Tavern of the Blue Hand

prof1515 · 04-06-2006, 08:37 AM

Would it be (or is it) possible for someone to moderate/edit/remove false reviews? There have been frequent spammers using the review section to post porn links and related crap as "reviews" of MUDs. The most recent attacked is Harshlands, which has practically had daily "reviews" of this nature. Could these be removed and some measures be put in place to ensure that reviews are at least reviews of the MUD and not spam links to porn and other crap?

Take care,

Jason

Drealoth · 04-06-2006, 08:54 AM

I think the best thing to do would be to disable reviews for your MUD. The system here really sucks, in that anyone can submit anything as a review. Both Aardwolf and the IRE games have disabled reviews for (I imagine) this reason.

Valg · 04-06-2006, 09:54 AM

I think all it would take would be two moderators, with the stipulation that neither moderates reviews for any game(s) they are connected with.

Most of the reviews are fine. Just needs a little oversight.

As far as banning reviews of your game, we've always assumed that discerning readers could tell the difference between hatchet-jobs, fanboi-ism, and legitimate review, so we've left them open.

prof1515 · 04-06-2006, 10:49 AM

is what I'm refering to. This should simply be removed by TMS.

As it's not my MUD, it's not call. But I can't imagine any MUD wants this #### posted under their name.

Take care,

Jason

Anitra · 04-06-2006, 12:23 PM

Ouch! That is total crap, and spamming as well.

And apparently there are several different people doing the spamming too.

Where are the moderators when you actually need them?

the_logos · 04-06-2006, 01:35 PM

I know I have no way to moderate reviews, nor, frankly, am I interested in doing so. I don't even look at the reviews section.

--matt

prof1515 · 04-06-2006, 01:52 PM

The "reviews" in question have been removed. Thank you to Synoozer or whoever did so. If I get the chance, I'll try to find the other MUD that I noticed was afflicted by something similar a few months ago (not quite to the same extent but still bull**** all the same).

Take care,

Jason

prof1515 · 04-07-2006, 01:20 PM

Two more reappeared. Again targeting Harshlands. Can't the IP be banned or something?

Soleil · 04-07-2006, 02:37 PM

When people started posing as Vryce and writing reviews as him and also posting nonsense reviews full of cursing and the like, Synozeer suggested that we turn off reviews instead of him having to delete every one that was not really a review.

Maybe the same thing should be suggested to the admins at Harshlands and the other MUDs that are being abused by anonymous people? It's also possible the admins at Harshlands (and any other MUD that this is happeneing with) isn't aware this is going on and most likely should be contacted with this information so that they can make a decision about allowing reviews for their game.

Angie · 04-07-2006, 02:44 PM

I would suspect a spambot abusing the review link at Harshlands' forums. In which case there's no need for them to disable reviews, just removing the link should do.

GuruPlayer · 04-07-2006, 07:17 PM

If you e-mail the admins re a worthless troll review that has no value, they will delete the review. You have to make the case, however, because sometimes muds do get honest bad reviews. The admins do know the difference, & have acted accordingly in the past. You have to bring it to their attention though, you can't depend on them to police it themselves, as they are busy campers.

Anitra · 04-08-2006, 01:56 AM

Soleil Posted on April 07 2006,15:37
The case in question has got absolutely zilch to do with why certain muds get more bad reviews than others, and why these same muds decided to disallow all reviews as a consequence.

What happened to Harshlands is the same phenonemom as the spam mail that people get in their e-mail account, where certain individuals or enterprises send loads of crap about their product through a large number of different adresses. Usually that
spam crap is either about pills to enhance your organ, or links to porn sites.

This seems to be the exact same thing, and it should be dealt by harshly by the side owners.

Apparently tthe spammers have found a new target. It could have happened to any of the Muds that allow reviews, (which is the majority). That Harshland was targeted this time is most likely a coincidence. Next time it might be another mud. Or the discussion boards.

