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July 5, 2005

Web Site News - Trackback Spam and Gun Control

by Ferdinand T Cat

Our ISP has disabled trackbacks to this site due to excessive spam. They suggest that we either stop using Movable Type or switch to another ISP.

The tone of the message was pretty darn rude, too, considering that Bruce has been a customer of theirs since before I was born. I gather that he's supposed to be grateful his web sites weren't moved to an abuse server.

Bruce is devastated, but from my more objective point of view I'm able to discern an important lesson, which is that liberals are wrong about almost everything.

First, it's important to understand that Lunarpages is applying a liberal solution to a problem: people are engaged in an immoral act (abuse of trackbacks), and rather than punishing the perpetrators, Lunarpages is punishing the victims. In this light, taking away trackbacks can be seen as analogous to gun control.

Second, Bruce has a choice of moving to a different ISP. This is exactly what liberals don't want you to be able to do with schools or health care. They prefer a single-payer system where the bureaucrats in charge can act like they're doing you a favor by simply turning you away instead of sending you to jail.

So, what's the solution to the problem of trackback spam? It's simple: have every blogging ISP sand a nasty email to all the liberal blogs telling them they can't accept trackbacks any more.

Then they'll understand exactly how the rest of us would feel if progressive dreams become a reality.

I see nothing but an upside to that.

Respectfully submitted,

Ferdinand T. Cat


# At Tue 3:57 PM | Permalink | Trackback URI | Comments (7) | More Web Site News

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Tracked on September 12, 2005 12:11 AM

Comments

If you decide to go with another host, I would suggest my host: 1&1.
(http://www.1and1.com/?k_id=8088028). I have been very happy with them. They host my blog and my dad's company's (whom I work for) website, intranet, email, and internal applications.

Disclaimer: I get credit if you sign up using that link.


Posted by: Hans Mast at July 5, 2005 4:14 PM

I want to invite you to our new website, and let you know to change your link. We are having the grand opening on Thursday with a caption contest. Here is the new link: http://www.stoptheaclu.com

Keep up the good work.


Posted by: Jay at July 5, 2005 5:51 PM

I work for Six Apart, which makes Movable Type, and we're always eager to help in situations like this. If you have contact information for the ISP which is giving you this feedback, I'd be glad to talk to them and see if we can find a good solution to their complaints about Movable Type.


Posted by: Anil Dash [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 5, 2005 9:09 PM

The contact EMAIL is support@lunarpages.com, and the ticket number is 5930-QAGN-1876.

I am trying a technique they suggested (a script from http://underscorebleach.net/jotsheet/2005/02/prevent-movable-type-trackback-spam) to combat the spam. Certainly I find the stuff annoying as heck, so if this stops the spam I'm all for it. Nonetheless, their preferred course was that I find another blogging tool, and I'm all for you talking them out of that mindset.


Posted by: Bruce the Human Pet at July 5, 2005 9:58 PM

Meh, I am all for voting with my dollar... if they will not support functionalities you enjoy, find someone who will. But then I tend to be a vindictive little twit as well...


Posted by: Linoge [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 5, 2005 10:47 PM

I use MT-Blacklist

I find the blacklists don't work very well.

The filters to look up to make sure the IP matches work somewhat, but they also block a lot of normal people. Like it blocked Basil continually so I just turned it off.

The thing that works the best is 2 links or more=block. 1 link = moderate. That plus the lists block all the spam, plus a few real users but oh well.


Posted by: Plutos at July 6, 2005 12:29 PM

oh yeah also the similarity is if we all had concealed carry (and if you could track IP addresses to real world addresses) then there'd be a lot less spam.


Posted by: PlutosDad [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 6, 2005 12:31 PM

HTML is not allowed in comments; however, if you put in a raw URL (http://www.somewhere.com/page.html) it will automatically be converted to a link.. Also, it is likely your comment will not appear unless you refresh the page manually after posting it.

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