This site has become worthless due to spam

[disneysteve]

Sorry to say but since Jeffrey sold the site, it has gone significantly downhill. The new owners seem to be doing nothing to maintain it or address the spam issue. I've reported posts and gotten no response (Jeffrey used to reply within hours). And I've had enough of logging in each morning to a full page or more of new spammers. Some days I don't even feel like deleting them all.

There are plenty of ways to minimize spam in discussion forums but the people in charge need to actually use those methods which isn't happening here.

I'm not going away but until someone takes over who cares about the site, I may not be very active. I hope it gets better but I'm not optimistic.

[corn18]

Agreed. A waste of a wonderful resource that could help many but now is muted by spam.

[rennigade]

Ive noticed there hasnt been any new threads started recently. Just people replying to really old threads.

I didnt know the site was sold, hopefully jeff made a mint on it. I have seen the admin james.hendrickson or something create worthless new threads...and he has also resurrected threads that were almost 10 years old. Pretty pathetic coming from an admin.

This site is all but dead...least we still have bogleheads and early-retirement. No spam whatsoever there.

[james.hendrickson]

Hi Guys,

This is James Hendrickson - I am the new owner of the site.

Can you please PM me on this? We need to get the spam issue straightened out as soon as possible.

[james.hendrickson]

Hi Guys - Just wanted to circle back around on rennigades comment.

The thread on stream energy is still relevant. The company is using an MLM model in Texas and has been expanding their same business practices to other states. So, I felt like there was more to the discussion there.

[rennigade]

James...you purchased a sinking ship. Jeff sold at a good time. That was smart business.

This will officially be my last post. Nothing of value has been posted in a month. Good luck to everyone on their financial journey.

[james.hendrickson]

Thanks Rennigade...you'll be missed. : D

[bjl584]

Hi Guys - Just wanted to circle back around on rennigades comment.

The thread on stream energy is still relevant. The company is using an MLM model in Texas and has been expanding their same business practices to other states. So, I felt like there was more to the discussion there.

I'm sorry, but stream energy and the thread relating to it are not relevant at all, unless you are using it as an example of what not to do with your time and money.

Please, please, please don't tell me that you think that stream energy is a good idea to involve one's self in. You are the owner of this site. I'm hoping that you have at least some financial knowledge. Some sense of saving, investing, frugality. What does your financial picture look like? If I owned a website named "SavingAdvice.com" I'd make sure that I'd have an extensive knowledge of finances, probably be debt free, and maybe have a 7 figure net worth.

As one of the site's mods, I agree with Steve. Most of what's on here is spam. I spend more time deleting it than I do engaging in meaningful discussion. Let's get this issue resolved ASAP.

[JoeP]

It wouldn't bother me if there was some sort of post moderation until members made a certain number of meaningful posts. I'm even in favor of requiring prospective member essay of sorts, explaining why they want to join. Having what equates to a wide open site just invites spammers, and I'm sure those who really want to receive or give advice wouldn't mind the small changes.

[disneysteve]

The thread on stream energy is still relevant.

How is a multi-level marketing scam discussion still relevant? It wasn't relevant from the very first post. It's spam through and through.

That said, I'm tired of repeating the same advice over and over but here it is one more time.

1. Automatically lock threads that have been inactive for a period of time like 6-12 months so the spammers stop dredging up threads that are 5 or 10 years old.
2. Put in place some system to prevent brand new posters from making an unlimited number of posts. There's no reason a new person should be able to make 15 posts overnight. Put a limit of 1 or 2 posts a day for the first week.
3. Put in place a system to require new posters to have posts approved by a moderator or administrator before they go live. I participate in several boards that have this in place for your first 5 posts.
4. Somebody needs to be monitoring and promptly responding when someone reports a post for any reason. I've reported posts and gotten no response.

If just those few things would happen, it would take care of most of the problems.

[james.hendrickson]

I'm sorry, but stream energy and the thread relating to it are not relevant at all, unless you are using it as an example of what not to do with your time and money.

Please, please, please don't tell me that you think that stream energy is a good idea to involve one's self in. You are the owner of this site. I'm hoping that you have at least some financial knowledge. Some sense of saving, investing, frugality. What does your financial picture look like? If I owned a website named "SavingAdvice.com" I'd make sure that I'd have an extensive knowledge of finances, probably be debt free, and maybe have a 7 figure net worth.

As one of the site's mods, I agree with Steve. Most of what's on here is spam. I spend more time deleting it than I do engaging in meaningful discussion. Let's get this issue resolved ASAP.

BJ - Stream is an MLM model, which if I am understanding correctly is unsustainable and typically results in the loss of capital for people who choose to get involved with them.

The reason I bumped that old thread was a. Stream appeared to be winning their lawsuit the State of Texas brought against them and b. they had plans to expand into other states. So, I figured it was still relevant.

[james.hendrickson]

That said, I'm tired of repeating the same advice over and over but here it is one more time.

1. Automatically lock threads that have been inactive for a period of time like 6-12 months so the spammers stop dredging up threads that are 5 or 10 years old.
2. Put in place some system to prevent brand new posters from making an unlimited number of posts. There's no reason a new person should be able to make 15 posts overnight. Put a limit of 1 or 2 posts a day for the first week.
3. Put in place a system to require new posters to have posts approved by a moderator or administrator before they go live. I participate in several boards that have this in place for your first 5 posts.
4. Somebody needs to be monitoring and promptly responding when someone reports a post for any reason. I've reported posts and gotten no response.

If just those few things would happen, it would take care of most of the problems.

Tracking this - thanks DisneySteve.

[cypher1]

I'm not going away but until someone takes over who cares about the site, I may not be very active. I hope it gets better but I'm not optimistic.

Glad someone else brought up this topic. As I haven't been as active either, for those same reasons.

[~bs]

you guys need to promote more people as mods to delete the crap threads. Wont solve it, but at least will help until a more permanent solution can be devised.

[DaveInPgh]

I just came across a post from james asking sv2007 a question other than "huh?"

This site is doomed!