Moderated new threads ???

[Russell]

If all new threads are moderated - why are the spam posts still getting posted on the forum ?

[PeteM]

Because to try and reduce the burden on mods and make the forum more responsive we stopped auto moderating every sub forum, normally you don't notice but at the moment general seems to be being hit a lot and we have less mods as we are off doing other things

[ChristianG]

If all new threads are moderated - why are the spam posts still getting posted on the forum ?
Because, for those few such posts that actually make it to air, it takes someone, aka a "Moderator" to remove them, more or less physically?

[Russell]

Set up a new user group for new members & just moderate their threads / posts & then upgrade them once they have made a few suitable posts.

[PeteM]

Set up a new user group for new members & just moderate their threads / posts & then upgrade them once they have made a few suitable posts.

And who is going to write the software to allow that to happen?

[bythesea]

Maybe Russell would like to become a Mod?

[Russell]

Create a new group for your approved members.

Admin CP -> Usergroups -> Add New Usergroup

At the top it says "Create Usergroup Based off of Usergroup" in the dropdown choose Registered Usergroup and then click Go if necessary.

In your new usergroup, you can change the name and description if you want.

Scroll to the bottom and just above the save it will say "Create Permissions Based off of Usergroup". Choose Registered here. If you have no custom permissions for the registered usergroup or it says none, just click the save button.

Setup a new Usergroup Promotion.

Admin CP -> Usergroups -> Promotions

Use these settings, where X is the number of approved posts that are required:

Usergroup - Registered Users
Reputation Comparison Type - Greater or Equal to
Reputation Level - 0
Days Registered - 0
Posts - X
Promotion Strategy - Posts
Promotion Type - Primary Usergroup
Move User to Usergroup - the group you created for approved members

Run the scheduled task for Usergroup Promotions.

Admin CP -> Scheduled Tasks -> Scheduled Task Manager

Click the "Run Now" button to the right of the Usergroup Promotions task.

Finally remove you need to adjust the permissions of the Registered Usergroup so their posts and threads are moderated. Go to the Usergroup Manager and edit the registered usergroup.

Admin CP -> Usergroup Manager -> Registered Usergroup -> Edit Usergroup -> Go.

Set "Follow Forum Moderations Rules" to No.

Press Alt-S or click the SAVE button at the bottom of the form.

You will need to check the moderation queue in your UserCP on a regular basis to approve or delete messages from new users. Your moderators also have access in their User CP.

[bythesea]

I think Russell just got the job, sign him up boys..take the rest of the summer off....

[PeteM]

And you think we have not looked at doing that in our version of the software?

[TerryH]

At the moment the site has been attacked with several posts around 1.50am.

It's not just the lack of mods, it's also the lack of enough of a rotation, so
that the site has a decent enough mod coverage.

There are plenty of us on here who as you can see from the time of post,
dont keep what you might call regular hours and could have easily removed
the offending post.

If the problem is not enough mods then get more mods, if the problem is the
mods are on holiday then pass the baton and get someone else to do it
on a tempory basis.

TBH it's extremely embarrssing and frustrating to look at who is online, click
on a spurious name thats just registered and get a signature that proves
its spam. It could be stopped right there, but instead the public arm of
BSAC cant be policed till in some cases several hours later.

Not good :(

[Russell]

And you think we have not looked at doing that in our version of the software?

I really don't know what you have looked at doing ?? That's why I asked. What other options have you got in the ACP ? I know what I posted should work in slightly newer vB version - vB 3.8

Another option for you - set up new user group for newly registered members & set up new forum just for the new user group, mods & Admin to view & post in. Once the new member has made a non spam post or an introduction post you can then move the post to the open forum and upgrade the members user group so they can then post in all sections.

[PeteM]

I really don't know what you have looked at doing ?? That's why I asked. What other options have you got in the ACP ? I know what I posted should work in slightly newer vB version - vB 3.8

Another option for you - set up new user group for newly registered members & set up new forum just for the new user group, mods & Admin to view & post in. Once the new member has made a non spam post or an introduction post you can then move the post to the open forum and upgrade the members user group so they can then post in all sections.

Look through the archives what to do about spam gets discussed every few months, we are not short of ideas just of budget and suitable man power

[MattS]

I really don't know what you have looked at doing ?? That's why I asked. What other options have you got in the ACP ? I know what I posted should work in slightly newer vB version - vB 3.8Moderating new registrations was suggested by the sysadmins many moons ago, but was rejected by The BSAC for accessibility reasons. Similarly, the sysadmins would just love to block large segments of the internet from having access to the server, which is about the most straight forward and effective way to reduce spam, but such a draconian measure is regarded as conflicting with The BSACs wider priorities.

Another option for youIt is unlikely that any major changes to forum configuration will take place until the platform is renewed, when all previous decisions will be open for review. The current forum software and the server it lives on are beyond end of life, which Council has been made aware of. Council have indicated that they are willing to renew the platform but we do not have a timescale for it yet. The task presently in the hands of the sysadmins being preparations for retiring the server hardware, whilst maintaining operations (it does more than just serve the forums).

