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Welcome to Slinginator's Soapbox, an educational resource about the evils of SPAM. This page can tell you what SPAM is, what a chain message is, how to combat them, and where to look for help. This page is maintained by Slinginator's guild, Spammer Slammers Anonymous, as part of our effort to clean up Neopia from the infiltration of SPAM. | ||
On This Page...
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Splat's SpotlightSplat is Slinginator's faithful petpet companion. Splat brings you up-to-the-minute SPAM updates and other highlights from around Neopia.
Question: I've been to several boards, but these boards mostly happen on the FC. This would normally be the title: "[insert_name_here] -rattles tin can- Care to donate?" Well, it's just very annoying. I thought you guys said that asking for donations is considered begging? I told them that it is considered begging, but they simply ignored me. Then, as for another case, n00bs do the same thing and get bombarded with hatemails, while when /literates/ do that people chat with them in a friendly way. What do you think?
Answer: Begging like that is not allowed, no matter what type of player is doing it, and should be reported for spamming.
Also, everyone keeps using that word n00b. We do not think it means what you think it means.
Restocking? What's that? If you've ever been confused by restocking, rejoice! Help is here: The Cult of the F5. This well-designed petpage walks you through the steps needed to get started with restocking and how to progress. Even if you're confident in your RS skills, you should give this informative page a look.
Spam is EVIL!Spam is repeated, unwanted, unnecessary, and/or off-topic information on the web. That means any e-mail, Neomail, message board post, or chat room post that is unwanted or unnecessary is SPAM. It is not just a Neopets word; internet users coined the term long ago (perhaps as early as the 1980's) to refer to unwanted messages or postings on the internet.
Some people say that SPAM stands for "Short, Pointless, Annoying Messages." That's a very fun way to remember what it is, but the word "Spam" (when referring to the internet) doesn't actually stand for anything... just like the word FORD doesn't actually stand for "Fix Or Repair Daily." If you don't believe me, do a lookup of the word "Spam" in google and you'll find several pages discussing the origins of the word "spam" on the internet. There's a lot of speculation, but most people agree that this is what happened:
Monty Python's Flying Circus (a British sketch comedy show in the 1970's) had a sketch where two people go to a restaurant where every single item on the menu includes SPAM, the pork product. The word "Spam" occurs over 200 times during the skit! Frustrated and exasperated, one of the ladies finally cries out, "I DON'T LIKE SPAM!" Early internet users (obviously fans of the show) began to call unwanted internet messages "spam," because they knew that you really COULD have too much of a good thing!
Secondly, it takes up valuable server and bandwidth space. Ever wonder why it takes forever for a page to load? It's because there can only be so much information exchanged at a time. Posting the same thing over and over again takes up space that could be used for other useful information, instead of this rubbish.
Use your head:
When you see someone posting spam,
Hello there! Did you know that posting a bunch of smilies, without actually saying anything in your post, is considered SPAM and it's against the NeoRules? People can be very protective of these boards and they don't like to see people posting nonsense messages. It could get you into a lot of trouble! Please visit Slinginator's petpage for more information, and keep your account safe!
Chain messages begin with "Post this message" or something similar to that phrase. If a message promises a reward for posting it repeatedly, it is a chain message. You've seen them--you're in the NeoBoards, having a conversation, and suddenly you find a post that looks like this:
username and guild message hidden to protect the idiotic
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Let's think about this for a moment.
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Still not convinced? Wow. You're a tough crowd. TNT has stated that Chain Messages don't work in several places on this site.
Read the Wall of SHAME:
Chain Letters: Neopets will never ask you to pass any messages on to anyone else, nor will we ever ask you to post messages repeatedly on the message boards, trading post, or any other area of the site. These will not earn you paint brushes, codestones or anything else and are merely spam messages that annoy other users. Any "copy and paste" messages that tell you otherwise are false and are not endorsed by The Neopets Team no matter what they say. If you receive any such Neomail, simply delete it.
Read the NeoRules:
13. Do not spam the message boards, guild boards, or other site areas. This includes Chain Letters of any kind!
Read the Terms and Conditions:
So that everyone has a good time, you understand and agree that you will not post or send through the site... promotions offering prizes of any sort (including contests, raffles, lotteries, chain letters or any kind of giveaway)BEWARE: If you do any of the above we may freeze your account permanently.
There you have it! Straight from TNT themselves. Chain messages don't work, and they're never approved by TNT.
Do they expect you to memorize the rules? No. But they do expect you to follow them. When YOU created YOUR account, YOU checked a box, saying that you AGREED to the Neopets Terms and Conditions. Believe it or not, you entered into a legal contract. Yes. LEGAL. As in courts and lawyers and judges.
