I don’t know about the volume of bogus comments other blogs get, but around here it’s close to 99%. More than likely that figure owes to the low volume of legit comments we get. But it doesn’t change the fact that we get a considerable number of ‘posts’ which are clearly serve no other purpose than to drive traffic to sites other than this one. All of which files tidily under ‘golly, someone on the internet is trolling for traffic’ — a practice just slightly younger than the internet itself.

Spam has come a long way since Mr. Thuerk’s 1978 innovation. While there was an earnestness to his post (it was little different that hanging up posters around the neighborhood for your weekend garage sale), the pervasiveness of email created an ideal set of circumstances for potential shysters: a massive audience using a new, unfamiliar technology interacting anonymously without regard for geography at dismissibly low per-contact cost. Under those conditions, honest, garage-sale tactics quickly got lost in the flood (something Craig Newmark was able to take advantage of just a few years after spam). The new email spammer needed to rely on other tactics, namely deceit.

But, you know, I didn’t set out to write a dissertation on spam¹, just to call attention to a new strain of it that keeps cropping up in the MMemes mailbox: adoring comments from fake fans.

I have to admire the brilliance of the tactic. Blogs take a lot of time and energy², and the vast majority of bloggers suffer from a lack of positive reinforcement. Three hours to write a post and only 25 people bothered to read it, you might hear a blogger complain. I could’ve spent that time doing [fill in activity other than blogging]. In that attention starved mindset, who wouldn’t want to get feedback like this:

This is a incredibly beneficial read for me, Have to admit that you are one of the best bloggers I ever saw.Thanks for posting this informative article.

Finally. Someone who really appreciates all the effort I put in around here. Thank you Mr./Ms… Italy Tour Packages? Oh, fooey. Honestly, it’s a wonder more bloggers don’t just leave these comments up. At least they look nice, even if they’re a little like having a tea party with cardboard cutouts of the cast of Friends. Here are some others we’ve gotten just this week:

This writing is very simple and honestly it helped me a lot. Thanks.

That’s for a cleaning service in the UK.

Excellent post, I will be back to read more from you.

That one’s selling mold removal.

Your weblog appears astounding – complete with high quality posts.. and so forth. I feel you’ll get even much better achievement with including some a lot more video clips and photographs. What do you believe. While I’ve bookmarked it. Thank you.

That one’s from Russia; not sure what they’re selling.

Can I just say what a relief to find an individual who truly knows what theyre talking about on a internet. You really know how to bring an problem to light and make it important. A lot more individuals must read this and realize this side of the story. I cant feel youre not additional popular due to the fact you really have the gift.

This one seems to be from a pro-Limewire conspiracy theoretician.

Informative post, this is. It is always nice to come across a post that is useful.

A realtor. From Dagobah possibly this one is.

This is a really good read for me, Must admit that you are one of the best bloggers I ever saw.Thanks for posting this informative article.

Cosmetic surgery.

On behalf of the MMemes crew, hanks to all of our adoring readers. You’re the cat’s pajamas.

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¹If you’re really interested, the Wiki elves can help you out.

²…as a look around the MMemes publishing record will attest. Sheesh.