Sphinn Staff Comments

made for sphinnpageoneresultsPosted by Edward Lewis, aka pageoneresults™
SEO Consultants Directory System Administrator
Orange County, California | United States

0-22 SphinnsCommunications with Sphinn Staff

2008-07-21 - A fellow Sphinner just pinged me this morning and asked me to review comments being made publicly by specific Sphinn Staff and Sphinn Members. Since my account has been terminated and I cannot respond to the continued remarks being made by Sphinn Staff and a select group of Sphinners, I'm going to use this area as my "Comments" to your continued "untruths".

Yes, at this point, some of you, a few select Sphinn Staff and a few select Sphinners, are fabricating things that just are not true. The only way to prove that is to take "all of the communications" I've had to date on this and post them publicly. Since there were no disclaimers in the email communications about privacy, etc., I'll assume that I can post those along with my replies all verbatim without any damn Sphinn! By the way, there were only two emails.

Before I post the communications, I want to first address this recent comment from BrentCsutoras, Moderator at Sphinn, which is what prompted me to make these communications available for all to read in their original context.

"Look the final bit on the whole thing is, sarcasm aside, Ed came to sphinn and broke rules. He was sent numerous emails about the rules he was breaking, which he completed ignored."

BrentCsutoras from Sphinn in reply to Unintended Consequences at Aaron Wall's SEO Book on 2008-07-21 at 04:22.

Numerous Emails?

Brent, there were "only two" which I guess if you Sphinn it right could be classified as Numerous Emails which I will post below. I should also point out that I diligently sent two Contact Requests through your official procedures and neither were responded to nor were they acted upon. Both of those were directly related to The Sphinn Expose before it was even an open page in my FP WebDAV.

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First Contact from Rob Kerry

On 2008 July 16, Wednesday at 15:03 PDT, I received this "first email communication" from Rob Kerry aka evilgreenmonkey in regards to my Sphinn activities...

"Hi Edward,

I'm contacting you with regards to your recent Sphinn activity and email communications.

I think that it's important to first point out that Sphinn is a social community rather than a forum, and as such has slightly different values and rules. As I understand it, your background is as a valued member of the WebmasterWorld forums, where a zero tolerance approach to linking and promotion is taken. In contrast, Sphinn encourages members to link to their favourite stories, and their own stories where appropriate, in the form of a story submission.

Sphinn is an internet marketing community, which covers many varied subjects including affiliate marketing, social media and many other mediums. The blogs covering these subjects are sometimes, by nature, featuring affiliate links/banners and written in a manner which could be seen as over-hyped. Sphinn still considers all but the extreme cases of these sites as valid, and leaves it to the community to decide whether they enjoyed the content via the voting (Sphinning) system. The posts which we do remove as spam are often completely off-topic, extremely self-promotional (trying to sell something) or involved in negative activities.

We appreciate any and all reports of spam submitted to us via the contact form, although prefer to keep Sphinn admin matters off of the website to prevent the real stories from getting pushed down and so that our team can deal with the matter more efficiently. You are more than welcome to Desphinn an article in which you disagree with the content, although we ask that you keep your tone civil and courteous. If the post is indeed spam, please mark it as so using the "Report as Spam" button or via the contact form.

If you have information regarding certain individuals who take part on Sphinn, please inform us directly, as personal attacks and flaming can put your own account at risk of termination. We have conducted our own internal investigations into automated voting, and currently only half a dozen accounts match a strong enough pattern to be suspicious. We will of course contact these members directly, and take action if they fail to heed our requests.

Regards,

Rob Kerry evilgreenmonkey Sphinn Editor"

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First Contact Reply from Edward Lewis

On 2008 July 16, Wednesday at 17:52 PDT I sent this "first email reply" to Rob Kerry aka evilgreenmonkey...

"Hello Rob, Good day!

"I'm contacting you with regards to your recent Sphinn activity and email communications."

Six days of letting me bleed profusely and now you are contacting me? :)

"I think that it's important to first point out that Sphinn is a social community rather than a forum, and as such has slightly different values and rules."

