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Koala Adorable Bears
Shepparton/Victoria
Posts: 149

Hi Everyone,
Sadly I have been forced to close my Guestbook to those who wish to leave a message. I can still add entries if anyone wishes to email me.
This has been due to people leaving religious and political messages.More recently I checked my Guestbook and pornographic photos had also been left. Not wanting this to offend anyone,  as I was,  and not wanting this  S---T  to be seen by children. I contacted  the people who take care of my website and have paid to close access to this part of my site.
Its a sad world .
Susan
www.adorablebears.com.au

Delartful Bears Delartful Bears
Australia
Posts: 3,518

Oh I agree Susan, it makes me wonder what the world is coming to sometimes.  The internet is fantastic place, but sometimes, it is also a pretty ferral place also.

Sorry to hear you had to close it down!
Danni

All Bear All Bear by Paula
Kent
Posts: 5,162
Website

I've had this problem with Bravenet too.  I don't always get notices sent through to me when someone signs my guestbook, so I have to try and remember to edit it from time to time. 

What do these people think the they are up to? bear_angry

jenny Three O'clock Bears
warwickshire uk
Posts: 4,413
Website

I had something similar...but left by a beary website...I was really grumpy about it for ages...they left a whole page of links and stuff tagged on to it which took up a page of my genuine messages...If I want to link to people I'll do it myself....

It just annoyed me that they did it because they could ...not because they should. I used to pay to be on their teddy site....but I didn't renew my subscription after that. I think people who just use your guestbook as a link to their site are just a pain in the......

Can't you just block this [INVALID] and stuff though....there must be a way...

Doesn't it just drive you mad, the nerve of some people..

Jenny

WildThyme Wild Thyme Originals
Hudson, Ohio
Posts: 3,115

That is just absolutely terrible!  Is there a way to make it "private" so that you receive the messages that people post, but they aren't there for the world to see?

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

Roxanne Bear Paws by Roxanne
Odessa, Tx
Posts: 917

I too had to close my guestbook. I had it up for a very short time and there were entries for prescriptions and [INVALID] c__p!
I wonder sometimes if our websites are targeted because of having the word "teddies" a-i lingerie, and "bears" a-i-a gay man is called a "bear." Just a thought......

clare14 Country Bears
England
Posts: 3,066

Isn't it a sad sorry world??:(   I worry for our children growing up in it..............

Koala Adorable Bears
Shepparton/Victoria
Posts: 149

Thanks everyone,
I still have my links page which is open for you to add your link. I just hope thae don't get to that otherwise I will have to close it as well. I can and do edit it , as I did my Guestbook, especially when some just add their link without a simply email to ask or even offer to exchange links.So if you haven't already got a link on my web , and would like to do so...before the parasites get to it....please do so.

Yesterday I spent a wonderful day in the garden. It is Spring in this part of Australia....and after a day of planting felt much better. I have even had a Kookaburra visiting me in the garden. They usually stay in the Gum trees near the river. They are a native bird, often called a laughing Jackass , as their call is just the  like the loud sound of laughter. A lovely way to be woken up each morning. So the world seems a little better today.
Susan
www.adorablebears.com.au bear_original

Dilu Posts: 8,574

gollygeewhiz

I'm sorry to all you guys that had to close your guest books-too too sad.

PS  I swear the gollies are not allowed to use the computer without mom watching!  Honest!




bear_tongue

Marie_ Kiprie Bears
Yokohama, Japan
Posts: 2,735

Oh Susan,  that is so terrible.....
In Japan we will get 100% sick message or diet link message in
gest book or bbs in no time ! bear_angry

I am so sorry for everyone who had to close gest book.

Hugs/Marie

Jellybelly Bears Jellybelly Bears
Australia
Posts: 4,066

oh geez!!  I've never heard of this before!!!  Is there any way to delete them since you are the owner?  I suppose it's just a hassle having to clean up every day tho isn't it...
what a shame! :mad:
hugs sarah

tinybear The SleepingElf
UK
Posts: 115

yeah I closed mine too ..I had some stalker kept leaving messages about my site , my bears ..whoever it was was the same person ...in the end I sent him/her  a nasty e.mail ..which bounced back ... took my guest book down :o(
they cant have anything better to do with their time

Laura Lynn Teddy Bear Academy
Nicholasville, KY
Posts: 3,653
Website

Laura Lynn Banner Sponsor

Oh I'm so sorry!

