• From: Lincoln, UK
  • Registered: 2008-11-20
  • Posts: 4,246

Topic: Forum clean-up and new registration policy

In an effort to clean-up our forums and remove spam, I have now removed over a 2000 user accounts. Roughly half of these accounts were unverified. The others were all verified, but with 0 post counts. If any registered lurkers have had their accounts deleted, I apologise. Please feel free to re-register, but I ask that you consider making at least 1 post, possibly in the "Introductions" forum.

Today's account deletions will form part of a new registration policy, whereby newly registered users will be given 1 week to make at least 1 post. Any accounts which have not met this condition, will be deleted.

I am sorry to have to introduce these new measures, but as our forums grow, I think it is important to protect them and keep them clean for our registered and active members. smile

If you have any comments about this, please feel free to share them. smile

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corenominal's Website

  • From: Farnham Surrey
  • Registered: 2009-12-10
  • Posts: 83

Re: Forum clean-up and new registration policy

Good idea.

It's unfortunate to have to introduce restrictions but i can see the need.
I used to be admin for an online gaming clan and it used to be a constant battle to keep our forum clear of spam
even with our relatively small user base.

Does the forum send an activation E-mail? (I can't remember) it may be worth sticking a couple of lines in the template to let people know the policy.

Cheers,

T

This week's operating systems (subject to change)
LAPTOP : Crunchbang Statler AMD64 Openbox / Fedora 16 "Verne" x86_64 Gnome 3.2.1 / Win7 64bit
DESKTOP : Crunchbang Statler AMD64 Openbox / openSUSE 12.1 x86_64 Gnome 3.2.1 / Winvista 64bit

logs_con's Website

  • olembe
  • #! CrunchBanger
  • Offline
  • From: Salisbury, England
  • Registered: 2009-04-29
  • Posts: 247

Re: Forum clean-up and new registration policy

I recently looking into incorporating re-captcha verification onto websites and it's really quite easy. Might help get rid of the automated spam.

  • From: Santa Fe, NM, USA
  • Registered: 2009-09-14
  • Posts: 1,349

Re: Forum clean-up and new registration policy

+1  Good idea.  I'm all for it.

Registered Linux User: #497030
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  • From: Lincoln, UK
  • Registered: 2008-11-20
  • Posts: 4,246

Re: Forum clean-up and new registration policy

logs_con wrote:

Does the forum send an activation E-mail? (I can't remember) it may be worth sticking a couple of lines in the template to let people know the policy.

It does, but does anyone really read them? I will look into it. Meanwhile, I have added this agreement to the registration pages:

*** OI OI ***

Thank you for considering joining our CrunchBang Forums, we are a friendly bunch and we are looking forward to meeting you!

Something you should know...

We try and encourage a relaxed and friendly atmosphere on our forums. To help us do this, we do not have a bunch of forums rules. All we ask is that once you have verified your registration, please make at least 1 post. If your account is more than 7 days old and does not have any posts associated to it, you run the risk of having it deleted.Having your account deleted would suck, so please be excellent and write a post. smile

Have fun! smile

olembe wrote:

I recently looking into incorporating re-captcha verification onto websites and it's really quite easy. Might help get rid of the automated spam.

Great suggestion. The forum already uses a captcha, but I am not sure it is overly effective. I will look into the possibility of using re-captcha. smile

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corenominal's Website

  • Registered: 2008-11-25
  • Posts: 4,363

Re: Forum clean-up and new registration policy

Anything that reduces the amount of spam I have get rid of is fine by me smile

  • From: Lincoln, UK
  • Registered: 2008-11-20
  • Posts: 4,246

Re: Forum clean-up and new registration policy

omns wrote:

Anything that reduces the amount of spam I have get rid of is fine by me smile

smile

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corenominal's Website

  • pvsage
  • Internal Affairs
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  • From: Section Six
  • Registered: 2009-10-18
  • Posts: 4,912

Re: Forum clean-up and new registration policy

corenominal wrote:

Having your account deleted would suck, so please be excellent and write a post. smile

"Be excellent"?  Party on, dudes.  (Sorry, couldn't resist...old Keanu movie)

If re-captcha lightens omns' workload here, I'm all for it; we'd all hate to see him have to take another leave of absence.

while ( ! ( succeed = try() ) );
  • From: California, USA
  • Registered: 2008-11-29
  • Posts: 8,647

Re: Forum clean-up and new registration policy

Yay, less spam!

Note: ** Please read before posting **

BTW if you wish to contact me, send me an e-mail instead of a PM.
  • From: Prescott, AZ
  • Registered: 2010-04-27
  • Posts: 159

Re: Forum clean-up and new registration policy

All for the account removals, et cetera.

-I don't think it was a drastic move and it was incredibly nice of you to announce it; another forum I am on did something similar last year and never announced the reason why and it caused a lot of drama.

  • Toolz
  • #! Die-hard
  • Offline
  • From: Asia
  • Registered: 2009-02-02
  • Posts: 934

Re: Forum clean-up and new registration policy

omns wrote:

Anything that reduces the amount of spam I have get rid of is fine by me smile

Actually deleting spam would reduce the amount of spam you would have to get rid of. They spam because they've found that they can, and the amount increases exponentially.

I don't think the 7-day thing would make much impact on the volume of new spam. A seven-day exposure is plenty of reward for the effort required. As I said by PM (no reply) the spammers want their link from:
http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/
from 'Newest registered user:'
Currently their links stay there for one, two, six or sixteen hours - until a 'real' member signs up - and that's a huge win for them. As soon as the 'real' member signs up ... they sign another up.