I think I found that out the hard way. I dig Sphinn, I do.

"As I understand it, your background is as a valued member of the WebmasterWorld forums, where a zero tolerance approach to linking and promotion is taken. In contrast, Sphinn encourages members to link to their favourite stories, and their own stories where appropriate, in the form of a story submission."

Actually it goes back a bit further than that to SEF back in the late 90s. But yes, WebmasterWorld's approach of zero tolerance is in a class by itself and a very challenging environment to mod in. I know, I had three forums for almost 7 years.

"Sphinn is an internet marketing community, which covers many varied subjects including affiliate marketing, social media and many other mediums. The blogs covering these subjects are sometimes, by nature, featuring affiliate links/banners and written in a manner which could be seen as over-hyped."

Ummm, I don't want to come across as "all knowing", but please, don't ask me to accept the same responses ya'll have been feeding to your community now for over a year. The churn of your Top Sphinners list is a clear indication of the challenges there.

"Sphinn still considers all but the extreme cases of these sites as valid, and leaves it to the community to decide whether they enjoyed the content via the voting (Sphinning) system."

Your community is divided. Many of them probably don't touch that What's New list in its default sort. That would be like entering a "dirty search query" in some off the wall search engine. Dude, ya'll have some major issues under the face of Sphinn, please do tell me that you are fully aware of the technical vulnerabilities of your system, please?

Show me that you are doing something about the SphinnBots and I'll back off that one publicly. There are 3 others, rupalik being one of them which is a new user. Many of them are newer users because those developing the software to Sphamm Sphinn are working to perfect it. When it becomes available, underground, it then comes in silently under the guise of some pretty icon at timed intervals on specific days and time frames. I'm going to guess that you guys/gals are not aware of this?

Rob, I've pinged some of my Peers before responding. Actually, I pinged them last week before traveling into the Sphinn Abyss. At the time I really didn't know who was who. I came in blindly as I say. I get paid a pretty penny to do that for retail clients. To come in blindly and play the dumb consumer and/or the smart consumer. I've had some interesting gigs in my tenure. In the 6 days I've been here, I think I've probably learned more about your platform than most do. In fact, I'm almost certain of a layer that exists that you "may not" be aware of.

"The posts which we do remove as spam are often completely off- topic, extremely self-promotional (trying to sell something) or involved in negative activities."

Not in the off hours you don't.

"We appreciate any and all reports of spam submitted to us via the contact form, although prefer to keep Sphinn admin matters off of the website to prevent the real stories from getting pushed down and so that our team can deal with the matter more efficiently."

I've submitted two so far via the Contact Form. Neither has been acted on. Both are proven SphinnBots. If you cannot view their profiles which is available publicly and then go to their Sphinn activity and notice the patterns, I have some choice words to share. < I get passionate about this, please do not take this personally.

"You are more than welcome to Desphinn an article in which you disagree with the content, although we ask that you keep your tone civil and courteous."

I do believe I've been mostly civil with the exception of those that are clearly not fit for the community based on your own guidelines posted. You guys are being "bombed" with low quality schit and its really taken away from the initial wow factor for those that could have driven that ship.

"If the post is indeed spam, please mark it as so using the "Report as Spam" button or via the contact form."

Dude! Rob! If I see that reply one more time, just one more time!!! :) :)

I am oblivious to that reply. It has become part of the "banner zone" as they say. Your own mods admit in public that not enough people use it. I wonder why. They just stay away from that area. They don't freakin care anymore because there is no control so they just avoid what they cannot change. Every now and then a few brave souls will venture into that hell hole you call the What's New list and find themselves in what appears to be a frenzy for you name it. I have documents that show that What's New list at different times of the day and days of the week from the day I arrived last week. I wanted to become involved...

"If you have information regarding certain individuals who take part on Sphinn, please inform us directly, as personal attacks and flaming can put your own account at risk of termination."

Rob, I will respect whatever decision you make in regards to my account. I might suggest that you send a message to the lynch mob to back off also. I will feed their sickness while they continue to feed mine. There are two sides to this story. Termination of my Sphinn profile would be disheartening but I'll take it like a real man.

