Blogs should be for paying FC members. Profiles and DM's/PM's should be open to all. You need the profiles opened to all so all members can find any member they want to send a PM to. If blogs are limited to paying FC members that should help limit the amount of users that join just to spam blogs. Not saying they won't spam comments or other parts of the site..but the other areas seem less of a target right now. Also, why not add some level of captcha to the sign up process? That will also cut back on the amount of bots signing up. Last time I checked, which it's been a little bit, there was still no process added to help eliminate that.

HeidiMorris wrote:
I don't have a problem with non-FC members having access to blogs. Would it be possible for new user's blogs to be placed on hold until someone could check them out? I don't know much about computers. If there was a way to place users on hold until someone saw if the blogging were legit...would that still leave the door open for this automated spam?
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Humans are amphibians - half spirit and half animal. As spirits they belong to the eternal world, but as animals they inhabit time.
C. S. Lewis

The only reason I say that the blogs should be for FC members is because that was used as a selling point in the beginning as a feature for the FC. Right now it's listed as 'Members blogs' on the FC sign up page but the members blogs isn't listed under then non FC/free membership, so free members aren't aware they they even get them until they log in and check out that feature.
The DM's/PM's and profiles being closed to all are what caused a big uproar because members wanted to be able to contact each other regardless if they belong to the FC or not. Fans are fans and being able to communicate with each other via PM's is the only way to communicate privately, behind the scenes. To even be able to get someones email address they need to be able to PM.
It's a lot more work to make them go through moderation, and wait for a Moderator to actually be on the site and approve or disapprove than it is to add a level of prevention, IMO.

A captcha system is what I'd suggest. Be it when people sign up, leave a comment or post a blog I'll leave up for debate.

I didn't know I could blog. cool.

eddie(ctrl) wrote:
We dug around today and found all of the spam blogs were done by one person/IP address. It should die down a little but we do need to add on a secondary level of verification since it is out of hand. I like the idea of them being fan club but I do remember people wanting it open so open they are :)
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Eddie - ground(ctrl) - support@groundctrl.com

I just sent out a bunch of friends requests...there are a LOT of spam accounts to dodge through.
Martina fan site
Martina Video Collection
Youtube Channel
Martina on GAC

Pearl wrote:

eddie(ctrl) wrote:
We dug around today and found all of the spam blogs were done by one person/IP address. It should die down a little but we do need to add on a secondary level of verification since it is out of hand. I like the idea of them being fan club but I do remember people wanting it open so open they are :)
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Eddie - ground(ctrl) - support@groundctrl.com

I just sent out a bunch of friends requests...there are a LOT of spam accounts to dodge through.
Martina fan site
Martina Video Collection
Youtube Channel
Martina on GAC

PUH-LEAZE don't "hold your breath" waiting for those friend replies.. lawdy, lawdy, you be passing out on us!!!
* AMYinATLANTA

"Amy, you are weird" - Amy's MOM
"Billy, You clever handsome devil" AMY, when she meets Billy..

AMY.............* wrote:

PUH-LEAZE don't "hold your breath" waiting for those friend replies.. lawdy, lawdy, you be passing out on us!!!

lol haha Don't I know it!!! Besides the fact it's time consuming to do (sending the requests)...you should go check out my friends list.
Martina fan site
Martina Video Collection
Martina on GAC

Pearl wrote:

AMY.............* wrote:

PUH-LEAZE don't "hold your breath" waiting for those friend replies.. lawdy, lawdy, you be passing out on us!!!

lol haha Don't I know it!!! Besides the fact it's time consuming to do (sending the requests)...you should go check out my friends list.
Martina fan site
Martina Video Collection
Martina on GAC

BIG DEAL!! I am lobbying Grnd Cntrl right NOW for an enemies list...I will eclipse ur total of "friends" - just wait... GAME ON!!!
* AMYinATLANTA

"Amy, you are weird" - Amy's MOM
"Billy, You clever handsome devil" AMY, when she meets Billy..

FYI: there's a spam post in the country room - "stock trend"

Dayna wrote:
Hi- i cant find "stock trend' -perhaps someone already deleted it...??
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I have a hobby. I have the world's largest collection of seashells. I keep it scattered on beaches all over the world. Maybe you've seen some of it.

Looks like someone deleted it already as well as a bunch of those pesky movie spam blogs that were there earlier as well. Thanks to whoever is appropriate.

I am glad Daniel posted this. Going through spam blogging is a pain in the ***!
"You can chase a dream that seems so out of reach
And you know it may not ever come your way
Dream it anyway"

My dream finally came true on 10-3-08 in Charlotte, NC and 4-30-10 in Greensboro, NC I finally met Martina!!!:)