EnMasse

[Tehanu]

While it's grand and wonderful that the Great Googlebots have been sending our site ever higher and higher, it's also meant that as a forum we're now the target of quite a lot of spamming attempts.

What the mods have been doing so far:

-- If we see an obvious spam account (url is a spam website, usually pharmaceutical or porn) we delete it.

-- Sometimes spammers start a new thread to promote their website or products. We've been deleting the threads if nobody has replied, other than the requested "mods alerted please do not reply so they can delete it," but if people have replied (usually to mock the spammer) we just remove the urls.

-- We've also started "approving" accounts. This means a bit more upfront work, but it lets us, in theory anyway, delete spam accounts before they have a chance to start threads.

Spammers, as far as I understand, what to increase the links to their site to increase traffic and also their site's profile, which is why we've been taking out the urls. And we don't particularly like seeing "banned spammer" cluttering up our memberlist.

But a member has raised the question about whether or not we should let them register and post, so hence, we'd like your feedback.

[Admiral Awesome]

Isn't there a way to make people type in a series of numbers and letters, that are 'spam' proof? I don't know if people know the ones that I'm talking about, but they have squiggly lines behind them that prevent computer generated programmes from registering accounts.

They can be funny, but for the most part, they're kind of lame and they'd probably stink up the board if you guys would let them 'run free'.

[Tehanu]

We've got that already, and it probably helps keep some automatically generated spammers out. I think some of these might be real live people paid to spam. But I'm just guessing. Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of spammers!

[Admiral Awesome]

Wow, so people are actually taking time out of their lives to spam now a days? How sad.

[Tehanu]

Probably one of those "Work from home and earn $2500 a week!" gigs you see advertised.

[TS.]

Delete 'em, and delete 'em fast!
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"Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear." - Thomas Jefferson

[Admiral Awesome]

So those are legit? Damn I'm stupid. I shouldn't be wasting my time going to school, and having a real job. I could easily inform people about how they could increase their penis size, and claim that I'm from Argentina. It would be so much fun!

Thanks for the idea Tehanu.

First, I'd like to change my vote.

Second, next time anyone sees me post, I'll be informing you of how you can increase your desirability to members of the opposite, or same if that's your thing, sex. And if your lucky, and give me your credit card and or bank account information, I may even be able to inform you of other great products/offers.

[Hephaestion]

[TS.]

Heph, you really, really, like that smiley, don't you?
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"Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear." - Thomas Jefferson

[obscurantist]

This isn't as difficult a call for me as it is with possible trolls. But I briefly pause to note the occasionally lovely found poetry of spammers. The names they come up with sometimes can be things of beauty. For example: MotoHis (the Holy Cel Phone?), Pianneronist (don't cry for me, Billy Joel), and Basterten (I AM NOT A BASTER! I AM A FREE MAN!).

[Admiral Awesome]

Reminds me of how 'Tony Blair' informed of a bunch of investment opportunities a few months ago.

[elmateo]

EAT THEM ALLLLLLLLL.


i have no food in my house .

[JPG]

Same here. Just bought Heinz Simpsons pasta.
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We are the youth, we'll take your fascism away...