Spam tools now in action at Gearslutz.com

[Jules]

It may take a while for these to show any noticeable difference, but I wanted to let GS visitors know that there are now two new tools in place to reduce spam posts..

1) A subscription to a Forum and Blog anti spam service (this auto shunts spam into a moderation queue making it only visible to moderators, who can then 'mass delete' spam posts with one click of a button)

2) A new type of post deletion for moderators that
a) Deletes all posts by that member
b) Reports the member to the anti spam service
c) Bans the members email and IP address from the forum

In one hour of using the anti spam subscription - I "auto caught" my first spammer! I banned them / and re-reported them to the spam list - its a good feeling!

These measures have been integrated into the new forum upgrade we just installed in reaction to the huge spam problems forums and blogs have been suffering world-wide..



Jules
GS admin

[Vietstylistic]

Great, now I dont have to see that "iphone" for $200 in high end forum .. LOL

[Jules]

We will still have to catch some of it manually so the fight is still on!

[dykstraster@gmai]

Perhaps a "spam report" feature for us commoners to aid you in your battle?

[terminal3]

Originally Posted by dykstraster@gmai

Perhaps a "spam report" feature for us commoners to aid you in your battle?

it exists already, it's the red-bordered triangular looking icon in the member name/avatar part of the post. click it to report spam!

wish they'd remove the 'once every sixty seconds only' rule, lately it's been possible to report stuff far more often than that!

also, a pleading to other members - please don't reply to spam posts with something that you think is smart or clever. it just bumps the spam back up, and the thread is bound for deletion eventually anyway.

that is all.

[dykstraster@gmai]

Originally Posted by terminal3

it exists already, it's the red-bordered triangular looking icon in the member name/avatar part of the post. click it to report spam!

wish they'd remove the 'once every sixty seconds only' rule, lately it's been possible to report stuff far more often than that!

also, a pleading to other members - please don't reply to spam posts with something that you think is smart or clever. it just bumps the spam back up, and the thread is bound for deletion eventually anyway.

that is all.

Hey Thanks!

+1 on the replies

[elambo]

Originally Posted by terminal3

please don't reply to spam posts with something that you think is smart or clever. it just bumps the spam back up, and the thread is bound for deletion eventually anyway.

I think the point of the "bump" is to help grab the attention of the mods.

[terminal3]

Originally Posted by elambo

I think the point of the "bump" is to help grab the attention of the mods.

but that is far more directly and easily achieved with the report post button...

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by terminal3

wish they'd remove the 'once every sixty seconds only' rule, lately it's been possible to report stuff far more often than that!

I second this. And perhaps Jules could sign up some "posse" members and entrust them with delete ability if they promise to use it only for blatantly obvious spam?

--Ethan

[Jaques Beraques]

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

I second this. And perhaps Jules could sign up some "posse" members and entrust them with delete ability if they promise to use it only for blatantly obvious spam?

--Ethan

Very good idea!

[mahasandi]

Iam already reporting like self-appointed sherrif,
as iam sure many of you are!
they won't take this town!

[Hane]

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

I second this. And perhaps Jules could sign up some "posse" members and entrust them with delete ability if they promise to use it only for blatantly obvious spam?

--Ethan

The only thing that bothers me slightly about having “posse” members is, what’s to stop them abusing their power and start deleting non spam information on views they strongly disagree with?

[Bierce85]

Originally Posted by Hane

The only thing that bothers me slightly about having “posse” members is, what’s to stop them abusing their power and start deleting non spam information on views they strongly disagree with?

the ones trusted with this ability I'm sure will be able to tell the difference between an iphone for $200 and someone telling us about a new A/D converter that will make their tracks sound like classic albums.

[Ethan Winer]

Exactly, and it's not like Jules will grant "delete privileges" to just anyone. It would be people he knows personally, who have been GS members for a few years, etc.

[terminal3]

The (admittedly non-public) forum at productionbase.co.uk has a feature called 'the spike' - basically, if anyone posted anything stupid or offensive any user could 'spike' the post. It would eliminate it from public view immediately, but a mod would later have a look to make sure it was spiked correctly. It never happened, but if any user ever abused it (ie, spiked someone's post just because they disagreed with a valid opinion or something, the original post could still be restored and the user who spiked inappropriately was in big trouble - could be banned, etc. Never saw it come to that, but it seems like a good idea... even if only a select group of people had that power, they could still be 'policed.'

EDIT: that was my 1,000th post, wacky. And I still only 'live for gear.'

[joelpatterson]

i have a philosophical problem with "don't reply to spam with clever remarks," I mean you've obviously missed some of my posts if you can say that. Obviously!

[terminal3]

Originally Posted by joelpatterson

i have a philosophical problem with "don't reply to spam with clever remarks," I mean you've obviously missed some of my posts if you can say that. Obviously!

Maybe once a user hits the 2k post mark they can have a special exemption.

[joelpatterson]

Originally Posted by terminal3

Maybe once a user hits the 2k post mark they can have a special exemption.

As if there's any JUSTICE in this world!

[sedohr]

Originally Posted by joelpatterson

i have a philosophical problem with "don't reply to spam with clever remarks," I mean you've obviously missed some of my posts if you can say that. Obviously!

Joel, you reply EVERY post with clever remarks. And it's funny too!
Anyway, it's good to know that GS is about to become virtually spamfree zone. Although I haven't noticed the spam all that much around here with the exception of a few great Motorola deals!

Kalli

[peeder]

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

And perhaps Jules could sign up some "posse" members and entrust them with delete ability if they promise to use it only for blatantly obvious spam?

Awful idea!

If even considered, it would have to be to be cross-validated (i.e. counter-signed...more than one would have to vote to delete, and they wouldn't see who else had voted, only an official moderator would), every deletion reviewed, and any even vague abuse would have to be punished by the banning, yes banning, of the "posse" member.

They have several moderators, a flag function, this new anti-spam measure...there is no need for irregular paramilitary death squads to roam the halls.

It really isn't that bad here. Is there a CAPTCHA on signup?

[Bryan Talbot]

Many thanks for the actions, Jules!

[celticrogues]

Big Thumbs up
Thanks!
-Mike

[Bierce85]

Originally Posted by peeder

Awful idea!

If even considered, it would have to be to be cross-validated (i.e. counter-signed...more than one would have to vote to delete, and they wouldn't see who else had voted, only an official moderator would), every deletion reviewed, and any even vague abuse would have to be punished by the banning, yes banning, of the "posse" member.

They have several moderators, a flag function, this new anti-spam measure...there is no need for irregular paramilitary death squads to roam the halls.

It really isn't that bad here. Is there a CAPTCHA on signup?

How about a "mark pending deletion" option so a member with, say, 500+ posts could temporarily delete the thread until it's viewed by a moderator with the same consequences for abuse you mentioned above?

As you said, it's not bad at all here but it can always better.

[peeder]

Originally Posted by Bierce85

How about a "mark pending deletion" option so a member with, say, 500+ posts could temporarily delete the thread until it's viewed by a moderator with the same consequences for abuse you mentioned above?

As you said, it's not bad at all here but it can always better.

If I'm not mistaken, this board doesn't require email verification for posting. If they add that and a CAPTCHA, I think the problem goes away completely.