Change is bad

[Archangel]

I really Hate Spammers, worse than spam is the hoops you have to jump through to defeat them, a glaring new example is the new requirement to enter text from an image to post here. It will affect my input here I am sure, (some may see that as a plus !), as I am unwilling to jump through any additional hoops. Better I think to have more spamkillers (admins). IMHO

[Melanie]

There are some experimental changes going on... nothing is fixed or carved in stone... but WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK - good or bad.

[lester]

If you dont like something, you can walk away, or stick around and change things.

We need feedback, positive, constructive comment.

Aside from the work that Malanie and Darrel put in to moderating this forum (which i really appreciate). I have to regularly clear massive log files and filter dumps because the forum attracts so much interest from the porn merchants and spamers and worse, the server hackers.

It seems that forums that run Catchpa or image verification receive less or zero interest from the spammers. The hackers seem to be under control and the rest dont get past the traps we ahve installed on the server. So the image verification could be the final solution.

positive, constructive comment from the forum users is what is required now.

[Archangel]

Hi Melanie, and Lester,
This thread was intended to catch your attention and hopefully have others offer their opinions as well. I posted MY opinion, I simply do not like the hassel of verification, especially in light of the fact of the forum already requires a user ID and log in. For 98% it will not make "beans" difference, because they lurk but do not post. You do what you have to do, as you must. I posted the way I feel about it.
Anyone else have an opinion about this? Now is the time, before it gets made of stone.
BTW: Thanks for an otherwise Great Forum.

[Jerson]

I have no objection to another level of verification if it will prevent spammers 'digging up the past'. Many times their post just bumps a long dead thread into activity which may not be good after all. As for Captcha, many sites I use make it hard even for a human to read Perhaps a different way to authenticate - like print a proverb (random) and ask the user to type the third and fifth word (random) of the saying. Similar to captcha, but more human readable. What do you think? It's admins call after all.

[Luckyborg]

I have to agree with Joe and Jerson. It is quite a hassle to enter a password every time. Maybe scale it by number of posts. IE the first 10 posts require authentication every other posts, then every 5 posts and by the time you get to 100 or so, just accept all posts unless someone flags the user. Also getting something that is human readable would be much better as everything seems case sensitive and a "P" and "p" look a lot alike when they are random text sizes at 45 degree angles.

[mister_e]

If there's less spammers, and give less problem to the admins using that method, I wouldn't care at all to type a password then.

If there's an option for, User post counter could be used to determine if he's a spammer or not. On the other side, new users might find it a bit irritating.

I guess time will tell.

[Archangel]

Also getting something that is human readable would be much better as everything seems case sensitive and a "P" and "p" look a lot alike when they are random text sizes at 45 degree angles.

That is 80% of my complaint, I do not see that well anymore anyway.

[lester]

Considering the number of users on this forum and the number of posts over the last 24hrs the level of negative response seems quite low.

It would seem that users are:

• not bothered by the changes
• cant be bothered to make comment on the chnages (in which case i suggest that there not that bothered)
• cant actually cope with the changes and so cant post a response

maybe, a poll is required??

[Acetronics2]

Hi, Lester

I had to refresh the code once or twice, as my eyes ( despite a good pair of glasses ) couldnt read the pattern ...

could it be possible to have such "password" only once a session ??? ... a bit boring to repeat it at each post ...

I see in the upper right corner the Forum "Welcomes me" ... so may be , We could HAVE TO log in once a session ??? ... and automatically being log out when leaving ... ( time limited cookie i.e. ... )


Alain

[Byte_Butcher]

Considering the number of users on this forum and the number of posts over the last 24hrs the level of negative response seems quite low.

It would seem that users are:

* not bothered by the changes
* cant be bothered to make comment on the chnages (in which case i suggest that there not that bothered)
* cant actually cope with the changes and so cant post a response

I don't even know what's going on here... what's changed?
I don't seem to need to do anything "new & different" to post...


steve

[aratti]

I don't even know what's going on here... what's changed?
I don't seem to need to do anything "new & different" to post...

I am in the same situation as Steve stated.

Al.

[mister_e]

mmm, here too . I thought it was more about file attachment or whatever (I surely miss something) but I just made a image upload and .txt test... nothing different here, no need for confirmation. I must be lucky, or things changed since then... oh well.

[Byte_Butcher]

It would seem that users are:

• not bothered by the changes
• cant be bothered to make comment on the chnages (in which case i suggest that there not that bothered)
• cant actually cope with the changes and so cant post a response

It would seem that "Have not noticed any difference" should be added to the list.

I did like mister_e and posted a photo to the test area, but nobody asked me for any "authorization" to do it.

Perhaps it only targets certain browsers (firefox here), or certain IP addresses, or..?



steve

[Luckyborg]

They must have changed things around again, because I had to enter in the security code for a while each time I posted a reply or even to do a search of the forum, but now it is gone. I incorrectly entered the code 3 or 4 times for a single post as I couldn't read them correctly. Hopefully they found an easier way to get the security they wanted.

