New Comment Policy - You Want To Read This
I told ya it was coming 
. When I announced the top commenter winners for January, I stated that there were two posts coming regarding comments on this blog. A general one regarding the official comment policy of this blog and a whole separate page regarding rules & tips for the monthly top commenter contests.
There IS a new updated comment policy and you DO want to read it, as it WILL be enforced. And yes, a few slicksters out there may want to consider that a threat .
Relax. It’s very simple, straight forward and logical. Not to mention, still more lenient then most I’ve seen. All in all though, it had to be done.
I do wish to sincerely apologize to a select few in regards to number 1. In the past I allowed a 3rd option for the name field…..pure keywords as long as you signed a real name under your comment.
Due to skimmers this is no longer allowed.
What’s a skimmer? An idiot that merely skims the comments soley looking at the name fields. They don’t actually look at the comment itself (to see if there’s a name there) but simply looking to see who else left pure keywords so they can do it to.
There will be no exceptions to this policy. No excuses either; there’s a big fat link right above the comment box (opens in a new window). With all the goodness I provide, I’m tired of some taking advantage. I believe it was Sire who said in one of his posts, “it’s like some just give you the finger”…something like that, and he’s quite right.
Luckily we seem to have built an awesome community here! The largest percentage of you have nothing to fear, thank you for that. Hopefully in the future, I can figure a way to give even more perks to those that truly deserve it 
.
Thanks for understanding,
Dennis
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Jaq @ Net Age Web Design
Kev
Latief@AnotherBlogger
sherry
February 10th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
hey Dennis
I´ve always wondered about the use of a “public comment policy” … (btw, are you gonna put a direct link to your comment policy on a visible place?) seeing that people looking for just building links normally just dump their link without spending time on the blog and certainly not reading comment policies, and those that are actively participating on a blog probably won´t think of spamming in anyway….
looks like I finally got to comment first LOL, probably because I wasn´t the only one not being to access the post
Mirjam´s last blog post..Things Are Gonna Change Around Here!
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 11th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
@Mirjam, Did you see the big fat link right on top the comment box? I mentioned it in the post also.
Btw, thanks again for the access heads up.
Mirjam Reply:
February 11th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
@Dennis Edell, ROFL nope, hadn´t noticed it at all!
and, you´re welcome
February 10th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Wow, you have become a real meanie in your old age. Hmmph, I now will have to see how many of these new rules I break. Oh, never mind Sire is the rule breaker (is that fun banter acceptable?). Sorry getting off topic! My bad!
I just heard a ‘big’ guy talking that his new program to automate blog comments was almost ready to launch. All we need is another one.
Ok, I think you have done fine & I will try to behave when I come here.
Sheryl Loch´s last blog post..Saving Time Answering Questions
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 11th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
@Sheryl Loch, WOW meanie, old, AND I let the comment pass…I must be an awesome dude!
Very few if any of my regulars like yourself have little to fear. None of it is “new” persay, I just took it from my head to the public page.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, “Today’s gurus are yesterday’s spammers”, with 1 or 2 exceptions.
However, some of these auto commenters are OK, I’ve used one or two in the past…..the acceptable ones are the ones that automate the “field” entries (name, url, email), but you STILL have to hand type the comment
Sheryl Loch Reply:
February 11th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
@Dennis Edell,
Ok, you aren’t as mean as the others said.
The automated system they are putting out is one where you just write a general comment & let it go.
Sheryl Loch´s last blog post..Loaded Web Blog Directory - Brand New
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 11th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
@Sheryl Loch, LOL gee thanks.
Feel free to email me this idiots name. I like to keep up on who spews crap around the ‘net….it’s quite obvious nothing he says or does should be followed with any seriousness.
February 10th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
how about nicknames? janrafi is not my real name but a nickname. i think i followed the rules since i put a dash before the keywords as your rule states.
thanks for dropping by my blog too.
Janrafi - Earn Money Online´s last blog post..Selling yourself just to earn money
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 11th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
@Janrafi - Earn Money Online, Whoops my bad, I just edited the policy to include one-word nicknames…you’re good.
February 10th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
Dennis this a rule i am seriously considering on my blog and one i feel is a very good one.
Also still awaiting your email about januarys winners.
