When a "comment" is a come-on

Good morning. We're playing catch-up today, so bear with us. This item is a weird one; it came in as a comment, but is clearly an unpaid advertisement. We don't have a hard and fast policy on whether to publish this kind of comment -- if a blogger, for example, posts a comment that calls attention to his or her blog, that's a kind of advertisement.  But sometimes we go ahead and publish, because we decide the link, or the comment, has some value. On the other hand, we routinely decide not to publish comments that have no informational value -- are you listening, Costa Rica land-for-sale guy?

That said, we thought this one was worthwhile. We think the news value here is obvious -- this is a website that helps you create fictitious pay stubs -- so that you can qualify for loans. (What's the news value? Now that old-fashioned, stated income "liar loans" are hard to get, there are new ways to lie to get a loan.) We deleted the website being advertised, but here's a hint: it does begin with the word "fake":

"I say if you cant beat them.....join them! GET THE COMMISSIONS YOU DESERVE!!! http://www.fake(deleted).com seems like you can get any bad credit home or car loan simple fast and easy! if you are needing a proof of income letter or any other ways to make or create the perfect pay slip cheque then you are on the right track! http://www.fake(deleted).com it is simple, for you can use the easy to use fake pay check stubs anytime anywhere even if you need a fast cash pay day loan. How about refinancing or consolidating all of your bills! this is it! if you want fake id or need fake pay check stubs for the job then i suggest using the best site on the net http://www.fake(deleted).com ... it worked for me!!!"

While we're on the subject of random dot-com come-ons, we received a new one in our Yahoo email the other day. We're immune to the usual wave: every day we win several lotteries (usually the "Irish lottery"), are reminded by Pay-Pal, EBay or some of the nation's largest banks to kindly re-enter our social security number for security reasons, and are befriended by numerous African heirs and heiresses who need our help in claiming their fortunes. The new one was this: a woman working as a fashion model in London is coming to town and wants to rent a room from us for a couple of weeks. We give that one points for creativity.

Your thoughts? Comments? Email story tips to lalandblog@yahoo.com.

Comments

[problemWithcaring]

Spam aside, I detest the fact that you censor the comments to this degree, meaning you do in fact censure the opinions you deem not of "informational value."

I now have to read more into your approval of some of the AnnS-type ridiculousness that passes for real and or sincere infomration in the comments on your blog.

[Dr. JwB]

I don't mind a bit of censorship on this blog, as long as it is acknowledged. For example, I'm glad we aren't barraged with posts about Costa Rican real estate, but I'd like to know that these posts are being deleted (at least the first time it happens). It's probably too much to ask for a Junk Box on the blog, or for you to announce which emails have been deleted, but if I don't know where you draw the line, then I'm not so comfortable with it. I want to know what you think is okay/not, so I can compare it with what I think is okay/not, and then we can discuss it if the need arises.

[Pete Viles]

Problemwithcaring wrote, "I detest the fact that you censor the comments to this degree, meaning you do in fact censure the opinions you deem not of "informational value."

Thanks for the comment, I think my post was confusing and I should clarify: I publish almost every comment that expresses an opinion or a point of view, or a set of facts, or an argument, or even a joke. The only comments I don't publish are:
--Spam
--An advertisement with no real attempt at a comment ("Buy Costa Rica real estate www.whatever.com!!!")
--Comments that are offensive, use foul language, etc.

I can't remember "censuring" an opinion, unless it contained some offensive language or a personal attack.

Someone recently posted, apropos to nothing, that I needed to try Rogaine if I wanted to be attractive to women. I posted that comment, but my wife insisted I take it down -- not because she finds me attractive, but because she felt, as a reader, that the comment had nothing to do with Los Angeles real estate.

Thanks
Pete, aka Rogaine Guy

[MBwatcher]

Urgh, we hate the Costa Rica idiots. I feel like starting a whole new blog called "Don't Buy Costa Rica Real Estate." They'd comment on that, too!

[Cal]

Word of the day, Splogging

Spamming a link to a blog in comments to gain search ranking or to drive traffic to a site.

Their are several commentators guilty of this (the newest being that herrick guy).

If you come to give a opinion, give an opinion, wordpress allows an URL to your blog to added to your comments and we can click on your name if we want to see it. Otherwise its just plain spam.

[Lynn M.]

Pete -

After living in LA for more than 30 years, I moved to Maine a year ago. As we were selling our house, the market was dropping. Because we were Times readers, we knew we needed to drop the price to sell. Although we did not get a market-high selling price, we were happy with our decision.

I find the real estate market in LA fascinating. Your blog is my favorite, and I'm still reading the LA Times daily. Thanks for your excellent work.

By the way, the Rogaine remark was way off base. (You're attractive to women just the way you are. Ha Ha)

Lynn M.

[Keith]

Well, Pete does admit to London supermodels begging to stay at his house. Must be doing something right!

[Dan Moran]

Pete -- publish this or not as you see fit, it's not hugely relevant.

Does the L.A. Times set your blog filtering rules, or do you? Because if it's you, deleting the posts after the fact isn't a huge big problem for most blogs -- if you can assign an assistant to check the block a couple times a day, most of us blog enough to handle a few pieces of spam here and there?

Not a big deal to me either way. If you permit me to criticize you in posts, I can't imagine you're censoring much that isn't egregious. You may just find the after-the-fact approach easier (and it would make the blog livelier, too, and alleviate bitching from the peanut gallery.)

Rogaine was a waste of time for me. I tried it but all it did was make my bald spot -- which was most of my head -- a little fuzzy. Now I shave. Fortunately I have a handsome round head ...

