Forum Restructure

[Mile-O]

Due to the ongoing bulk of regular spam posts that this forum receives, and based on similar activity on other forums, I think it would seem to be that the reason for this is the use of the word 'General' in the forum's title. In my experience it is the areas marked this way that generate the most spam, be it 'General Discussion' or otherwise.

So, in order to try and combat this, I was thinking that it may be in the forum's interests to change the name of this section. If it's what spambots are geared up to search for then it makes sense to shield the target from them.

My thinking is that, were I to change the name, the forum would be best placed at the base of the 'Microsoft Access Discussion' area and renamed to 'Other Issues'.

Thus, my plan would be to have the 'Microsoft Access Forum' ordered in this way:

• Database Design
• Tables
• Queries
• Forms
• Reports
• Macros
• Modules
• Other Issues

I'd appreciate others thoughts on this so reply away. There's a poll at the top of this thread if you just want to post a yes/know/don't know sort of response. The poll will only be active for one week, starting now.

 

[Dynamite]

Most spam seems to come from newly registered members, so perhaps new members should go on a probation period before they can post, or just disable new threads until the member reachs say 10 posts.

Anyway keep up the good work, I have already learn't alot since joining, and its just a shame when a few idiots are spoiling it for everyone else!

 

[Moniker]

I wouldn't mind the name change thing, but as I'm sure you can see, the spam has turned up in every forum, not just the "General" one. Yes, the general forums seems to get the bulk of it, but I've seen it everywhere.

Wouldn't a better solution be to use a visual confirmation thing? For example, when you log on to some websites, to make sure you're not a bot (which is all the spam is), there is a picture with letters/numbers on it that is either blurry or has a pattern over it to obscure the letters. Humans can tell what the letters are, and we type that in and everything is fine. A bot can't do that, and that keeps the spam bot out, which solves the entire issue.

 

[Mile-O]

Humans can tell what the letters are, and we type that in and everything is fine. A bot can't do that, and that keeps the spam bot out, which solves the entire issue.

Access World Forums already has one of these in place when registering with the forum. Sadly, bots can break these CAPTCHAs now, as evidenced here.

 

[Ron_dK]

• Database Design
• Tables
• Queries
• Forms
• Reports
• Macros
• Modules
• Other Issues

I fully agree with that list for whatever its worth.
As I mentioned the other day, would it minimize the spam if you got rid of the boardtracker thing ?

 

[Pauldohert]

I got the feeling a lot of it was human - http://www.access-programmers.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=124758


Isn't there a way that words can be restricted - ie Spears, Brittany, mobile etc etc etc are banned , to slow it down somewhat.

 

[Mile-O]

would it minimize the spam if you got rid of the boardtracker thing ?

No. BoardTracker is just another search engine, like Google or Yahoo!. The only difference is that it is a search engine specifically for forums and is manually registered by BoardTracker staff whereas the biggies don't register.

 

[Mile-O]

I got the feeling a lot of it was human - http://www.access-programmers.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=124758

The For Sale $$$ ones are definitely human and tend to hit on a one off. It's all the porno and pharaceutical ones that appear automated and continue to "contribute" to the forum. At least until I delete their account and ban their domain.

 

[MrsGorilla]

I think it would be a good idea, especially since most of our mods/admins are not present most of the time. You're the most frequent visitor for the time being. Do you have power to make people mods to help with that stuff, or does it still have to come from Jon?

 

[GaryPanic]

can we not spam them back ???- and let em its bloody annoying

 

[boblarson]

Unfortunately they resort to the practice of purchasing a domain, doing their spam, and then canceling the domain (within the allowed cancellation time frame that InterNIC allows). So, by the time you send email back to the domain, it's gone. And, if they even did receive the email, do you think they would even view it?

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Not that I can guarantee I will have lots of time to put into it, but if it is possible to have a "limited" admin account that can only delete threads, I would be willing to do some spam removals. Every pair of eyes is helpful when it is spam you are killing.

I don't care to have any power over individual accounts. But I'm not familiar with vBulletin's abilities so cannot be sure if what I offered is even possible.

 

[Vassago]

What about a requirement for a certain code string to be typed when creating a new thread? I've seen this implimented on other forums.

 

[John Big Booty]

You could implement a sign up policy like the one at eGullet Forum

It's a two step process. The first step gives you reading privileges on the forum. Once that has been approved, to get posting privileges, you have to put in a second application that contains a brief statement of your interests within the forum and what you expect to be able to contribute or gain from those rights. It appears that this all seems to be automated, judging by the approval turn around , but I suspect that the two step process puts the spammers off.

In the time that I've been involved with that forum I've not seen any spam posting within the areas of the forum I frequent.

 

[Mile-O]

You could implement a sign up policy like the one at eGullet Forum

It's a two step process. The first step gives you reading privileges on the forum. Once that has been approved, to get posting privileges, you have to put in a second application that contains a brief statement of your interests within the forum and what you expect to be able to contribute or gain from those rights.

The big draw back there is that the majority of people aren't signing up here to read the content. They have problems working with their software and need advice. A two tiered application process isn't in their best interests.


The best option, really, would be to install a hack to the forum that doesn't allow new members to post a URL in their posts until they have made five or ten posts. On another forum I use where this is implemented spam has all but died and there was one funny incident lately where the person just posted an inactive link to their site because they couldn't get the active link they wanted.

 

[KKilfoil]

AFAIK, the spam bots often post to the first or top forum. So, I would suggest set up a structure like you have proposed, but add one at the top, such as "Testing: Do not post here" that can catch much of the spam.

The downside is that this would be right at the top of the list, which is visually obtrusive. But I have seen this done on other fora, and it seems to catch much of the crap.

 

[boblarson]

__________________
Rule of Thumb:
TABLES - Store the data. Don't make your users work directly in tables.
QUERIES - manipulates data into information
FORMS - presents all information to the user and allows data entry
REPORTS - makes hardcopy of the information
MODULES - stores code for things that you cannot do using queries

And I can think of one more (tongue-in-cheek) -

USERS - Think they know what they need. Your job is to correct them.

 

[Fizzio]

Hi Guys,

Bloody ages since I've been here - glad to see so many of you still holding the fort - Doc, Rich, SJ, Bob (rise to fame eh?) to name but a few.

Also - still see the same basic questions repeated on the front page!!! so.........

How bout an observation quiz for all to complete on registration to weed out those who have not even bothered to RTFF (F=Forums!)

Just a non-PC suggestion!!!

Fiz

 

[boblarson]

Hey Fizzio -

Yeah, long time no see. I looked at your profile and saw it was December of 2005 that you last made an appearance. That would be "bloody ages" since you've been here.

Just as an FYI as you might not know, but there is now CAPTCHA included in the registration process, as well as the email activation. So, it's cut down on the spam immensely. I've been keeping an eye on the forum, watching the "Who's Online" listing to see who is registering/activating and occasionally I'm catching them before they can spam. They sometimes have dead giveaway names, such as LLEVITRA, dddddddab, dgfdhbngfngfm, etc. and I'll also check their email addresses - caught one with pillshoprx.com which is pretty easy to spot, so I'll ban them before they can even post a letter.

Welcome back!

 

[Fizzio]

Thanks Bob, glad to pop in - have had a 'proper' job since Jan 06 and unfortunately have not had the reason to call in as my work time is now 100% hands on, hurting innocent individuals on the NHS, not much chance to 'play' with access!

I still think that a Krypton Factor observation round would weed out not only the spammers but also those who ask what has been answered a bazillion times (and no exaggeration there!!) - I'm sure you and the other experienced heads could set quite a useful little quiz????