Forum Changes

[Andrew]

We've been seeing more and more persistent spammers lately.  I've been working manually to block them, but do not like it when one manages to slip through and post something really graphic like happened today. 

Due to that, I installed some new modifications to the forum software and made changes to the membergroups due to that.  The reason I did was to control who could post links (including images).  Now, new members cannot post links until they reach 10 posts.  The forum is also checking new registrations against the stopforumspam.com database, and rejects anyone with a match.

There is a more robust modification that makes great use of the stopforumspam.com database, but it currently requires updating by the creator to be compatible with the latest version of the forum software.

I hate making changes that affect usability for everyone.  The rule of computer security is that the more protection you put in place, the less friendly the system is to legitimate users.  What I'd like to do is spend all day breaking in the doors of people who spam, and beat their heads against their computers.

Please feel free to reply here with any suggestions or thoughts.

[indianasmith]

Andrew, you run a great site, and you are the boss.  Whatever changes you find necessary, we will adjust too.

Now what was the graphic thing that got posted ? 

[Trevor]

Andrew, you run a great site, and you are the boss.  Whatever changes you find necessary, we will adjust too.

Now what was the graphic thing that got posted ? 

I agree with indiana ~ changes can be made and we will go along with them.

BTW: The "graphic thing" was a link to an adult website in Czechoslovakia.

[hellbilly]

I'm surprised this hasn't been done any sooner. Spammers are a pain in the neck.

Registration/Applying to join this other site I hang out is a procedure that takes up to two weeks. Even after joining the "newbies" are under tight observation, all posts are monitored and have to be approved and the usual site benefits (avatar, own user title etc) they get after reaching a certain number of 'quality' posts. Tough trail but certainly worth it to seed out the bad.

[meQal]

I can live with any changes needed to keep from having to wade through numerous threads that are spam for porn sites, mortgage lenders, penis growth formulas, and other crap that is usually scams to rob a person blind. If this means no pics can be posted except  by moderators and such, that is fine. Sure i like to post a pic every now and then that I think people might find funny but willing to let it go to keep some jerk from slamming us with crap we don't need. Besides if I want porn, I got other websites for that. This one I use for my love of bad movies.

[Andrew]

Sure i like to post a pic every now and then that I think people might find funny but willing to let it go to keep some jerk from slamming us with crap we don't need.

After reaching 10 posts, the person should be able to post pictures and links.  Please let me know if you are now unable to post them, because it means I made a mistake in the permissions or other configuration when I made these changes.

[schmendrik]

I posted a pic (of a book cover) today, so that works as far as I know.

[Allhallowsday]

I noticed the "modify" option on previously posted comments is no longer available. 

[Andrew]

I noticed the "modify" option on previously posted comments is no longer available. 

You should be able to edit your posts for up to 60 minutes after making them.  After that the forum will not allow the post to be edited.

[Allhallowsday]

I noticed the "modify" option on previously posted comments is no longer available. 

You should be able to edit your posts for up to 60 minutes after making them.  After that the forum will not allow the post to be edited.

The link "Modify" wasn't there, along with "Remove," but back now.   

[Ash]

You should be able to edit your posts for up to 60 minutes after making them.  After that the forum will not allow the post to be edited.

There have been several times when I wrote a lengthy post here, only to come back 2-4 hours later and decided that I want to completely re-write it.

Are you able to extend editing permissions based on each user?
If so, please make mine "Indefinite".

[Allhallowsday]

I noticed the "modify" option on previously posted comments is no longer available. 

You should be able to edit your posts for up to 60 minutes after making them.  After that the forum will not allow the post to be edited.

The link "Modify" wasn't there, along with "Remove," but back now.   

It's happened again. 

[Ash]

AHHHH!!!

Andrew,
Please give us back the ability to modify older posts!
Pretty please?  With sugar on top!

I must confess that I'm an Edit Freak.
I will often re-read what I wrote, find faults within it, and edit it until I think it's perfect.
Now I can't.   

[Andrew]

AHHHH!!!

Andrew,
Please give us back the ability to modify older posts!
Pretty please?  With sugar on top!

I must confess that I'm an Edit Freak.
I will often re-read what I wrote, find faults within it, and edit it until I think it's perfect.
Now I can't.  

I am not doing this to make anyone miserable, but to combat stuff like this:

http://www.badmovies.org/forum/index.php/topic,125784.msg278458.html#msg278458

The original post did not include that spammy link.  The spammer made it, waited 8 days, then went back and edited his post.  The forum does not let me assign editing times based on the post count groups, or any individual means.

I am certainly open to suggestions, and still rolling the problem around in my head as well.

[Rev. Powell]

AHHHH!!!

Andrew,
Please give us back the ability to modify older posts!
Pretty please?  With sugar on top!

I must confess that I'm an Edit Freak.
I will often re-read what I wrote, find faults within it, and edit it until I think it's perfect.
Now I can't.  

I am not doing this to make anyone miserable, but to combat stuff like this:

http://www.badmovies.org/forum/index.php/topic,125784.msg278458.html#msg278458

The original post did not include that spammy link.  The spammer made it, waited 8 days, then went back and edited his post.  The forum does not let me assign editing times based on the post count groups, or any individual means.

I am certainly open to suggestions, and still rolling the problem around in my head as well.

Is it feasible to make the ability to edit posts open to, say, "Bad Movie Lovers" and above?  I don't think any spammer is likely to make 100 or more posts or so just so they can go back and add spam later.