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Archived/Suspended for no apparent reason? Help!

  1. veryspecialmoment
    Member

    hi.
    I have/had the blog:
    andrewapeterson.wordpress.com
    and it's been taken down by wordpress.com

    "this blog has been archived or suspended for a violation of our Terms of Service"

    I really don't believe I violated the TOS, and I'm going crazy hoping I can at least get my content back long enough to download it.

    I'm a big believer in ethics in the web, and even do anti-spam educational posts to help make the Web a better place.

    I suspect a wordpressbot, looking for certain phrases, blacklisted me. I hope this was just a mistake. I believe it's ultimately a mistake.

    If it's not a mistake, and I somehow did violate the TOS, which I looked at and still believe I did not, I think it would be a good policy of WordPress.com to give warnings, since in my case, it's obvious that an ethical user might suddenly get flagged by the software, or whatever is going on.

    Please fix this. Please!!

    I want my blog back. boo-hoo (I really am very upset)

    -andrew a peterson

  2. rosclarke
    Member

    Volunteers in the forums can't do anything about this. You need to contact staff directly.

  3. veryspecialmoment
    Member

    My blog is back.

    Because I regularly blog about scams on the Web,
    One such scam I encountered on craigslist and quoted in a blog post, contained a "forbidden" link... A link to a spam/scam site.

    Ironic: I got banned for talking about a scam because software isn't necessarily context-aware. See the post in question for yourself here:
    http://andrewapeterson.wordpress.com/2008/04/21/pyramid-schemes-gifting-programs-phil-in-new-mexico-craigslist-etc/

    I got a message from Anthony - WordPress.com:

    Hi,
    Your blog was automatically flagged, as links to overnightcashexplosion.com were detected (and these are certainly not permitted). The blog is back - please remove all such links.

    Best,
    Anthony
    Automattic | WordPress.com

    I responded with what is now my current question:

    if it's a url in text, is that different in the eyes of your spam defenses from an actual link? I'd like to leave the url if possible so I can still come up in searches for that url.

    WHat's your take on that?

    Thanks for communicating with me. :)

    -A

    I will update.

  4. veryspecialmoment
    Member

    rosclarke,
    thanks for responding either way :)

  5. elledoesit
    Member

    Can you do ove/rnig/htc/ashe/....com? It may satisfy the TOS. And thank goodness for the catch. I'd hate to accidently click on a potentially malicious link.

  6. veryspecialmoment
    Member

    elledosit:
    It wasn't a malicious link like one that installs a virus or anything. It's the homepage for a pyramid scheme, trying to get people to join a "gifting program" ...anyway, it was a stupid site and the guy who runs it is posting gig ads on craigslist, so I posted about his program to expose it. And thanks for responding.

    Bottom line: If your blog disappears and you get the message "this blog has been archived or deleted for a violation of our terms of service," don't panic!! You should be getting an email from wordpress.com explaining why, and in my case it was just that a filter found a link it doesn't like (which I don't "like" either). I was able to un-link the text and even talk with someone at WP.com.

    Anthony from WordPress replied:

    Hi,
    Sure, you can leave it - I understand the context.

    Best,
    Anthony
    Automattic | WordPress.com

    If anyone is interested, you can read the whole story at my un-banned blog:
    http://andrewapeterson.wordpress.com/2008/09/30/this-blog-has-been-archived-suspended-violation-terms-service-wordpress/

  7. tellyworth
    Staff

    In answer to the question on your blog, "So, there is a layer of discretion here? That’s good I guess." -- yes. Unfortunately it's necessary to use automated filters such as these to deal with spam, which is produced in volumes far greater than we can check individually. But not all blogs are subject to them.

    You had the misfortune of being in a bad neighbourhood because of the nature of your links and tags. We do our best to deal with exceptions. But I'm sure you're aware that many scams try the "I'm exposing a scam" line, and telling them apart can be hard.

  8. legomaniac96
    Member

    Lucky.

  9. bubel
    Staff

    We understand that our filters are not context-aware. We do understand context, however, and if our filters are determined to have acted in a contrary manner, we will resolve any issues brought to our attention. You were unfortunate in this given situation, but I was happy to remove any flags that our filters may have activated. As tellyworth said, automated filters are required for us to keep the place clean.