That contract stated that you wouldn't post chain messages or break any of the other rules. Neopets has the legal right to terminate your account if you ever disobey those conditions, which includes spamming with chain messages or other types of nonsense.
Every site on the internet has a set of Terms and Conditions. It's YOUR responsibility to make sure you know what is allowed, and what is NOT allowed, on every web site you use, including Neopets. To keep your account safe from scammers (and from yourself!), be smart, and get informed. Clicking the links we've provided for you will help you on your way:
- Messages that tell you to "Post this message..." are Chain Messages. They don't work.
- Paint brushes are still as hard as ever to find and as expensive as ever to buy. People haven't been finding them in their inventories by posting some stupid message. They don't work.
- TNT doesn't like chain messages. They put it in your legal contract that you can't post them, and they will actually PUNISH you if you post them. They don't work.
- CHAIN MESSAGES DON'T WORK!!!
If you see someone posting a chain message, you will want to inform them that they're breaking the Rules! Often, people haven't realized that this silly message doesn't work and is against the Rules. Posting on the Board doesn't usually do any good, as the spammer has posted and moved on. Your best option is to neoMail them. You will want to be polite and inform them of their error. Usually, people will appreciate being told they're breaking the Rules and will stop posting the messages.
We suggest something like the following neoMail:
That message you are posting on the Boards about "free paint brushes" is against the Rules. It's called a chain message, and it does NOT work. TNT may warn or freeze your account for posting it! Please read the NeoRules, Terms & Conditions, and Wall of Shame, and also http://www.neopets.com/~Slinginator, for more information.
When roaming around Neopia, always remember this one thing:
If it sounds too good to be true,
it probably is!
Whenever someone claims you can "get rich quick" or "get a free _____________", you should hear alarm bells in your head. The "rich" people on Neopets got rich by being smart and by working hard; they didn't beg for items or try dumb schemes like Chain Messages. Use your head and proceed with caution, and you'll be sure to keep your account safe, without spamming the boards or making others angry.
Chain messages are just one type of scam. There are lots more to watch out for! Visit these pages to learn more...
 Avoid Trading Scams |
 Oi, Scammers! Eat Dung! |
 Hacked or Scammed? Learn the Difference! |
 All About Scams |
 Further proof of what you can and can't do on the boards |
 Please don't be scammed! |
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You can help stop the menance of Chain Messages!We at the Spammer Slammers Anonymous Guild believe that the best weapon against Spam is education.
Note: Anyone may use these banners, whether you belong to our guild or not! There is no need to ask permission to link to us; it's what the banners are for! Spread the word! Do you have questions about the banners? Read our F.A.Q.
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(Note: Use of these banners does not constitute an endorsement by Spammer Slammers Anonymous of the actions undertaken by those users who promote Slinginator's petpage through these banners or through other links. In other words, because these banners are free for everyone to use, it's not our fault if someone using them is breaking the Rules.)
Question: Do I have to join your guild to use the banners?
Answer: No. Anyone may use the banners to link to this page at any time. Tell your friends and family!
Question: Can I put a banner on my petpage, shop, or lookup?
Answer: Yes. You do not have to ask permission to use these banners. We've put them here for everyone to use. We want you to link to us! It's how we spread the message.
Question: How did you make those banners? Where did you get the code?
Answer: I used Paint Shop Pro 7 to make the banners. I wrote the code myself.
Question: Could you make me a custom banner/layout?
Answer: No, I'm sorry. I do not do custom banners or layouts.
Question: How did you make the boxes of code under your banners?
Answer: It's a textbox within a form.
If you don't understand that, you need to learn some basic HTML skills. Do a search for "HTML GOODIES" in Google, and you'll be taken to the place where I learned everything I know. I am self-taught; I did my own research. I encourage you to do the same.
Please do not send neomails asking anything about web design or graphic design, because I don't know anything you couldn't find out for yourselves.
We love to hear from our supporters! Below are just a few examples of the many Neomails we've received from people who support our cause! Names have been concealed to protect the innocent.
 Awarded by Gerber1229 |
 Awarded by emmettfinneren |
 Award image created for spammerslammersguild by that_girl27. |
 Awarded by icecoldbanana |
Well, there are several things wrong with it:
Neopets created a board especially for people who wish to advertise their shops. It's called SHOP ADS. Why would they have done this? So that people who wish to carry on conversations, or to get help about specific things (like quests) wouldn't have to sort through endless shop ads on every board.
By posting your Shop Ad in Quest Chat, you're posting off-topic, and that's SPAM.
