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 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

Welcome to the forums

[Mobyturns]

Lifes to short to worry about things like that. 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!

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.

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


(By the way - Happy Birthday!)

[Sturdee]

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

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.

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

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.

BTW, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

[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.