# Craigslist WTF!?!?!?!?!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-wtf/441513
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [March 16, 2008, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-wtf/441513 "2008-03-16T01:31:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@SharkB8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SharkB8)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2008, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-wtf/441513/1 "2008-03-16T01:31:01Z")
I was checking out some of the job postings locally on Craigslist, flagging away at the usual overposts and complete scams…then I started to notice that a bunch of them had text in a very light color.
Check it out and try high lighting the area where text goes, you can read it better:
[http://providence.craigslist.org/sls/606848155.html](http://providence.craigslist.org/sls/606848155.html)
and
[http://providence.craigslist.org/ofc/606911565.html](http://providence.craigslist.org/ofc/606911565.html)
Then I tried other random cities:
[http://kansascity.craigslist.org/ofc/607546660.html](http://kansascity.craigslist.org/ofc/607546660.html)
[http://macon.craigslist.org/sls/606871744.html](http://macon.craigslist.org/sls/606871744.html)
I did some minor sleuthing by googling some of the text in the first link and it brought me to this:
> **[List of country-name etymologies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_country_name_etymologies)**
>
> This list covers English-language country names with their etymologies. Some of these include notes on indigenous names and their etymologies. Countries in italics are endonyms or no longer exist as sovereign political entities.
It’s talking about Simón Bolívar…which, yeah, totally makes sense. Anyone know what gives? It this supposed to be subliminal or something? Is this an effective sales tactic?
Sorry if I posted this in the wrong spot (mods - please move if I’m not even in the ballpark)…it just seemed a bit lame for GQ…
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### Author:  [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-wtf/441513/2 "2008-03-16T02:12:55Z")
I’d bet the text is there to bypass e-mail spam filters, and they just copy the entire text of the e-mail into the Craigslist posting.
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### Author:  [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2008, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-wtf/441513/3 "2008-03-16T02:16:56Z")
I bet it’s part of a plot by Hugo Chavez to topple America!
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### Author:  [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2008, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-wtf/441513/4 "2008-03-16T02:18:36Z")
Could you expand a bit on just exactly what the heck you’re talking about?
---
### Author:  [@SharkB8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SharkB8)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2008, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-wtf/441513/5 "2008-03-16T03:02:31Z")
[QUOTE=guizot]
Could you expand a bit on just exactly what the heck you’re talking about?
[/QUOTE]
There’s just a bunch of random text included on some job listings on Craigslist. They made the font of this random text pale enough to be barely visible.
I was just wondering what the point of doing that was. If it was an attempt at a subliminal message; or as SanibelMan said, to bypass spam filters, or what exactly the practice stems from.
That’s all 😉
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### Author:  [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2008, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-wtf/441513/6 "2008-03-16T03:22:12Z")
It’s to bypass filters that prevent multiposting in classified ads across different cities. It’s employed by dealers in categories that are intended for individuals. such as furniture sales.
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### Author:  [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2008, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-wtf/441513/7 "2008-03-16T03:25:48Z")
A number of the links you posted to in the OP are now flagged.
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### Author:  [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2008, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-wtf/441513/8 "2008-03-16T03:33:52Z")
How long have you been on the internet? I’ve been getting stuff like this in my email for well over a decade. It’s to bypass filters.
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### Author:  [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2008, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-wtf/441513/9 "2008-03-16T05:32:12Z")
[QUOTE=SharkB8]
I was checking out some of the job postings locally on Craigslist,
[/QUOTE]
Btw, if you’re looking for a job via Craigslist, try posting a professional-looking but heartfelt ad in the Resumes section. I did that, and got three inquiries from it. One of them led to an actual full-time job which I started the other day. It couldn’t hurt to try.
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### Author:  [@SharkB8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SharkB8)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2008, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-wtf/441513/10 "2008-03-16T12:51:45Z")
[QUOTE=Cisco]
How long have you been on the internet? I’ve been getting stuff like this in my email for well over a decade. It’s to bypass filters.
[/QUOTE]
I just heard about this world wide web thing last Thursday and thought I’d check into it and see what all the hubbub is about.
I’ve probably been on the internet longer than you have. I have just never received an email that I opened that had that text in it like this…or else I probably would’ve asked that question a decade ago. Perhaps I have one helluva spam filter.
My question has been answered, and for that, I thank you all.
Carry on.
