wallposting

Wallposting refers to the practice of posting messages or content on online discussion forums, particularly in early digital communities such as Usenet newsgroups. The term originates from the act of physically posting notes or messages on a physical "wall" in shared spaces, such as dormitories or offices, and was later adapted to describe similar behavior in digital environments. In the context of Usenet, wallposting involved flooding a newsgroup with repetitive or irrelevant messages, often to disrupt discussions or promote personal agendas.

The practice gained notoriety in the 1980s and 1990s as Usenet grew in popularity. Wallposters would typically send the same message repeatedly to multiple newsgroups, sometimes using automated scripts to maximize their impact. This behavior was widely criticized for clogging servers, wasting bandwidth, and degrading the quality of online discourse. Many Usenet providers and moderators implemented measures to combat wallposting, including rate-limiting, message filtering, and banning repeat offenders.

Wallposting was not limited to Usenet and later appeared in other early online forums, such as Internet Relay Chat (IRC) and early bulletin board systems (BBS). While the term itself has largely fallen out of common usage as modern forums evolved, the concept of disruptive posting persists in contemporary online communities. Today, similar behaviors are often addressed through platform policies, moderation tools, and community guidelines aimed at maintaining constructive and respectful discussions.