David

[Luckyborg]

i forgot to add, that I'm on Firefox 2.0

[Acetronics2]

Ha, ha

so, we can see those who are following ... lol.

The filter has not being left active long enough for a significant majority to have been trying it ...

Alain

[Darrel Taylor]

"The squeaky wheel gets the grease."

And this attempt caused a lot of squeaking. From all forums.
So Lester removed it.

As a side note, the low life's automated programs still got thru while captcha was enabled.

Those dirty RATs.

[lester]

ok to avoid issues with those that are colour blind and those that cannot determine lower case from upper case

i've enabled a simple question and answer test .

[Phil]

short stupid question.

is it too difficult or confusing

[Phil]

we all know and love Tesla , dont we???

[lester]

any comments, post here.

suggest better questions if you like.

[Jerson]

Lester:

I am thinking more in terms of using the MOTD(message of the day) function to get a message. Then prompt the user to type in a randomly chosen word position from the message to validate the posting.

for example : The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
prompt : type in the fifth word of the message
or : type in the highlighted word
answer to accept : jumps
result : bingo - you are a human

I do not know how hard it is to put this together, but it might be worth a try.

Actually as I tried to post this after a preview, the prompt had changed and I actually like what you have now.

Jerson

[mackrackit]

I think the question and answer idea is good.

[Darrel Taylor]

ok to avoid issues with those that are colour blind and those that cannot determine lower case from upper case

i've enabled a simple question and answer test .

WOW!

Unless Melanie got to them first ...
An entire 24 hour period without any SPAM to delete.

Oh No ... I'm Obsolete

[mister_e]

Once we have the "EDIT" button back, we'll be all set

[Archangel]

This does not seem to work at keeping out the spammers. I think only allowing Moderated posts for a newbies first few posts, and permanent banning of Spammer violators will work (those persistent enough to learn enough to pass the real vs spammer test), and that might not work.
In a forum, spammers are the electronic equivalent of having gang bangers crash your daughter's 11th birthday party. Nothing wrong with having bouncers. Might need more bouncers.

[DanPBP]

Thanks! I'm color blinded too and the random question looks good

[Ioannis]

1. For those that are borred to log-in, there is a little check box to let them get in without User name and Password.

2. If this questions will save me time when there are spams that drive me to very old threads, just to see that there was nothing posted, then BY ALL MEANS I accept the new filter.

Ioannis

[Archangel]

Hi Ioannis,
The question as it exists, causes me no pain. The original thing which spawned this thread was using those little boxes with multi colored skewed hard to read characters, The letters were so distorted it made them nearly impossible to discern what they were, Lester killed that and replaced it with the system now in force, much better. Thanks Lester !

[mister_e]

I don't care about any kind of filter, question or anything else, but i can understand that some doesn't like it...

However... what I found really stupid is that we no longer have that f***ing edit button yet. Come on!

This is the ONLY forum I know of who don't have it. Even the other Crownhill's forum have it... WTF?

So I ask the question again... how hard/tedious it is to have it back.. don't lie to me, I know it's easy and need few seconds

Can we expect to have it before Christmas 2098?

[Ioannis]

I missed that color boxes I suppose...

But I tottaly agree that they are hard to read.

Steve cool down. I am sure that it will come back soon, I hope.

Ioannis

[Acetronics2]

Hi, Ioannis and Steve,

I remember a recent post from Mel ... she was saying " They " ( BigBrother or same ) didn't want some threads to be deleted nor modified ...

May be the answer is here ... but I know forums where you can edit your posts for a day or two !!! after modifying becomes impossible.

Would someone want to rub his precious posts, here ??? I can't believe that !!!

Some Gunfight with our beloved Staff ??? Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, nooooooooooooooooooo !!!

Alain

[Ioannis]

Hi Alain. Edit is really necessary to correct some mistakes instead of posting new one.

Also I would not be surprised if one wants to delete his post. Why not?

Anyway, be cool and all be OK.

Ioannis

[lester]

mister_e, carry on ranting like that and you'll have no access to any part of this or any other forum that we run. Post less and think a little more before posting.

We are working on many changes, some are challenging modifications that do take time.

If you are not happy with the way that we run this free service, we are happy for you to express your opinion, but do so politely and constructively or you'll loose the opportunity to do so at all on our forums. or of course you can go elsewhere, with an attitude like yours i really dont care if we loose you.

Remember that these forums are used by people of all ages. Keep your posts polite!

Please remember that no user on this forum has the right to demand anything of us or the admins/moderators..........a little civility goes a long way.

[Acetronics2]

Hi, Lester

Thanks for Editing feature back ...

Alain

[ScaleRobotics]

I really needed the edit feature. Thanks for bringing it back!

[Archangel]

I really needed the edit feature. Thanks for bringing it back!

Can I Get A Witness Here ? Say Amen ! Thank Ya Lester !

[mister_e]

[LinkMTech]

You got my vote on the random question. I always had to refresh the image in order to read the characters before.

Thank you!