GameBanshee Forums

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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..

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.

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!

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....

galraen wrote:Sign him up Buck!

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 ......

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