Annoying Browser-Related Blog Spam
CC by-sa licensed by twicepics on flickr
Hi. I just noticed that your site looks like it has a few code problems at the very bottom of your site’s page. I’m not sure if everybody is getting this same problem when browsing your blog? I am employing a totally different browser than most people, referred to as Opera, so that is what might be causing it? I just wanted to make sure you know. Thanks for posting some great postings and I’ll try to return back with a completely different browser to check things out!
(emphasis: mine)
Not only does my blog display just fine in Opera (yes, I checked), I get even more bogus comments at times claiming that my blog looks horrible in Firefox, of all browsers. Dear spammers, now you’re just making fools of yourselves.
The main thing identifying this kind of comment as spam (other than the bogus claim that my blog doesn’t render correctly in non-Internet-Explorer browsers) is the URL these comments come with. Usually, they promise a “free” iPod, MacBook, car, house, airplane or ride to the moon (exaggeration: mine).
I wonder how many bloggers actually publish these, thinking it’s well-meant advice. 
Photo credit: “Spam” CC by-sa licensed by twicepics on flickr
Unfortunately, a lot – google: “I+am+employing…” (and that’s only one phrasing, there are probably more).
Oh, and here comes the alternative phrasing already, from the very first Google hit: google: “how+get+the+menu+bar…”
That’s horrible, almost two thousand hits on your first search, and a whopping 18.000 on the second one.
Two examples that passed moderation on the latest “Mozilla and China” blog post (yuk!):
“I am a long time reader. I wanted to say that I like your blog and the layout.”
“I have to tell you, I really enjoy this blog and the insight from everyone who participates”
The first has 500 hits on Google, the second almost 10,000. They try to look valid by flattering you and it seems that many people are tricked indeed…
Yes, I get alot of those too. Most of the time, they can be identified because they don’t relate to your blog post at all.