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04-06-2006, 08:37 AM	#1
prof1515 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 791	Would it be (or is it) possible for someone to moderate/edit/remove false reviews? There have been frequent spammers using the review section to post porn links and related crap as "reviews" of MUDs. The most recent attacked is Harshlands, which has practically had daily "reviews" of this nature. Could these be removed and some measures be put in place to ensure that reviews are at least reviews of the MUD and not spam links to porn and other crap? Take care, Jason

04-06-2006, 08:54 AM	#2
Drealoth Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Japan Posts: 74	I think the best thing to do would be to disable reviews for your MUD. The system here really sucks, in that anyone can submit anything as a review. Both Aardwolf and the IRE games have disabled reviews for (I imagine) this reason.

04-06-2006, 09:54 AM	#3
Valg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Home MUD: Carrion Fields Posts: 643	I think all it would take would be two moderators, with the stipulation that neither moderates reviews for any game(s) they are connected with. Most of the reviews are fine. Just needs a little oversight. As far as banning reviews of your game, we've always assumed that discerning readers could tell the difference between hatchet-jobs, fanboi-ism, and legitimate review, so we've left them open.

04-06-2006, 10:49 AM	#4
prof1515 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 791	is what I'm refering to. This should simply be removed by TMS. As it's not my MUD, it's not call. But I can't imagine any MUD wants this #### posted under their name. Take care, Jason

04-06-2006, 12:23 PM	#5
Anitra Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 123	Ouch! That is total crap, and spamming as well. And apparently there are several different people doing the spamming too. Where are the moderators when you actually need them?

04-06-2006, 01:35 PM	#6
the_logos Legend Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Mill Valley, California Posts: 2,305	I know I have no way to moderate reviews, nor, frankly, am I interested in doing so. I don't even look at the reviews section. --matt

04-06-2006, 01:52 PM	#7
prof1515 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 791	The "reviews" in question have been removed. Thank you to Synoozer or whoever did so. If I get the chance, I'll try to find the other MUD that I noticed was afflicted by something similar a few months ago (not quite to the same extent but still bull**** all the same). Take care, Jason

04-07-2006, 01:20 PM	#8
prof1515 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 791	Two more reappeared. Again targeting Harshlands. Can't the IP be banned or something?

04-07-2006, 02:37 PM	#9
Soleil Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 147	When people started posing as Vryce and writing reviews as him and also posting nonsense reviews full of cursing and the like, Synozeer suggested that we turn off reviews instead of him having to delete every one that was not really a review. Maybe the same thing should be suggested to the admins at Harshlands and the other MUDs that are being abused by anonymous people? It's also possible the admins at Harshlands (and any other MUD that this is happeneing with) isn't aware this is going on and most likely should be contacted with this information so that they can make a decision about allowing reviews for their game.

04-07-2006, 02:44 PM	#10
Angie Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Prague Home MUD: God Wars II Posts: 134	I would suspect a spambot abusing the review link at Harshlands' forums. In which case there's no need for them to disable reviews, just removing the link should do.

04-07-2006, 07:17 PM	#11
GuruPlayer Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 73	If you e-mail the admins re a worthless troll review that has no value, they will delete the review. You have to make the case, however, because sometimes muds do get honest bad reviews. The admins do know the difference, & have acted accordingly in the past. You have to bring it to their attention though, you can't depend on them to police it themselves, as they are busy campers.

04-08-2006, 01:56 AM	#12
Anitra Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 123	Soleil Posted on April 07 2006,15:37 The case in question has got absolutely zilch to do with why certain muds get more bad reviews than others, and why these same muds decided to disallow all reviews as a consequence. What happened to Harshlands is the same phenonemom as the spam mail that people get in their e-mail account, where certain individuals or enterprises send loads of crap about their product through a large number of different adresses. Usually that spam crap is either about pills to enhance your organ, or links to porn sites. This seems to be the exact same thing, and it should be dealt by harshly by the side owners. Apparently tthe spammers have found a new target. It could have happened to any of the Muds that allow reviews, (which is the majority). That Harshland was targeted this time is most likely a coincidence. Next time it might be another mud. Or the discussion boards.

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Editing/Moderating False Reviews