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### Author:  [@SharkB8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SharkB8)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2008, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-wtf/441513/11 "2008-03-16T12:52:52Z")
[QUOTE=Equipoise]
Btw, if you’re looking for a job via Craigslist, try posting a professional-looking but heartfelt ad in the Resumes section. I did that, and got three inquiries from it. One of them led to an actual full-time job which I started the other day. It couldn’t hurt to try.
[/QUOTE]
I was kinda just curious as to what’s out there on CL, but that’s good advice and I will definitely keep that in mind. Thanks! 🙂
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### Author:  [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2008, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-wtf/441513/12 "2008-03-17T01:01:01Z")
[QUOTE=SharkB8]
I just heard about this world wide web thing last Thursday and thought I’d check into it and see what all the hubbub is about.
I’ve probably been on the internet longer than you have.
[/QUOTE]
:rolleyes: What an arrogant and unnecessary statement. You don’t even know me. I wasn’t trying to get into a pissing contest, I was asking an honest question. It’s hard for me to imagine someone being online for more than a couple months and not encountering this. Since your registration date was only a few months ago I thought it prudent to ask.
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### Author:  [@cinehead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cinehead)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2008, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-wtf/441513/13 "2008-03-17T01:45:19Z")
[QUOTE=Cisco]
:rolleyes: What an arrogant and unnecessary statement. You don’t even know me. I wasn’t trying to get into a pissing contest, I was asking an honest question. It’s hard for me to imagine someone being online for more than a couple months and not encountering this. Since your registration date was only a few months ago I thought it prudent to ask.
[/QUOTE]
Your statement was rude. You deserved the response you received.
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### Author:  [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2008, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-wtf/441513/14 "2008-03-17T01:47:09Z")
I’ve seen that kind of stuff in spam, but not in a Craigslist ad. It definitely screeches ‘scam’, doesn’t it?
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### Author:  [@SharkB8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SharkB8)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2008, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-wtf/441513/15 "2008-03-17T01:52:51Z")
[QUOTE=Cisco]
:rolleyes: What an arrogant and unnecessary statement. You don’t even know me. I wasn’t trying to get into a pissing contest, I was asking an honest question. It’s hard for me to imagine someone being online for more than a couple months and not encountering this. Since your registration date was only a few months ago I thought it prudent to ask.
[/QUOTE]
I’m not into pissing matches, either, believe it or not. I didn’t sign up for the SDMB on the same day I started using the internet…I doubt most people do.
I asked the question because I didn’t know the answer to it, which was what I thought this message board was for.
I didn’t find anything arrogant in my statement, and certainly didn’t intend it to be arrogant. If anything, I thought I was being cheeky. Honestly, I was a little insulted by your statement, especially after my question had already been answered politely…I probably shouldn’t have been so snappy back.
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### Author:  [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2008, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-wtf/441513/16 "2008-03-17T03:52:46Z")
[QUOTE=Cisco]
It’s hard for me to imagine someone being online for more than a couple months and not encountering this.
[/QUOTE]
I’ve been deeply involved in the internet since 1989, and the World Wide Web since Day One, and I’d never seen this kind of thing until I read the OP and saw those examples.
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### Author:  [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2008, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-wtf/441513/17 "2008-03-17T05:18:30Z")
[QUOTE=Equipoise]
I’ve been deeply involved in the internet since 1989, and the World Wide Web since Day One, and I’d never seen this kind of thing until I read the OP and saw those examples.
[/QUOTE]
I’m genuinely shocked by this. I doubt I’ve gone a week _without_ seeing it since, oh, 1995.
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### Author:  [@Wheeljack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheeljack)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2008, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-wtf/441513/18 "2008-03-17T12:11:30Z")
Maybe the rest of us have better spam filters than you do. I’ve never seen it either.
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### Author:  [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2008, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-wtf/441513/19 "2008-03-17T12:52:39Z")
Me neither. But then again, I have my Mozilla set to “easy on the eyes” and it doesn’t work for me at all. It’s all visible until I put it in Explorer, and I see it (but again for the first time ever).
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### Author:  [@atomicbadgerrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atomicbadgerrace)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2008, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-wtf/441513/20 "2008-03-17T13:17:30Z")
[QUOTE=Cisco]
I’m genuinely shocked by this. I doubt I’ve gone a week _without_ seeing it since, oh, 1995.
[/QUOTE]
Yeah, count me in the crowd that’s never seen it before.
Been on the internet since 95 (woo, AOL 2.5), and dabbling in various forms of programming since 2000.
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