You’ve been sending us email and “reporting issues” about spambots for several days, now, and we want you to know that we’ve heard you.

Dealing with (by which we specifically mean ‘protecting you from’ spammers) is a central concern for us right now. They’re potentially dangerous and, well, annoying. Just today we’ve had members leave AidSource with “too many ridiculous emails” as the reason.

Just so that you know, here are some of the steps that we’re taking right now to address the issue of spam in AidSource:

1)      We’ve activated every available filter option on sign up. Short of individually approving every new member, we’ve basically made it as difficult as possible for spammers and non-humans (bots) to become members.

Obviously some spammers and bots are still making it into AidSource. So…

2)      We’ve communicated the issue directly to Ning, they’ve responded, and we’re in dialogue. It doesn’t mean that the problem of bots in Ning networks will go away immediately. But so that you know, we’re addressing this issue directly with the ‘local authorities’ (in true aid worker fashion).

3)      All three admins (J., Alanna, and Shotgun Shack) each log in several times per day and manually delete any bots, spammers or suspicious looking new members we see.

Unless we manually delete the bots and spammers just as they go live (hard to do), they’ll very often have time to fill your inboxes and AidSource home pages with ridiculous emails, requests for your personal information, and promises of love beyond your wildest dreams. We’re very sorry for this. If we could stop it, we would.

There are a few things that you can do, though:

1)      Ignore. Much more fun to send a complaining email, we know. But once we delete a spambot, any content it might have uploaded to AidSource is also deleted, including emails or comments on your wall. So if you can bear to do so, just give us a few hours… all annoying content will go away.

2)      Adjust your personal “settings” to adjust your “email settings”... 

... to set which email you receive from AidSource into your external email account.

While of course we can’t recommend it, there is a “receive no emails from AidSource” option, as well, all the way at the bottom.

This won't stop spam from existing in AidSource, but it can reduce the amount of annoying email that floods into your personal inbox before we get around to deleting the bots.

3)      Join the online banter about spambots by adding to this discussion and/or tweeting to the #LuvEstherLarry hashtag.

Thank you for your patience