Automatic reporting

[Marbles]

Dear All,

I've registered in the hope of some help. I did a quick search to see if there was an existing topic, but didn't come up with anything relevant although that doesn't mean I haven't missed it. If I have, I apologise for reposting an old topic.

I've been reporting spam to SPAMCOP for some time now. I just feel it is my little way I can help.

I don't want this to sound selfish in anyway, but it does take time. To begin with, I used to cut and paste the messages and this took forever. Then I realised that you could get SPAMCOP to accept the messages as e-mail attachmemts. This improved things no-end as it meant I could forward them all for processing in one go.

But steadily, over the last few months, we have seen an increase in the amount of spam - I don't need to tell you the sort, but of course we will all get rich trading stocks and shares. This increase has meant that it now does take finite amounts of time to report these. Not so much the sending of the original send, but the clicking on the links that come back from SPAMCOP to confirm plys the click of the button.

Is there anyway at all that this can be avoided? I am still more than happy to submit the spam messages we receive, anything to stop the parasites who do this. But it would be so much nicer and easier if I could just attach the e-mails and send them and forget about them. I understand that this method of links and clicking to confirm is to safeguard mistakes (perhaps?). But I have never once yet since submitting to SPAMCOP, subsequently not confirmed a message as spam - 99.99% of SPAMs are obvious. And only once have SPAMCOP queried a message I have submitted.

Is there anyway to automate this to make my life easier? I must have spent 30 minutes this morning to report, and then confirm (via the links) spam received over the weekend.

Many thanks,

Trevor aka Marbles.

[StevenUnderwood]

Is there anyway to automate this to make my life easier? I must have spent 30 minutes this morning to report, and then confirm (via the links) spam received over the weekend.

You want to search on "Quick Reporting"

SpamCop FAQ

SpamCop Parsing & Reporting Service

What is Quick Reporting?

[Wazoo]

This was posted into the "How to use ....." Forum section, described as information, instructions, tutorials on "How to use ..." parts of the SpamCop.net tool set .... However, the way I read the words posted, I see no instructions, tutorials, etc. ... rather a question on the Reporting side of the house ... thusly, this Topic/Discussion is being moved to the "SpamCop Reporting Help - issues with Parsing & Reporting" Forum section.

For those that can't fathom this (and ovbiously skipped some "before you make your first post" links) take a look at the content seen on the Portal page to see the ontent of the layout of the Forum section contens.

As far as the actual subject contents, please note that there are many previous postings about "automatic reporting" .... and the usual comment there is that folks that have tried it in the past usually seem to then follow that up with questions that are also answered in the FAQ, such as "Why has my account been Banned?" ....

As far as "too many to report" .. perhaps it's time to prioritize? Report the last 10 or 20, delete the rest, focus on porn, stock, whatever .....

[Marbles]

Hey, I hold my hands up and apologise (unreservedly) for posting to the wrong section - I was wrong and I'm sorry. I did originally have the correct area, but by the time I'd gone through the registration system twice, lost what I wanted to post waiting for the confirmation e-mail, I just mistakenly posted to the wrong. I post to many forums and I know what to expect if I make such an error. In fact, as a moderator of one particular forum, I know I should know better. Again, I am sorry.

Thanks for the really pleasant welcome to the forum. It makes me wonder whether it is really worth the bother and time and effort that I have put in reporting spam over the years - I guess in the big scheme of things it really counts for nothing. I came on here looking for an answer to a genuine question and all I get is a terse reply and an unpleasant welcome. Thanks.

On the forum I moderate, we welcome new members - it provides a diverse and interesting cross section of people from novices to experts. All have a reason for joining and all are welcome. We do not have a policy of making new posters feel unwelcome. If they make a mistake posting, it is pointed out but as politely as possible. If they continue to make the same mistakes, it's a different matter admittidely.

