Spam Suggestion

[Amb]

Recently all us admins got a PM about locking spam threads so that others with appropriate skills can deal with them later. We lock them so they dont end up being left alive.

Why not create a forum called Spam Dump and make it hidden. Then us admins need only delete the content if bad, and move the spam post to a forum that is out of sight to most. This way we can keep the other pages clean and tidy with real posts. We cant obviously use it if a spam post appears in say the middle of a mafia game...

Any opinions?

[Amb]

My apologies to those who dotn like my poll of only 2 options. The third option of "Dont know/Dont care/Other" disappeared. I dont know why. Probably didnt like the slashes.

[Antrax]

Or maybe you just pressed "Submit" before clicking on "add".
That being said, I don't understand why this is an issue of public concern. You could have just PMed me and I'd have done it, a hidden forum doesn't interfere with any of the users in any way, and I doubt the majority of GLers are interested in threads-that-used-to-be-spam.
_________________
After years of disappointment with get rich quick schemes, I know I'm gonna get rich with this scheme. And quick!

[jeep]

Agreed, I see no reason not to do this... When splitting off the selected posts, please include some tag to the title to let us know if it's work inappropriate or work safe.

-JEEP

[Bicho the Inhaler]

[Lepton*]

Do all the mods have access to the Forum Moderators forum? It is hidden and unused (except for private GL keg parties).

[Chuck]

I can see it and I'm just a basic, low level moderator.

[MatthewV]

We need a new sekkret forum so we can be elitist and snobby.

[Amb]

Apologies Antrax, I didnt know I could just get things secretly done around here. Maybe you should expect a whole bunch more PMs from me

Actually I just assumed that all things were done semi publicly around here, and i never thought to question it.

So I assume that is what we are going to do then?

[Antrax]

[Bicho the Inhaler]

[Samadhi]

I think this is a great idea.
Moving it to another forum works really well for me (or anyone else who is banning) since it makes the IPs that need to be banned very easy to find. Easier for the mod who first finds the post too. No need to post in the 'banning request' thread, just move it to a hidden forum.

My only concern is that I've seen some spam re-spammed after it has been deleted. Some kind of anti-anti-spam algorithm I guess. If mods move the post and the IP isn't banned, the bot could re-post.

I don't think that's a tremendous concern though. When this happens it should be easy to see, and then whoever could just leave it until the IP is banned.

So...I guess the only decision is whether we use a new forum or an existing forum. I for one would prefer a new forum for aesthetic purposes. Tossing spam into a forum that, even thought not generally used, wasn't intended for spam seems inelegant.

[Samadhi]

I made a forum called "Spam!"
If any mod can't see it, let me know.
If anyone doesn't like the position of the forum on the listing, or doesn't like that it exists at all, please let me know.

[MatthewV]

It should go under Administration.

[Samadhi]

~whatever~

[Antrax]

[Samadhi]

Is there a way to deny anyone who enters '@mail.ru' for their email, but not tell them *why* they've been denied, or better yet default it to another general failure loop?

Spambots seem to have that @ A LOT.

[Antrax]

Yes there is. Are you sure no legitimate users use @mail.ru ?
_________________
After years of disappointment with get rich quick schemes, I know I'm gonna get rich with this scheme. And quick!

[Samadhi]

It certainly seems so. Checking my spam mail and the spam profiles here on this site, @mail.ru comes up way too often.

Give them the option of mailing an admin for help. Bots will never use that, or if they do whoever receives it can just delete if it's spam.

[MatthewV]

mail.ru is the Russian hotmail. There are many potential legitimate people who would use a mail.ru email address.

[Samadhi]

Are you suggesting we should care about russians?

[Neo]

Why not just a 2+2 = ? field?

Wierd. I can't see what I'm typing right now. I see the cursor, but I don't even see th etext box.
_________________
_{Ad Astra}

[Neo]

Seemed to just be a one time thing.
_________________
_{Ad Astra}

[mudbuck]

What? Potential legitimate people who would use a @mail.ru my butt.

There are so many alternative e-mail hosts out there. There just needs to be a message stating that "Sorry, but due to problems with spam, addresses with @mail.ru have been blocked. Please sign up for a different account and try again."

[Samadhi]

Plus...they're Russians.

[MatthewV]

Many of the spammers appear to be Russians. We need to IP ban the Motherland.

No really, banning mail.ru is logical in the same fashion that hotmail.com is frequently banned. They are free sites that are easy to create spam accounts from.

[Courk]

Let's ban Alaska, too. :-P

[Samadhi]

I can't find one legitimate user who uses @mail.ru as an email address. In fact even .ru as an ending for email. I checked the last 200 registered users and of the ones that were spammers, about 75% of them had either @mail.ru (about 68%) or .ru (the rest of the 75%) for their email address.

Put in a notice if you want, preferably something obtuse like "there's a problem with your email", or maybe a gif instead of text, but I really think it'd be a good idea to ban that email ending.
_________________
And he lived happily ever after. Except for the dieing at the end and the heartbreak in between.

[HyToFry]

We could always put up a disclaimer. Something like "@mail.ru address are not registerable, because they're generally attached to spam accounts. If you're a legitimate user who has no other access to email, you can request an admin to lift this ban for you."

Maybe we could mention something about posting in FR/SP... I think you're still allowed to post unregistered in FR/SP? Unless that's changed...
_________________
"History is merely a list of surprises. It can only prepare us to be surprised yet again." Hi ho.

[CB*]

It surely seems to be allowed.

[worm]

yup, no problem for me, either

[raekuul]

[Samadhi]

Precisely, raekuul! Thanks for addressing that overlooked point.

Unlike the old forum, not only can whole threads be moved, specific posts from threads can be moved.
_________________
And he lived happily ever after. Except for the dieing at the end and the heartbreak in between.

[wordcross]

out of curiosity, does anyone else remember ever seeing a poll where the votes were unanimous like these are? I realize by saying this that someone is now going to come and vote no just to throw it off, but whatever
_________________
Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?

[MatthewV]

The Chess^4 unanimously said I was going to win.

[wordcross]

not for two months, it didn't
_________________
Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?

[HyToFry]

You can definately post a new thread in FR/SP with an unregistered accound (let's just hope the spammers don't figure that out.)

worm:
_________________
"History is merely a list of surprises. It can only prepare us to be surprised yet again." Hi ho.

[Death Mage]

[Samadhi]

[Death Mage]

I don't have a high enough IQ to sign up anymore. Hell, I cheated last time.

First off, your picture looks way too easy for a computer to read it.. most I've seen were so distorted I had trouble seeing them sometimes. Secondly, I like the "2+2" idea. Lastly, have you guys been checking up with updates to the software?
_________________
* These senseless ramblings brought to you by Insanity™. If you just can't figure the dang thing out, it must be Insanity™.
[YOUR AD HERE!]