Comment moderation is on for a reason
Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 10:14
Simon Clark

I have received a complaint about my comment moderation policy.

It's true that since I introduced moderation the number of comments has dropped, but it's a sacrifice I'm happy to make.

It's particularly useful to combat spam or other online marketing ploys.

Here, for example, is a comment that someone tried to post on a thread about legislation to ban smoking in cars. It read:

This is a very new Law which I have only recently heard about, but after reading into it a bit more I feel that this would be a really great Law to put in place."

It was written by someone who allegedly works for a "creative marketing agency powered by digital research" with the sole purpose, it seems, of promoting a brand of e-cigarette.

Adopting the name 'Vaporisers', someone else tried to comment on my post about No Smoking Day:

"Very dangerous and life taking habit and it should be given away as soon as possible."

It links to a site that sells, er, vaporisers.

If you are reading this and have thought about using this blog to promote a similar product, don't bother.

I have a delete button and I'm not afraid to use it.

Article originally appeared on Simon Clark (http://taking-liberties.squarespace.com/).
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