Starting a weblog came with rapid positive reinforcement: new comments! I was so excited when I got my first couple of comments; they serve as an affirmation that people actually are reading. I was so caught up in getting comments that I gave my mother-in-law and my dad specific instructions on how to leave a comment when they tried to make a web-log related remark to me directly (over the phone - gasp!). But then the bubble burst ... I got my first blog spam: coolbob wanted to let me know about my on-line poker options.
From there the spam went up exponentially, mostly pushing on-line poker and popular prescription drugs like propecia, prozac and prevacid. On Monday when I was hit by 15 new spam messages, I was ready for war. Instead of invading an oil-rich nation, I had Mac teach me the ins and outs of IP blocking and I quickly black-listed three addresses. I have now gone four days without a single piece of spam! I admit I am a little disappointed that the spammer doesn't get a pop-up window saying, "your banned, mother-f#$%er!" (possibly followed by a large dose of genital radiation to prevent reproduction), but for now I'll be content with my little triumph ... until the next spam wave hits.
Posted by pam at November 19, 2004 05:48 PMI've always said you were a geek at heart. If banning IP addresses doesn't work, I'll show you how to install MT-Blacklist, which also doesn't work, but at least doesn't work in a different way. :/
Posted by: J.D. Roth at November 20, 2004 08:34 AMYeah, you were right, JD. Who knows, I might even learn to burn CD's by the end of the year.
Posted by: pam at November 21, 2004 09:55 AMI LOVE MT blacklist. It makes me very happy.
I got my first comment from a complete stranger recently. Fortunately, she complimented us on a handsome boy, so I'm all for it.
Posted by: Lisa at November 21, 2004 03:34 PMDon't you think you should invade an oil-rich nation as well? Just to be on the safe side?
Posted by: Joel at November 22, 2004 06:22 AM