FYI I searched on 'automatic reporting' and the search returned very few results, none of which seemed relevant to the question I was asking. So I simply thought I'd post a question and hope some friendly person would give me an answer (thanks Steven) as I have found is possible on forums for other software or hardware or other topic.

Anyway, thanks for making me feel so welcome.

[Farelf]

... I came on here looking for an answer to a genuine question and all I get is a terse reply and an unpleasant welcome. ...

The "terse reply" should have pointed you in the right direction. Any questions after that, please come back for the specifics. Would love to visit your friendly forum but we're all a bit busy around "here". So, please don't take lack of expansive response and blunt direction as "unfriendliness". It's more like "neutral". Which is sad maybe (results over feelings) but not as bad as you make out. IMO

[Marbles]

The "terse reply" should have pointed you in the right direction.

It did, thanks, and I now have the answer to my question.

Would love to visit your friendly forum but we're all a bit busy around "here". So, please don't take lack of expansive response and blunt direction as "unfriendliness". It's more like "neutral". Which is sad maybe (results over feelings) but not as bad as you make out. IMO

Farelf, explanation accepted.

Can I just add though that we are all 'busy' people - I have my job to do (IT but non-spam related) as you have yours - all equally important in the bigger scheme of things. I've absolutely no idea whether or not you appreciate the time we (the submitters) spend voluntarily submitting spam received to feed to the SC systems with the information I would assume it needs to work. All our efforts (yours, mine, everyone) are mutually beneficial in the long term. Just the way I see it anyway.

Anyway, let just draw a line under this and next time I pluck up the courage to post a question maybe I will be a little more careful what I'm asking for.

[agsteele]

Can I just add though that we are all 'busy' people - I have my job to do (IT but non-spam related) as you have yours - all equally important in the bigger scheme of things. I've absolutely no idea whether or not you appreciate the time we (the submitters) spend voluntarily submitting spam received to feed to the SC systems with the information I would assume it needs to work. All our efforts (yours, mine, everyone) are mutually beneficial in the long term. Just the way I see it anyway.

Your time and effort is much appreciated by those of us who use the SCBL to filter Email. So thanks for taking time to report.

But a reminder, the 'support' in these forums are not by paid staff but by other users - just like yourself. There are no paid staff here - at so infrenquently that this is effectively the case. No doubt we regulars all take each other's time committment for granted but we are in just the same position as you.

Andrew

[Wazoo]

I did originally have the correct area, but by the time I'd gone through the registration system twice,

Vlew 20+ minutes trying to find any evidence of problems with the registration process here ... couldn't find it .... folks managed it prior to your attempt, folks did it after you .... no erros in the e-mail lofs on this thing that include your address (oddly enough, a dozen or so on notifications to me about PMs received and such, but I have actually did received them ..???? hmmm)

Thanks for the really pleasant welcome to the forum. It makes me wonder whether it is really worth the bother and time and effort that I have put in reporting spam over the years - I guess in the big scheme of things it really counts for nothing. I came on here looking for an answer to a genuine question and all I get is a terse reply and an unpleasant welcome. Thanks.

Your opinion ... you atually received multiple replies, from different people. Much in contrast to other Forums that seem to cause people to use a "bump" function trying (for some silly reason) to keep their posts showing at the top of the list, caused by no one answering their post, yet ton loads of other folks continue to pile on their queries (usually without looking at all to note that they are asking one of those 'repeated' questions) ....

On the forum I moderate, we welcome new members - it provides a diverse and interesting cross section of people from novices to experts. All have a reason for joining and all are welcome. We do not have a policy of making new posters feel unwelcome. If they make a mistake posting, it is pointed out but as politely as possible. If they continue to make the same mistakes, it's a different matter admittidely.

Bottom line, youi asked questions, some answers were provided. Sorry you feel unwelcome, yet ... this Forum has been around for a few years, plenty of time for someone to lurk a while to read the tone of things prior to jumping in .... there are some pleasantries exchanged, yet that also gets challenged by some users as simply being off-topic stuff .... the focus here is on solving the issues ...

