We are seeing armies of less experienced Steemians who are trying to build their reputation by making lots of very short meaningless comments across many blogs. These comments are similar in style, (see examples below). These aspiring Steemians need your guidance on how to behave.

Today and tomorrow I will reward those who guide comment-spammers (reward up to $55)

A 100% upvote from me is worth around SBD $5.00. ( https://steemnow.com/@swissclive). With steem dollars (SBD) currently worth $11.45, each after the rocket rise of the last few days, https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/steem-dollars/ that’s going to be alot of money for you.

If, today or tomorrow, you help stop spam, by guiding those who comment-spam, then I will reward you up to 100%. To get your reward, let me know you did it in this blog and I will check your comments.

Requirements:

You must give a minimum 6 warnings to comment spammers.
You can flag them if you want - but explain to them why you flagged.
You must tell or explain to the spammer what he is doing, and why it is wrong.
Direct him to an etiquette guide, or direct him to this blog.
Let me know by commenting in this blog, when you have done it 6 times today.

I will check 6 of your warnings, or flags and then reward you for your effort in helping keep Steemit free of spam comments.

Examples of pointless comments I have seen in the last few days.

“Amazing post!”
“Thanks for sharing about how many people own bitcoin @swissclive”
“Interesting, upvoted, followed and resteemed”
“Very useful information, thanks @swissclive”
“Am new here. Please look at my blog”
“Lovely picture”
“Recipe for fried-egg looks delicious”
“The baby is fantastic, thanks”
“I liked your post”
“Nice post about CME futures”
“Amazing bro. Every post you make is as hot as this one @swissclive”
“Bitcoin is going to the moon!”
“Thanks for sharing, @swissclive”

Short comments like these look like spam. They waste my reading time.

These kinds of spammy comments don’t really add anything to the discussion of the topic. The users seem to be repeating the same kinds of short comment on many blogs, without a meaningful discussion of the subject matter.

Fishing for votes

Lots of new users to Steemit try to make large numbers of short comments in the hope of being noticed. The motive is they are fishing for votes, hoping to draw attention to themselves, get up-votes or followers.

It does not work.

Only a newbie blogger with no power is likely to fall for it and upvote such a comment. That's no use to the spammer. Whilst a newbie might think the interest was genuine, and upvote the spam-comment or even follow him, their vote is generally worth nothing. It won't enhance the spammer’s reputation.

Influential bloggers have seen this kind of spam-comment behaviour thousands of times. Seasoned Steemit users will see the comment for what it is, and at best simply ignore or mute. At worst it’s a flag. They are more likely to flag than vote for a spammy comment.

Some users will deliberately hunt down and flag or warn users who behave like this. (That’s what I am asking you to do today).

Downvotes or flags can significantly lower a blogger’s reputation, can result in the removal of rewards, and may result in his posts or comments not being seen by others. A single downvote from a whale can set him back a long way in his quest for followers, reputation and rewards.

Suggested guidance to comment-spammers

Steemit is a place for original writing and thought provoking discussions. People who write well, and comment intelligently with interesting and thought provoking comments, will gradually build a following, and eventually the rewards will flow. Trying to game the system in the hope of milking the reward pool, before they deserve it, is likely to be spotted by the whales. A single downvote could set them back a long way.

Bloggers who want to advance their reputation, need votes from higher reputation users. Bloggers need seasoned Steemians with a lot of influence to vote for their comment or blog. An intelligent, thought-provoking comment might prompt a powerful Steemian to have a look at the users other posts and follow him.

Some new users make the mistake of asking other people to upvote or follow them. This is also counter-productive and irritating. Asking for upvotes and follows is against Steemit etiquette. Some users may downvote, mute, or flag users who do this.

Should you flag spammy comments?

It’s your right to do so.

However, I recommend before doing so that you look at the user’s other comments to see whether in your opinion he is trying to draw attention to himself, fishing for votes, and follows. If unsure, you can give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he was genuinely trying to encourage the post. Then, just tell him that an upvote would have been sufficient and direct him to read one of the many blogs about intelligent commenting (or to read this one).

You can try to encourage a change in behaviour by making a comment like “I hope I can reward you for intelligent and thought provoking posts or comments in the future. Good luck in your future posts!”

There are many guides to new users on how to comment intelligently. Here is one that I particularly like from user @miti

https://steemit.com/steemit/@miti/newcomers-minnows-and-spammers-this-post-will-save-your-reputation

Don’t forget, after you have given 6 warnings or flags today, let me know in this blog and I will read your comments and reward you up to 100% for your efforts. If flagging, tell the user why he deserved a flag.

Just leave me a comment like “I warned 6 spammers”. I will check back tonight.