I shall begin today's monologue by thanking each and every one of you who has ever left a comment on this blog.
When I go to my Blogger home page and see that I have comments waiting for me, I smile. A lot.
Comments are proof that I'm not talking to myself here every day.
The screenshot above is what I see when I go to my home page, minus all the green stuff.
When I see that comments are "awaiting moderation," I can't wait to click on the link.
When you live by yourself in the middle of nowhere, comments substitute for conversation.
Some of you may be wondering, "if she likes comments so damned much, why does she make it so hard to leave them?
And what's up with the whole comment moderation thing?"
Comment moderation is not about censorship, it's about trying to keep out the damned spammers.
Who are these people anyway?
If I didn't moderate the comments, all this spam would get in the way of your positive, supportive,
creative and funny remarks, and that wouldn't be any fun at all.
Thank you again if you've taken the time and effort to leave one or one hundred comments here.
Unless your name is "Christian Louboutin." You can leave me a thousand comments and I still won't talk to you.
You are not the first blogger that has had to do this. I know a few blogs where the spam just got overwhelming and had to make the change. I think its a great idea because I don't want to see all the spam either :)
ReplyDeleteI hope this does not upset you but I had a dream about a cat sleeping in your new sun room. =^..^=
I'm being presumptuous, but I'm thinking Louboutin might be targeting someone named Lucy or Wynonna. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not a blogger or the most savvy user and it took me a few tries to figure out how to leave comments under Name/URL. Dang those spammers.
I understand the 'Moderation' option you are using. It's much easier on my eyes and brain than trying to squint and interpret the fuzzy-warped-scribbles you have to re-type to prove you are a breathing person and not a %!@#!@#SpamBot!. Moderation is much easier for this occasional commenter. Thanks Carson! :) :)
ReplyDeleteI have a free generic drop emailbox on a commonly known site --- it took a few years but the spammers have found me. Sheesh, you would think that they could come up with better subject lines (ick!). At least blogger has given you some options and control.
The drop email site, you would THINK they would provide their legit users with a more EFFECTIVE way to deal with spam 'just delete it'-- REALLY???
M in NC
I also live in the middle of nowhere. (the Atlantic Ocean) Comments make my day. Not that there isn't plenty of conversation here on the farmette... it's just so one sided. ;D
ReplyDeleteI'll see your Christian Laboutin spam, and raise you many Uggs...
Long time reader, first time commenter... Love your blog! I look forward to it every morning and it sometimes ,
ReplyDeleteMakes my whole day!!
I don't have a blog, so I didn't know all that! I wondered why the comments had to be approved by the blog author, I couldn't imagine people leaving inappropriate comments HERE of all places! Amazing the places you can find advertising!
ReplyDeleteCarson, I have the same problem. On of of my blogs, I got so much SPAM that I had to reinstate the dreaded "type these two words" word identification. I apologized to my readers, but, like you, I was getting more spam than real comments! It hasn't bothered my other two blogs much, so I don't have word identification on them.
ReplyDelete~~Cheryl Ann~~
Yet isn't it a pair of Louboutain's I've seen on Harriet's feet recently? ;)
ReplyDeleteall you have to do is go into settings and click off the anonymous and you will get zero spam. the spam catcher stops it, but it can't stop anonyomous. after i removed that i have not had a single spam.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoy our comments. There are two of us here at work who check out your blog daily. When we run into each other in the hall, we will say "did you see what Alan is doing today" or "wasn't that cute when Smooch did so-and-so." I start every morning with a 7MSN fix!
ReplyDeleteAnd I just want to thank you for taking the time to moderate the comments and not putting that damn word verification thingy on!
ReplyDeleteWell, I can't think of a BETTER way to start my day than coming to 7MSN and enjoying the pictures AND the captions AND the comments from the other viewers. It seems like a family sitting around the breakfast table just talking and enjoying their first or second cup of coffee in the morning. We love and don't ever stop. Hugs
ReplyDeleteWow I don't blame you for using comment moderation. My first computer didn't have a spam block and I would receive 50 to 100 spam messages a day. Gone are those days. It drove me nuts.
ReplyDeleteYour blog is the only one I peruse on a daily basis. It makes my day.
