How to stop birthday spam

[juliangall]

Is there any way to stop birthday spam from these forums? When I signed up I was required to enter my date of birth, which hardly seems necessary just to join a forum. Now, I'm receiving happy birthday messages. i.e. "We at Woodwork Forums would like to wish you a happy birthday today!"

The reason this is spam is because a) I never asked for it and b) I don't suppose anyone at Woodwork Forums knows when my birthday is, it's just an automated message.

Why would anyone want an automated message on their birthday? What is the forum hoping to achieve by spamming in this way?

I know this sounds petty and curmudgeonly but this isn't the only forum that does this. Messages like this are just more things to delete without bothering to read them.

Julian

[snowyskiesau]

Always good to start the new year with a smile. :)

This is a joke right?

[Old-Biker-UK]

I'm always grateful for a 'Happy Birthday' even from a machine.
At my age I tend to forget when it is :doh:and a reminder is appreciated...
Mark

[LGS]

Don't know, Julian...do the words Bah!..Humbug! mean any thing to you?

[China]

Get a life !!!

[BobL]

Welcome to the forum.

Whenever I join any on-line stuff I never give my correct date of birth so I find it vaguely amusing to receive these at different times throughout the year.

[two40]

Hi Julian,

To stop these messages go to Settings (top right) then click on General Settings (left hand menu) and uncheck the Receive Email from Administrators box.

[Scott]

Considering this is your first post, then yes curmudgeonly does come to mind :D

Welcome to the forums :)

[Mobyturns]

Lifes to short to worry about things like that. :U Some days all I get is automated spam. So one wishing me happy birthday is more welcome than one telling me I've inherrited a large fortune which would only result in me turning my meagre fortune into nothing. You have to be mad to put your real birth date here anyway! :doh:

But it would be nice if someone could stop all the spam :~

[Humphrey9999]

You're off to a great start to the new year, Julian, and to your posts on this site.

Perhaps you should have entered your birth date as 29 Feb, to minimise these notifications. :wink:

Better yet, you should have entered your birth year as 2020 or similar - then you wouldn't get a 'happy birthday' message for years. :D


(By the way - Happy Birthday!)

[Sturdee]

A belated happy birthday to you.:bday3: Hope you had a great day. :U:U:U

Peter.

[A Duke]

My heart pumps custard for you.

[RETIRED]

First off Julian: Happy birthday. Secondly: Welcome to the Forums, your first post after being here for 8 days and already you have most of the members know who you are. Congratulations.:cool::2tsup:

Thirdly and most importantly: The reason you enter you birth date is so that you don't go into the child protection part of the registration, read about it here: COPPA - Children's Online Privacy Protection (http://www.coppa.org/#)

I think your definition of spam is way out if you only get 1 message a year from us and that to wish you a good day on your birthday.:shrug:

BTW, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.:yippy::bday3::let:

[FenceFurniture]

If that's your mood on your birthday, what are you like for the rest of the year??

[HOOKED.UP]

I actually like the fact that Forum Administrators have spent the time to set up a Birthday greeting program.
So what if is automatic.
A human being had to think of this small kindness and show of respect.

Paul.

[juliangall]

Thank you for all your replies. I suppose I got what I deserved :)

Happy New Year!

Julian

[issatree]

Hi to some,
I would think it very wrong to put in a Wrong Birth Date.
I most certainly would not like to be in your shoes.
Why tell a lie ?????.

I most certainly enjoyed seeing " My Happy Birthday Wishes " up as I was Born on Christmas Day.

[BobL]

Hi to some,
I would think it very wrong to put in a Wrong Birth Date.
I most certainly would not like to be in your shoes.
Why tell a lie ?????.

The more incorrect information there is out there about you the less like the data harvesting bots are to cross correlate information about you and flog it off to the highest bidder.

[burraboy]

Thank you for all your replies. I suppose I got what I deserved :)
Julian

No Julian, you didn't deserve that. Two40 did the right thing and told you how to solve your problem. The rest jumped on you like a ton of bricks because you were different from them. They should be ashamed of themselves!

[Fuzzie]

Welcome Julian things don't usually go this pear shaped on this forum, I presume our friendly mods are having a well earned NY sherbet.

[Christos]

From me welcome to the forum. We are a mixed bunch of people as you would have found out. Please continue to contribute to the forum and have fun. Also wishing you a Happy Birthday.

