How did I end up on so MANY *ping* lists? [VANITY]

July 12, 2002 | EggsAckley

[EggsAckley]

Every morning I turn on my computer and head for FreeRepublic. Until recently, I might find an email or two, and perhaps a comment that came in after I had turned of the computer for the night.

Now, when I see the MY COMMENTS highlighted, I am amazed to find a dozen or more new articles which have been sent to me via *ping* lists. I know of only two lists to which I requested to to be added, but now it seems I am on fifteen or twenty. And most of them are topics that are not really something I'm fired up over, it seems I just "happened" to have made some comment on some thread, and *voila`* I'm on a *ping* list.

I don't want anyone to think I'm whining, it's just that this is starting to look like SPAM to me. Today alone, I have to write to four more of these lists to request removal. It seems like I have to write these requests every day now.

Is this bugging anyone else, or am I the only curmdgeon in these here parts?

[Admin Moderator]

testing 1 2 3

[EggsAckley]

pardon me...?

[Constitution Day]

Almost every time I use my ping list I add the following note:

Please Freepmail me if:

1) You want to be added to my North Carolina ping-list.
2) You no longer want to be included in this North Carolina ping-list.

FRegards,
Constitution Day

That having been said, I've noticed people on the list reply less and less to NC-related posts.
I try not to overuse my list, but I think maybe because people don't actually see their name, they don't bother to respond.
My ping list has at least 50 screen names on it, so you only see the first few displayed.

I wish there was a more effective way to use the list but I'm not sure there is.

CD

[Admin Moderator]

I am having some problems and am trying to track down exactly why. It is unrelated to your post. Sorry.

Is there any way I could get you to help me out in my testing?

Thanks, AM

[Arkie2]

It's Free Republic spam. I get added to a lot of ping lists and have to request to be removed. Maybe we need a master mailing list that you have to sign up on to receive pings. I for one would like to see the current practice modified.

[southernnorthcarolina]

Eggs, I agree 100%. This pingism is pure and simple.

Seems a lot of FReepers are so entranced with their own opinions that they feel compelled to "share" them, not only with the board at large, but also on their silly ping lists.

Personally, I'd like to see this annoying practice outlawed. I join you in your curmudgeonity, if that's a word.

[EggsAckley]

Thanks for explaing this. I don't feel that you have been abusing it, but there are others that *ping* four, five, six times a day. And new ones keep showing up. Don't want to start a big argument here, just sort of wondering.


btw: I'm going to request to be taken off of ALL lists and start over with the requesting. Cheers!!

[Admin Moderator]

John is working on a solution. Hopefully it will be a matter of weeks and not months. Thanks, AM

[EggsAckley]

Sure....what do you need?

[Arkie2]

That's good news! I hope it's sooner rather than later. Thanks

[Admin Moderator]

I appreciate it.

See this thread?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/715095/posts

I would like you to make a post on this thread that I can remove. Just post anything you want. Address the reply to Admin Moderator though.

Thanks, AM

[CIB-173RDABN]

Since I am sure Jim Robinson will read this thread, I will add my two cents worth. I agree, the ping list are getting too much. I have never signed up for one, but find that I am on several.

List should consist of only those that have requested to be on them.

[ladtx]

Personally, I'd like to see this annoying practice outlawed. I join you in your curmudgeonity, if that's a word.

I'll second that, and curmudgeonity sounds like it should be a word if it isn't. Sounds like the state I'm slipping into.

[Dog Gone]

ping

[EggsAckley]

*ping* yerself dog gone.....<{;o) LOL!

[1Old Pro]

Yep, I'm on about 5-7 now for reasons unkown to me. And I haven't even figured out yet how to unsubscribe.

[Constitution Day]

I think there was a "Members" link for a while that displayed either all the members logged on or all the current members.

I don't know what happened to it but I'm sure that certain Freepers (no names) assembled there lists this way.

[JudyB1938]

All you have to do is to contact the person who is pinging you - reply on the thread or FReepmail - then request your name be removed.

[Constitution Day]

PLEASE READ

I'd like your opinions on the NC ping list.
Do you like it? Hate it? Want me to stop using it?

Let me know.
Spam e-mail annoys me very badly, and I don't want to be considered a spammer.

CD

[Phantom Lord]

I like the NC ping list. I just dont like the guy that runs it. LOL!

[Constitution Day]

I think I'm going to put you on my ping list!

KIDDING, s.n.c., only kidding!!