    Moreover, I can recall several reported blogs that claimed to be "exposing" spam when they actually *were* spam. Looking at one exception makes it sound/look easy; the reality is different, however. I do apologize that you were mixed up.

  10. veryspecialmoment
    Member

    Thanks all for the discussion.
    My next question is,
    Is there a publicly available list of banned url's? Ones that if you link to it, may result in a take-down by WordPress.com?

    I doubt I have any other questionable links on my blog... Really, the only reason I linked to that one was because it was so gosh-darn funny with animated gif's of piles of money and fancy looking wristwatches etc... So web1.0.

    Also does wordpress.com's filters recognize rel="nofollow" and does that make a difference with regard to getting taken down?
    Does WP.com recognise anything like rel="spam" or other such innovations?

    Thanks again.

  11. foreclosurefreedom
    Member

    My Blog is down with the message "This blog has been archived or suspended for a violation of our Terms of Service." but no further help, such as "you have too much information on there, need to pay some money." or "put content ..... on there and we don't like that" or anything specific. I've been sent no email correcting anything. I spent a dozen hours over the past few days updating the blog with links and data on all manner of subjects. I have no idea if I pissed someone off or there is a valid complaint. Please, if someone knows how to directly contact WordPress so that I can find out what I did and how to remedy, let me know. I hope I haven't lost everything I've done.
    Connie for foreclosurefreedom.wordpress.com at
    [email removed, don't feed the spammers - vanillalounge]

  12. vivianpaige
    Member

    Contact support. Volunteers in the forum cannot help you. Use the support link in your dashboard or the one at the bottom of this forum. And don't leave your email address in the forums! It just feeds the spammers. Mods, please delete.

  13. raincoaster
    Member

    Not a good idea to post your email in the forum. You'll get inundated by spam.

    You have instructions to contact staff on your dashboard, so follow those.

    I am NOT staff, but at a guess I'd have to say it is probably things like:

    Protected: Ocwen Short Sale Package
    Posted on September 22, 2008 by foreclosurefreedom

    This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

    Password:

    Filed under: Short Sale Package | Tagged: Loss Mitigation, Ocwen, short sale, Short Sale Package | Enter your password to view comments
    Protected: Downey Short Sale Package
    Posted on September 22, 2008 by foreclosurefreedom

    This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

    Password:

    Filed under: Short Sale Package | Tagged: Foreclosure, Loss Mitigation, short sale, Short Sale Package | Enter your password to view comments
    Protected: ASC Short Sale Package
    Posted on September 22, 2008 by foreclosurefreedom

    This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

    Password:

  14. mark
    Staff

    We never send email. It is completely impractical to do so.

    Do as rain says and contact Support.

    As extra information any blog about foreclosure, getting out of debt, beating the credit crisis or anything else that promises an easy way out of the current situation is going to be checked extremely carefully. There will be genuine ones but it's safe to say that the majority will not be. Regular scams are bad enough but ones that seek to make money from people already in a bad situation are on the fastest way out of here. See one? Report it please.

  15. veryspecialmoment
    Member

    As extra information any blog about foreclosure, getting out of debt, beating the credit crisis or anything else that promises an easy way out of the current situation is going to be checked extremely carefully. There will be genuine ones but it's safe to say that the majority will not be. Regular scams are bad enough but ones that seek to make money from people already in a bad situation are on the fastest way out of here. See one? Report it please.

    I understand this, but still, I think it's important to not filter based on strings-of-text or keywords alone. I got banned for a link to a bad site, when if I had merely listed the URL, it would have been fine (and I was only linking to it to show how ridiculous it was).

    It's really a big can of worms that we're going to have to deal with no matter what. There are people that abuse the network, the web, the platform, etc... I hope some day there will be no incentive for people to spam or take advantage of other people, but as of tonight, we have a long way to go.

    Peace everyone!

  16. wayanbali1
    Member

    Dear Forum,

    Wish you could help. I have some blog to manage under my account at WP. They are;
    http://peluangbisnisbali.wordpress.com; http://peluangbisnisbali2.wordpress.com; http://peluangbisnisbali3.wordpress.com; http://peluangbisnisbali4.wordpress.com
    Those are talking about life and business motivation and online marketing product, not event a bombastic information.

    Also manage http://ngaeblog.wordpress.com; this is about free information how to make a blog, set to manage with testimonial style.

    Those blogs are connected or link each other. Almost every articles I have been posting has one or two event more link each others.

