Right! I stand corrected.......I think. I believe I did say that I hoped this site wasn't that way - in other words, inferring that I didn't believe it is. Is there anythng at all I can say or do that isn't found offensive? Since I truly don't mean to be thus! And you're absolutely correct - spammers are everywhere. I get them on my computer en mass on a daily basis! That's exactly what the "delete" button is for, isn't it?

Incidently, the word "whining" is rather overstating the case a tad.....if one states firmly that one doesn't like something it's a far cry from whining. The "spam" to which I took exception hadn't been there for a matter of hours or minutes but had actually been there for quite a while - it didn't just pop up unexpectedly and it was from the same individual who posted most recently. Name's the same. Hence my suspicion that it's not spam but advertising. Handbags - tax law assistance - it all amounts to the same bloody thing! I'll grant you it certainly doesn't belong here but as previously stated, I've never seen it on any other forum. Maybe I just haven't belonged to the lucky ones.

Listen Katie - no one has any complaint about you - understand that. Also - things written on line can be taken in many ways - and I think you are mature enough to understand that even in normal conversations there are things said that are taken out of context. I hate these spammers - call them what you want - I just lump them all together as spammers - are nerve wracking. And it is not easy to enjoy a site with all this. For me it's that way. I love coming onto the site and reading the new posts and seeing new MEMBERS (not spammers) and joining in the conversations, sharing, etc. No matter what day or time I jump on - the spammers are there. I am trying very hard to control it the best I can. I don't like them posting their garbage on anyones post. It's not right. Most of these are automatic computer generated crap things - slowly I am being forced into closing threads to stop it. And it is not fair to any of us. If I could stop them before they post - I would. I have spent countless hours banning them as they join so they don't post - but I cannot do it 24/7. I have a life, a home to care for, an elderly mom who is not doing well, my "babies" to care for daily - and I have my own personal "issues" I am going through. You think I like this? This is such a nice site. We have a great bunch here - and that includes you. I know how you feel about having a spammer "attack" your post(s) - they got us all. And that is what they do - attack our posts. We have to prove that we will go on and that is it. And all I can do is delete the posts every time I jump on. It takes away from my time of enjoying this site as well. What can I say?

Thank you! I appreciate the olive branch - and I couldn't agree more about things, even in face-to-face conversations, being taken askew!! Because I'm British, I've been told by friends that I have a decided handicap because - in the opinion of some - I don't exactly speak the language! Probably true........

It actually hadn't occured to me that a lot of this garbage is computer generated - but that would certainly explain how the same ones keep coming back to the same positions on the forum. If it will help you at all to put a crimp in their style - when they latch onto a post of mine, feel free to delete my post - just to get rid of them and move them elsewhere. Hopefully to some other forum. Like leeches, they're sucking the blood out of a good thing. And if you have to delete a recipe that was a favourite of mine, or perhaps a popular recipe with others, I can always re-post it. But unlike so many on this site - I'm not really a fabulous cook or baker and therefore will not again take exception to somebody "walking" all over a post of mine. As you say, it's wrong, but those who do it don't much care what's right or wrong.

Katie - I am glad you understand - and being British is great! I will never delete a recipe because of a spammer. I may close a thread so they can't post there anymore - and then I can always re-open the post with no problem. I don't like closing posts - but it does help. Then they have to move on to the next. I know it's like fighting a losing battle - but hopefully one of these days admin will do something to help me out with this. Until then - I just keep deleting. I hope that all this crap doesn't stop anyone from posting and enjoying the site - ust overlook the idiots.

Maybe the admins need to update the site in regards to the spam. Mama does not have that ability. She said she has been trying to reach the admin but has not gotten a reply. She is doing the best she can and I am very appreciative of her time and effort. She is the only person keeping SP afloat. We have a great little family here and I hope SP stays around for a long time to come.

They seem to be populated by a "closed society" of people who started them and really aren't too keen on "outsiders" becoming a part of them or appearing to rattle chains. It happens all too often. I would certainly hope that SP is not such a site -

Speaking of resenting. I don't appreciate this. We always make new members welcome. We love the opportunity to learn from others from all over the world. I wish more of the newbies stayed with us so that we had the chance to get to know them better.