David Hobson´s last blog post..Introducing Boosh Articles Our New Article Directory
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 11th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
@David Hobson, Email coming today.
February 10th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
Man, I am really shocked, not that you have updated your comment policy but that you took so damn long. Now, in regards to the name policy, I am not sure where that leaves me as Sire is not my real name but is also not a keyword. What say you master Dennis.
Sire´s last blog post..Sony’s Latest Piece Of Electronic Shit Takes America By Storm
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 11th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
@Sire, Yep just updated my policy as I flaked on nicknames…you’re OK.
I wouldn’t say it’s late though. I wasn’t going to update it at all until many failed miserably during January’s TC contest (it was an unofficial test)
Sire Reply:
February 11th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
@Dennis Edell, Cool, and it’s all good Dennis, you know how much I love BS’n you
Sire´s last blog post..Sony’s Latest Piece Of Electronic Shit Takes America By Storm
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 13th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
@Sire, Come to think of it, isn’t “Sire” a bit over the top? I’m thinkin’ maybe “Jester”, no?
Sire Reply:
February 13th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
@Dennis Edell, I’ve been known as Sire even before my blogging career. It has more to do with my gentlemanly manners than anything else.
Sire´s last blog post..Changing Your Lifestyle Doesn’t Have To be Painful
Mitch Reply:
February 13th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
@Sire, Gentlemanly manners, eh? Do we have to go back and show that video again? lol
I hadn’t thought about nicknames in Dennis’ policy, but I’m glad that was taken care of.
Mitch´s last blog post..Book Writing Series Part Seven - Contacting Publishers
Sire Reply:
February 13th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
@Mitch, Hey, even a gentleman is allowed a witty sense of humor.
Sire´s last blog post..Changing Your Lifestyle Doesn’t Have To be Painful
Suzanne Franco Reply:
February 19th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
@Mitch ~ wait wait … what video did I miss?! LOL *huGs* S
Suzanne Franco´s last blog post..Update on My BANS (Build a Niche Stores) Profits
Mitch Reply:
February 19th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
@Suzanne Franco, Check out Sire’s video here; be prepared, for it’s slightly crude.
Suzanne Franco Reply:
February 19th, 2009 at 11:24 pm
@Mitch ~ Hey Mitch … how have been?
So Sire … “gentelmanly manners” huh? I do have to wonder … has that “line” actually worked for you? Try that here in Texas … and well … I just wouldn’t. LOL
Thanks for sharing Mitch *SmiLes* S
Suzanne Franco´s last blog post..Update on My BANS (Build a Niche Stores) Profits
Sire Reply:
February 20th, 2009 at 2:02 am
@Suzanne Franco, Depends how you mean worked for me Suzanne. If you mean did it ever get laid, I would have to say no as I never really used it that way. It was always used as a joke and I told both women and men and I always got a laugh.
Sire´s last blog post..Translation Of A Big Night Out
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 14th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
@Sire, Man if I even attempted a reply to this I’d be late for dinner…it’s 1pm now.
Sire Reply:
February 14th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
@Dennis Edell, Sounds like a blog post in the making
Sire´s last blog post..Changing Your Lifestyle Doesn’t Have To be Painful
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 14th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
@Sire, or an ebook…
Sire Reply:
February 14th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
@Dennis Edell, Yay, another ebook! Do I get a free copy?
Sire´s last blog post..Changing Your Lifestyle Doesn’t Have To be Painful
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 15th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
@Sire, Well no, but I’d only charge you slightly more then others.
Sire Reply:
February 16th, 2009 at 12:02 am
@Dennis Edell, Well in that case, I’ll have 10 LOL
Sire´s last blog post..Changing Your Lifestyle Doesn’t Have To be Painful
February 10th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
Your comment policy looks exactly like mine. I mean, if it doesn’t now it probably will when I update mine
I know it’s not exactly what you are talking about but I just deleted 143 spam comments. That just since lunch! It’s really getting bad lately.
Don’t tell anyone but I used to change the URLs of those ‘Nice Posts’ and ‘I like your sites’ to LowLifeSpammer.com. It’s parked now but it used to tell everyone that clicked the link that the idiot is a comment spammer. I might put that back up. It was a little satisfying.
Brian D. Hawkins´s last blog post..What Is In Your Background Thoughts?
