Spam: Getting out of hand.

Hey guys.  Just want you to know, we realized that the spam issue is getting more serious and that, more importantly, that you have started to notice it.  I've had a brief look over this thread and I agree that some sort of mod is needed to protect the site from spambots.  If one of you could write it, I would consider recommending that Daniel install it.  I would also appreciate it if anybody knows of existing techniques to curtail spam.

I suggest we keep this thread alive for discussion of this issue with the users.

Hey guys.  Just want you to know, we realized that the spam issue is getting more serious and that, more importantly, that you have started to notice it.  I've had a brief look over this thread and I agree that some sort of mod is needed to protect the site from spambots.  If one of you could write it, I would consider recommending that Daniel install it.  I would also appreciate it if anybody knows of existing techniques to curtail spam.

I suggest we keep this thread alive for discussion of this issue with the users.

On another forum I go to, they have set it up to where you have to message an administrator before being allowed to post for the first time, and the admins are in charge of whether or not you can post in the future; if you mess up once, you don't get to post again.

I'm not too heavy on the details, mind you, and don't know how it's really set up, but I could ask if you are interested in knowing.

On another forum I go to, they have set it up to where you have to message an administrator before being allowed to post for the first time, and the admins are in charge of whether or not you can post in the future; if you mess up once, you don't get to post again.

That seems like a pretty straightforward solution, but I feel like we would have a pretty heavy workload implementing this policy.

I definitely think that some delay between signing up and being allowed to post is appropriate.  My current feeling is 24 hours is a good upper bound, and that I would want at least one hour as a lower bound.  Maybe the "probationary period" could be selected randomly from that interval?

Quote from: "BOGWarrior89"

On another forum I go to, they have set it up to where you have to message an administrator before being allowed to post for the first time, and the admins are in charge of whether or not you can post in the future; if you mess up once, you don't get to post again.

That seems like a pretty straightforward solution, but I feel like we would have a pretty heavy workload implementing this policy.

I definitely think that some delay between signing up and being allowed to post is appropriate.  My current feeling is 24 hours is a good upper bound, and that I would want at least one hour as a lower bound.  Maybe the "probationary period" could be selected randomly from that interval?

I failed to mention how the forum is doing; currently, there are less then ten super-active members (at least once a day), three of them are moderators and two of them are administrators; that leaves room for about five other, "normal" users.  The way they do things works because of the lack of activity; trying that here would be incredibly time-consuming, as Erasmus pointed out in his post.

I like the "time delay" between signing up and posting, but it may drive away certain impatient people who may realize that it just wasn't worth it.  However, the community here seems incredibly strong, and I'm willing to vote "yes" on this idea.  However, a person with a bot is just going to set the bot to go online and start shit-posting in whatever time frame we give them, so it may not be as effective as we might hope.

However, a person with a bot is just going to set the bot to go online and start shit-posting in whatever time frame we give them, so it may not be as effective as we might hope.

That's a possibility, but it's not behavior I've seen from any existing bots.  In my experience, they sign up, post once, and never come back (under the same account, of course).

However, if somebody discovered our system, they could modify their bot to do what you suggest.  In response, perhaps we could have the server automatically ban user/IPs who continuously try to post during their probationary period.  There could be a message for humans notifying them of that policy.

That's a possibility, but it's not behavior I've seen from any existing bots.  In my experience, they sign up, post once, and never come back (under the same account, of course).

However, if somebody discovered our system, they could modify their bot to do what you suggest.  In response, perhaps we could have the server automatically ban user/IPs who continuously try to post during their probationary period.  There could be a message for humans notifying them of that policy.

I only pointed out that possibility due to my lack of experience with bots.  Excellent; I guess it is settled.  Now all we have to do is figure out the "probationary period", as you put it.  I have no suggestions; next?

NOOO!

Hell no! A probationary period? Let me tell you, any forum that makes you wait before you can actually write on the goddamned forum is not worth joining.

I am tremendously in favour though, of a few "skill testing questions" from the FAQ (which should be linked to from the quiz to makes things easy, but hey, they'd still find the FAQ and become educated about FET). Great idea, Nomad!

Quote from: "BOGWarrior89"

However, a person with a bot is just going to set the bot to go online and start shit-posting in whatever time frame we give them, so it may not be as effective as we might hope.

That's a possibility, but it's not behavior I've seen from any existing bots.  In my experience, they sign up, post once, and never come back (under the same account, of course).

However, if somebody discovered our system, they could modify their bot to do what you suggest.  In response, perhaps we could have the server automatically ban user/IPs who continuously try to post during their probationary period.  There could be a message for humans notifying them of that policy.

IP banning is very easy to do.  You can do it currently.  I too think probationary time is not the solution.

I would also appreciate it if anybody knows of existing techniques to curtail spam.

Read the first thread I posted in this thread, I gave a link to a site that had a few precautions that should be taken.

Quote from: "BOGWarrior89"

However, a person with a bot is just going to set the bot to go online and start shit-posting in whatever time frame we give them, so it may not be as effective as we might hope.

However, if somebody discovered our system, they could modify their bot to do what you suggest.  In response, perhaps we could have the server automatically ban user/IPs who continuously try to post during their probationary period.  There could be a message for humans notifying them of that policy.

I'm not sure if you guys mis-read my run-down of the idea.  If they fail the test, they have to wait 24 hours to take it again to register; thus can't post until they complete the quiz.  That was my suggestion, anyway.

Hell no! A probationary period? Let me tell you, any forum that makes you wait before you can actually write on the goddamned forum is not worth joining.

Well, this forum is certainly worth joining, so if we had a probationary period, I believe it would disprove your rule.

I am tremendously in favour though, of a few "skill testing questions" from the FAQ (which should be linked to from the quiz to makes things easy, but hey, they'd still find the FAQ and become educated about FET). Great idea, Nomad!

That sounds like a good idea too.  Sorry, Nomad; I had only perused this thread originally and didn't notice your suggestion.

IP banning is very easy to do. You can do it currently.

We are doing it currently.  Quite a lot, as a matter of fact.  In my memory there has been no point at which we were not IP banning.

ACTUALLY, it was my idea. nomad just agreed with me  :wink:

Grr.  To all those who deserve credit, for anything: thanks, you're awesome.  To everybody else: screw you.

Agreed. I think we need to ban everyone as well.

Edit: in order to not be a douche:

Have about 25 questions or so.

Randomly generate 5 for the quiz.

I don't have the programming skills nor have I read the thread, but there is a way to do it

If we're going to do the quiz thing, I'd be happy to write some questions...

Quote from: "Ubuntu"

Agreed. I think we need to ban everyone as well.

No I didn't.


If I had signed up for this forum and learned there was a period I had to wait before posting, I would never have joined. I suspect many others would be similarly discouraged. Btw, how is a probationary period going to do anything about bot spam?

Btw, how is a probationary period going to do anything about bot spam?

You dolt.  You missed me explaining it the SECOND time, too?

Btw, how is a probationary period going to do anything about bot spam?

If a bot tries to post right after joining, it will fail.  If it tries repeatedly, the system could possibly designed to automatically ban it.  Only bots that know to wait for a while will get through.