The commenter who ALMOST pulled off a spam link.

This is a free and independent blog. My opinions on this blog are my own and are not influenced by any sponsors or under-the-table donations. And even when I do review products or items on this blog, I always add an FTC disclaimer. That way, you know that the opinions you read are not paid advertisements that masquerade as independent content.

And that extends to blog comments. Even back when this blog was part of the Times Union’s family of bloggers and writers, I was extremely careful not to allow outside commenters to hijack my comments section so that they can hawk their products or try to offer whatever trendy cryptocoin / CBD derivative / Açaí berry smoothie recipe / male enhancement product that could turn your soggy noodle into a javelin. My blog is not a platform for your advertising means.

“Of course you know… this means war, son.”

Heck, ten years ago I got into it with a person who bashed me for my lenticular photography technique – while at the same time he tried promoting his own lenticular print business. Yeah, a combination of “Hi, Chuck, you suck, but I’m willing to overlook that so I can include a link in my blog comment on your page so that people can click on my products and I can make money off of you, and you still stuck.”

Which is why, when this person commented on my Monday blog about achieving 16 years of daily publishing … something about the comment seemed a WEE bit off.

Take a look at this seemingly innocuous blog comment. Seems rather tame, a congratulations, a reference to my blog technically existing long enough to drive, and a hyperlink to “driving lessons near me” embedded in the metatext?

Yep.

I checked the link on my platform’s administrator page, and sure enough … Areebah Fareed, who had NEVER commented on my blog before (and most likely would never comment again) scraped the words “learn to drive” on my blog header, and jammed this into a blog comment. Here’s a screen shot, complete with where someone would go to if they clicked that link.

With that in mind, “Areebah Fareed” went from commenter to spam folder in moments.

Understand this. Part of writing a blog involves comment moderation. I’m okay with discourse when people enjoy my blog, and I’m open to criticism when people disagree with me. But I’m not a platform for your surreptitious advertising campaigns. No.

Just another scammer who tries to use me to make themselves wealthy.

Not happening, chisel-brain.

Toodles. 😀