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 11th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
@Brian D. Hawkins, If you resurrect it, let me know. I might redirect a few also lol.
Brian D. Hawkins Reply:
February 14th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
@Dennis Edell, I resurrected LowLifeSpammer.com today and updated my comment policy too. Thanks for the inspiration
Brian D. Hawkins´s last blog post..Internet Marketing Newbie Niche Still Very Popular
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 15th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
@Brian D. Hawkins, LOL quite welcome my friend.
Sheryl Loch Reply:
February 11th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
@Brian D. Hawkins,
OOO, I loved that URL when we had the old forums! We changed many a link to it & left the post so others would know to watch for that username as a spammer on their forums.
Sheryl Loch´s last blog post..Are You Deep Linking to Improve Your SERP Results
Brian D. Hawkins Reply:
February 12th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
@Sheryl Loch, @Dennis, I’ll throw it back up this weekend. It’s just one page and it wont cost anything. I’ll let you know.
Brian D. Hawkins´s last blog post..Internet Marketing Newbie Niche Still Very Popular
Suzanne Franco Reply:
February 19th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
@Brian D. Hawkins ~ Brian that’s sooo funny! Do you actually own that domain? Thanks for the laugh! LOL
Suzanne Franco´s last blog post..Update on My BANS (Build a Niche Stores) Profits
February 10th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
Wow, tough policy; lots of policing coming, I suppose. And you’re right, you’ve done #2 a few times here and there. Still, you have a policy, and folks will have to stick by it. I’m not writing a policy; if you see your post, you know it’s okay, and if you don’t, you know it wasn’t; plain and simple. Good luck with it all.
Mitch´s last blog post..At Least Be Professional In Your Writing
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 11th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
@Mitch,
Tough? No, ya think? Seriously? It may sound harsh but I do think it’s quite lenient. Just about everything in there has been in my head since day one and used while moderating comments…it’s just time I made it official.
Ned Carey Reply:
March 3rd, 2009 at 2:50 pm
@Mitch,
The only thing the least bit restrictive is use a real name. That is a pretty common expectation from bloggers and at least Dennis is telling people up front about it. Many bloggers would send you right to the Akismet filter without any advance warning for doing that.
Ned Carey´s last blog post..Great Marketing With a Sense of Humor!
February 11th, 2009 at 6:43 am
This policy is very reasonable. Your blog is really interesting and I hope I’ll be able to read and comment here regularly. Thanks for your great work!
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 11th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
@Katherine Grey, Comment away, lets hear those thoughts!
February 11th, 2009 at 7:12 am
Dennis - It’s totally understandable that you had to institute this new policy. I’m sure it will cut down on the number of spammy comments.
@Brian D. Hawkins: changing the URL to lowlifespammer.com is brilliant!
Andy | West Florida Components´s last blog post..New Mystery Part: SCR5162-005 by Motorola
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 11th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
@Andy | West Florida Components, Thanks for the support!
Brian D. Hawkins Reply:
February 12th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
@Andy, Thanks Andy. I’m going to put it back to use
Brian D. Hawkins´s last blog post..Internet Marketing Newbie Niche Still Very Popular
February 11th, 2009 at 7:17 am
I don’t think your comment policies are out of line and are just common sense. Especially when you consider that a lot of blogs allow no comments and some that do have not follow tags for urls.
I am going to have to copy blatently copy your polices, embelish them a little and implement them into our training for our students and on our own blogs.
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 11th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
@Dan, First, welcome to the community! A blatant copy is cool since you announced it first…a credited backlink is always appreciated though.
Dan Reply:
February 11th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
@Dennis Edell, Of course I would give you the credited back link. We want our students to have good online ethics just like we do.
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 11th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
@Dan, Thanks buddy and I love the attitude! I hope to see you ’round more often.
February 11th, 2009 at 8:01 am
Very good polic, however I doubt the people who are leaving the spammy comments will truly read it and abide by it.
As for the keywords in the name, that is a good move. I get completely irked when someone visits my blog and ONLY leaves keywords. However, I don’t mind it if they leave a name or a company name.
Shirley´s last blog post..Can Your Website Handle A Traffic Surge?