"We have conducted our own internal investigations into automated voting, and currently only half a dozen accounts match a strong enough pattern to be suspicious."

Ummm, did you just do that?

"We will of course contact these members directly, and take action if they fail to heed our requests."

bhartzer
merkal2005
merkal2008

Wipe those three profiles and I'll believe you are "really" doing something. That is where the bulk of the "heavy activity" is. bhartzer's SphinnBot phuqued up big time and so did merkal2008. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they were using the same software, I tripped up both of them the same way. Oh, and rupalik, I think that too is the same software but a later release. A prettier one, a sexier one. rupalik gets Sphinns on looks alone. Actually rupalik gets Sphinns from her HoBots. They usually come in shortly thereafter and do a single Sphinn so a 2 shows.

Rob, I know I come across as somewhat harsh. I stepped down from my WebmasterWorld responsibilities last month as I knew I would be "becoming myself". That was a tough decision but I felt it would be best for my Peers to be able to disassociate themselves with me if I crossed the line. :) < I surely wouldn't do that intentionally, I wouldn't Rob.

Regards,

Edward Lewis
Some guy in a trailer park in Southern California"

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Second Contact from Rob Kerry and Termination Notice for pageoneresults

On 2008 July 17, Thursday at 00:16 PDT, I received this "second email communication" from Rob Kerry aka evilgreenmonkey in regards to my account being terminated.

"Edward,

Your account has been terminated for the continued disrespect shown towards rule-abiding Sphinn members and the Sphinn moderator team, as well as abuse of the Desphinn and spam reporting facilities. It was not your job or your right to go on a one-man lynching mission, and although your help in identifying some rule-breakers was appreciated, your tone and actions towards new members and moderators was inexcusable. Sphinn has always been updating it's systems to deal with spam to the limit of our platform and development time, and will continue to make further advancements in the future.

Rob Kerry
evilgreenmonkey
Sphinn Editor"

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On 2008 July 17, Thursday at 00:16:01 PDT, I made the decision to begin The Sphinn Exposé.

There are a few other comments I will be replying to as time permits. You guys/gals wiped me out these past couple of weeks, I'm mentally exhausted and my clients are wondering where I've disappeared to. So, I'm taking a break for a day or so, hopefully, and will come back and address all those who continue to spread untruths about my activities at Sphinn. For those who have read this far and are part of the lynching mob, get ready to rumble. I will prove wrong every untruth that you continue to Sphinn. If this is the route you wish to take, I will gladly "tag" along.

Have you seen a comment you would like me to respond to? If so, contact me securely and I'll be happy to opine.

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2008-07-21 at 14:10 PDT - Thank you for sending in all the comments, my mailbox is open!

For the person who has requested this yes, I will take some time and respond to the Comments made by Sphinn Moderator Tamar Weinberg. Since she took her comments away from Sphinn and into another quality network, I guess that gives me reason to begin my "Assisted Social Media Suicide" program for a few select Sphinners. You brought it on yourselves...

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Railroad Crossing 2 Tracks2008-07-22 at 10:00 PDT - Thanks for the tip! I can't believe I missed these Comments made by Sphinn Moderator BrentCsutoras, I CALL YOU OUT TOO! In this topic at SEO Book titled Unintended Consequences, you made this statement...

"In addition Ed spoke out at some Moderators saying they were marked and kind of threatened them."

Dude, YOU CROSSED THE LINE THERE BIG TIME! Be careful for that second train. Get ready to rumble!

Now Brent, before we rumble, I will allow you time to withdraw the comment and apologize for speaking untruths. I'd prefer you do that publicly and not sneakily remove the reference from SEO Book and go back into hiding.

I don't threaten people, never have, never will. Unfortunately some people just naturally feel threatened by me, is that possibly the cause of your comment Brent, I think that may be the case, yes?

BrentCsutoras Threatened

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Last modified: 2008-10-11T09:17:18-0700

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