iTunes Podcast Spamming

[GamersRadio]

What's with all of the spamming going on in the iTunes Podcast Directory? I'm seeing shows listed in catagories where they completely don't fit. Is this a result of shows spamming the iTunes catagory code ( <itunes:category> )? This really pisses me off because there are twice the amount of shows listed in the Games catagory (Arts & Entertainment:Games) than there should be. I see everything from Dawn and Drew (God I hate that show) to the Vegan.com show. It's ridiculous what is being listed and I am outraged. Even Adam Curry's (I hate his corporate a$$ too) Podfinder is listed. And no Adam, I don't think your 2 minute "daily hit test" qualifies you as a Game show. OUTRAGEOUS I SAY!

If this is a result of spamming, shame on every podcaster out there being so desperate enough to flood the iTunes directory for a couple more accidental listeners. If it's a result of Apple going label crazy and not caring about the catagorizing, they need to get on this fast. Each show should only be able to be listed in one - perhaps two catagories. From what I read from Apples podcast specifications (http://phobos.apple.com/static/podcast_specifications.pdf) they allow infinite catagories.

It is allowable to have multiple Top-Level Categories for Channels and Item(s), however iTunes will take the first Top Level Category as the Primary Category for your Channel
or Item(s).
It is also, allowable for each Top Level Category to have multiple Sub-Categories.

[nigel5]

Should people be barred from driving cars because of a few morons who kill people?

Why are cars able to go 200+ miles per hour... lets electronically restrict them to the speed limit.

Why restirct the number of categories because of a few clueless idiots. Isn't this what moderators are for? (I have never been thought of as a moderate) Flame them, have the feeds removed.

Lets not get in the way of freedom of expression. Freedom to drive fast - possibly, I have an escort diesel; I don't care :wink:

[kwotipka]

I don't know if this officially counts as spam but what about other content in what is suppose to be "podcast" RSS feeds.

Now, I have a very short list of what I am subscribed to and my own podcast shares a RSS stream with my blog posts. However, a friend of mine is getting "application/pdf" and (i think) "video/mpeg" files winding up in his mp3 player. I posted a note to the ipodder developer list to see if there is some way to only download "audio/mpeg" files. At least there should be some options for what should be downloaded.

Again, I am not having this problem but I can see where mucking up the RSS is just a SPAM nightmare waiting to happen.

kw