Many months ago, Newsvine user Division by Zero expressed his frustration regarding the spamming of groups.

What is spamming groups, you ask? Well, if you have to ask, then you may be doing it.

Newsvine Groups are topic-specific. So no, something about your dog or a political seed does not belong in Writer's Corner. And I won't waste your time or mine listing the umpteen examples of group spamming I could find in under ten seconds.

It needs to stop. The purpose of Groups is to organize articles and seeds further than the categories from which we can choose when posting an article or seed. Users interested in particular topics can join a group focused on that topic (or create one if it doesn't already exist) and should be able to go to that group's front page and find a whole bunch of stuff to read and comment on that is specific to that topic.

When you spam a group with an article or seed that doesn't belong in that group, you're being a jerk, quite frankly. You're making more work for the admin(s) of that group, and you are ruining the usefulness of said group for other members. Just because you're trying to find a wider audience for your stuff. You know what I call that? I call that spam. Plain and simple. Also selfish, self-centered, crappy...you get the picture. It's bad sportsmanship. You should have learned better than to do this back in grade school.

It is abuse of the system, and it's frankly no better behavior than that of the spammers that arrive here on a daily basis and get immediately (as soon as they're noticed or reported) banned.

I propose that the spamming of groups is added to the Code of Honor as a violation.

Harsh? Maybe. But I can think of no other way to stop it.

The exact wording of the amendment needs to be drafted, discussed, and submitted by a whole bunch of fed-up group administrators.

Let's start with the following, discuss it, refine it, and then submit it for consideration to the community, and then to Newsvine staff.

Note to Tyler: I realize if this amendment is enacted, it may add to the number of abuse reports we receive. I will, because this is technically a spam issue, assume the responsibility for dealing with these reports and subsequent action, etc.

Amendment ! to the Newsvine Code of Honor (proposed):

Newsvine Groups are topic-specific, and each Group's owner/administrator declares the guidelines for the group. Newsvine members found to be repeatedly posting articles or seeds not topical to the group to which they are posting are subject to suspension and possible termination of their Newsvine privileges.

Violations can be reported by group admins or members, and reporting will take place at the article/seed reporting option.

So, obviously, we have to petition that "Group Spamming" be added to the list of violations at the article/seed reporting level.

Please let your opinions be known below, as well as your own ideas for how the amendment should read. Also, please vote the poll.

Thank you, and enjoy your long weekend.