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 11th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
@Shirley, Nope true blue spammers wont look, but if they ever return and start to wonder, it’s there. lol
February 11th, 2009 at 9:44 am
I totally understand the reasoning behind your policy, although, I must admit that I am sometimes guilty of leaving a random link here and there in my comments (not always to my own site though) that only marginally applies to the post in question…but you’ve seen that and know what I’m talking about.
Off topic conversations are fun and help increase the sense of community..why don’t you like that?
I really like the name part for several reasons, but for my vote in regards to a couple of the questions asked above, I think Janrafi and Sire should be allowed to continue using those names because they are not keywords and more like nicknames
Nick´s last blog post..Sunday Snapshots - 016
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 11th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
@Nick, Yea the randomness is what i like to avoid. To your own site or someone else is ok, as long as its (a little more then marginally) relevant.
banter is great and community is what we are all here for! However, the newbie from Google or whatever may not stick around, and that’s not good.
You come here looking for advice on a linking strategy and have to sift through 20 replies about a horrible ham sandwich…yea, that needs to be avoided. LOL
February 11th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Okay got it!
JR @ Internet Marketing Strategies´s last blog post..Title Tags vs. Anchor Text - Link Attributes
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 11th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
@JR @ Internet Marketing Strategies, LOL you my dear were never in jeopardy…although this adds very little.
February 11th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Nice Dennis. I need to do a comment policy on my blog as well. So far so good, but I know I can ward off a problem by getting things out in front.
I comment on blogs for the backlink and the knowledge. If the blog doesn’t offer anything but a backlink then I rarely return. I tend to ‘camp out’ at blogs I enjoy reading, hence, why I’ve been returning here to comment.
Keep up the good work.
Colleen - Kennewick Real Estate´s last blog post..West Richland Homes For Sale
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 11th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
@Colleen - Kennewick Real Estate, Well rounded, I like that.
One can always tell the link seekers real easy by the crappy comments.
February 11th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
It strikes me that in blogging a person’s name (identity) is an important tool in building trust with readers. It’s smart to use it. I’d rather check out what Dennis Edell or Dennis Edell @ —– is doing than simply a company name.
Unfortunately, spammers usually skip the comments policy. I’d be interested to see how many actually change their ways versus getting deleted.
Gennaro´s last blog post..Travelers Must Help Free Rice And Kiva
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 11th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
@Gennaro, exactly right! It was much worse before threaded comments (with the automated @) when the blogger had to type
@visitmycrappyblogthroughthiskeyword - thanks for the garbage.
I think the only ones that will change or stop visiting are the “dedicated spammers”….the ones that will actually return each post to spam. vs. the “one-offs”.
February 11th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
On a related note, I’m surprised many will take the chance of spamming blogs for backlinks. Once a person is in Akismet’s grips, they’re done! Occasionally, I’ll get an email from a colleagues to approve their comment so they can get out of Akismet’s spam filter. Apparently, it’s easier to get in, then to get out!
Colleen - Kennewick Real Estate´s last blog post..West Richland Homes For Sale
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 11th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
@Colleen - Kennewick Real Estate, Much easier, which is why I gave the warning about not giving me the opportunity to hit the spam button on the comment…eventually it will follow the person from blog to blog and beyond.
February 12th, 2009 at 11:43 am
It would be interesting to see how many newcomers will actually read the policy. And I’m not talking about spammers, but SE traffic and those following your comments on other blogs….
It there anyway you can track this? oooh, I know.. in the policy, mention that every commentator has to leave a certain mark in the end of their comment, say this one: ^ to participate in a great contest. muhahaha!!!
Cheers,
Alex
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 13th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
@Alex at PPC-Coach, Interesting idea, but probably not lol.
Newbies are one thing…I’m still waiting for some regulars to follow through.
February 13th, 2009 at 6:49 am
Ahh I hate these people.
Thanks for updating us Dennis.
I should also make some sort of a policy like this, otherwise you just spend most of the day filtering the comments.
Cheers.
The Moneyac´s last blog post..16 Interesting Internet Facts You Should Know About
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 13th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
@The Moneyac, You’re welcome my friend, although I must ask, did you read it all the way through?
February 14th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
I can’t say that I blame you for this, and it’s really too bad that a handful of people had to go and ruin it for everyone else.
But, on the good side, it gave Sire a chance to grace us with one of his eloquent mannerisms. LOL (HI honey).