    4 days ago as normal, I submit them to some directory or link marketing. And 2 days morning I have all my blog archived or suspended. I event do not know why or which part of my blog cause or violate TOS.

    I manage this blog over 3 months with a very good response from public, can read through 3290 link website at google.com or 1600 link website at yahoo.com or 221 link website at answer.com and some other search engine I do not check it yet.

    I hope its only a mistake or miss-identify by WP. Could anyone cn help me. I also write email through WP support but so far there is no answer.

    Thanks inadvance.
    wayan

  17. raincoaster
    Member

    No-one in the forums can help you. You will have to contact staff via your dashboard Support button or follow the specific instructions staff gives you.

    Be aware, though, they take a very dim view of blog "networks" which link to one another to artificially raise their SEO.

  18. mark
    Staff

    Between your blog you had over 70 links to http://www. formulabisnis. com/
    Your blogs were about interlinking, SEO, driving traffic, affiliate links.
    Your blogs broke the terms of service.
    They will not be returning.

  19. wayanbali1
    Member

    Dear Mark,

    Thanks a lots for quick response. I personally do appreciate. Thanks also to replied my email. I replied you back. And in case you may not receive it here is the copy:

    Thank you very much for your quick response. I really do appreciate, but
    just still I do not realize/understand which content or part of my blog
    violate the TOS. I really do not mean to do that.

    If you pointed to the over than 70 links I have had to http://www.formulabisnis.com
    I do realize/do understand that action. The reason is because I do selling
    thier product. I am a reseller of this web. Please tell me is it a mistake
    to do that?

    Also all articles I have been posting at peluangBISNISbali has at least 2 or
    3 link each others. I did it because I want to give an easy way for customer
    or reader or visitor to read any other information they may need. I though
    that is a normal way. Please also be kind to tell me is it another mistake
    too? I mean is forbiden to do that?

    Affiliate links? I do not understand with this?

    SEO and driving traffic...still I do not understand what a mistake I did
    refers to them. Plenty of time I submit any comment to some other blog/web
    and or put some link on those blob/web that guidane them to see my blog. I
    though it was the right to do it. Please also be kind to tell me if that
    action also violate the TOS too?
    Ps. SEO I only use this word on tag.

    I read your response at the forum and reply here as well. Please feel free
    to tell me Mark. I do and really do appreciate for your time and
    consideration.

    Very best regards,
    Wayan [bali island, indonesia]

  20. babaliciou5
    Member

    @wayan
    Have you [re]read WP ToS and types of blogs permitted? Do you realize you're also spamming others' weblogs by leaving unwanted links on their sites?

  21. raincoaster
    Member

    Yes, using your WordPress.com blog to resell a product from a third-party site by putting a link in nearly every post IS a violation of the Terms of Service here. If reselling a commercial product and linking to other sites for fees is what you want to do, a WordPress.COM blog is not suitable for you.

  22. babaliciou5
    Member

    And doh! You're even NOT the owner of formulabisnis.com

  23. wayanbali1
    Member

    Dear Raincoster and babalicious5,

    Thanks guys for sharing with me. In case of formulabisnis.com, you are right but I have lifetime full member of it. I have my right as re-seller of this site direct from the owner, just the same with other thousand member in Indonesia.

    Spaming others' webblogs by leaving unwanted links on their sites? this one I don't understand...would you tell me more, please. Thanks a lots in advance.

    Regards-wayan (Bali island-Indonesia)

  24. raincoaster
    Member

    You have the right to resell that product, but you don't have the automatic right to resell anything at all on WordPress.COM. What you are doing is against the terms of service here at WordPress.com, no matter how many people do it, and your blog is going to stay suspended until you stop.

    There are many places online where you can do what you want. You can even use WordPress software. You just have to pay for hosting. It costs money to make money. Anyone who makes real money will tell you that.

  25. wayanbali1
    Member

    Dear Raincoaster,

    Thanks a lots. Well I realize if so. It's a great experience I have from a mistake that I don't plan to violate the TOS. Well, thanks again for your help and consideration.

    Regards-wayan (Bali island, Indonesia)

  26. wayanbali1
    Member

    Dear Raincoaster,

    BTW if I take the chance to have hosting (pay per month) at WP, do you think I can get back all article i have been posting on my blog?

    Regards-wayan (Bali island, Indonesia)

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