Anti-spamming idea (Admins, please read)

[DarkHoodness]

As MO comes out, this forum will attract more and more members, and that means more spammers. Doesn't spamming just annoy you? I know, it seems that I have been going overboard recently, pasting my anti-spamming animation all over the place, but spamming is one thing that has gotten to me, and I have recently decided that I have had enough.

What I think we ought to do is tighten up the spamming rules. We can do this by developing an anti-spamming system.

For example, if a new member comes in, and spams, then we tell him to look at the rules, and we'll give him another 10 chances. If he spams again after the 10 chances, then he gets booted with a 5 day notice. In those 5 days, he can say he won't do it again, and if he does so, then we give him one more chance.

However, some spam posts are mistakes. If this is the case, he can edit his post and say so, and that won't count.

Perhaps we can improove this idea and turn it into a suitable system?
- DH

[Sydney]

Hi Darkhood. I'm with you, spamming makes me fume.

I think that ten chances is far too many. I agree that a new member who spams should be warned once and presented with the rules. But anymore spamming after that should be met with an immediate and permanent ban, or another appropriate humiliating punishment.

Oddworld Forums will be inundated with new members soon, so a simple way of dealing with spam would be the most effective.

[Alcar]

Hey i'm with you,

I've only just joined and when i did, i did spam for a while not knowing it until you Dark Hood sent me that animation thingy.

I've stopped now, i love Oddworld and i don't want to get booted.

I'm in agree with it, but sometimes people when they join don't know any better give them a chance.

[Gluk Schmuck]

what spamming animation?

*light-bulb appears above head*
after a warning you could change their member-status to 'spammer'
and then you could give them a black star every time they spam...then when it gets full they get expelled

[One, Two, Middlesboogie]

This is the spamming animation:


And I think your idea is pretty cool, Tom. Although it may be rather humiliating to people. Maybe if they redeem themselves by not spamming for, say, a month, they go back to the normal titles.

[ November 11, 2001: Message edited by: One, Two, Middlesboogie ]

[Teal]

Yeah, I'd agree with that... although the black stars idea would take some enforcing - after all, someone would have to watch and decide what's spam, and when to assign stars... It'd probably work, though.

[FuzzyFuzzle]

Yes, Humiliation is a better punishment than just banning/suspending people...Maybe we could put a "Most recent spammer" thing at the top of the page...Or change spammers Personal Pics to a Mud with a dunce hat on...Who knows...But just look at how many spammers have joined in the last 48 hours...and then think of the large crowd that will play MO and then join the forums (not all will be spammers, but we need to put some negative reinforcement behind our "Don't spam" lectures).

[Gluk Schmuck]

Originally posted by One, Two, Middlesboogie:
And I think your idea is pretty cool, Tom.

thank you...
i think a star could be removed after every week of them not spamming...

that lil anim's pretty cute...hehe

[oddite4456]

I like the black star idea.
The first message I posted I spammed in( sorry ). Mostly because I didn't know any better. But I think people who repetitavely spam and don't care that they are breaking the rules should be expelled or humiliated (or both!)

[glukkon_daniel]

I think there should be a "spam topic" where everyone can types their crap. It would be cool.

[Cloverfield]

*Sigh* I hate Spam too (usually define for me as pointless posts not relating to anything, or posts made up of only a couple of words).

I think just a basic enforcing of the banning rule is enough. A temporary ban first, and if rules are not followed, then a more permanent ban. Or if a bad spammer (like alex was), then an instant permanent ban.

Although the "Spammer" title and stars do seem like a really good and fun idea, I can just see some people thinking it is good to be known as a spammer and actually aim towards getting them. Although on the other hand it may be a good humilitation thing.

Abe Babe...

[ November 11, 2001: Message edited by: Abe Babe ]

[General Drippik]

I like the idea on changing their pic to a mud with a dunce hat on. That would be funny.

[abe333]

i'm with you!!!

[Robbo]

Wow! These ideas are fantastic! How about after a member has spammed and after they have the black stars and such, their post count is wiped to 0 and their rank back down to Gabbit Tadpole? Also, how about instead of black stars, one letter of the word SPAMMER is put in place of the stars. A letter would be added each time the individual spammed and a letter would decrease for every 10 posts in which the indivdual does not spam. Of course, first of all we would have to agree on what spam is exactly and what the boundarys are.

[ November 12, 2001: Message edited by: Munchy ]

[Doug]

I think Munchy has brought up an excellent point when it comes to policing spam (even though his taste in movies is rather suspect): While there might be some posts that everyone would agree have no redeeming value whatsoever, to a large extent, spam is in the eye of the beholder.

