What's with all the inappropriate/worthless posts???!??!
#295462 - 01/07/07 02:35 AM
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Memmles
Reged: 04/07/06
Posts: 101
Loc: Silicon Valley, CA, USA
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I've been lurking & using this site for quite a while now. Why the sudden influx of inappropriate/spam-like posts???
I'm not trippin', because you just don't open those threads that look questionable. No big deal. But just curious 'cause there is a LOT more than there ever was before. Did something happen to the moderator?
~ E.
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East Palo Alto, CA (San Francisco Bay Area/Silicon Valley)
IBS-C, pain, nausea
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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!
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I think spammers are using different methods than they used to... with the popularity of places like Myspace, and most email sites coming with good spam filters now, the advertising posts on message boards are bound to increase.  Yay. (Not!)
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One of the reasons for the increase in spam postings is the use of specialized spambots that automatically register, login and post spam to message boards that use simple registration and log in procedures.
This board is powered by INFOPOP (UBB.threads 6.2) and it is configured to use a simple registration and login procedure. The UBB.thread message board has a number of postings about the increasing problems of unwanted postings. Some of the newer features for reducing spam posting seem to be only available in more recent versions of UBB.threads.
The amount of spam can be restricted by requiring users email addresses to be validate before they can log in and/or by using a visual log in method. A visual log in method presents a picture containing letters that the user has to type in as part of the log in procedure. Techniques like these can reduce the amount of spam that can be automatically posted by spambots. However, it will not stop the rogue individual who goes through the process manually to post spam.  The down side to this approach is that it takes users longer to register and use the message board.
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Hi Heather,
I also use a message board of sorts at starbucksgossip.com ('cause I was looking to work with the company, in case you're wondering - i'm not a freak!).
There is no complicated registration process - very easy. In fact, I'm not even sure there IS a reg process, or if you just fill in the name you want to be identified as in that post.
BUT, after writing your post, you are taken to a page where you must verify a code (combo of letters/numbers like was mentioned in an above post). Only after you can legitimately fill in that portion can your post go up.
I'm not sure whether this is a complicated thing to set up or not...outside of my realm of knowledge. However, as a "poster", it truly doesn't bug me to have to take that extra step. It's a few extra seconds, that's it.
If you want to check it out...website is www.starbucksgossip.com. Webmaster's email is "starbucksgossip-at-yahoo.com" if you wanted to chat with him to figure out this method.
That's just my two cents and some info. Thanks for responding! 
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East Palo Alto, CA (San Francisco Bay Area/Silicon Valley)
IBS-C, pain, nausea
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Unfortunately what you describe would affect the user experience very badly. Having to do an extra non-trivial step (figuring out what characters there are and typing them) might turn off people from posting who would otherwise post information about themselves.
Don't look at me weird, because there's statistical truth to this. For example, internet shops have two options when asking for a credit card for purchases. Ask for the security code on the back of the card, or not ask. Obvoiusly, if they don't ask, they will have more fraud going on. However, if they do, then they add another (super simple) step to the process that might turn users off from purchasing from this site. A large internet retailer did a research study where they ran their site asking for the security code and noticed that their profits suffered more than they were suffering from the fraud before. I won't get into the details of the study, because I do not have time for this, but my point is that something as simple as this might not be a desirable addition to any website.
I think the spam posts are pretty easy to spot and avoid. I am sorry they are creating more work for Heather. Maybe adding a step to the registration process is a good idea, since it is a one time thing rather than one that you have to deal with at every post.
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Having one extra step or even a couple wouldn't bother me at all. I don't think it would have a terrible effect.
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I'm talking to our IT guy, and we'll likely add a verification step for registration (so it wouldn't affect posters already registered, and would just be a one-time thing for new folks).
How annoying.... 
- H
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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!
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