One of the things that takes up a lot of Moderator time is cleaning up spam on the forums. No one likes it. It's annoying. Spammer tactics are becoming increasingly complex and aggravating to deal with.
To help combat the perpetual assault of spam messages/spammers/spambots I'm working on a new way that Usergroups are used here at CBR. To cut a long story short;
New users will not be allowed to do the following:
- Use signatures in their posts
- Send private messages
- Post profile messages
- Possibly be unable to post links at all.
Upon reaching a certain number of posts (20), that user's account will automatically be 'promoted' so all those options become available. The change isn't instantaneous, the system needs time to update itself. So don't expect to have access the second you reach 20 posts, just be patient. It'll happen.
This step should drastically reduce the amount of Private Message spam people receive (I'm looking at you people who PM invites to a pathetic RP game) as well as SEO spammers and so forth.
I'm in the admin controls right now setting this up. It will take some time to move the existing users (that's all you wonderful folk) around so the system works, maybe a little more than an hour. If you find Private Messages not working or any other glitches, it's probable this is the cause. Wait an hour and see if it's still broken.
It's actually a tricky system to set up as I have to be careful not to screw any existing permissions up. It may be some time before it becomes active. I just hope I don't have to reverse the polarity of the neutron flow...
Results 1 to 15 of 188
-
10-02-2011, 04:49 PM #1Administrator
- Join Date
- Feb 1997
- Location
- Australia
- Posts
- 3,209
Change of User Permissions ("Why can't I edit my profile/choose an avatar?")
Last edited by Conn Seanery; 08-16-2012 at 11:31 PM.
"Let me guess. My theories appall you, my heresies outrage you, I never answer letters, and you don't like my tie!"
-
10-02-2011, 04:52 PM #2BANNED
- Join Date
- May 2004
- Location
- Southern California
- Posts
- 11,560
Maybe you should up the baseline of posts to 30 or 40, since a persistent spammer could bang out 20 posts pretty easily.
-
10-02-2011, 04:54 PM #3Administrator
- Join Date
- Feb 1997
- Location
- Australia
- Posts
- 3,209
That's something we'll be keeping an eye on. Once the system is in place, that limit is very easy to change.
Originally Posted by Jake V
We don't want the benchmark too high as it might be annoying to genuine new forum members, who we want to encourage to stick around."Let me guess. My theories appall you, my heresies outrage you, I never answer letters, and you don't like my tie!"
-
10-02-2011, 05:00 PM #4Administrator
- Join Date
- Feb 1997
- Location
- Australia
- Posts
- 3,209
The system is now in place. For the next hour or so, normal forum members may not have Private Messages, Profile Messages, or Signatures available - there's 61,000 or so users the system needs to check and move if applicable.
Please keep an eye out for glitches. I've set this up after a soup bowl full of coffee and so the chance of a goof-up is present."Let me guess. My theories appall you, my heresies outrage you, I never answer letters, and you don't like my tie!"
-
10-02-2011, 05:02 PM #5Space Vixen
- Join Date
- May 2004
- Posts
- 74,823
So just because of a few spammers our private messaging privilages got to be taken away?
"It isn't jumping the shark if you never come back down." Chuck
-
10-02-2011, 05:07 PM #6Join the flock!
- Join Date
- Dec 2009
- Location
- northeast, U.S.
- Posts
- 2,409
I think PMs should be coming back soon. Something got a bit screwed up.
-
10-02-2011, 05:07 PM #7Administrator
- Join Date
- Feb 1997
- Location
- Australia
- Posts
- 3,209
I fear you misunderstand what is happening.
Private Messaging will only be unavailable to forum member who has less than a certain number of posts. At the moment that number is 20.
Anyone who has more than 20 posts will have full features enabled, including Private Messages.
Private Messages are unavailable to everyone only while the VBulletin system works out the new system, which should take approximately an hour. After that, anyone with more than 20 posts should be able to Private Message away like they always have."Let me guess. My theories appall you, my heresies outrage you, I never answer letters, and you don't like my tie!"
-
10-02-2011, 05:13 PM #8Just Sayin'
- Join Date
- Sep 2005
- Location
- Middle of Hell, OH
- Posts
- 8,530
Awesome. I was just about to message someone about the PMs. Thanks for clearing everything up.
Support titles that need supporting. Quit buying, reading and complaining about comics you don't enjoy.
-
10-02-2011, 05:13 PM #9God Of Tokusatsu
- Join Date
- May 2006
- Location
- Everywhere and Nowhere
- Posts
- 62,679
A-HA! I was wondering what was going on.
Good luck with the system changes Matt.Won 6 Awesome Awards, 2Cool awards, 2 internets, a Raging storm and funniest video award
My RPG Site!
-
10-02-2011, 05:14 PM #10Space Vixen
- Join Date
- May 2004
- Posts
- 74,823
Makes sense now. Hope things work out man
"It isn't jumping the shark if you never come back down." Chuck
-
10-02-2011, 05:18 PM #11Queen of Air and Darkness
- Join Date
- Nov 2004
- Location
- In the Eye of the Storm
- Posts
- 36,232
Umm....I've over 30,000 posts and I can't use my PM anymore.
Please help.- Running on Adrenaline and Sheer Willpower.
- Trying to Stay Sane in an Insane World.
- Why Should Time Have Wings and Not I?
- Born in Wrong Comic Book Universe
-
10-02-2011, 05:18 PM #12Aussie Ninja
- Join Date
- May 2004
- Location
- Just above Tasmania
- Posts
- 31,276
And how were you planning to do that? Originally Posted by Mikey Brown
Good move, Matt. Let's hope it helps."He actually amnesty them!"
-
10-02-2011, 05:19 PM #13Aussie Ninja
- Join Date
- May 2004
- Location
- Just above Tasmania
- Posts
- 31,276
*headdesk* Originally Posted by Tami
Umm....I've over 30,000 posts and I can't use my PM anymore.
Please help."He actually amnesty them!"
-
10-02-2011, 05:20 PM #14Precious baby
- Join Date
- Oct 2006
- Location
- There is a land called Passive-Agressiva, and I am their Queen.
- Posts
- 16,496
Just wait about an hour. Originally Posted by Tami
Umm....I've over 30,000 posts and I can't use my PM anymore.
Please help.
Until then -- if it's that urgent -- maybe try IM? Or email?Psychologically, the guns you use will define you - Pharoahe Monch
JayToddz! Jason Motherf****** Todd. I'm a fan.
I really miss Helena Bertinelli and Stephanie Brown | Facebook | Twitter | Keeping Helena B.'s memory alive
-
10-02-2011, 05:22 PM #15The Professional.
- Join Date
- Jul 2008
- Location
- Fortress of Inebriation
- Posts
- 18,729
I think we will survive(I hope).
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks