Google has come up with a solution for comment spam. From now on, if a link contains the "nofollow" attribute (rel="nofollow"), Google will not count it for page rank. All you have to do is configure your blog so that this attribute gets added to links in comments left on your blog and comment spammers get no benefit. Of course, this won't solve the problem immediately, since spammers won't bother checking that you use the attribute, but as more and more people update their software, there will be less and less incentive to leave comment spam. Well done, Google!
I thought at first that this didn't affect me, since I haven't had any comment spam since I changed my comment system to confuse spambots. (That's why my post button says "P0ST" with a zero instead of a letter "O".) But I realise that I can now\* release my code so anyone can use it. Before, it would have just made it worthwhile for spammers to program their bots to bypass my meagre defences.
What I really like about "nofollow" is I can now link to sites like Tech Central Station without increasing their page rank. Of course, this feature can be abused. Someone could use this attribute for any link to someone they disagree with. I don't think that is right---"nofollow" should be reserved for places like Tech Central Station and Junkscience.com. Even worse, someone could use "nofollow" on all external links and hoard all their page rank for internal links. I think someone who does this should be shunned---nobody should link to such a person.
\* All right, not right now, but as soon as I make it add the nofollow attribute.
Update: Of course, the next day a spambot hits every post that is open for comments. Well, it did the spammer no good because of nofollow. Hah! And I've modified the comment code so that technique won't work any more.
How much do you want to bet that the right whingers will start adding this everytime they link to any left-wing site?
Hmmmm... Might not someone -- I cannot think whom -- use that facility to link to Deltoid in an unhelpful way? Sauce for goose etc....
Yes, of course they can. If a blogger started using "nofollow" on links to me, I would reciprocate.
I hope this isn't a dumb question, but I'm still a little perplexed about the "morality" of using this tag. I understand the ethics of linking back to sites/commentators even if I take issue with them (of course). But I have a ton of stuff at my site rebutting not only the SEPP, Tech Central Station, Junk Science and the like, but also irresponsible individuals like Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, etc. It's always bothered me that when I link to these folks, I'm boosting their search engine ratings and popularity. So, if I use this tag not only for Tech Central Station etc., but also for over-the-top individuals who are essentially paid to market disinformation - even, say, Michael Crighton vis a' vis his latest book - am I being a jerk, or practical?