I haven't been here long and so I realize that I haven't experienced the same frustrations that long-term members of the forums have, and I absolutely defer to the long-termers as to what the rules should be, but I just want to say that I have enjoyed reading some exchanges between members that were just funny even though they had nothing to do with anything in particular. Oddbodd just a little while ago "demanded more Skeetoes!" on the Help Forum. The queries by others as to whether Oddbodd had gone off the deep end were funny and oddly (no pun intended) touching *gags imperceptibly*. I have also read threads that were well-written on-topic substantive discussions that absolutely bored me to tears.

I know my opinion doesn't carry much weight, but just my two cents (appropriately devalued for inflation and the relevant exchange rates).

[ November 12, 2001: Message edited by: Doug ]

[One, Two, Middlesboogie]

I like Daniel Brown's idea. A lot of boards I visit have a forum put aside for signature tests and mindless gibberish ad rants that people want to get off their chests. Often, the forum is wiped clean every, two weeks, say.

[glukkon_daniel]

Spam topic! Spam topic! It'll be called "The Spam Topic" and people can go into it and post things like, "Cheese is good" and "I like eggs" and "gjdfhskljghklsj" and stuff like that. It'll be fun! It could be the first topic to get to 1,000 posts. I know of a forum where there was a spam topic and it was up to 3,000 posts! AND there was less spam flooding the boards.

Now all I need is permission from one of the admins...

[PinkHaired Mudokon CWR]

Some people don't even know what spamming is.

Like, when if they set a topic called "SpongeBob Square Pants" or something? Is that spamming?

[ November 12, 2001: Message edited by: PinkHaired Mudokon CWR ]

[Capri Ream]

I think that both Munchy and Daniel Brown's ideas are really good. Both would cut down the spamming on the forums.

[PinkHaired Mudokon CWR]

Spam! Spam! Spam! Oops, I mean, Topic!

[PinkHaired Mudokon CWR]

Hey, but would that be a waste of paper or board space or something?

[General Drippik]

Pinky, don't spam, this topic is meant to DIScourage spam.

Hey, they should make up a whole FORUM for jibberish spamming crap, unless that's what you meant Daniel...

[General Drippik]

I've got it!

Let's make a SPAM HATING CLUB!! And we have about 10 people in it who post topics in the SPAM forum that say, (name) is a spammer!!!!! Then they all post in it about how this guy sucks untill he stops spamming, if he doesn't, TEMPORARY BAN!! If he comes back and starts spamming again, a more permanent ban. If he comes back again and spams, PERMANENT BAN!!!

I think that would work. But I suppose it's up to the admins and mods to decide.

[glukkon_daniel]

A spamming forum would be good, I think, but I doubt Sydney or Abe Babe would approve. However, if they do think that's a good idea, then I got first dibs on moderator!

[General Drippik]

And I'll be the other mod!

(I would love to be a mod)

[Oddness]

I have a question.

What do you consider "spamming" to be? I visit quite a number of different forums, and all of them except this one define spamming as continuously posting advertising for a site/product etc... like the stuff you get in your email all the time. If that's not what you call spamming, what is?

Or do you mean off-topic posting in an on-topic forum?

[General Drippik]

Spam.

Stupid, pointless, annoying, messages.

verb1. Talk about something that isn't relivant.
2. Say something pointless.
noun1. A message that isn't relivant.
2. A pointless message.

[General Drippik]

Oddness, I believe your banner is to large for it's size LOL.

[Teal]

I think, for the purpose of these forums anyway, mass-posting with (somewhat pointless) messages that don't seem to add anything to the discussion count as spam - or topics like alex's, for example "who likes tiny tank" (Internal message "I do!").

Here we are, found something.

[img]http://content.communities.msn.co.uk/_Secure/0NgDnCqwSNQRhiT47ZTra98aeI0c5t68!xGwCrldwuVjeB8Bxgejwkvlwa!tkLiYA2*U9l!Ajw9YE5K1D5kHfVw/Spam.jpg[/img]
(Nyeh, sorry it's lopsided)

It could be set as the personal photo of a persistent spammer... Or something.

*has idea for a drawing and runs off to get something to write it down on before she forgets it*

[ November 13, 2001: Message edited by: Teal ]

[DarkHoodness]

Hehe! Spiced Ham. Yeah, I think the humilation and the black stars is a good idea, and also a Spam forum where everyone can post thier crap.
- DH