Best always,
Le sigh.....I miss the good olde days when "spam" came in a can and not in your email ;-)
ReplyDeleteI was having the same issues. Yay comments. . .ooh spam :(
ReplyDeleteUnder settings, then posts and comments, then who can comment?, Check Registered Users. Since I have done that, no spam!
Well since you put it out there how our comments make you smile, I felt obligated to leave this one. Good Morning Linda! I hope you have a great day and a wonderful weekend! Tell the gang someone in NC loves them - all of 'em!
ReplyDeleteHi Linda,
ReplyDeleteI don't know if my comment will help you about the Anonymous comments. I used to have a lot of them on my email, when I did comments moderation.
But my friend Karin, from Altadena Hiker help me on my settings. Now it's works well. Sometimes one/two anonymous comment sneaky and evade the spam filter and end up in my e-mail. But if it's only one or two a day, we can live with that, right?
My settings:
"anyone" can comment
"comment moderation" - "Sometimes"
"show word verification" - "No"
And then it has a space where I can fill my email address, but now I leave it blank.
I hope this help you.
Spam is like the old sales calls during dinner hour...a bother and a half.
ReplyDeleteI don't live in the middle of nowhere and I too love all the comments. It's nice to know that one is being read. And of course you are read and appreciated....you are very necessary in the start of our day here at Casa de Cuckoo. Oma Linda and the cuckettes.
LOL It's worth the extra effort! I especially love reading about Wynonna, she is truly a princess.
ReplyDeleteI might be your first 'real' interaction today instead of spam, so Good Morning in the middle of nowhere, from just north of you in New Mexico.
ReplyDeleteI was just listening to 'Artist Helping Artist" last week, and mind you they get tons and tons of comments, but even they don't believe in those capitia things. They think it gets in the way of people wanting to say something and get hung up on those silly things. Those people just delete the spam itself. Personally I agree. I come over from WordPress and sometimes it has been so difficult to read those things or get them to acknowledge me that I give up. When I have more time than usual (which isn't often) and the patience (which can be even less at times) I have hunted down the blog post author by email to leave my comment and to let them know it took me chasing down their email just to leave a little message. I don't know if it is harder for other Blogger people or if it is a WordPress and blogger thingy, but I wish they would get rid of spam like WordPress does. Every once in a while a comment comes through, but I just find it a little funny in all there gibberish and hit the delete key.
Sorry my good morning is so long but your post hit a sore spot with me. I love leaving comments (cause I love getting them too) and I just get frustrated when I've taken the time to write and that spammy preventive thing messes with me.
I even wrote a blog post about this very subject.
It will be interesting to see how others weigh in too. thanks for bringing it up and have a wonderful day.
peace n abundance,
CheyAnne
Ah, but you have the most lovely site.... oh, and, how did you learn to set up your blog so good.... oh, and, I have a picture of you that you must see. LOL....
ReplyDeleteYeah... I get it (both spam and your post about moderating comments)!
I hope you know how much I appreciate you blog, you are my link to sanity sometimes. I have told you before about my little piece of land just down 60 from you, I only get out there once or twice a year but dream of the day when I too will live in the middle of no where. I am sure then I will rely on my blog for social interaction too. I will be bringing my boy Hamilton the pot belled pig who lives a life very much like that of your Wynonna. I really hope to meet you one day.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day!!
Blogger catches most of my spam with or without moderation; but it still comes to my email where yes I immediately delete it but it's filling it up every day which irks me. I tried word verification which remarkably does reduce it but then I get less comments. Word verification is soooooo hard to read when I try to comment other places that I go back and forth with what I do about it. I also do regularly check the spam folder at blogger as often there will be a few real comments that get caught there before i delete the rest. I just have to wonder-- does spam ever sell anything? It sure doesn't to me.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE YOUR BLOG AND THE CARE WITH WHICH YOU HAVE FOR YOUR ANIMALS. Why can't people just leave you peaceful thoughts and love, you are wonderful and kind and loving.I read your blog each morning before I walk what it seems like forever..I hate spam so i only use anonymous on most of my comments but I will tell you my name is mary jane, live in the pacific northwest and would love to do what you do for your animals and live on a ranch..You are absolutely the best, peace and joy and love to you, from mary jane in the area where we get about 200 days of crap weather a year sigh!
