Change of User Permissions ("Why can't I edit my profile/choose an avatar?")

[Maija]

Either somebody tweaked something or just making a couple of posts restored my powers. If it was intervention, thanks! And thanks anyway for running the show and fighting the unending battle against spammers.

[HectorB]

I'm assuming avatars are included too, because I can't change mine any longer

[beetlebum]

I'm assuming avatars are included too, because I can't change mine any longer

I don't know what to tell you, but I've been changing my avatar frequently the past few days due to indecisiveness. I've had no problem doing so.

Perhaps it's a glitch on the forums part, or maybe the changing of avatars is a spam prevention measure, imposed solely on members who are fairly new?

[Brandon Hanvey]

Changing avatars (editing profiles) is part of the under 20 post measure.

[HectorB]

Changing avatars (editing profiles) is part of the under 20 post measure.

Figured that out as soon as I hit 21 and was able to change my avatar.

[lucretius]

So I guess this is what's going on with my profile, even though I'm way over the benchmark?

[Brandon Hanvey]

So I guess this is what's going on with my profile, even though I'm way over the benchmark?

According to our records, your account should be switched.

[Mormel]

I've been absent for about 4 months, and after logging in I noticed there was no mention of the number of PMs under the 'Welcome' in the top right corner as usual. I checked my PM Box, and found it said 'You have 69 messages, of a total 0 allowed'. So I checked out this thread here at the Q&A, then fiddled about in my User CP some more, and it seems I can no longer send PMs OR edit my personal info, avatar, signature.

Could someone please help me with this?

EDIT: Never mind, it's been fixed! ^_^

[Brandon Hanvey]

I've been absent for about 4 months, and after logging in I noticed there was no mention of the number of PMs under the 'Welcome' in the top right corner as usual. I checked my PM Box, and found it said 'You have 69 messages, of a total 0 allowed'. So I checked out this thread here at the Q&A, then fiddled about in my User CP some more, and it seems I can no longer send PMs OR edit my personal info, avatar, signature.

Could someone please help me with this?

EDIT: Never mind, it's been fixed! ^_^

If you have not logged in since the change, it may take up to an hour before your account's permissions are switched.

[Masked Traveler Seamstress]

I reached 20 posts and I cant get an avatar yet...

[Matt]

As previously stated, it may take the system up to an hour to activate the changes.

[Rowsdower]

Is it 20 or 21?

This has been fucking AGONY for me. This counter-measure is a little extreme.

[Brandon Hanvey]

Is it 20 or 21?

This has been fucking AGONY for me. This counter-measure is a little extreme.

It's 20. Then after you hit the mark, it takes an hour or two afterwards for the system to update your status.

[The Confessor]

I'm sure the powers that be already know about this, but I just wanted to make sure...

Not allowing new users to have signatures doesn't seem to have cut down on spam. I've noticed that the past few spammers we've had in the Classic Comics forum have just put their links into the main body of their message instead. I would suggest that the only way you'll ever stop spammers like this is to disable links altogether, until a user has made 20 or so posts in the forum. Otherwise you might as well just put the signatures back to how they were.

In fact, a case could be made for the disabling of links in signatures having resulted in more spam per message, since there's a much higher character limit in posts than there is in signatures. This allows spammers to put many more links into a post than you used to get.

[Expletive Deleted]

Not allowing new users to have signatures doesn't seem to have cut down on spam.

No, it has. You may not see it as a regular poster, especially since the most prolific spammers aren't deterred by the new measures, but spam volume as a whole is down significantly.