What's the definition of Spam?

1. 95

   Marisa Wrightposted 12 years ago

   Recently I've been browsing and found a number of Hubbers who fit this profile:
   
   They have anything from 1 to 10 Hubs, all about the same subject, usually text only.  They're fairly well written, and a good length, but they're mainly waffle - not much solid information.  All the Hubs have just one link, back to their website.
   
   Many of these Hubbers joined months ago and haven't written anything else since. 
   
   It's obvious they've written these Hubs purely as promotion for their own site - but because they are a good length and somewhat informative, I hesitate to report them as spam. 
   
   I got a bit p*d off with one of them yesterday and had a merry time, adding a (polite) comment to each of their Hubs with a link to my own article on the subject (I figured, if they're going to take advantage of HP, then I'm going to take advantage of them!). 
   
   My question is - are these Hubs spam or not?  And if not, are they fair game for the kind of reaction I had?

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   1. 83

      Maddie Ruudposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      If the content is duplicated elsewhere on the web, those hubs would be considered overly promotional.  If not, they're not, though repeatedly linking to their own site (and nothing else) across all of their hubs will affect their HubScore.

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2. 79

   darksideposted 12 years ago

   Can you spam a spammer?
   
   Do two wrongs make a right?
   
   I don't know. I'd just let them sink to oblivion. My guess is that a posted comment in a guestbook has positive HubScore weight.

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3. 95

   Marisa Wrightposted 12 years ago

   Does that mean you'd classify them as spam, Darkside?  Do you think I should've reported them?
   
   Yep, the "two wrongs don't make a right" thing was what was on my mind - just couldn't think of the expression at the time!

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   1. 79

      darksideposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I'd avoid posting in them on the basis that I wouldn't want to give the impression of doing the wrong thing.
      
      Given the circumstances you may not have done the wrong thing. Sometimes two wrongs can be a lot of fun! I'd love to give spammers the contempt that they deserve. But someone else may come along and see what you've done, not understand the situation, think you condone it and you're in the habit of doing it and then go run by your hubs and do the same. Thinking it's the done thing to do.
      
      But that's just my opinion.

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4. 69

   Mishaposted 12 years ago

   LOL Marisa,
   
   You got too much free time
   
   All what you described, even taken together, does not break any HP rule - to the best of my knowledge. We are allowed to reasonably promote our own sites as long as we contribute unique content.
   
   What you did however, was an outright spam IMO

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   1. 95

      Marisa Wrightposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, you're probably right - that's why I had an attack of the guilts this morning! 
      
      Thanks to Maddie for clarifying. I might do a bit of Googling and see what comes up.  I didn't think they could be classified as spam or low quality because they do have some content, which is why I didn't flag them.  You've confirmed what I thought - that however much I dislike seeing this kind of stuff around, it's not against any rules.

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5. 69

   Mishaposted 12 years ago

   I'm glad you survived that attack

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6. 95

   Marisa Wrightposted 12 years ago

   Yes, I think you're right Darkside.  Put it down to the fact that I was off sick with the flu and in a grumpy mood.  However,  I don't think they can complain too much  - I did leave a link to my Hub, but I left a different, relevant comment each time, so I wasn't totally mean! 
   
   As I'll be back at work tomorrow, I'm not likely to have the time to get up to that kind of mischief again for a while!

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7. 59

   topstuffposted 12 years ago

   You are very careful.

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8. 69

   Mishaposted 12 years ago

   Marisa, I don't mind you leaving a link to any of your hubs/sites when you drop a relevant comment to me.   This is definitely not a spam on my books.
   
   You were not doing yourself a justice when you started the thread, cause I read it the way your comments were not relevant and meaningful...

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   1. 76

      funrideposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Ditto .

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9. 73

   Stacie Naczelnikposted 12 years ago

   Marisa, you left links to hubs on the same subject, so I wouldn't consider that spam.  I allow comments like that on my hubs.  The ones I don't allow are ones like a comment left on my knitting hub with a link to a hub on "Hot Girls in Bikinis" - totally promotional and not at all relevant.
   
   Another thing about leaving comments on these hubs is that they might draw others to read them and comment also.  Sometimes I find new hubs to read by checking who is doing what on hubtivity.  I've found many a fabulous writer that way, but could potentially find crap too.

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   1. 79

      darksideposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Now how do you know those bikinis weren't knitted?
      
      
      
      

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      1. 84

         Susan Ngposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Haha!  That joke of yours actually reminded me of a very important thing that I often forget to do: See things from another perspective.
         
         Thanks for the lesson and the laugh.

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10. 60

    Mark Knowlesposted 12 years ago

    Any one ever eat real spam?

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    1. 66

       Shirley Andersonposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Oh yes, my mother used to serve it up fried....good with mustard, or cold in a sandwich.  Okay, maybe good isn't exactly the right word.
       
       I wrote an article about Spam when I was a Helium member.  Spam actually has a very fun and cool website.

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11. 73

    Stacie Naczelnikposted 12 years ago

    I've never eaten real spam.  But, I don't eat meat - real or fake.

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    1. 66

       Shirley Andersonposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Vegan or vegetarian?

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       1. 73

          Stacie Naczelnikposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          Vegetarian.
          
          I love cheese.

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          1. 61

             casparposted 12 years agoin reply to this

             I can live without Spam quite happily and I think I could live without meat (never tried to give it up), but I just know that life wouldn't be worth living without cheese.

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          2. 60

             Mark Knowlesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

             Venezuelan beaver cheese?

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             1. 73

                Stacie Naczelnikposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                Blek.
                
                So there.

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             2. 74

                rmrposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                Do I hear a bouzouki playing?

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12. 74

    rmrposted 12 years ago

    Spam is an excellent appetizer. Especially if the entree is hotdogs!

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13. 76

    R. Martin Bassoposted 12 years ago

    Along with being a part of national and international folklore, SPAM is the preferred dietary supplement of all Monty Python troupe performers, with the exception of John Cleese who converted to veganism in 1999 after learning that Hollywood production studios would not be resurrecting A FISH NAMED WANDA for a second installment sequel.  Mr. Cleese was so distraught over this that he thought it had something to do with Monty Python's now-infamous SPAM SONG of counter-culture folklore from the 1970's.
    At least that's one man's theory, but then again I've never been conventional.
    R. Martin Basso

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    1. 66

       Shirley Andersonposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       I have never considered this connection, but having seen every episode and the movies, it wouldn't surprise me.

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14. 69

    Mishaposted 12 years ago

    Poor fish
    
    

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