Since I'm new, I'm not sure how it usually is here. I've seen spam in the global feed since I've been here the last few weeks. It's just a handful. I filtered out the #spam tag and then blocked another half dozen or so, but yes I still see a bunch.
I'm hesitant to apply the #spam tag to some of them because I'm too new to know if it might not be a regular member who is just promoting something.
Thanks to everyone else who is cleaning up the spam.
There has been a distinct tendency for people to use the spam tab on opinions they disagree with (usually flagrant opinions of the sort that aren't necessarily welcome in a message board oriented around decency -- but the slope is there to slide down). Anyway, #spam != gibberish, just a heads up.
These spam/bit accounts could be mitigated by blocking the ability to post as a new user. It's been discussed in the past, but the only turn-off greater than seeing a ton of spam as a new user is to not even be able to post something good :D