When a Faerie asks for an item, she is looking for that exact item, not some vague "type"of item.
Consider for a moment that we didn't care whether people posted shop ads in quest chat. Consider now that the Fire Faerie appears to you and requests a "red satin collar."
You try to use the Shop Wizard, but it's blocked. You hop on over to Quest Chat, but find that every other topic is an ad which promises "low prices" on "quest items." But which one has your specific collar? You start clicking and trying all the different "Quest shops." Some are okay, and seem to have several interesting items, but none have the red, satin collar that you need.
Finally, you find a shop that sells your red satin collar. But how do you know this price is the lowest? There's no way to tell.
Are you getting the picture here? Shop ads don't help. They just give vague pointers, and they're often misleading. If you happen to notice someone who needs a specific item that you know you carry, there's nothing wrong with telling him that it's in your shop, but simply advertising that your shop sells "quest items" is nonsense.
As mentioned earlier, Questers do not have the use of the Shop Wizard. How do they know your shop has the lowest price? They don't. They have to take your word for it.
By pointing them to your shop, you're taking advantage of their inability to comparison shop. Sure, it's a game, and there has to be some strategy to it, but taking advantage of people does not fall within the friendly spirit of Neopets.
If you really do have the lowest prices on the Shop Wizard, the Shop Wizard will tell us about it. There's no need to spam the board. Just make sure all your prices are the lowest on the wiz, and the Helpers will send Questers your way. No fuss, no muss.
Are you... Do you use the boards, but hate spam?
Perhaps the Spammer Slammers Guild is right for you!
Whereas most guilds come together for common interests, we've banded together for one common goal. Our mission:
We give Quest Help to those who need it and DUNG to those who Spam.
The guild was born in August of 2003, and our focus has been mainly on the Quests board; we work very hard to help questers and to protect them from people who are simply trying to scam them into buying high-priced items from their shops. We also work hard to keep the board free from chain messages and from people posing as questers, who really just want free paint brushes or draik eggs.
Spammer Slammers belong to our guild not because of the bribes they'll receive for belonging nor because our guild is the biggest or most popular; they join because they want to make a difference in Neopia, and they are passionate about abolishing spam.
Our #1 guild rule is to never disobey the NeoRules or the Terms and Conditions on Neopets. Guild members should read and understand the rules of Neopets; failure to follow the rules of Neopia and of the Guild can lead to termination from our Guild.
We strive to maintain an immaculate guild image, which includes treating others with courtesy and respect. All conduct of our members must show to Neopia that we have class. This means that our members must demonstrate maturity, tact, and temperance when interacting on the message boards.
We're definitely not your average guild! We're very laid-back and have no special "requirements" for membership (unless you count an ability to spell). That means no recruiting drives, no minimum daily posts, no fundraising, and no pressure! We treat everyone with respect, regardless of rank, wealth, or account status. The best part is, we laugh a lot and have a ton of fun!
With lots to offer, including friendship and advice, our members love this guild! We come together on various projects, including our famous Pound Puppy Lab Rat project, and we support each other in our fight against Spam. We hold several events throughout the year like our Summer Slam and Anniversary Celebration that are a big hit with our members (watch out for the flying plushies!).
We have a fresh, modern layout and a great webbie, which has lots of fun tips and resources for fighting spam. We even have banners and user lookup shields to demonstrate your Spammer Slammer pride! Our members are proud to belong to this guild, and who could blame them?
Mature Neopians who understand the importance of thorough help, proper spelling, good grammar, and clear communication and who are looking for a guild with a purpose should check us out. Though we are a private guild, we welcome new members who feel they have much to contribute. If you hate spam and want to join the desperate fight against it, see "How to Apply" below.
If we're so fun and friendly, then why are we a private guild? Many spammers and scammers thought joining our Guild and spamming our message board would be a lot of "fun" because we're a Guild that is dedicated to stopping the plague of SPAM on Neopets and to disrupting scammers on the Quests Board. Our Guild decided to go private to prevent these people from amusing themselves at our expense. However, we're not an exclusive and elitist bunch--far from it! We're always looking for new members to join our cause.
Prove to us you have what it takes to join our ranks:
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The official mascot and spokespet of the... |
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Slinginator the Skeith arrived in Neopia in August 2003. His mission: to educate Neopians about the evils of SPAM. A hard-working and hungry Skeith, Slingy and his dung-flinging companions are always on the lookout for even a whiff of spam. Slingy and his tireless Guild maintain an arsenal of banners and other educational tools to combat the SPAM menance. | ||||||
Here is a list of books Slingy has read. Slingy loves books and wants to read them all (if he doesn't eat them first)!
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