I asked if this type of behavior was acceptable in the steemitabuse channel - and told that it would be considered spam if I did it.

This is an automated bot pool - self voting each other up and just ripping content from an RSS feed.

Fubar is also know to spam outside of steemit
https://twitter.com/fubar_bdhr?lang=en
https://cryptocurrencytalk.com/profile/27519-fubar-bdhr/

and is involved in affiliate programs
http://fubar.org/

And has an unhealthy obsession with Royal Tiffany.

Ironically, the exact behavior both inside and outside of steemit, that is frowned upon by society as a whole.

How on earth did this guy wedge himself at the front of an antispam committee, as a spammer, on a site that gives monetary rewards?

Unbelievable.