FYI I searched on 'automatic reporting' and the search returned very few results, none of which seemed relevant to the question I was asking. So I simply thought I'd post a question and hope some friendly person would give me an answer (thanks Steven) as I have found is possible on forums for other software or hardware or other topic.

You could blame that on other users not using your exact choice of 'search words" in their postings. You could blame that on your being too specific in your choice of search words. I tossed a Google search tool at the top of the page to get around various limitations of the built-in search tool.

Anyway, thanks for making me feel so welcome.

Whatever, I've spent the last half-hour trying to solve one of your raised issues, reply to your comments, explain things .... not syre how that fiids into "making you feel unwelcome" but ... that's your call ...

Added later, seeing as the user posted while I was typing the above....

Can I just add though that we are all 'busy' people - I have my job to do (IT but non-spam related) as you have yours - all equally important in the bigger scheme of things. I've absolutely no idea whether or not you appreciate the time we (the submitters) spend voluntarily submitting spam received to feed to the SC systems with the information I would assume it needs to work. All our efforts (yours, mine, everyone) are mutually beneficial in the long term. Just the way I see it anyway.

???? again, waters not checked too well .... all users on this bus ..... the Forum FAQ lists this data .....

[Marbles]

I think, in my defence, I don't remember ever saying that my attempted registration (twice) was Spamcop's fault? I would imagine that is why you cannot find any record of it. I had attempted to register, got side tracked before completion. Registered later and composed my message elsewhere while awaiting the activation e-mail (which ironically had been marked as spam and filtered off). I proceeded to loose that message and had to retype. The registration system is fine and I have no problem with it.

The forum may have existed for a while, but I have never had the reason to visit it because I have never had a question or problem with SC before. So I've never lurked and have never seen the level of emotion on here.

I guess my choice of search term is open to debate. But I was looking for information on 'automatic reporting' and that seemed the logical term to use.

I did, now obviously mistakenly, believe that there were SC staff present on here. That is the impression given - forum is SPAMCOP branded and "Section 8 - SpamCop's System & Active Staff User Guide" in the FORUM FAQs list SC staff. Again, my apologies. That is just the way I interpreted the information before me.

My "making me feel unwelcome comment" was in response to your unexpected answer to my original question not to the half hour and time spent since on the 2nd post explaining the way things operate around here.

I was just totally taken a back by the response to my request for help - I have to say it was a little unexpected!

As I said, please, lets just draw a line under this. I have tried to apologise for my request for help and accidental posting to the wrong thread. We obviously see things from 2 totally opposing views and we can argue back and forth with point and counter point until we are blue in the face and still not agree which is simply a waste of both our times and not what this forum is about I'm sure. I can see that you have put a great deal of effort into this forum and everything associated with it. It's not my nature to go around 'applecarting' by making stupid, unneceassary arguments for the sake of it. I was simply looking for some help.

[Miss Betsy]

I thought that your explanation of why you posted in the wrong forum was interesting. I have suspected as much before (looking here there, getting interrupted, not realizing that you were still in that forum instead of the one you thought you were).

I also thought it was interesting that you interpreted a certain section of the FAQ where it lists people as being that 'official' staff generally answered questions. That may explain why so many people don't seem to comprehend the banner above. (we have already had a set to amongst the regulars about how some people could misinterpret 'peer' which is why there are two versions, but it still doesn't seem to contradict earlier impressions apparently that this is 'official' help).

Those who are interested in 'helping' appreciate that you took the time to explain why you got lost.

I am not sure that it will make it better for the next person because things are essentially done by 'committee' here and you know how that goes sometimes - sometimes very effective, but slow.

In fact, I wonder if instead of the 'peer to peer' banner, it would not be better to say something like, "If you post a question, you will get answers from lots of different 'characters' - usually not employed by spamcop." to prepare people.

Miss Betsy