New and Improved Spam Comments

This blog has always received a stream of spam comments, generally consisting of easily-recognized banal statements about how the post was really helpful, or well-written, or some such other positive comment, but with no actual reference to the topic of the original post.

Because new commenters are moderated, you never see these comments, though I have to deal with them when they pile up. There is no point banning the commenter because they are just using throw-away email addresses anyway.

However, just today I found three of a new class of comment wherein the text appears to have been created by generative AI to give the appearance of being relevant to the specific content of the post. They all contain some rather open-ended question, and end with an invitation to visit a web site.

Here is a sample, posted to 2020 Wayzgoose Anthology:

The diverse contributions highlight the enduring significance of print culture in an age of digital media, showcasing how printmakers continue to push the boundaries of their craft while staying rooted in tradition. What was the most challenging aspect of curating the 2020 Wayzgoose Anthology, and how did the editorial team ensure that the collection balanced both historical context and modern interpretations of printmaking? Visit us <redacted web link>

The wording almost seems to make the question rhetorical, inviting a visit to the web site to get an answer. Which is a good thing because my original post never implied I had any editorial involvement in the Anthology so I would be utterly unable to answer such a question.

The same poster made such comments on three very disparate posts on this blog, making it even less likely that they are real comments from a real person.

Of course, there is an infinitesimal chance that one person read all of this blog in one day, and felt the need to ask such questions on three completely unrelated topics, and has the near-supernatural ability to enter three such comments in a period of three minutes, and has a very unnatural way of expressing themselves in English. If this is the case, commenter, I apologize for doubting your authenticity, and invite you to refute my judgement in a comment on this very post…

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