ReplyDeleteJust for that, I'm going to go back and leave a comment on an earlier post that I never got around to typing. :D
ReplyDeleteThanks for illustrating this so well. I am also frustrated that Blogger doesn't provide more effective spam control and a simpler way for people to comment. I have resorted to the dreaded 'prove you are not a robot' step because the spam drives me crazy - I recently removed that step and kept just the moderation, and in one day alone had 179 spam comments (among which were hidden three genuine comments).
ReplyDeleteI thought of removing the ability to comment using "anonymous", as one of your readers suggest, but a number of my friends don't want to open an account with google since this exposes one to more spam in their email box, so they prefer the anon option and then type in their name after their comment.
It is a huge problem. What I don't understand is why the spammers can't be traced and charged.
I don't have a blog so I had no idea why the blogger had to approve comments. Thanks for clearing that up for those of us without a clue. I read your blog everyday as I also live several miles east of somewhere. You are such a brave and interesting woman and you give me such inspiration. I have read your blog for several years, love all the critters and have cried with you when a love is lost. Keep writing because lots of us out in cyberland are readling.
ReplyDeleteI just love your blog-and I certainly don't blame you for having comment moderation turned on! There are plenty of goofballs out there that just love sending garbage-which can be hurtful and unkind. I think that I can safely say that we regular readers care about you and don't want any uglyness to come our happy place! I am happy though that you don't use word verification-I always have trouble trying to figure out the word! HeeHee! Hugs, Meghan
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't mind the "two little" words you have to type in order to leave a comment, IF THEY WOULD MAKE THEM READABLE!!!!!!! I do not understand WHY they have to tweek, and over lap the letters so distortedly that it is so hard to read them! Yes, I have even gone to clicking on the DISABILITY button, just to be able to leave a comment. AND other times, I just don't because every time a new word comes up, it is less readable, or the dumb computer does not recognize me. I do understand the need for it though. Spammers must NOT HAVE A LIFE! LOVE your blog, and I too have to start each morning with a George or Alan or Lucy or Hank or Winona story!
ReplyDeleteHere's an honest to goodness NICE comment because I may LIKE spam fried in a pan, but I HATE spam that ends up as a scam!! Moderate away, Linda!
ReplyDeleteThanks you for your fantastic blog, it starts my day off just right, either thinking with a smile of the critters, or considering one of your projects, or feeling concerned when something is a bit wrong. I don't know you in person, but I feel a part of the 7MSN ranch and it's a great feeling!
Linda, your blog brightens my day everyday. Some days I come back to read it again two or three times. Do what you need to keep the spammers out!! I talk about the gang to my hubby. My dgd still has the project board she did for 4 H using some of your photos you graciously allowed us to use. Have a great weekend, enjoy some giving some ear and butt scratches along with a glass or two of wine. We love you!!
ReplyDeleteOur blog is on blogger and the spam filter seems to work fairly well. But we have it set so comment moderation starts after 5 days. So spam ones that seem to be rather random and show up later don't appear on the blog and we get an email. But our blog settings have the blog not show up in search engines, I believe.
ReplyDeleteHere is what I don't understand, What do spammers hope to accomplish by sending out spam emails? Do they think that we are really going to open them? If we are computer savvy enough to manage a blog, then we are certainly savvy enough to recognize spam and not open it.
ReplyDeleteI get 1 or 2 a day on my blog, but then I only have a handful of followers. So for me it is easy to just delete. I can't stand captcha's and yes very often I will not comment if I have to fight with it. I just don't have time.
Can I just say that this blog is on the list with my morning favorites. I appreciate what you go through to sort out the real comments. I appreciate the amount of time you have to put in to come up with so many pictures and fantastic posts. I have never once come to your page and thought "eh, that was boring" It is always fun, always a smile. You have set the blogging standard pretty high! :)
I couldn't take it anymore so I finally just stopped taking anonymous comments. I'm sorry if some people aren't able to comment but most of my spam (and it was a lot) was from anonymous.
ReplyDeleteI did the word verification thing too but had people complain. Now, I just do the after approval thing.
ReplyDeleteI don't get as many comments as you though so I'm sure it's a pain.
