2022
Now it's very understandable that most people, Googlers, moderators and such don't go on Local Guides Connect as often as you think when it comes to the weekends. And we acknowledge that there is always going to be spam considering Local Guides Connect is a very public, social platform accessible by anyone and everyone. But right now this spam is getting harsher than it should be, given that the number of members joining this platform is growing each and every day. And how we as a community deal or address might seem pretty poor in my opinion.
Continuing on from @HelloSamsonR's previous post, I believe there needs to be stricter protocols when it comes to filtering the sort of posts that come through, culling marketing and advertising posts from the get-go, and closely monitored, stringent quarantine protocols that reserve the integrity and welcome wagon of Local Guides Connect. Of course, there are already terms and conditions intact, and we're advised that they're working, and also learning bit by bit, but right now, especially for newcomers and users that write up their first post, there isn't much of a buffer. I don't really want to read about someone's property consulting firm, or about someone's graphic "desing" business. In fact, just then I had my eyes violated with an actual video of some girl being god **####** penetrated!
How do these filters not deal with these issues? Or when they're clearly linking or writing about buying, selling or renting property? Or if there's some "beautiful" Thailand girl having the ride of her life? Or if they're disclosing private information such as phone numbers, addresses, emails or such? Especially for those are are first starting out and writing the first couple of posts, quarantine them. Go through stringest quality checking, and if even the slightest littlest flag goes up, they're out, and release from the list of rejected posts if necessary.
I also want to address how the community reacts. Of course, let's give them the benefit of the doubt when they're writing up their first posts or such and try to open up a door into Local Guides Connect, so welcome them if you can. But when you can see or even feel that they're absolutely not interested in being a Local Guide and just want to see the whole world burn inconvenience the spirit of our Local Guides community, don't entertain them. Instead, report them using the 'three-dots' method as illustrated below.
I implore you, don't post something such as "irrelevant post" or "don't do that because [insert reason here]!" that they won't read anyway, as the post will shoot back up to the front page of Local Guides Connect and once again inconvenience people on the welcome mat. Report the post, and let the moderators do their work. Additionally if someone asks a question and all you do is welcome them with full disregard of their request, that doesn't really lead to a positive outcome (my apologies, I'm pretty customer-service oriented). I see what some of you do.
So instead of being a pure rant, I've some ideas. Read on...
- If an experienced or well-known Local Guide (let's say someone who has been a member of Local Guides Connect for about two weeks, and who has also posted a considerable amount) reports a post due to spam, irrelevance or just plain inappropriate for moderator intervention, that post will immediately be sent to the quarantine queue for manual approval/release and no longer visible in Local Guides Connect until it's released. However if this function/privilege is abused by the Local Guide, the ability to do so will be taken away.
- For a newcomer, let's give them the benefit of the doubt. We'll let their first couple of posts slide, but if at least any of them even raise the slightest flag that is against the terms and conditions of use, quarantine right away. Allow for a stricter, closely monitored filter wall to apply to these initial posts and then eventually with time, trust and activity, let the clamps loosen. An example: If a known Local Guide was joking around with another calling her 'Beautiful Lady' (you know who you are), that would be okay provided it's within the confines! However, having someone only recently joining or making their first posts and having "Beautiful Thailand Girl" as the subject of their post would have it immediately quarantined.
- Numbers, personal information, and links might also want to be checked prior to publishing a post, so if a Local Guide identifies them and/or the forums themselves detect such things, allow them to be redacted without ease, either by reporting the post or just by plain observation.
- Hire or commission new moderators that would be able to help curb such tarnish during the weekends.
I enjoy Local Guides Connect as much as the next person because we almost seem to get a glimpse as to what's Google's next moves are, and it provides a community and platform where I can voice my heart out and participate grandiosely as a Local Guide. But for those already in the community, and for those who might be a little curious as to what Local Guides might be about, let's make the environment a better, much more welcoming place by minimising the amount of spam and offensive material that often comes by when not many moderators or Googlers are active. Someone could've wondered what Local Guides Connect is about, but then instead they're greeted with an ad about their print shop, so all of a sudden they see it as a rampant vicious electronic marketplace. First impressions are always key.
I hope no one will take offence to such, but this is how I feel considering that at the moment I can't access Local Guides Connect at work (since they blocked it thanks to 'new phishing filters') and given that I only have time to go online during weekends, there isn't really much to interact it. Anywho, I hope you'll take this with a grain of salt as feedback and perhaps a general feeling of the community towards spam.
Sincerely.
