Wisdump caught out using 1×1px spammy tactics … please explain
July 16, 2007 1:27 am pingomatic, spam, splashpress, wisdumpHmmm … quite embarrassing to be called out by none other than WordPress head honcho, Matt Mullenweg in regards to the blog Wisdump (formerly founded and run by Paul Scrivens)…
I noticed it was loading a little slow, then I saw pingomatic.com in my address bar. I looked at his source and saw he had embedded a 1×1 pixel iframe loading the ping page for Ping-O-Matic on every one of his pages. I must admit this is clever, it utilizes the distributed network of everyone who visits your site to attack Ping-O-Matic and spam the ping servers, and of course IP blocking is useless because it’s coming from the regular folks on your site. But it is also extremely skeevy.
The embarrassment of being caught out doing spammy things doesn’t compare with the fact that those who should know (the owners) have no idea what’s happening under the hood of their own blogs.
The blog in question, Wisdump, is now owned by SplashPress and “managed” by David Krug, who seems to be very involved, in all things, log cabins.
This all smells of something rotten. I have a major pet hate for those who go the black hat route in trying to gain an advantage in the search engines - as against those who follow the rules.
I think SplashPress have to come out and issue a statement - and nothing less than a full and open admission should be accepted - for we are in an age where everything is in the open.
Anything less and the SplashPress brand (and their blogs) takes a massive hit. Full stop.
BTW, the blogger over at Wisdump writes about it - and in all intent and purposes he seems quite shocked and hurt:
In my private and professional entourage I’ve always fought hard for my reputation. And my ethics. People who know me, know my honesty and accept my straightforwardness. But today, today things are different. I’m hurt.
July 16th, 2007 at 1:51 am
Martin, I’m the one being called out and I hope you can accept that I feel hurt.
Allow me to feel hurt, because I would never want to blog for a company endorsing that kind of tactics.
And I am sure that SplashPress will look deeper into what has happened.
July 16th, 2007 at 1:53 am
As owner of SplashPress, I was unaware of this (so am guilty of “having no idea…” as you put it) and agree with what you say- that it is wrong and we need to come out with a full explanation. I can say that it has now been removed from Wisdump and that we also found it being used at another blog-: havelaptopwilltravel.com & it has been removed there as well.
July 16th, 2007 at 1:56 am
As owner of SplashPress, I was unaware of this (so am guilty of “having no idea…†as you put it) and agree with what you say- that it is wrong and we need to come out with a full explanation. I can say that it has now been removed from Wisdump and that we also found it being used at another blog-: havelaptopwilltravel & it has been removed there as well.
July 16th, 2007 at 1:57 am
And let me clarify my comment, to make sure it can’t be misunderstood: I am sure this is no tactic of SplashPress.
July 16th, 2007 at 2:02 am
Martin - I hope you won’t delete my comment as Matt did, please :)
Mark, there is such an obvious common denominator with the two Blogs other than Franky!
‘Nuff said…
July 16th, 2007 at 2:10 am
franky - your recent post made it perfectly clear that you where shocked and hurt and totally taken by surprise by what was found under the hood.
I know the feeling of being let down by those who you expect to be on the up and up. But as long as you know in your heart that you did nothing wrong carry on.
Mark - Good of you to drop in so quickly. I know it must be hard as a publisher who doesn’t get involved in the design/coding of sites to tackle this situation.
As a publisher myself (and one that knows next to nothing about what goes under the hood of WP) I really sympathize with you.
But the question remains. Who in your organisation or who had access to the sites that did this - because it’s clearly spammy to the extremes and an underhanded way to gain an advantage. I have an idea as to whom it may have been but it’s best to let it go.
It’s all probably a small blimp in the SplashPress juggernaut so I wish you all the luck in smoothing this out and carrying on with the good blogs you are producing.
July 16th, 2007 at 2:22 am
Hey Mark - I never, ever delete comments unless they’re so libelous as to cause me any legal risk (only happened twice in 3 years).
I think I understand what you’re saying - ’nuff said ;-)
July 16th, 2007 at 2:28 am
Thanks for the sympathy, Martin! I don’t think it will take Sherlock Holmes to work out which individual did this, but I need to take responsibility and sort it out anyway. Not sure about the juggernaut, but hopefully we can contribute something positive to the community in the long-term.
July 16th, 2007 at 2:35 am
Thanks Martin…
The Other Mark :)
July 16th, 2007 at 2:41 am
Talking of comment moderation, I had to moderate one comment today on Wisdump that attacked Matt Mullenweg in an overly abusive manner. I think that there is a good way to argue for sponsored themes without using the “f” word all the time and getting personal. For this, I’d recommend Jacob’s post at Blogging Pro.
July 16th, 2007 at 2:48 am
erm… Mark? We saw that comment and we also saw who made it.
So… I’ll repeat myself, ’nuff said.