I dont see no problem with your system of moderation, it feels right. and as far as blogs are concerned, yes I feel addicted to, coming home and reading my favorite blogs, among which is yours. Ihope you won't stop, I delgight in seeing your boyz and following your adventures, it is such a change from my daily life. Please keep on!
ReplyDeleteJust think about it this way. If you weren't so very popular, you wouldn't have so many spammers either. :)
ReplyDeleteI get only a fraction of your comments, but like you, I treasure each and every one of them. They're important to me. They make me smile. But...I only get the occasional spam message. Always a bright side!!
Thank you for moderating your comments.I was the email contact for registrations for a forum three years ago. Occasionally still see a spam message in my inbox. Just delete it unopened and go about my business.Asked the webmistress who runs that site and she just said to keep deleting.I figured something else would eliminate them altogether, but no.At least it is clear what they are.
ReplyDeleteLove 7MSN and all of your herd and others.Lots of warmth and love and hilarity here.
People tell me all the time to take off my word verification... or to go to moderations..etc.... this is exactly what I see when I do...and forget it. Yes..I'm retired...but, I still don't have the time or inclination to scroll through the hundreds of scam and sales crap to find one or two legit comments...I know they are reading and looking ...hey..... I guess it'll hafta do til blogger figures out an easier or better way to do it.....
ReplyDeleteOk are you sorry you put this post up yet? LOL I have never told anyone that I had sooo much difficulty working out word verification (and yes i frequently gave up!) it was my embarrassing secret. After reading these comments I feel totally liberated - I'm not as dumb as I thought I was!! I don't comment very often but I do read every day and like Cindy said I NEVER come away saying "eh, that was boring". And I agree you really have set a very high standard for bloggers! hdj
ReplyDeleteCame back to visit and read the comments. Re-read mine and lordy, I needed more coffee or at least wait until later in the day to write. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteI do wonder why some blogs get so much and others not much. Settings somehow? I dont mind having to sign in my google account to comment, I think it helps to not allow anonamous posters. I too dont like the word verification, would help if I could read them! Is that them or me? Anyway Im hopeing your having to deal with it wont keep you from blogging down the road. I check in with all your kids every day. Any new kittens on the horizon? I lost one of my boys this summer, debating kittens but not sure his old man brother is up for the energy level. Miss him every day. Kiss Hanks nose for me, I had a pinto with very simulair markings as a kid, and Hank so reminds me of my Lady. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteHi Linda, we all love your blog and brings so many people such joy but do what you have to do to keep things safe for this blog. None of will mind.
ReplyDeleteHi Carson - interesting post on behind the scenes! I could never do a blog...not techie enough. Give the critters hugs from WI. :)
ReplyDeleteFor an extra buck a month, my ISP provides us with a SpamEater and I rarely ever see any spam. Except for the once a week report from the Spam Eater which is mostly those wonderful letters from people across the ocean with lots of money to send me as soon as I send them my SS# and bank information. I quietly compose answers to these people which I NEVER type up or send off, its just sort of a mental exercise.
ReplyDeleteSo some of you might want to check with your Internet Service Providers to see if they have anything to offer you. Then the settings suggestions are good too, then lose the Anonymous writers. This is simply one of the nicest groups of people I have been involved with yet, donkey lovers all, and I hate to see the owner distressed in any way .
Cheers and hugs,
Jo, Stella and Zkhat
Like one of the other commentors, I don't allow anonymous comments, and rarely get spam. When I do, I go to my comments section, click on the box beside the spam comment, and hit "report as spam" . Then I go to the spam folder and delete- that way blogger knows that comments from that source are spam.
ReplyDeleteI much prefer WV to captcha, if I ever need to that's what I would do too.
Whatever you need to do to get rid of the spam annoyance will be fine with me. Heck, I'd even stand in line and pay an entrance fee if this were what it would take for me to be able to visit here!
ReplyDeleteGet lost already, Christian L et al.!
P.S. I've been trying to exercise restraint, but you realize that now you've encouraged me to comment (even) more, no?!
ReplyDeleteYour 3 to 5 visits a day fan, s.
Spam SUCKS! I totally understand...why do people have to ruin everything??
ReplyDelete