Raven's Lament

I'm trying in vain NOT to close down Raven's Lament....I started out here. At one point it was an enjoyable ride. A year and some months later, I can't say the same thing still stands. In the past 4 months I have had to deal with numerous amounts of Spam within my own journal. I don't have the ability to stop it other than block and delete. Honestly, I shouldn't have to worry about it. It's AOL's server why are they not screening users? The real kicker that's pushing me more and more in the direction of wanting to change blogging platforms is the latest....I'll let you read the letter I sent in as a complaint:

I have been an AOL Journaler for over a year. I tend to have quite a bit of following from fellow readers.
I'm pretty close to taking my journal elsewhere and my readers just might follow. I was recently on the People Connected page for AOL, here is a link if for some reason you don't comphrend what I'm talking about... http://peopleconnection.aol.com/blogs

I almost always check out the recently updated links. You have several listed that are spam, one I know for a fact is Porn, it's listed as www.seussville.com.... I don't appreciate opening something, I believe to be a link to a journal on your site, and being bombarded with something that I find extremely offensive. Another friend recently opened up a link not unlike what I did, and found his hard drive trashed by a virus.

I'm beginning to think AOL doesn't care about those of us, who use it's services. This is suppose to be a safe format to introduce us to one another's journals. Am I to believe AOL is NOT taking the proper precautions to protect it's users from Spam that is integrated in it's own pages? The thing that worries me the most is you have younger users that come into these pages. Is this what I can come to expect from a server I use and write with?

I'm usually front and prominent in the most commented section of this page. If this is going to be an ongoing expectation, I would rather NOT have my name associated with your service. Please do all your readers a favor, check out the updated links. I guarantee you the one I listed isn't the only one, there is at least another 3-4. I'm sorry I expect more from a company that I trust......

Sincerely,
Indigo Ravenwood
http://journals.aol.com/rdautumnsage/ravens-lament/

Update: For those who decide to check out the above link, you will be taken to a Dr. Suess site, however the offensive material is found under the blog from the People's Connection page (Clever I know)...it's enough, that at the time I was subjected to it....Who knows by now they might even decide to have changed it to protect themselves....

Why am I subjected to this, on what I thought was a rather safe forum? If I want to read trash, porn, or any other format of perverted sickness, don't you think it should be my choice? AOL holds the controls for these web pages, are they just allowing anyone to use them as they see fit? I value choice! I value the ability to choose what I'm subjected to. I DON'T value having it thrust upon me, because of the insubordinate inability of a server I'm using, to modify changes to keep it from happening. If AOL can't protect it's readers better than this......They don't need me. I'll find another blogging forum where I feel it's better suited to not only keeping me safe, but values me as a user.

All I could think of is what if I had a young child within view of my computer. Thankfully I don't! It was enough to annoy me in finding it within the pages of something I USED to enjoy.....To make matters even more annoying, sigh...It took me awhile to even find someone to log my complaint to.  Isn't that something that should be readily available to it's users? I truly do hate that I feel this way....I don't want to lose any of the people I've come to befriend on behalf of my journal. No, I don't know for sure, that you would indeed follow me. I seriously just wanted to get my point across to these ignorant knuckleheads....

As of this writing I can't guarantee the future of Raven's Lament....I do know if things don't change, I WILL go some where I DO have a choice and I'm respected and valued. One more warning to my gentle readers, don't open the updated journals with nothing but a video entry.....Seriously, I shouldn't be the one to have to warn you about this. AOL should care enough about us, NOT to subject us to this spam. As of this writing, I still have not recieved a reply from AOL.....What does that say? You be the judge......

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• #56 Comment from starstuff45 
  3/26/08 2:35 AM | Permalink

  Hi Raven,
  I also used to be an avid AOL journaler.  But after they began putting adds on every available space, including IN everyone's journal I decided to take a walk.
  
  As of now I'm over at MySpace.  They're getting/ARE HUGE BUT so far it hasn't been too bad.  Much better than AOL that's for sure.  Although I have to admit it broke my heart to leave AOL... not because of loyalty to AOL but because I had met so many wonderful people over here.
  
  I still keep in touch with them but the AOL Journal commraderie (sp?) isn't what it used to be, that's for sure.
  
  so, when you finally get tired of AOL, take a ride over to MySpace.  I'm listed over there the same as here.... www.myspace.com/onesteptotheleft .  You're more than welcome to come on over and chat.
  
  I'm so glad I've had the opportunity to meet you, at leat "virtually", LOL.  I'll definetly be back over and over to continue to read your beautiful prose.  Thank you for sharing it.
  
  Hugs & Blessed Be,
  Patti... a/k/a starstuff & morgan fox as well, hehe
• #55 Comment from kirkbyj05 
  3/21/08 6:27 AM | Permalink

  I am just gettting around to reading all my backdated mail Indigo.
  This sounds horrible and shocking!  I am so glad I haven't come across such awful spam.
  Please don' go and if you do go private or move somewhere else count me in as one of your readers.
  I so agree that there should be an obvious link to use to file immediate complaints with immediate replies from AOL.  It seems a common complaint with users.
  Jeanie xx
• #54 Comment from gazker 
  3/16/08 7:41 AM | Permalink

  Pleaseeeeeeeee don't go. What was the AOL response?
  Gaz xx
• #53 Comment from suzypwr 
  3/11/08 10:19 PM | Permalink

  I used to have more trouble with spam and freaky IMs, but not so much lately.
  
  xoxo
• #52 Comment from rjsisti 
  3/9/08 8:50 AM | Permalink

  I decided to make my Journal private for a while.  I'm concerned about spams if AOL does not protect our site for Journals.
  
  I do recall one night real late, I was writing in my journal and all of a sudden I got an IM from an individual but I blocked it because the email address included provocative words.  I don't believe an IM could have gotten through to me from a stranger.....................hmmmmm.  
  
  I do enjoy reading your journals.  
  
  I plan on playing it safe as my computer is my world!
  
  rj