I use Yahoo.  I've got to get my bears guestbook back on the site... I took it down temporarily.. I forget why... but with Yahoo there is an option (which I use) where you can approve all messages before they go to the guestbook.  I started doing that when I'd get advertisments in my book.  I never got what some of you girls get though :|

As for phone numbers.... I don't put it on my site.  I figure if you are on my site, you have internet access and email.

BUT.... I just have my biz cards printed (for the show)... and have my first ad coming out next month in Teddy Bear and Friends.  I did not want to put my home or cell phone on there or my address.  What I ened up doing is getting my own toll free number which goes to a voice mail system.  It costs just $5 per month (after the $15 set up fee) and 7 cents per minute.   When I need to call people back I will use my AT&T calling card (from Walmart) so the phone card with the business voicemail will be my "business phone expense" on my taxes... cause those 2 will be used SOLEY for the business.

Here's where I got the phone number - I chose the "Toll Free Voicemail" option: http://www.voicenation.com/

kbonsall Kim-Bee Bears
Pennsylvania
Posts: 5,645

I dont have my number on my website either... I have enough telemarketers calling me!  I figure like you do LL, I just figure if they are online looking at my website, then they have computer access and can email.... Maybe for when I start shows, i will do a flyer and list the bears that are available, prices, description and put my phone number, that way if people at the shows dont have access to the internet, they can call me

Pipa UK
Posts: 971

If you use bravenet you can select an option that changes any [INVALID] words into *** ,  I don't know if they have removed that option now but it used to be there i've used it!

rufnut Rufnut Teddy's
Victoria Australia
Posts: 2,725

That is a low act to do that, what is wrong with people, so sorry to hear that, thanks for sharing with us.

matilda Matilda Huggington-beare
WA
Posts: 5,551
clare14 wrote:

Isn't it a sad sorry world??:(   I worry for our children growing up in it..............

These people ( and I use the term loosely) are someone's children.
Scary that aye!!

I would advise in this day and age not to give your phone numbers or address's out, unless it is to a valued customer.
Everyone has internet access. Whether it is through own a computer themselves ,friends family cafes and the library.
I'm sorry but I wont even give out my real name unless I believe I can trust someone. It isnt that I dont trust you lot. But there are some creepy (people) out there reading everything we type. I like and respect you all,
but my privacy and safety come first. If any of you have children and spouses. You must be responsible in protecting them.:redface:  I'll get off my soap box now:lol::dance:
                                                                 Matilda

Delartful Bears Delartful Bears
Australia
Posts: 3,518

Matilda :

Everyone has internet access. Whether it is through own a computer themselves ,friends family cafes and the library.

I would usually agree with you.  However, I had a very pleasent suprise the other day!  I received a lovely letter, from a lady in New York enquiring about my bears.  She saw the article in Teddy Bear Times and is interested in purchasing a bear.  My address was added to the end of the article, and I was a little suprised to see it there.  However, it seems to me, that this lady mustn't have easy access to the internet, if she took all the trouble of writing to me!  :dance:

So, sometimes an address is handy.  Let's face it girls, we're only bear artists, there wouldn't be too many "crazies" after our address'... unless the person is from another area of our lives.

Danni

Koala Adorable Bears
Shepparton/Victoria
Posts: 149

:)Yes I was forced to close my Guestbook due to spam but  none of it was directed at me personally and i still have my name ,address and phone  number on the site.My main concern was that although I could edit it, there was a chance that others, especially children , would see it prior to me removing it.
I also have made some very good contacts and sales by people who see my website but wish to phone or write to me. I advertise in Bear publications and always give my name and contact details.....as you need to. I have never had a problem caused by giving my address and I will never hide my identity.
Susan
www.adorablebears.com.au

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