Cooking For Engineers

Jim Cooley · Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Posts: 231 Location: Seattle

Michael,

Traffic here seems to have picked up quite a bit over the last week or so. Do you have any idea where it's coming from?

Just curious.

Jim

Michael Chu · Joined: 10 May 2005 Posts: 1582 Location: Austin, TX (USA)

We didn't actually get a real increase in traffic over the last week. There was a slight bump from reddit, but mostly the traffic levels are the same. What has changed is that people are posting more. Generally, when activity pops up like this (especially with people making only one comment per account), I'm concerned of a forthcoming spammer attack. So far, it seems everyone who commented is legit - so maybe the type of people finding Cooking For Engineers in the last week or so have been more eager to post than previous users.

Jim Cooley · Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Posts: 231 Location: Seattle

Well, the number of stupid and useless replies by "guests" or posters with a single comment has increased dramatically. I don't know if you see it, but when I log in each morning I certainly do.

Signal to noise ratio is going WAY down!

I'd hate to be in your shoes because I wouldn't know how to combat it.

Perhaps a probationary account requiring 3 or more posts within a month or two lest the account be deleted?

Michael Chu · Joined: 10 May 2005 Posts: 1582 Location: Austin, TX (USA)

Yep, I see them. We've been deleting messages and banning users quite a bit lately.

Jim Cooley · Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Posts: 231 Location: Seattle

Are you back in the Bay Area? I thought you moved to Texas some time back.

Best of luck with the moderation.

Michael Chu · Joined: 10 May 2005 Posts: 1582 Location: Austin, TX (USA)

No, just never remembered to change my profile. I'm in Austin.

There are so many new users that we're "watching" that it's starting to get a little overwhelming. Spammers have taken to posting some stupid comment and then coming back to edit them adding links. But, until the links are added, I don't want to delete the comment or ban the user.

Honeygator · Joined: 07 Dec 2011 Posts: 2

I am a new user and I love this site. I don't know how much traffic I will contribute, I love the idea of test kitchen cuisine. America's Test Kitchen costs money, but I do take the magazine, and I'm a big fan of Shirley Corriher.

CGoucher · Joined: 28 Dec 2011 Posts: 1 Location: Digby, Nova Scotia

I just found this site today. I've enjoyed reading it and will continue to come back. Sometimes I'll post, sometimes I won't. It's all gonna depend on my mood at the time. Wink

cotton · Joined: 18 May 2012 Posts: 2

There was a slight bump from reddit, but mostly the traffic levels are the same. What has changed is that people are posting more. Generally, when activity pops up like this (especially with people making only one comment per account), I'm concerned of a forthcoming spammer attack. So far, it seems everyone who commented is legit - so maybe the type of people finding Cooking For Engineers in the last week or so have been more eager to post than previous users.