[Pete Viles]

Dan Moran wrote, "Does the L.A. Times set your blog filtering rules, or do you? Because if it's you, deleting the posts after the fact isn't a huge big problem for most blogs -- if you can assign an assistant to check the block a couple times a day, most of us blog enough to handle a few pieces of spam here and there?"

Dan -- the Times does set the filtering rules, which is that comments must be "moderated" -- that is, viewed before publishing -- by me. I was interested in trying your approach -- I've heard from other bloggers that, in addition to being more immediate, and more lively, it actually results in fewer insulting and off-color posts (something about self-policing). The Times folks weren't wild about the idea, though, and I completely understand: if something really inappropriate is posted, even for a few minutes, the newspaper has to deal with the fallout.

[Toby]

I, myself, am very glad that the comments are monitored. All adults really need to work on their "online" maturity.

As for this:

"Someone recently posted, apropos to nothing, that I needed to try Rogaine if I wanted to be attractive to women. I posted that comment, but my wife insisted I take it down -- not because she finds me attractive, but because she felt, as a reader, that the comment had nothing to do with Los Angeles real estate."

On one hand, this was totally uncalled for, on the other....

It is a great time to be alive for a man. Baldness is cured. It is a thing of the past. And we men should help each other out, not to be ashamed because, ALL MEN lose their hair (or at least some of it) sooner or later.

And the vast majority is sooner. Have you been to a 20 year reunion? It's a bald and fat convention.

So in the spirit of brotherhood, I say every guy should go check out the Costco brand of Rogaine, it's 20 bucks for a 4 month supply (and really it's the same stuff).

Minoxidil rocks, every man at some age should use it.

[Dan Fraser]

The come on I got, in response to a Craigslist housing wanted listing, was an invitation to live rent free in a big house in Anaheim in exchange for house sitting it through the real estate downturn. It seems the fellow's father died and they did not want to sell his house until the market improved. The person said he lived in Canada. But they said they also needed me to process checks for the family business in Canada and they needed all my personal info so their lawyer could determine if I was of good enough character to take care of the house. The first tip off was the check processing. Canadians have zero trouble processing American checks in Canada. The next was the vagueness in supplying an address.

These people are clever and this is the second time I had a tailored phishing scheme directed at me in the last few months.

[Keith]

Yes moderating is more for private citizen blogs. The paper would have to have editing code to filter out the "bad" words and so forth, I completely agree the LAT wouldn't want any of that posted for a second. And jeez, can you imagine all the "free" advertising tries you'd get hit with trying to be in the Times for even a few minutes?

[Steve]

Pete, just keep on what you are doing, the blog is great as you can see with the volume of comments.

[Jeremy (jemarqu)]

Peter,

I am a member of a few real times forums. Although real time makes for more fresh and interesting topics, I have found that a lot of times topics get polluted quickly with personal conversation.

I am very happy with this blog. I check it on a daily basis and have never had any of my posts censored.

Jeremy

[Tim K.]

Peter, I know it's probably more work for you, but I think I prefer blogs which "release" approved comments in batches throughout the day. Why? It forces us to respond to the issue posted, and not so much bicker with each other. Too many blogs with immediate postings generate more conversational tones - people write one lines, and expect others to respond to THEM. It's too easy for the original topic to get derailed, and for the comments to become the subject matter as opposed to the original topic.

As it stands now, you tend to release comments several times, so we at least get it more in a "debate/rebuttal" format. It tends to make us all more focused, and think of more fully thought out replies before we hit "Post".

[CD]

a very recommended web site:
Bubbletracking.blogspot.com has another very interesting article dated October 13. SUPER JENAE UPDATE.
It's a" must read" guys, and it underlines the importance of research and of the right infos, as real estate agents/crooks find more and more ways to steal our money.
I have been following the exploits of Super Jenae for a while and it gets better each time!

[AnnS]

"I now have to read more into your approval of some of the AnnS-type ridiculousness that passes for real and or sincere infomration in the comments on your blog.

Posted by: problemWithcaring

What is your problem problemwith caring?

Do you hate the numbers I use that come from the economic reports? Or so you jsut hate women?

Sounds like you hate everyone and anything that isn's just non-stop whining and insults aand looney tunes hyperbole.

[Jeremy(jemarqu)]

Don't listen to him Ann! You are one of my favorite commenters.

[Westside Bubble]

Did you see the post about this paycheck faking at Housing Doom? http://housingdoom.com/2007/10/15/
paycheck-faking-service/

I'm with you, Pete, on your level of moderation. I've deleted a few pitches for Costa Rican real estate, and one spammer's leavings. Otherwise I feel fortunate to have a number of insightful commenters.

[sunsetbeachguy]

Hey, having a full head of hair as an older man is a sign of lower testosterone levels.

I am proud of my bald spot and if anybody jokes or hassles, my response is health male hormones cause baldness.

Think silverback gorillas.

Same principle, top of the heap has less hair and more authority.

[Name (required)]

Pete,

Thanks for this blog and continue doing what you're doing. You are hitting just the right balance.

[tom borland]

i've been trying to find a roommate for my sister via craigslist for a while, and always get the emails from the UK about how they are the perfect fit for the place. If only I would accept payment for the room sight unseen via cashiers check, I could stop looking. It's amazing the ways people go after your money.

[Inland Empire]

I have noticed that at least one person uses this blog to advertise their business. We really don't need to see that person's multiple websites so perhaps some pruning could be done there.

[MyLessThanPrimeBeef]

If only wives would give their excess armpit hair to their balding husbands, as a gesture of affection, the world would be a more balanced place.