Spam prevention
I've just added a new thing to prevent spam--one that will hopefully get rid of all these ridiculous forum posts! I'd hoped there was a way to make new forum posts moderated, but I haven't found one, and obviously adding a Captcha for forum posts hasn't worked. So I've created a new user type. Basically, this means that I have to manually give users the ability to post new threads in the forum; just signing up doesn't allow that. When I see a comment from a new user indicating that they are a real reader, not a spammer, I'll give that person permission to post forum threads, but it's not automatic.
So people who haven't gone through the sign-up process get their comments moderated; people who haven't commented yet don't get to create forum threads. Sorry to make this so complicated, but the spam gets out of hand otherwise.
The forum-thread spam wouldn't even bother me so much if it didn't get onto my Twitter feed. I would change the rules, or even turn off the auto-posting for the Twitter feed, but I can't seem to get into my account on the site that sends new things from this site to my Twitter. I've opened a support ticket with them but haven't had much help yet. It's just frustrating!
EDIT: I forgot to mention that of course I gave everybody who's commented before the new user role, so you can all start forum topics. If I missed anybody, do let me know! And if you have trouble commenting, or with any other aspect of the site, please feel free to email me (chatoyant.college at gmail dot com).
Comments
Strategy
I'm glad that there's a way to make it harder for spammers.
Me too!
And I sure hope it works.
Other methods
If it doesn't work, then I know that some webcomics have other methods of spam prevention. It starts with the making sure that a new member has to post a certain number of times (e.g. 15) before they can post something with a link in. If that's combined with a minimum time between being allowed to post (even a short time like 15 seconds before you can think about posting again is effective) then it slows down the spammer so much that most just give up.
Ohh!
I like that one, I think. Also, really cool that you've been thinking about this so much! :)
Thank you
I'm just glad to be able to help.
That would be awesome
I think the site does prevent you from posting again too quickly.
I don't know if it's possible to prevent the posting of links--I didn't see anything like that when I was poking around in permissions and such. I'll try to ask MeiLin (the webmistress).
Prevent
You can prevent certain names to subscribe and also certain names in post topics (if I remember correctly). I just hope that annoying spammer gets a huge fine...
mjkj
Yes
I have a lot of filters in place that prevent certain names and email addresses from registering. Unfortunately I can't block everything, and I have to wait for a spammer to show up to block that one!
I don't know of a way to block certain words in comments.
Sorry
Sorry I thought there was. But obviously they exist only for email and username.
Do you have your BadBehavior activated?
mjkj
Yes
Though I have no idea how it works, just that it's there.
Ah, ok...
I do also not know how it works -- I just saw that it exists and that it might be helpful :)
mjkj
Darn
I was hoping you knew about Drupal and were going to give me helpful explanations! :)
Sorry
Sorry, Clare. I am not really a help there.
I have access to Sharon's site, she made me an admin there to help a bit, so I can look a bit into drupal, but I never really learned my way around there.
I mostly only monitor the posts and delete spam or correct typos (if there are any...), but that is basically all (oh and of course read her stories :-) ).
mjkj
*giggles*
I clicked on it. It said "access denied" and then: did you enjoy this? support the author! (I thought it was funny.)
(by the way, I'm not sure how to do that? mjkj, you're European :P have you ever donated money or something to someone in America? How?)
Paypal
Well, the link is only accessible if you have admin rights -- so only Clare can see that page :) what you saw was the default frame for all pages, invalid pages are blank and only display the default frame. If you look down here you will find the "Did you enjoy this? Support the author!" at the end of every page -- just look there :)
I have donated to Clare and others. The easiest way is to set up a paypal account and transfer some money to it. Then just send it to someones email address (you can send Euro) or click on the donate button (will result in Dollars to be sent - but changed at current exchange rate with a 1.2% (I think) exchange fee - you can check that out using the paypal calculator).
If you have more questions just ask :)
mjkj
Ah, cool!
Now only to wait until I have a little money to give out. And finals. And definitely after Clare's break, or it will only make stuff harder :P
Manually...
Well, if it keeps up like that, you should consider denying anonymous posts and manual approval of new subscribers -- and subsequently deleting those that post spam...
Sorry, I know it is much work -- I just hope you can get that spam poster and fine them...
*hugs Clare* (seems like you need it...)
mjkj
Other strategies
I was just thinking about that.
I know that some places where you can post comments have strategies in place such as:
Yeah
Yeah, but that / all of that might not be applicable here with this frontend...
It is just that those spam $§%&§$&ers really take the fun out of allowing postings especially anonymous postings -- and screening every first post usually takes much work -- which can be saved later on though...
I wonder what this DN frontend allows...
mjkj
Drupal?
I've seen strategies like that in place for Wordpress, but DigitalNovelists uses Drupal, so I'm not sure it's possible, at least not in the same way.
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