Get rid of the  'Newest registered user:' link.

  • From: Lincoln, UK
  • Registered: 2008-11-20
  • Posts: 4,246

Re: Forum clean-up and new registration policy

Toolz wrote:

I don't think the 7-day thing would make much impact on the volume of new spam. A seven-day exposure is plenty of reward for the effort required. As I said by PM (no reply) the spammers want their link from:
http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/
from 'Newest registered user:'
Currently their links stay there for one, two, six or sixteen hours - until a 'real' member signs up - and that's a huge win for them. As soon as the 'real' member signs up ... they sign another up.

Get rid of the  'Newest registered user:' link.

^ would remove incentive for spammers. I would be happy to do that. Does anyone else have an opinion on this?

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corenominal's Website

  • Toolz
  • #! Die-hard
  • Offline
  • From: Asia
  • Registered: 2009-02-02
  • Posts: 934

Re: Forum clean-up and new registration policy

If you're getting your coding hat on then a 'Report' link on the profile page might be a good idea.

  • Toolz
  • #! Die-hard
  • Offline
  • From: Asia
  • Registered: 2009-02-02
  • Posts: 934

Re: Forum clean-up and new registration policy

Schadt91 wrote:

another forum I am on did something similar last year and never announced the reason why and it caused a lot of drama.

If you're referring to Mint, it was a lot of people asking dumb, redundant questions - 'drama', yes; people being affected, no.

  • From: Lincoln, UK
  • Registered: 2008-11-20
  • Posts: 4,246

Re: Forum clean-up and new registration policy

corenominal wrote:
Toolz wrote:

Get rid of the  'Newest registered user:' link.

^ would remove incentive for spammers. I would be happy to do that. Does anyone else have an opinion on this?

Job done. smile

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corenominal's Website

  • From: Prescott, AZ
  • Registered: 2010-04-27
  • Posts: 159

Re: Forum clean-up and new registration policy

Toolz wrote:
Schadt91 wrote:

another forum I am on did something similar last year and never announced the reason why and it caused a lot of drama.

If you're referring to Mint, it was a lot of people asking dumb, redundant questions - 'drama', yes; people being affected, no.

No, I'm not. I don't use Linux Mint and, god willing, I never will.


But thank you for your input.

  • Toolz
  • #! Die-hard
  • Offline
  • From: Asia
  • Registered: 2009-02-02
  • Posts: 934

Re: Forum clean-up and new registration policy

Schadt91 wrote:
Toolz wrote:
Schadt91 wrote:

another forum I am on did something similar last year and never announced the reason why and it caused a lot of drama.

If you're referring to Mint, it was a lot of people asking dumb, redundant questions - 'drama', yes; people being affected, no.

No, I'm not. I don't use Linux Mint and, god willing, I never will.

Okay, loud and clear! smile

  • From: Bloom County
  • Registered: 2009-02-13
  • Posts: 1,150

Re: Forum clean-up and new registration policy

New registration policy is fine by me.

#!, all else is but a shadow!

19 Reply by fox

  • fox
  • #! Junkie
  • Offline
  • From: Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
  • Registered: 2009-05-10
  • Posts: 361

Re: Forum clean-up and new registration policy

OK by me as well.

Mac user with Linux tendencies
#!CrunchBang Statler & UNE 10.10 on Acer 1810TZ (OCZ Vertex 60gb SSD)
#!, Mint LMDE & Peppermint Ice on MSI Wind U100 (Gigabye Atheros b/g wireless)
Various linux virtual machines on a Mac mini, an iMac and a MacBook Pro
  • From: Florida, Occupied C.S.A.
  • Registered: 2009-04-25
  • Posts: 291

Re: Forum clean-up and new registration policy

I appreciate any effort to keep these forums the wonderful, friendly place it has always been. Some of the world's coolest people hang out here, and I hang around just hoping some of their coolness will rub off on me too!

-Robin

DixieDancer's Website

  • From: Lincoln, UK
  • Registered: 2008-11-20
  • Posts: 4,246

Re: Forum clean-up and new registration policy

DixieDancer wrote:

I appreciate any effort to keep these forums the wonderful, friendly place it has always been. Some of the world's coolest people hang out here, and I hang around just hoping some of their coolness will rub off on me too!

-Robin

Aww, you say the nicest things, which makes you pretty cool yourself! cool

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corenominal's Website

  • From: California, USA
  • Registered: 2008-11-29
  • Posts: 8,647

Re: Forum clean-up and new registration policy

@corenominal - I just noticed the new "Rules" link at the top of the page. It seems too sparse compared to the rules of any other forum though.

Note: ** Please read before posting **

BTW if you wish to contact me, send me an e-mail instead of a PM.
  • mzsade
  • #! CrunchBanger
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2009-09-27
  • Posts: 212

Re: Forum clean-up and new registration policy

Hi, Just checking if i am still here... big_smile

  • From: Kentucky, USA
  • Registered: 2010-06-01
  • Posts: 1

Re: Forum clean-up and new registration policy

Doh!  I was wondering why I couldn't login these past few days.

Sadly, I was one of those 'lurkers' who read the forums but never posted.

Time for me to step up and start participating in this wonderful community.

I'll do a proper introduction post later today.

Hi everybody!  big_smile

  • From: Bloom County
  • Registered: 2009-02-13
  • Posts: 1,150

Re: Forum clean-up and new registration policy

Welcome johneeegun, see ya around the forum!

#!, all else is but a shadow!