MUST READ - Strict SPAM measure *** REMINDER ***

[Coume]

Hello all,

Lately, I have been receiving lots of PMs asking me why users' have been warned for a specific posting, so let me clarify the situation again.

As mentioned in this post ( http://www.mythtvtalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4775 ), we do have a very strict SPAM measure as we forbid the post of URLs while you are a new member. Regular members become able to post http without risking to get banned. You become automatically a regular member once the forum have determined that you are a Human and Harmless member

FYI, I tried on the 12th of July to turn off this measure to see if we could re-allow URL post or not. This change has not been announced officially so I was the only one aware of it... Less than 12h later, we had our first new spam posts (6 in few seconds...) so I am sorry to announce that this spam measure is likely to stay on for good!

So let me say it again:
Any new members trying to post http links will get warned and banned on the third attempt! It is very strict but it seems to work very well with bots...

I apologize for the inconvenience but without such measure, administrating the board would be a full time job.

Regards,
Ludovic

[Coume]

Please read the above post.

Thank you!

[Coume]

Dear new members,

I don't want to sound harsh but if you cannot understand the above rules and if you are not happy about it, so you may want to stay away from this forum.

I receive approx. 3-4 PMs a week from people complaining about this rule and it is getting on my nerves.

Here is part of the last one, which triggered this post:

(...)
Surely you check these things before threatening people with your bully-boy tactics?

If I get an automatic warning on my forum that someone has posted using a banned word I go and have a look before threatening to ban a perfectly innocent user.

Is that the way you sell your forum to prospective subscribers?

Come on guys - get a life!

I do appreciate your point but on this forum, which is quite popular, the spam robots are very annoying. They manage to post LOTS of messages simultaneously. Currently, we are lacking moderators and without such strong rules, monitoring the forum would take a very long time (removing 20-30 spam messages a day+banning the related IP+domains+etc. is not a 2min job). We all have jobs and we maintain this board as a hobby. Last year was the only year in which I broke even regarding the server costs and this year, I will be ended up in the Red again (for the 3rd year). Frankly, with the amount of people complaining, as you only ever hear from complaining, I start to wonder if there is a point keeping the board alive... I am not the kind of person taking such decision in a mood swing as I invested lots of time to make the board popular; but really sometimes, I start to wonder if I should reconsider my position regarding this forum or not...

Ok, I think I voiced my point... so I hope that the next new member, going to send a complain PM, will take 2min to read this post and think twice before doing so.

Regards,
Ludovic

[alexmc]

Would it be possible to change the spam word from "thatword" to "thatword:" ?

Thanks.

[Coume]

Originally Posted by alexmc

Would it be possible to change the spam word from "thatword" to "thatword:" ?

Thanks.

I am not sure to understand what difference that would make?

Thanks

[Coume]

Originally Posted by Coume

Hello all,

Lately, I have been receiving lots of PMs asking me why users' have been warned for a specific posting, so let me clarify the situation again.

As mentioned in this post ( http://www.mythtvtalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4775 ), we do have a very strict SPAM measure as we forbid the post of URLs while you are a new member. Regular members become able to post http without risking to get banned. You become automatically a regular member once the forum have determined that you are a Human and Harmless member

FYI, I tried on the 12th of July to turn off this measure to see if we could re-allow URL post or not. This change has not been announced officially so I was the only one aware of it... Less than 12h later, we had our first new spam posts (6 in few seconds...) so I am sorry to announce that this spam measure is likely to stay on for good!

So let me say it again:
Any new members trying to post http links will get warned and banned on the third attempt! It is very strict but it seems to work very well with bots...

I apologize for the inconvenience but without such measure, administrating the board would be a full time job.

Regards,
Ludovic

Please make sure to read the above before PMing me...

Thank you.