An advanced scratcher with many fine projects posted a comment on a project of mine that contained only garbage characters like “XXXXXXXXoKHGDGSJGDUIOJKLJKEFhjd”. I reported this comment because I don't consider it helpful and it's more of an insult possibly meaning that my project is garbage. I was also worried that this was some kind of code that could mean something inappropriate. I reported this comment, but then I received an alert from Scratch Team:
“August 10 2013 @9:24 p.m.
We checked the project you reported, but didn't find any problems with it. Please only report projects or comments that are mean or inappropriate. Check out the Community Guidelines (linked at the bottom of every page) for help deciding what is or isn't ok for Scratch. Continuing to report stuff that doesn't break the Community Guidelines may cause your account to be blocked. Thanks! - Scratch Team”

First, I didn't report a project, I reported a comment. Second, is it really OK for Scratch Team that people send each other comments on projects only containing garbage characters? Even though Scratch Team didn't think there was anything wrong with the comment they removed it. How come?

There has been postings in the discussions here that contained only garbage characters and I reported those and they were removed without Scratch Team complaining to me about that there wasn't any problems with the posting I reported. In those cases the comments were made by novice scratchers. Another difference is that you can motivate why a comment is inappropriate when you report a discussion posting but not when reporting a project comment.

Looks like spam to me, of course it should be removed. Maybe the ST thought it was a comment in another language?

PhirripSyrrip wrote:

Looks like spam to me, of course it should be removed. Maybe the ST thought it was a comment in another language?

Although from what you wrote, it doesn't look like it.

Did you delete the comment after reporting it (if you can do that- I've never reported anything)? Maybe this caused the confusion.

PhirripSyrrip wrote:

PhirripSyrrip wrote:

Looks like spam to me, of course it should be removed. Maybe the ST thought it was a comment in another language?

Although from what you wrote, it doesn't look like it.

Did you delete the comment after reporting it (if you can do that- I've never reported anything)? Maybe this caused the confusion.

No, I didn't delete it, I only reported it. It was only random characters but it started with “XXXXXXXXXX”. It was definitely not in another language. I didn't interpret it as spam, but as an insult: that my project was as useless as line noise. Alternatively, I interpreted it like some code that probably was inappropriate. Now I know from another discussion that this is a common way to spam on Scratch. But I'm closed to getting blocked for reporting a comment that clearly violates the guidelines since it isn't constructive criticism.

mobluse wrote:

PhirripSyrrip wrote:

PhirripSyrrip wrote:

Looks like spam to me, of course it should be removed. Maybe the ST thought it was a comment in another language?

Although from what you wrote, it doesn't look like it.

Did you delete the comment after reporting it (if you can do that- I've never reported anything)? Maybe this caused the confusion.

No, I didn't delete it, I only reported it. It was only random characters but it started with “XXXXXXXXXX”. It was definitely not in another language. I didn't interpret it as spam, but as an insult: that my project was as useless as line noise. Alternatively, I interpreted it like some code that probably was inappropriate. Now I know from another discussion that this is a common way to spam on Scratch. But I'm closed to getting blocked for reporting a comment that clearly violates the guidelines since it isn't constructive criticism.

Have you tried using the Contact Us link?

“…I didn't interpret it as spam, but as an insult: that my project was as useless as line noise…”

I would have interpreted it that the computer owner's small child had sat down at the keyboard and started typing. Sooner or later he would hit the enter key by chance.

Another interpretation is the computer owner's cat was walking on the keyboard. When he stood on the X it repeated. Also, if the letters you reported are accurate, it's consistent with the spacing of a four legged kitten on the keyboard.

I would be very hesitant to interpret it as any thing as specific as an actual thought. After all, actual language is much better for that. Why type random letters and hope the recipient will make the interpretive leap that you were thinking “This project is line noise”?

If it was me I would assume that anyone who makes projects that are line noise would be unable to make that leap. Probably the closest to puzzle code I would get would be “_____________ noise” and then even if he interpreted it as “blank noise” instead of “line noise” some kind of communication would have taken place.

footsocktoe wrote:

Another interpretation is the computer owner's cat was walking on the keyboard. When he stood on the X it repeated. Also, if the letters you reported are accurate, it's consistent with the spacing of a four legged kitten on the keyboard.

The letters I reported here are not the same as in the comment and only ST and possibly the spammer now knows what they were since ST deleted the comment even though they thought it was OK. I do remember there was a string of X in the beginning. It is still the owner of a cat who writes insulting spam who is responible. :-) If the cat writes several such comments the owner should be warned – not the one who reports the obvious insulting comment: “your project is like this line noise.” This type of spam will increase if it is allowed because the spammer can always blame the cat.

I'm sure that in the unlikely event that you get banned through an event similar to this, the ST will see sense in your reports.

If it was a cat walking on the keyboard, wouldn't the owner reply to the comment saying his/her cat did that?

The x's I assume were numbers (as there's a phone number block).

See, I thought typically stuff like that was removed by the ST. Maybe I was wrong.

Anyway, I agree, they shouldn't be allowed.

Maybe you reported the project accidentally, instead of the comment?

I don't think they send messages about reporting comments… At least that never happened to me.

dracae wrote:

Maybe you reported the project accidentally, instead of the comment?

I'm sure I didn't report any project and the comment was removed by ST, and that wouldn't get removed unless I reported the comment.

If you reported a project recently, that may be the cause that this alert got sent to you. If not, then, it may be a mistake.

joshuaho wrote:

If you reported a project recently, that may be the cause that this alert got sent to you. If not, then, it may be a mistake.

I have never reported a project. This was the first time I reported a comment.

mobluse wrote:

joshuaho wrote:

If you reported a project recently, that may be the cause that this alert got sent to you. If not, then, it may be a mistake.

I have never reported a project. This was the first time I reported a comment.

Hmmm… then that is weird. It isn't reasonable to get a message about reporting a project when you reported a comment.

Please use the Contact Us form if you have a question about a Scratch Team action. It's certainly possible that a mistake was made and we will be happy to look into it for you - just explain the situation on the form and send it on and we'll be in touch.

As far as I know, there's nothing wrong with reporting spam comments - they aren't helpful and should be removed.

Apologies for the mistake! We looked into the error and figured out how it happened. It's not too cool to leave unreadable comments - if you like, you can just delete them. But definitely report any that are disrespectful or rude.