July 16th, 2007 at 11:55 am
This was actually an experiment after reading something on a pretty cool website. Albeit evil in some folks eyes but nothing wrong with it. Although profit is wrong in some folks eyes as well.
I personally could care less either way.
July 16th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
Delusional in a major way… get help David.
July 16th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Hey David - I think you’re more astute in the ways of blogging than to call it an “experiment”.
It’s not really about good or evil or profit - it’s simply an underhanded way to gain an unfair advantage.
You simply got caught out on this one - and your “could care less” attitude worries me and is something I thought you left behind with your snarky ways.
July 16th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
David, I find it quite interesting that you experiment with expensive sites, owned by other people and not one of your own sites newer sites.
Pretty arrogant if you ask me.
July 16th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
Franky - not too quick, mate :-)
Take a closer look at the code in the single pages of his Telegraphik site - HERE.
July 17th, 2007 at 12:57 am
Martin - I know you see this as do many others…
The challenge here is actually that David is so extremely delusional that he believes there is nothing wrong with the things he does.
Try this David, why not name the “cool web site” you speak of? Can any of us imagine what we’ll find if you do?
Worse yet, he refuses to hear the truth. He somehow thinks that because he says something it is the truth and, unfortunately David, nothing could be further FROM the truth. You just HAVE to be right regardless of the consequences which is why you attempt to rationalize or justify your poor actions or why you bring up the mistakes of others from the past (that ignorant comment about Matt on the “Dog” post at Wisdump for ex.) to lessen the eyes on you.
Over and over, ad infinitum, you continue to perform in such a way that you’ll always bring these situations to a negative conclusion.
Grow up…
July 17th, 2007 at 1:49 am
Haha. I agree I’m delussional but at some point you are going to have to live with my delussional ways or move on.
Martin,
Who says I ever exited Snark fully from my life? And whose business is it ?
Anyhow have a great day I disagree with you.
July 17th, 2007 at 2:11 am
Or remain a child, whatever…
July 17th, 2007 at 2:20 am
David - Sad to say, but it’s time to move on, I agree. I’ve tried to understand you but it’s been tough at times.
I’ve followed your blogging attempts (last year I thought you had changed) and I notice you have a creative streak with all your poetry at your many various blogs etc., so all your creative, and at times elegant posts are in stark contrast to your snark that you seem to fall back on.
I thought 901am had a great potential, just as did PopCrunch. I don’t know anything of your mental status, it’s none of my business - but I thought you left the snark of 2005 well behind. I think blogging in 2007 has no real place for mindless snark - it’s all business these days.
And “who says I ever exited Snark?” - actually if I’m not mistaken I recall a post a while ago where you said just that.
Anyway I sincerely hope you find your peace - I hope you all the best in whatever way you go in life.
July 17th, 2007 at 2:51 am
Where was I snarky btw? I called someone out because he’s a moron and ignored a series of emails, legal conversations, and the like then went on to attack innocent people as well as evil spammers. Then shifted the attention to me because i ( who doesnt sell links) am employing a spam tactic, which doesnt violate any terms of Google, Pingomatic, or any other server company. This to me is crazy. Think about it I find a loophole in a TOS that benefits users. I’d be a moron not to use it.
July 17th, 2007 at 3:22 am
He’s a moron because you say he is?
Shifted attention to you? Delusional. You didn’t happen to note yet that anyone other than you has come out and put your name on that spammy tactic now have you?
“Employing a spam tactic” that your employer didn’t know about and says “This is against the policy of Splashpress in every sense” and you think it “benefits users” even though you say it doesn’t violate any terms of Google etc. You must be kidding… really David, you must be kidding.
July 17th, 2007 at 3:23 am
David, I’d rather die being unpopular because my content is boring, than die as a popular person, a person having discovered all loopholes.
Btw I largely doubt that the trick conforms with Technorati’s motto ‘only ping when you update’, because due to that trick many single entries suddenly became ‘blogs’, all increasing ‘technorati authority’. But it seems like Matt’s intervention corrected T’s ranking again.
Anyway, you run/manage the blog, your choice.
July 17th, 2007 at 3:32 am
Look at all the whiners.
July 17th, 2007 at 3:43 am
Yup. I’m a whiner. A whiner with ethics.
Andd that you don’t care, we can see that. Matt didn’t call you out, but “Franky” and SplashPress. For something you did.
Speak of success. I guess you’ve enjoyed your 15 minutes of fame.
July 17th, 2007 at 3:52 am
And… then… you resort to name-calling. Wow. Gee.
July 17th, 2007 at 11:55 am
David - the problem I see here is a clear lack of ethics and morals.
So what if you found a “loophole” or whatever to get an advantage - that’s not the point.
You caused SplashMedia and Franky embarrassment and you don’t seem to grasp that fact, but instead come out firing.
Empathy is a great trait to have - I think you lack it to certain extent with your online persona, so I think I’ll leave it best to Franky’s comment: “I’m a whiner. A whiner with ethics”.
