I figured as much.  If/when google reindexed the page they'd see the spammy content and after enough of it reduce the authority of AR.  If it gets bad enough they may classify us as a PBN... then we're all screwed!

Indeed! Should old members' posts be deleted as well? At least the few of us who are active receive SOME notifications and respond. I don't believe the members who have left the site pay a bit of attention to that. 

We also have some members who are no longer living with profiles and posts filled with spam still in place. I recommend reporting spam every time you see it, regardless of whose blog it's on.

I believe it!
It alchemically transforms our work into junk in the eyes of Google. It's also an occupational hazard but one we should be doing battle with on the front lines.

"the brighter you shine your light, the more you attract bugs that bite" 😎

There are thousands of inactive members who no longer visit the site to report or remove spam in comments.

Yes. I do know that.  However, I have no control of it and spending/wasting time deleting from my posts won't do much good unless everyone did the same.  Even then, it won't stop the spam-o-rama. 

And our relevance as a real estate site loses credibility on google as a real estate resource with junk posts that have nothing to do with our industry.  

I keep saying it, and I'll say it again.  This needs to be a paid site for ALL.

For sure, and I guess there is no way it could be controlled.

Not aware of this. Will have to look at old posts. Don't think that I have been victimized.

Yes I did and it's trashy regardless.

AR's G-juice has deminished in the last 10 years.

I had heard that, if you see any on anybody's site it is best to report it right away.

IMO - It only affects SEO if you care what G does - which I don't since they don't play by their own rules anyway

  That is why Noel took down the New Members page.  It was hurting the site SEO.  There is still a back door to see new members (the Social Roster).

  The old posts of inactive members should be archived, and coded as No Follow.  

Greg,

Thank you for the info.  A

Every time I see it, I reported.

If we delete the spam comments how will I find deals on fake coach bags?

You bet. Spam degrades SEO for the entire site.

However, it is prudent to invest in those things for which you have some control. AR is not one of those things.

It is NOT the PUBLISHERS fault nor their responsibility to purge the blogs.

This ALL rests on the shoulder of the gate keeper. I have not yet witnessed anyone raise their hand suggesting they are the gate keeper.

I expect AR to go the Trulia route. When that happens many may be happy they did not invest more effort than minimally needed.

I did not know that so thanks for the heads up Greg.  I am diligent about removing all spam on my blog.  Unfortunately, I don't have control of others doing the same.

I was instructed to report them and then leave them to be removed by AR.... if that's not the proper procedure, I'll delete them when I see them...

I did not know that, but I do now. By the same token, as I indicated in a previous comment, I've updated and refreshed over 1,000 posts in the last two months and have yet to come across a spam comment on a single one. The rare times I see them it's on a new/newer post and those I delete immediately.

I didn't know.

I had heard that

There can be more issues if you start deleting a lot of stuff.. 

 The SEO hasn't been that good anyway.

I don't think it really matters.

In a world of Tech & Automation... there must be a way for AR to be able to deal with the issue.  Perhaps if someone is completely inactive for a certain period of time, AR could send a msg to check in or be deleted within a certain period of time??  Just a thought...

I had a post from a few years ago with tons of spam all over it. At first, I didn't see that, I just saw lots of views and got excited. Then I saw all the comments and left them for a while. I eventually deleted them, as I didn't think they were doing me or the post any good. 

Yes that's why you should report it.

When I see a strange face on my home page, I always check it out.  Report first, then wait for it to be deleted.

Yes, and it's so annoying. AT least the comment links are no follow, so that helps.  But all the non sensical and off topic stuff hurts the post and hurts the site.  Years ago, I reported thousands of these comments as I would often find them in bunches.  back then, we also got points/more points and no limits for the day, so it helped me get to free membership sooner while helping the site a the same time.

No.

Greg Cremia - Hmmm I was not aware of this.

Yes I knew that which is so disturbing that there are not more security measures in place. We shouldn't have to play the part of policeman everyday.

Really?