# 2-second question about reporting spam **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 27, 2012, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-second-question-about-reporting-spam/620123 "2012-04-27T13:27:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-second-question-about-reporting-spam/620123/1 "2012-04-27T13:27:03Z")
There were several obvious spam posts by the same username. Not fun spam links either, mundane links. Blech. Seeing that two or three other spam posts were already reported, does it help at all to report the third or fourth, or do you automatically find/delete all posts by username? Is it safe to assume that either way it’s good form to “reported” or “mods are aware of the spabot” to let others know you’ve been made aware. Okay, two seconds to answer. Ready … _go~!_ ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-second-question-about-reporting-spam/620123/2 "2012-04-27T13:38:59Z")
It depends. The one you’re referring to had all his posts in General Questions so multiples won’t speed the process. If the spam is in different forums, it usually speeds it up depending on which mods log in when. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-second-question-about-reporting-spam/620123/3 "2012-04-27T13:50:16Z")
Runner Pat is the first reply … _priceless!_😃 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-second-question-about-reporting-spam/620123/4 "2012-04-27T14:04:49Z")
The mods finally threw off their hangovers, I see. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-second-question-about-reporting-spam/620123/5 "2012-04-27T14:09:32Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The mods finally threw off their hangovers, I see. Dang. I was hoping to find out the cure for my itchy scalp, but now it’s too late! ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-second-question-about-reporting-spam/620123/6 "2012-04-27T14:21:35Z")
What I usually do, and haven’t been yelled at yet, is to report one of them, and in the note write something like: “Spam. Spamalot, in fact. Several posts in several fora, so a search and destroy might be in order. Thanks!” So that way I’m not filling the inbox, but they know there’s more than one thread to be dealt with. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-second-question-about-reporting-spam/620123/7 "2012-04-27T14:27:39Z")
Runner Pat is correct. (As usual.) If all the posts are in the same forum they will be seen by the same set of eyes; if they’re in different forum areas there’s a greater chance more moderators will find out about them. So please report what you see accordingly. And th ank you. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-second-question-about-reporting-spam/620123/8 "2012-04-27T17:31:39Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Runner Pat is the first reply … _priceless!_😃 > [@silenus](#): > > The mods finally threw off their hangovers, I see. **Runner Pat** is probably the most prolific reporter of spam overnight here in EDT in the US. I’m usually up and reading about 7:00 or so EDT. I get the spammers who are located in India/China/Russia etc. and have posted after I went to bed at midnight my time. This morning I had to go into work just minutes before that spammer hit the board. I normally, on Friday, am off work and would have caught it within 10-30 minutes. That sucker was damned prolific. Got off 15 posts in 29 minutes. Not bad for a human/non-bot. The **Wombat** got him around 10:02. He’s unfortunately two time zones behind me. So, he’s up 2 hours later than I am, but he’s on the board usually 2 hours after me in the morning. That’s why no one got the spammer sooner. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2012, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-second-question-about-reporting-spam/620123/9 "2012-04-28T05:51:06Z")
So when does **runner pat** get made a mod? Think of all the spam he can can, while you peacefully snooze. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2012, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-second-question-about-reporting-spam/620123/10 "2012-04-28T06:23:11Z")
It might be fun to offer a few posters the title of “Spam Swatter”, with all the rites and privileges according to their station. ---
**Author:** ![Mame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/858c86/32.png) [@Mame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mame)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2012, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-second-question-about-reporting-spam/620123/11 "2012-04-28T12:54:27Z")
Spam Canner, surely? ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2012, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-second-question-about-reporting-spam/620123/12 "2012-04-28T13:14:41Z")
> [@Mame](#): > > Spam Canner, surely? Damn! An Aussie Doper who I hadn’t had the fortune of seeing post before- and I was getting to think if I could put out a contract on Princhester I may be the senior one! ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2012, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-second-question-about-reporting-spam/620123/13 "2012-04-29T09:43:40Z")
I have left instructions with my will notifying my executors of my username and password, and for them to keep on posting in my name after my death. Oh, and for a large sum in unmarked bills, plus your personal details, to be passed to a mysterious but habitually violent man known to me only as Boris. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2012, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-second-question-about-reporting-spam/620123/14 "2012-04-29T10:17:00Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > I have left instructions with my will notifying my executors of my username and password, and for them to keep on posting in my name after my death. So not only will you be dead, but you will then probably get banned? Harsh.