If you have specific skills administering vBulletin and are interested in joining the sysadmin team then please let me know by PM with a rundown of recent, pertinent experience. Keep in mind that The BSAC would like to avoid having the keys to IT operations in the hands of cherry pickers, transients or idealists. What we need are people that have the right skills and are also willing to commit to an ongoing involvement as a productive member of a team within the limitations the team faces.

There are no plans to extend the moderation team at this time. Resolution within 'a few hours' being better than most corporate IT departments manage, and perfectly acceptable for a team of volunteers, IMVHO.

[ChristianG]

There are no plans to extend the moderation team at this time. Resolution within 'a few hours' being better than most corporate IT departments manage, and perfectly acceptable for a team of volunteers, IMVHO.
A good post snipped in the interests of brevity.

I really fail to see why we have the odd person periodically moaning about the odd spam post. There are very few of them and most people would simply take the sensible option and simply ignore those few that get through the system.

[Russell]

I was just trying to offer a solution to the spam problem on here & was initially asking why the spam posts were being posted on the forum when then forum section is named
Public Forums - New threads are moderated
If it didn't say "New threads are moderated" in the title I wouldn't of even asked the question in my first post :-
If all new threads are moderated - why are the spam posts still getting posted on the forum ?

The second option I posted is easy to set up, requires no extra budget & would only take @ 30 mins of setting up time

[ChristianG]

The second option I posted is easy to set up, requires no extra budget & would only take @ 30 mins of setting up time
Thats fine, but is it a solution? I rather doubt it.

What you're striving for, there, seems to me, is exactly the same thing as the BSAC already has in its "Members Chat Room" Forum page. You know the one, us common Riff Raff aren't allowed to participate there.

I suspect, although I might be being paranoid here, that I've been subject to some not particularly complimentary comments myself on those pages.

[MattS]

I was just trying to offer a solution to the spam problem on here & was initially asking why the spam posts were being posted on the forum when then forum section is namedThere is no reason to take the defensive on my account. Pete answered your initial question.

The second option I posted is easy to set up, requires no extra budget & would only take @ 30 mins of setting up timeYou miss the point. However quickly it can be implemented, we would need agreement from Council. Obtaining such agreement may entail; educating as to the nature of the problem, informing of the possible actions, a cost benefit for each possible action. I would also add, that at any one moment, I have a queue of 'Can you just' requests from BSAC that add up to hours of voluntary work each month.

If you have the skills, integrity and commitment I would welcome your volunteering to be involved.

[Russell]

So why not rename the forum & remove :-

"New threads are moderated"


And no thanks - don't think I'd like to volunteer here - looks like I'd have to ask Council permission to anything on the forum.

[ChristianG]

looks like I'd have to ask Council permission to anything on the forum.
There you go.

After all, they are "only" the controlling, and elected, body of this organisation. So what would they know? :rolleyes:

I'll answer that last myself, sometimes not much but, at least they are the ones that have been elected, something I, for one, consider a lot better than "appointed".

Now, YMMV, but if so, kindly show us a better way and, no, thus far it doesn't appear as if you have done so.

[bythesea]

So why not rename the forum & remove :-

"New threads are moderated"


And no thanks - don't think I'd like to volunteer here - looks like I'd have to ask Council permission to anything on the forum.

Then you give up the right to complain/advise IMO

[TerryH]

Then you give up the right to complain/advise IMO

I've already offered and I suspect others have to, but it seems there
are no plans to expand the mod team at the moment :rolleyes:


Here's an idea and i've no idea if this will work, but bear with me.

AFAIK the forum is split into the much larger members side and then the
public side, with all the hassle coming from the public. We dont want to be
seen as restrictive so there are no barriers other than the vigilance of the
mods, to stop scrotes getting on.

So if the problem is pretty much confined to one area, why not increase
the mod powers in that area?

I dont think that there needs to be any more mods on the membership
side, but how about having more mods whose only power/control is over
the public area. They dont have to be a mod at all in the members area.

I've no idea if this is possible, but it seems to me to be a workable solution.

More mods, but only in specific areas.

[bythesea]

Agreed Terry, I did ask for powers to remove spam as I just report it when it pops up why not utilise that mouse click in a better fashion and allow me to delete it myself, never did get a reply...

[ChristianG]

Agreed Terry, I did ask for powers to remove spam as I just report it when it pops up
I suspect that things are not quite as simple as that. The BSAC is supposed to be a "broad church" which means that the people involved at the "pointy end", the mods in particular, need to be seen to be particularly that.

That "that" bit is a pretty hard taskmaster which, thus far, they seem to have accepted with an easy grace, witness the recent "Hog Rigging" furore when not a few of them came out against the BSAC's current principles on that issue.

And with good grace.

A lot of people (myself included) could be like a bull in a china shop in such a situation, something that is a lot less than desirable.