How to track people who leave malicious comments on your blog
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I like to think of myself as a nice guy, but of course, I can not please all the people all of the time. Case in point, someone committed identity fraud on my blog earlier today. Here is a picture of the infraction:
Umm… I have made the expletive invisible since I like to keep my content at a certain level of decorum. Be that as it may, I was curious to know who it was that was drinking the Hatorade this morning.
“Hatorade” is slang vernacular. It is typically used to describe someone who is jealous of your success. For example, if my blog and commercial activities earn me a level of respect among my peers (and a nice income) and you are not getting the kudos (or profits) you feel that you deserve, then you may feel that it is unfair that I am successful. As such, you are “drinking the hatorade.”
All that being said, allow me to make 2 points.
- I’m rubber, you’re glue. Whatever you say bounces off of me and sticks to you. (What can I say? I like the classics.)
- Just in case there are other bloggers out there who have faced similar issues, I want to share with you a quick tutorial on how to track people who leave malicious comments on your blogs.
I use a Wordpress blog, but I imagine most blogs have this function. (I love Wordpress!) In the admin section of my blog is a place for moderating comments. Beside each comment is the IP Address of each person who has left a comment on my blog. Simply copy the IP address of the person who left the infantile remark (See the arrow?).
Go to the website http://www.ip-adress.com/ip_tracer/ and input the IP Address. You will get very useful information as shown on the screenshot, the least of which is a map showing the location of the person who pretended to be me (Is that a crime?) and leave a malicious comment on my blog. Hmmm… according to the map, they are in Atlanta. (Wow. What are the odds?)
If I were to click the “Click for big IP address location image” link, then I would get a big Google map of where this person is (at least where they were when they wrote the comment) and driving directions (so I don’t get lost if I chose to confront them on this issue).
I glance a bit further down on the left side of the page and I see something even more useful. The name of the company using the IP address in conjunction with their email address. Bingo! Hmm… It looks like a company connected with Recruiting called “XXXXX.” (still being a nice guy)
I look up their website and get their phone number (not hard at this point) and… there you have it.
At this point I can email (or call) and say… “Hey! Why do you think I’m a worthless (expletive)?” Or, I could say, “Do you know someone was at your office today, assumed my identity and left a nasty remark on my blog?” Or, I could simply leave it alone; which I will. Afterall, I think the point was made. Why bring up charges of identity theft on such a small thing? (Smile)
By the way, if anyone reading this blogpost should ever need any “worthless” advice on how to source candidates, perform online research or want to learn how to do any number of things online (marketing, et cetera), feel free to reach out to me. I teach people how to use the internet to make their lives more productive, profitable and fun. Click here for more info.
Until next time, E’ ya’ later!
Jim Stroud
@jimstroud (Follow me on Twitter)
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Comments
Hi Jim,
Personally, I do not invest too much into people’s online comments. People tend to revert back to their prepubescent ways because there are no consequences for their actions. Read a movie review online. Even the most educated people will respond with, “It sucked.” Personally, I just scroll past those comments and move on with my day. Online forums are no different. If anything, just delete the comment.
Jeff
LOL love this post!
Don’t you hate it when people have nothing better to do with their time than leave a hateful comment.
It’s like the old saying. “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”
It’s not rocket science.
Keep up the great work!
Your post about tracking people who leave malicious comments on your blog sucks!
I know twelve people personally who all got fired after reading your stupid blog!
PS I am way more successful than you, dummy! You are probably jealous of me!
Great detective work Jim 
How about people who write snarky comments about you anonymously elsewhere in the online world though? That might present itself a bigger challenge if they are good about remaining anonymous and covering their footprints. Thoughts from you, or anyone else here?
Thanks for sharing Jim. I’m being bombarded by spam and have been using Wordpress. What do you do to keep them away?
Amybeth,
people slip up, and one can and will always be able to determine who they are eventually. One can determine in the way they spell (british versus american); the words they utilize, (some prefer to show off their non effective vocabulary), their Prose, and formation of sentences.
There are times though when you will see someone trying to pretend to be another person, but they are unable to maintain the prose of the individual they are emulating, which allows to recognize that the individual was/is not the original author
Anon comments, which remain consistent in Anon, with no disclosure at anytime, are a full demonstration of individuals who suffer Napoleon type complexes – having to compensate and prove how “big” they
They never provide anything constructive, and want everyone to feel as small, miserable, cowardly, petty and as little as they are.. and sadly there are way too many of them out there.. most of them are pumped up flagrant of personality
Okay, I got that rant off my chest.. hmm..
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
yeah, it’s called “flaming”
and largely it’s just somebody
that needs attention, because
their mom didn’t raise them
right, lol
jeff