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Learn: SEO/M in Stumbleupon
By Kimberly Bock | February 2, 2008
Marty and I were having a conversation in the comment area of his blog post “Stumbleupon Going After Abusive Users“…
His post is looking at the new changes in SU in a hopeful light, due to the new changes in SU with the ‘Flagging feature‘ which is in our mailbox next to individual mail as well as in the review area next to each submitted comment. It allows us to flag comments that may be spam, violent, hostile, or vulgar..On the positive side, it allows us to flag people as being helpful, not helpful, informative, and/or friendly.
Now, Marty and others seem to think this is some almighty answer to SEO/Mers SU prayers.
I don’t see it that way.
What I see…
SU possibly trying to get rid of the victims here. We are the victims of abuse, hate, criminal attacks, harassment, violence, sleepless nights, loss of SU friends because they are scared that they will be the next to be victimized, and so on.
But, as we see too often in society and the world around us, the victims are all too frequently discarded and sacrificed. Eyes are closed in exchange for the simpler solution or to save/gain a buck.
If You were SU Admin., what would be going through your mind?
What is it that SU has to consider while trying to solve this in the most beneficial way possible to save face?
I’ll tell you what I think they are thinking:
SU must be terrified of the possible damages to their reputation due to allowing these perpetrators to use their front door to peddle hate, vulgarity and crime.
They must be scared sh*tless of the law-suit’s that are inevitably to follow the next death threat, terrorist assault, obscenity, stalking, suicide or murder..the trolls are gaining ground…
More followers
Increasing gang mentality (bully-syndrome. The “Yea! What HE said” thing)
More private emailing between one another to set up the next attack..
Do we honestly think that SU is going to sit back and except the medical bills, while SEO/M’s are making trips to the mental ward to treat the anxiety caused by these trolls, the lawyer bills for suing, and or the cost of the inevitable burial plots of the slaughter that always follows hate of this caliber?
So, I see this new “Flagging Feature” as what becomes the SEO/Mers demise.
My comment at Marty’s blog post:
“This is my main concern Marty..
Who’s to stop them from forming the same posse that has always been the source of drama over there, but now they’ll be flagging US as spammers?
This may be what decides upon who stays vs who goes as I see it.
The only way I see us winning this fight is to be active (not lazy) about flagging them every time there’s negativity..and doing so as a collective team..all of us flag them as it occurs or it may be useless..They will certainly take this approach with us. (addition to comment - This is not likely to help us. I think SU’s mind is made up.)
And another thing..the flagging is done without a means of showing WHO is doing the flagging..
So, if they show up in droves to flag us it will be anonymous and we can’t defend ourselves…This could be all she wrote for SEO in SU..
PS:I’ve had to block about 15 SU trolls so far..”
I think this Flagging Feature was the smartest move on behalf of SU Admin.
They are going to let the trolls beat us to death, rape us with no legal means of recourse, and rob us of any new friendships and support we’ve gained since we began investing time, love, and parts of ourselves in their ‘house’.
I don’t know about you, but I have become attached to some of the people there. Like Mrs Vester..(tootsiemae54) She loves her grand baby, pictures of our universe, world, love and otherwise human cares, and some of her videos have had me laughing my *ss off. (had to mention her. She’s just a regular everyday person but one that makes SU so nice to hang out in.)
I could be wrong, but I don’t think I am. SU knows what they are doing. Which is saving their *ss in the long run.
Until the next set of people come along that the trolls disagree with..
That’s what the trolls are best at..
But SU may find that the trolls will become restless. Boredom to follow battle..
They’ll say, “Wow, what a rush. WooHoo! We’ve run them SEO’s off…
Who’s next?”
That’s yet, another story.
Please submit socially but please don’t give them my ranking..thank you! 
Suggested alt title: Are We Fighting a Losing Battle?
Easy blurb to help ya out: Under threat, has the only source of our redemption taken the easy way out, leaving SEO/M’s in the wake?
Topics: Reputation Management |
February 2nd, 2008 at 8:43 am
One of the trolls left a bad review on my SU profile as well. You mention they are probably emailing each other planning their next attack.. Well I dug a little deeper and found at that they have a public group in SU where they do all their planning. It’s called SPM-Free .. If they could keep it to SEO splogs that lower the quality of SU, then I would be supportive of their cause. But attacking you and I is uncalled for.
February 2nd, 2008 at 9:07 am
Rob: I didn’t know they had a group where they do all their attack planning..SU should remove it. But once again, they are allowing it to go on.
This is just one more reason to believe SEO’s are going to be an extinct yesterday in SU.
February 2nd, 2008 at 9:28 am
Well the idea of the group is noble. They want spam out of Stumbleupon, which I totally agree with. I just don’t agree with their tactics and lack of differentiating between black and white hat SEOs.
February 3rd, 2008 at 5:50 pm
@SEO Rob… They just don’t care what color we are
The word ‘SEO’ is the flag for them and they attack without caring about the person.
February 3rd, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Ann: That’s hitting the nail on the head. SEO…Oooooooh scary wotd.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Thanks for adding insight to the dialog. Good job.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
You set up a comfortable environment for it. It gave me more to think about which I am still picking apart at present. I have discovered a few angles to certain things and am anxious to post about it, but am waiting to post it at another site that I am in the middle of creating.
I have to wait the 24 hrs for the hosting to kick in and all that jazz.
Thanks for the fun Marty..Good stuff it was…:-)
February 9th, 2008 at 2:02 am
[...] Sunday, or late at night, Kim "SpostareDuro" Bock blogs about SEO/M in StumbleUpon while her beau Bill "SEO by the Sea" Slawski prefers a light afternoon snack of Yahoo on [...]