[Sturdee]

They should be ashamed of themselves!

I'm not ashamed of wishing someone a belated happy birthday. Especially one done by a real person and not automated by a machine. :)

Only the fun police would object to such innocuous well wishes.

Peter.

[Cliff Rogers]

This popped up here this morning. :D
http://cdn.woodworkforums.com/images/smilies/eventsnpeople/HOBirthdaycake13arms.gif HAPPY BIRTHDAY Cliff Rogers. All the best for the coming year http://www.woodworkforums.com/images/smilies/smilie%20signs/bday3.gif

[tea lady]

Thank you for all your replies. I suppose I got what I deserved :)

Happy New Year!

JulianAt least we know who you are now, and if you are still around next year you will get heaps of REAL birthday wishes. :cool:

Anyway, so what do you make? :U

[tea lady]

This popped up here this morning. :D
http://cdn.woodworkforums.com/images/smilies/eventsnpeople/HOBirthdaycake13arms.gif HAPPY BIRTHDAY Cliff Rogers. All the best for the coming year http://www.woodworkforums.com/images/smilies/smilie%20signs/bday3.gif:balloon:

[Humphrey9999]

Thank you for all your replies. I suppose I got what I deserved :)

Happy New Year!

Julian

Good-humoured response, Julian. (Personally, I was only having a dig and didn't really mean to offend. Just couldn't help myself.)
Welcome to our little community. Lots of interesting stuff here.

So, what type of thing do you make/plan to make? We'd be interested to see an example.

[issatree]

Hi Again,
Julian I'm not sure if I missed it, & was explained to You, but You, are the only one to see Your Birthday Wishes, but not the rest of us.

[Mobyturns]

This popped up here this morning.


Hey we all most share a birthday, mine arrived yesterday!

As far as correct birth date, at least the year & month are correct in my details!

[burraboy]

I'm not ashamed of wishing someone a belated happy birthday. Especially one done by a real person and not automated by a machine. :)

Only the fun police would object to such innocuous well wishes.

Peter.

That's a pretty strong response from someone who has nothing to be ashamed of. You even went to the extent of adding to my reputation in the negative!
The intent of your post is ambiguous, and I would suggest a simple explanation would have resolved the matter. Just having a little bit of innocuous fun really is alright, isn't it. (As long as it's not at someones else's expense, that is.)

[Sturdee]

A belated happy birthday to you.:bday3: Hope you had a great day. :U:U:U

Peter.

YOUR COMMENT:...


Two40 did the right thing and told you how to solve your problem. The rest jumped on you like a ton of bricks because you were different from them. They should be ashamed of themselves!

MY RESPONSE:....


I'm not ashamed of wishing someone a belated happy birthday. Especially one done by a real person and not automated by a machine. :)

Only the fun police would object to such innocuous well wishes.

Peter.

YOUR FURTHER RESPONSE:.....


That's a pretty strong response from someone who has nothing to be ashamed of. You even went to the extent of adding to my reputation in the negative!
The intent of your post is ambiguous, and I would suggest a simple explanation would have resolved the matter. Just having a little bit of innocuous fun really is alright, isn't it. (As long as it's not at someones else's expense, that is.)


It's my considered opinion that, contrary to what you may think, my response was fairly mild in the circumstances.


When I became aware that Juliangall had a birthday between joining and his first post I offered him my congratulations on his birthday. This was not just having a little bit of innocuous fun at someones else's expense but my sincere good wishes.


Lots of posts are on this forum wishing members a happy birthday and so far only Gumby ever objected to this kind greeting. But apparently you also object to this kind of greeting as you posted that I, and others - included, should be ashamed of ourselves.


I also do not consider the intent of my post to be ambiguous. I think the fun police, and Gumby, would be the only ones who would criticize my post, hence I think you are one of the fun police and as such giving you a reddie is still the most appropriate action I can take to record my fairly mild disapproval at your post.


Peter.

[chrisb691]

Have I missed Gumby's birthday? :D

[A Duke]

Me thinks some people should not have had a birthday.

[burraboy]

giving you a reddie is still the most appropriate action I can take to record my fairly mild disapproval at your post.

Peter.

Then allow me to return the compliment. Reddie sent.

[RETIRED]

Rghteoh boys and girls methinks this thread been done and dusted.