[Constitution Day]

It's because I'm a redneck yokel, isn't it? :)

[billbears]

The only reason I might not reply to NC posts is because it makes me sick what this state has become and I can't see straight seeing what Jim Hunt has brought upon us. Keep me on your lists CD

[Phantom Lord]

[dead]

I've only ever asked to be on the Mark Steyn ping list. (all the cool people are)

I don't know why I'm on eight or nine others.

[Clara Lou]

I have requested to be placed on two ping lists. I find, however, that one person in particular has added me to a ping list because I once expressed an opinion that agreed with hers on an issue. I think people should not add names to ping lists unless a person requests to be put on that list.

[Phantom Lord]

How hard would it be to have a "Ping List" page built where one could go and pick ones they want to be on and be pinged when the moderator of the ping list pings to "*Ping List A" or whatever and then be able to remove themselves from the subscription later if they so choose?

Seems like an easy option to add. Though it could be a lot harder than I imagine.

[EggsAckley]

Thanks for letting me know that it wasn't just me. Now, if someone from "management" could maybe take these suggestions and work out some kind of system, this would be a non-issue.

(Or, if people would be less avid about adding names to their lists)

[Constitution Day]

LOL! Hold muh beer...

[Phantom Lord]

Setting: Cletus and Brandine are making out in the back of his pickup at a car race

Brandine: Cletus, why did you have to park infront of my parents?
Cletus: Their my parents too.

[Gaston]

You should take it as a compliment instead of looking at it as spam. Many people put you on their ping lists after seeing your previous posts to a particular subject, if because of your comments, they thought you had similar interests or because they thought you made a good adversary.

[Phantom Lord]

Take the Cletus Trivia Challenge

[EggsAckley]

You're right, I DO feel that something positive must have struck them about a post I might have made. It's just that it's getting out of hand, new ones every day. It's hard enough to find the time to see all of FR, and I usually can't get to all the pings.

[Constitution Day]

LOL! I'm not that much of a redneck though. Cletus must be from West Virginia.

Just think of me as a "closet redneck".
My wife started calling me that when I bought my '69 pickup.

[winodog]

I agree especially when they post a pic with it. I am on dial up and it takes a long time.
I have been on several. A note asking to be removed clears it up but there is no reason for my name to be put on the ping list to begin with.

[Phantom Lord]

I'm not a redneck, but I play one on TV.

Cletus is one of my favorite Simpson characters. And living near Fuquay, I see the real Cletus's on a regular basis.

Though they enjoy a pleasurable lifestyle. Huntin, fishin, drinkin, playing with their dogs. Whats to complain about? I do all those things.

[Constitution Day]

I got 7 out of 10.

[Phantom Lord]

Hey Brandine, look at that smarted pants boy over there.

[Constitution Day]

Hey man, there ain't nothin' wrong with being a redneck.

Even for a YANKEE like you!

[stainlessbanner]

I hate ping lists.....heh heh

[Lee'sGhost]

IN the words of Monty Python . . .

Spam, spam, spam, spam,

Spam, spam, spam, spam,

Spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam,

Spam, Spam, spam,

Spam, spam, spam.

Spam, spam ... well you get the idea.

Just kidding. I'm glad you're doing it.

[Phantom Lord]

Nothing wrong with being a redneck. Though I will never fully qualify most likely since I have no plans of ever owning a pickup. Though I have considered getting a $500 beater just to have for the hell of it.

[billbears]

And living near Fuquay

Why's your page say Apex? Apex ain't near Fuquay!! It's a good ten miles or so as the crow flies. Do you know where you live? I don't know anyone from Fuquay that even comes close to Cletus. Now some of these tourists that come down here from West Virginia and other foreign parts.... LOL

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

Here's a simpler solution: Add a separate link for ping-list pings only, separate from the 'My Comments' link. That at least segregates them to one area, and declutters the 'My Comments' page dramatically.

This seems like it would preserve the status quo, but mitigate the annoyingness factor.

[stainlessbanner]

Maybe a solution is to let users sign up for the ping list/notification list. For example, why not be notified when a post goes to our Dixie Group Post list? That way, we wouldn't have to ping everybody, just post to the group and all Dixie list members get notified.

Right now, you have to go and check the Group Post (ok, so I'm lazy). Any thoughts?

PS: I would personally prefer to get notified a few times of interesting posts/articles that not at all! We can always ignore them...

[Phantom Lord]

Well, i am closer than most of Apex. I can hit a golf ball into Holly Springs. I am right on the border. Cooley's is only a short car trip.

Apex is also a lot bigger than people think. Part of it is even in Chatam County!

[stainlessbanner]

Ya'll might be interested in this thread....

[T. P. Pole]

Whatever you do, don't ping Arthur!