a blog link doesn't have to take up inches. I find long quotes (as seen on many discussion boards) much more annoying.
And *everybody's* special, nimwits. :-)
And it *is* helpful when you're asking about recipes and ingredients to see links to related blog entries.
KarynMC at 12:01PM on 06/14/08
ROFLMAO - You guys never let me down in the humor department!
@maxpickles - I am dining with a large group tonight. Just for S&G I am going to do just that!! Too damn funny!
izatryt at 12:06PM on 06/14/08
@maxpickles: +1
Raphael at 12:44PM on 06/14/08
I'm with the OP on this one. While it hasn't really been abused too badly on SE, I tend to be annoyed and intentionally avoid the website of anyone doing that. It's kind of like being a leech.
I've seen it get to the point where people are so hard up for promoting their site that they just post very generic nonsense just so they can post their signature which includes a link. Like "Haha, good post." or something like that. Really hasn't gotten to that point on SE as far as I've seen.
wunami at 2:09PM on 06/14/08
Can't say that I ever noticed, or that having had it pointed out to me, care?
SB (has nothing to link to)
srhcb at 2:39PM on 06/14/08
Considering that the only "offenders" that come immediately to mind are polite, intelligent, active participants, and limit themselves to a single line - well, I think you're overreacting. If it were the case that we had people with 25 line signatures responding with three character responses, then I might care. But SE really doesn't have that problem (thank goodness!)
Of course, my personal SE peeve are the people who post a topic that looks like it might be valid, until you realize it's really just "hey, visit my site!" That annoys me to no end.
jenilowrance at 3:20PM on 06/14/08
ya know what annoys me?....people that come on here an say they're annoyed !!!
onepercent99 at 4:24PM on 06/14/08
Leave us remember that everyone's Momma thinks he or she is special.
And if you don't have a Momma, everyone's kid (under the age of 5, anyway) thinks that they are special.
And if you don't have a Momma or a kid, your dog thinks you are special.
I'm afraid I can't answer for your cat.
One of the absolutely best things about SE is the lack of acrimony here...I've stuck my neck out and written some pretty silly things because I know that in general people will receive me kindly.
I do include my url very frequently...y'all know that. I do want to build readership, and the people who visit here are in the 99th percentile of my target market: intelligent, knowledgeable, literate and interested in the topics about which I write.
I do, however, try to ONLY plug my blog when it has something to do with what we're discussing.
Sometimes I start self-serving topics and of course that's a plug too, but I figure that if I'm really out-of-place no one will respond, or Alaina and Adam and the rest of the SE editors will delete the topic. (They do that to me on Grub Street with humbling regularity).
annien at 5:15PM on 06/14/08
Ok, somebody here named chiff0nade just visited MY site and sent me a VERY nasty message thru my contact form, relating to my comments and this thread at Serious Eats talk.
Actually, it was more INSANE than "nasty".
FastFoodCritic at 6:01PM on 06/14/08
http://profiles.aim.com/chiff0nade
There is the profile link they sent with the message.
Ha! OK.
FastFoodCritic at 6:09PM on 06/14/08
"I already have my toes painted."
"great name for the pornographic superhero movie I never knew I wanted to see."
LOL... Now there's some comments that would make me visit their profile.
FastFoodCritic at 6:20PM on 06/14/08
After looking a bit deeper, I think the person who contacted me is NOT the real "chiff0nade". I can only assume now, it's somebody with a grudge against her.
chiff0nade posted in this thread. I just now realized it when searching her user name. And she doesn't sound like the type to send the message I received. Not to mention that profile page.. looking even closer now, it appears to be a complete joke / hoax.
Okie Dokie then... I'm not sure what we stepped into here, but let's please stop it and move on. I've already seen two old episodes of Twilight Zone this week. That's enough.
FastFoodCritic at 6:42PM on 06/14/08
FFC - As I explained when I replied to your e-mail, the (now banned) SE poster known as "Doc Chuck" is the one who contacted you. As you can see above, I replied on SE and didn't contact you off this site (until I replied to your e-mail).
In his e-mail to you, the offensive remarks about Ed Levine really gave him away. Doc Chuck impersonates me (using my real e-mail address) all over the web so I can collect the angry responses. Generally, once I explain his actions, the recipient of his attempt at ire winds up pitying him as much as I do.
As a matter of fact, that's how I found SE. I had to come here and clean up one of his messes. I cleared up what I had to and liked the site so I stayed.
You'd be surprised at the number of blog owners I've met because of his "hobby." Just today, a person contacted me on myspace and said, "the lunacy of the posts is hysterical." He's a huge joke and most everyone knows it.
chiff0nade at 7:29PM on 06/14/08
Oh, PS - The "profile" he left on your site is one he created using pretty much every photo of any family member he could find on my myspace page.
(and no, I'm NOT linking to it here.)
He actually e-mailed me and asked for a larger picture of my deceased mother so he could include her on this "impostor" profile and say crass things about her as well. This is really the mark of an unhinged mind.
chiff0nade at 7:34PM on 06/14/08
I've already seen two old episodes of Twilight Zone this week. That's enough.
May I give you a hearty LOLOLOL?
chiff0nade at 7:35PM on 06/14/08
@chiff........I googled that guy and saw what he's been doing to you on a different site and I'm just so sorry you have to deal with that. Any chance you're using a web based email that could get filled up or discontinued because you didn't log on for 3 months? Emails would get bounced back to the sender. You really need to abandon any address where he knows to contact you. He sounds dangerous to me. I am totally clueless about My Space and other blogs, but I hope you make him disappear.
PerkyMac at 7:59PM on 06/14/08
@Perky - thanks so much for your concern. If I abandon my e-mail address and online persona, he wins.
That's plain and simple not going to happen.
I've been posting on discussion boards and participating in online culinary communities for the better part of 16 years and it's going to take more than one deranged moron to undo that.
He's nothing more than a troll. I used to call him a stalker but that implies fear on my part. He started blathering three years ago and it's nothing but talk. He regurgitates the same crap over and over here and there, hoping to actually get someone to believe he's me. So far, he's batting zero.
chiff0nade at 8:21PM on 06/14/08
@chiff...........you're a talented class act, so he's attempting the impossible and is a sub-zero.
PerkyMac at 8:29PM on 06/14/08
Yes everyone, I have just spoken to the REAL chiff0nade and can confirm it's NOT the same person who contacted me using that name.
Wow, what a mess.
If anybody on the Serious Eats team is reading this, please feel free to close this thread, or delete it, whatever you think is best. It took a crazy turn off topic.
FastFoodCritic at 8:49PM on 06/14/08
For those just skimming the topic -- chiff0nade is OK, and did NOT send it.
Repeat -- chiff0nade is OK, and did NOT send it.
:)
FastFoodCritic at 8:53PM on 06/14/08
@FCC - There was NEVER a doubt in my mind!!
izatryt at 10:21PM on 06/14/08
@FFC and everyone: I was following this thread earlier today, went out for a bit and came back to the new turn in events here. I'm going to have to concur with the OP, FastFoodCritic, and say that it's pretty off topic now. So I'm going to close it. Thanks for the discussion on sigs. It's been an eye-opener to read what everyone thinks on the matter.
Adam Kuban at 10:50PM on 06/14/08