But as I’ve always said, if you plan to have a comment contest, there are going to be those who will do all they can to scam the system.
Christine Senter´s last blog post..In The “Write” Mood
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 14th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
@Christine Senter, thanks for understanding.
Wait for the rules/tips page comes out for the contests themselves.
Christine Senter Reply:
February 14th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
@Dennis Edell,
Whoo Hoo, bring it on. I’m ready. LOL
Christine Senter´s last blog post..In The “Write” Mood
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 14th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
@Christine Senter, LOL
As long as I have you here, if you enjoy guest posting, can you shoot me an email? admin@dennisedell.com
Sire Reply:
February 14th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
@Christine Senter, Hi Christine
Say, how about telling Sire which mannerism you are referring to?
Sire´s last blog post..Changing Your Lifestyle Doesn’t Have To be Painful
Christine Senter Reply:
February 14th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
@Sire, Oh, that little ditty we all know and love about giving admin the finger (mentioned in post above). Not one of your more famous ones, but still one of my favorites. LOL
Dennis, shot you an email, let me know if you got it.
Christine Senter´s last blog post..In The “Write” Mood
Sire Reply:
February 14th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
@Christine Senter, Oh, I thought perhaps you were referring to the mannerisms portrayed in my now famous youtube video
Sire´s last blog post..Changing Your Lifestyle Doesn’t Have To be Painful
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 15th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
@Christine Senter, got it, will respond asap.
February 14th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
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February 15th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
[...] back by popular demand, kind of (New Comment Policy - You Want To Read This), I have resurrected LowLifeSpammer.com. It’s just a simple one page site where blog and [...]
February 19th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Well … I’ve had some fun reading this one! First of all the “policy” is pretty standard and just plain common sense … you’d think … but obviously necessary. I’m glad you put it in place and I probably need to do the same. Askimet seems to catch most of my spam … but I get the biggest laugh out of the “spammy” comments that get left on my “comment pussy” post … I feel like putting them on through and then just saying …. “ummm … duhhhhh … cp!!!” Some people are … crazy! Plain and simple. *SmiLes* Suzanne
Suzanne Franco´s last blog post..Update on My BANS (Build a Niche Stores) Profits
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 20th, 2009 at 8:42 am
@Suzanne Franco, LOL glad you enjoyed it.
February 22nd, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Seriously I don’t agree with people throwing in a link in their comments too. Especially those like “You can visit my site for more tips” kind..
Ben Pei´s last blog post..Ben Got Hit By Dengue Fever
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:30 am
@Ben Pei, I don’t mind a link as long as it’s relevant, but you’re right; it does depend on the wording as well.
March 2nd, 2009 at 10:43 pm
I just added a comment policy myself - not as elegant as yours.
I am not much of a coder and I’m trying to figure out how to add a link to the comment policy as you did just above the comment box
Ned Carey´s last blog post..1099s Are Due! Have You Sent Yours Out?
Dennis Edell Reply:
March 3rd, 2009 at 12:08 pm
@Ned Carey,
I like the policy, especially “You agree to grant a non-revocable assignable license…..” I may have to steal that.
Send me an email to admin@dennisedell.com and I’ll reply with the link instructions.
March 3rd, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Dennis,
It occurred to me that the author of the comment owns the copyright to it. Perhaps there is an implied consent but I figured why not make it clear. As I build my business there may be a way to mine value from them - testimonials for example.
Ned Carey´s last blog post..2009 Baltimore City Tax Sale Announced
Dennis Edell Reply:
March 3rd, 2009 at 8:45 pm
@Ned Carey, A very fine line indeed. I think I’ll add it in.
March 7th, 2009 at 8:50 am
Concerning the intellectual property right on content of a comment - what is the typical situation in the US? This has been quite a debate over here in Europe …
Dennis Edell Reply:
March 7th, 2009 at 8:58 am
@Jens, Welcome to the community!
As far as I know, everything written by you belongs to you to start with. But, a blog belongs to it’s owner, so he/she can write policies/disclaimers, or what else to counter act it and then it’s up to the writer if they wish to follow it.
June 10th, 2009 at 3:21 am
skimmer? new to my ear, any details for that please…
Dennis Edell Reply:
August 10th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
@Michael, Basically just someone who scrolls the page to see if others are getting away with keywords.