Can we have our mods back please?

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 7:22 am

You know people who actually moderate the forum so it doesn't get over run with spam for hours on end making it nearly impossible to find genuine posts!

I realise that GB doesn't give a toss about the forums any more, that's been made abundantly clear, but could someone take the time to clear out the spam just once an hour please.

Post by **BuckGB** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 8:20 pm

Unfortunately, the spammers have ramped up their game in recent years. I delete any and all spam I find before work, after work, and throughout the evening, and I know Steven hunts it down on a regular basis as well.

More anti-spam measures will be taken in the not-too-distant future as part of a planned upgrade, but as we simply can't check in several times a day due to life commitments, there are going to be times when spam eludes us for a few hours.

Scottg · Post by **Scottg** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 11:07 pm

How about just giving regulars the ability to semi-delete posts/threads with the stipulation of "spam-only"?

i.e. posts deleted are removed from view, and then you can poll-through later to see if they are genuine spam or not. If not - replace post and rescind that ability from the regular that did so.

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 5:45 am

It shouldn't just be up to you though Buck, I'm sure your up to your eyes already just from the amount of traffic on Twitter.

sear · Post by **sear** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 6:57 pm

Scottg wrote:How about just giving regulars the ability to semi-delete posts/threads with the stipulation of "spam-only"?

i.e. posts deleted are removed from view, and then you can poll-through later to see if they are genuine spam or not. If not - replace post and rescind that ability from the regular that did so.

I like this idea. Posts wouldn't necessarily be deleted, but removed from view for just you. It could also tag the post for moderation so it shows up in the queue.

I do try to check for spam and delete it where I see it. Sometimes it gets bad, I agree, but the main problem with the board isn't really the 3-5 posts a day we get from spammers, it's the lack of activity overall.

Scottg · Post by **Scottg** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 10:22 pm

sear wrote:I like this idea. Posts wouldn't necessarily be deleted, but removed from view for just you. It could also tag the post for moderation so it shows up in the queue.

I do try to check for spam and delete it where I see it. Sometimes it gets bad, I agree, but the main problem with the board isn't really the 3-5 posts a day we get from spammers, it's the lack of activity overall.

It's rather a LOT more and 3-5 posts a day.

Some parts of the forum have *pages* of spam within just a few hours. I've seen this happen on the "Tech Support" forum alone.

I was actually thinking of it removed from everyone's view "placed" in temporary limbo for oversight by a mod. (and their ability to restore it).

If it wasn't done that way I don't think I'd bother with doing it.

(..it would otherwise seem like a pointless waste of time.)

Again though, with stipulation that the ability is for spam-only and removing that ability if it's ever used inappropriately.

Hmm, we can constrain this a bit further..

1. Thread starter posts.
2. Time-limit from post creation and Time "slot". Perhaps up to 1 hour from thread creation during higher member "occupancy" (those regulars who have the ability), and more time during lower member "occupancy".

I'd also like an *expansion* on the ability as well - once the post has been "removed", a suspended duration for that poster. (..perhaps with an internet "tag" based on their IP address AND time of post removal - say 15 minute "window"), that disallows them to create another member account.

Of course the forum probably doesn't have any of these features..

Claudius · Post by **Claudius** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 3:26 pm

I am a moderator on a forum where anyone's first five posts get reviewed before appearing on the forum. I am a moderator who does not make judgement to resolve disputes, just I am on the forum so much that I can handle the single task of approving legit posters and zapping spam as spam, into oblivion.

So a spammer never has more than five posts lets hope and we catch them all. I would volunteer to be a spam control moderator if asked with the sole task of reviewing first five posts.

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 7:50 pm

Claudius wrote: I would volunteer to be a spam control moderator if asked with the sole task of reviewing first five posts.

Sign him up Buck!

Bluestorm · Post by **Bluestorm** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 9:26 pm

I know i don't leave too many messages but i come here 2 or 3 times just about every day so i would volunteer too if you
need it....

Scottg · Post by **Scottg** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 9:31 pm

galraen wrote:Sign him up Buck!

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Mon Mar 18, 2013 12:11 am

sear wrote:<snip>
I do try to check for spam and delete it where I see it. Sometimes it gets bad, I agree, but the main problem with the board isn't really the 3-5 posts a day we get from spammers, it's the lack of activity overall.

The issue there is a double edged sword; because even those who despite 'lack of activity' wish to post, might very well be 'scared' off by spam posts/accounts.

The main issues with the board have been the same for quite some years, but all solutions does start out with a clean slate. Sure - you're not going to get thousands of posts per day on a forum like GB any more with the focus shifted away from the forum over to the disquss threads in the news section without a sharper integration between the two, and spam have been an issue always (trust me, I - if anybody - knows) but when people see spam posts on a forum - it does send a signal.
And when they see a lot of spam - well ......

Curry · Post by **Curry** » Mon Mar 18, 2013 8:21 pm

I still read the forums daily so if you want you can mod me up and I'll delete the spam