Sorry, David, but sometimes you have to admit you did the wrong thing, accept responsibility and realise your actions adversely affects others.
And trust me, David, I’m not whining here - I’d like to see you succeed but you seriously are in need of some ethics, because without it you’ll get nowhere - you’ll eventually get caught out as is happening right now.
July 17th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Morality and Ethics is not an academic concept, but time tested strategy of communal survival. Maybe its’ time this community leave me alone. Tata.
July 17th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
I expected nothing less, David - good luck.
July 17th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
haha .. I got to remember that line David .. .. have a great day I disagree with you! .. it sounds like something Mahir would say :)
Anyway - I have been purturbed for awhile now about the meta refresh on each of David’s sites.. because when I post a long comment - it gets erased if the refresh rate is reached.
But - this current issue? is comical!
Everything inside that iframe 1×1 pixel script code for pingomatic - is almost identical to the ones that I have on most of my own blogs - in the Options/Writing/Updating Services .. (except for the blogshares) … And this is wrong because everybody is helping to ping the sites that they read - instead of the shameful blogger who repeatedly pings him/herself?
Nope. I just don’t get what the big hooplah is -
Although, I can see Franky’s point of view and embarrassment being pointed out on his post, which tends to think he was the culprit .. and I can see Splashpress’s point of view that the editor they left in charge may or may not have implemented things that are not company policy .. and I can also see David’s point of view that .. Geesh - all of this could have been dealt with privacy and we don’t have to succumb to many posts like these… However, I can also see Martin’s point of view, because if Martin didn’t comment about this - then the world really has gone to all hell!~ :D
July 17th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Hart,
Thanks for the objective viewpoint. I’ve removed the meta refresh on all comment pages :)
July 17th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Sweeeet :D // I’m sure lot of us slow thinkers who like to comment thank you!
July 18th, 2007 at 12:05 am
It’s not only wrong from the owner’s perspective, it’s wrong because “you” didn’t tell me I was doing it for you. Come on Hart, you know better than that…
David was gaming us. To benefit who? David. It wasn’t a personal site, it was Wisdump. He also “neglected” to bring it to the owner’s attention before he did it to determine whether or not it was within the site’s guidelines or principles.
That level of arrogance, yes, arrogance because knowledge preceded the action, is dishonest. And dishonesty is wrong and THAT is objective!
Not comical at all…
July 18th, 2007 at 12:40 am
Btw, Splashpress Mark, drop me a line sometime, I have some ideas that’ll help grow both companies :)
July 18th, 2007 at 1:27 am
Hey Jeremy - long time no hear…
Am glad to be a matchmaker of sorts here between b5 and splash. :-) something positive might actually come out of all this. And that’s cool :-)
BTW Jeremy, I’m looking around at doing a bit of guest posting or ongoing regular columns around the traps - I might drop you a line, if that’s fine by you.
July 18th, 2007 at 1:31 am
Yeah, long time :) And, yeah, happy to guest post once this next spate of travel’s done :)
July 18th, 2007 at 2:50 am
Mark .. what was done is not what is comical.. It’s the public outcry that is comical - to me (that’s i.m.h.o.)
July 18th, 2007 at 4:44 am
Hart,
I too find it humorous. I love getting hung out to dry. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.
July 18th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
Read my lips David and say after me;
“I was wrong everyone and I am truly sorry. I promise to change my bad ways and reform. I promise I will not lie or cheat any of you, my respected friends, ever again.”
If I violate this oath you may ban me from the Blogosphere for life.
Signed Respectfully,
David Krug
Now….. THAT’s FUNNY!!!!!
July 18th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
[...] the policy of Splashpress in every sense. We sincerely apologize and own up to it, as has been recommended by Martin Neumann. It will not happen again on any of our [...]
July 18th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Mark,
What would be more fun is if you stuffed a whole pound of bacon in your ear. :)
July 18th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Bwaaaaaa Haaaaaa :)
But
Bacon is against my religion, sorry…
Now, a bag of Reese’s peanut butter cups, that might work.
When will you address the real issues David or is your denial so incredibly deep you can come up with no comments intelligent enough? Lots of answers you’ve avoided in all these threads, lots of made up fabrications.
Yeah, that’s what I thought. What was that? You weren’t about to use the “F” word were you? Ooooooh shame, shame. But much in keeping with your consistency - for the last almost two years! Same old, same old child’s play.
Okay, I have better things to do. Its been fun but it’s time to wrap this up. You’ll never change David and that’s sad. Face your future - alone - screaming F*** Y** at your mirror. Cya…
July 19th, 2007 at 5:08 am
Mark,
I’m incredibily honest. Ask the questions in a legible human way and im game to answer them.
Did I put man eating badgers in Iraq? yes.
Do I believe in legalizing man eating elephants ? yes
Do I think that me having to answer your questions is moronic? yes
July 19th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
So, I guess your answer is “you can come up with no comments intelligent enough…”
Understood.