Why don't we require 50-100 posts before anyone is allowed to start their first thread?

That's the question. Every week there seem to be at least a few spammers posting their crap on these forums. The Genesis coupe thread in the G sub-forum is such an example: https://my350z.com/forum/g35-g37/409...son-shots.html . It was the OP's first post. His post history shows that when I called him out, he immediately went on a posting spree and made 10 quick comments within a few minutes. And this wasn't the first such case. Genesis coupe alone has generated at least a few other such threads. There already is a legitimate Genesis thread in the "Other Cars" sub-forum. No need for frivolous spam.

The online communities are growing by the second, regardless of purpose. So predatory marketing tactics like this will continue to evolve. We need to remain ahead of them. Although it's true that legitimate new members will have to wait before starting their "I just bought a Z/G..." threads, I think starting threads should be a privilege reserved for those who contribute to the community first. A spammer will be more likely to move on if we yank this privilege from him.

Thoughts?

 

We're stuck inbetween a rock and a hard place with this one. We've mentioned this before in the Staff section. The main reason we do not incorporate this is because we(Staff) feel it may drive away some potential new members. Members that are disuaded from returning to the site because they couldn't get their questions answered or actively have some of their concerns addressed promptly. We are in the age of instant gratification. Unfortunately it is what it is and this is a business. For this business to survive, we count on new membership as well as existing membership...

 

I can see that but on forums as large as these, there is so much available information that there can't be too many urgent questions that can't be answered through some research. The staff does delete spam threads very quickly which is commendable; the least we can do is deny a spammer the satisfaction of "victory". I am surprised though that the thread I pointed out has survived this long.

 

Simply because spam is wonderful.

I give a **** about these anti's their mission always fails
Trying to throw these spammers in the federal jails
But we keep our methods slammin and we stay a step ahead
Prayin' to the Spam Gods givin' us our daily breadddd

 

We do have the ability to disable auto-registry approval, and manually approve new membership, which would allow us to screen all new registerants. It's a bit time consuming from what I understand, but we have staff members willing to take on the tasks. We've petitioned IB to allow us this, but they haven't bought into it. Not much more we can do but catch spammers after the fact...

 

They usually don't last to long before they get the anyways

 

Not everyone is such a loser that they have the time or energy required to spend several hours a day on a site. They aren't willing to invest the energy it takes to be a local loser. Many folk have lives and merely come to a forum have a specific question answered. They aren't here to be grist for the no0b hunting mill.

Now certainly, I'd like to dissuade these folk as well because my agenda is to merely get in Jen's pants....However, that is selfish. We should be encouraging the same questions over and over because we are now IB....whether you like it or not.


[/tongueincheek]

 

True; approving each new registrant would certainly take too much effort and the problem would still remain; no way for the admin staff to know the registrant's intent. Post limit prior to first thread is the only effective option but I can see the cons around that. Catch 22.

 

HAs anyone actually fallen for a spammer's advertising? It's annoying, but it really doesn't damage anything.

 

Actually, there's no way to allow that sort of task to be done by moderators without making the volunteers admins first. It is a rather enduring process as it requires checking every single IP, any matches, see those post history, their location, etc.

At any rate, the number of spams have gone down recently thanks to the various add-ons and more importantly the current moderators.

 

I say 1000 posts before making a thread

 

so you've made 8 threads have you?

 

I didn't say 1 thread for every 1000 posts.

 

We just need an age limit on here...

 

well you kind of alluded to it....

 

a. $20 registration fee. Eliminates tennis shoes from China spam. Eliminates multiple accounts for same person.

b. No new threads for 30 days after registration. Certainly some sort of programming can do this. Any relevant new thread will certainly wait 30 days.

Do either of these adversely effect the sponsors? No. Spammers and multiple account abusers are not buying anyway.

 

I like the idea of "No new threads until 10 regular posts", though I can also see where it would deter people from joining or staying too long after they joined if they were looking for an answer "right this second". I've been on sites where I needed an answer quick only to be denied because I can't make a new thread, and I instantly return to Google. But, since spam is increasing , I think a post threshold should be put in place. People who join because they want to be part of the community will understand.

To help legitimate users out, you could create a mandatory "Welcome Page", which they would have to see right when they created an account. The Welcome Page would give the reason they need 10 posts before creating new threads, a quick run down on how to effectively search, and links to the 100 Most Asked Questions thread and other Tech sub-forums.

Just a thought.

 

I agree with KmanZ on a welcome page and links to the 100 most asked questions. That way if they are joining to look for an answer to their search then they can probably find it. If they have other intentions then they wont spend much time on the forums and eventually give up and

 

Traditionally, spamming is done in the Marketplace. What many sites do is require a certain number of posts before being able to create a "For Sale" thread in the marketplace. A moderator is assigned to remove "For Sale" threads posted by folk who do not meet the minimum required number of posts. (All the other mods also slip in and out of the marketplace double checking as well).

Posts in "Off Topic" do not count toward post counts and posts like "LOL" and "Nice Car" are monitored by moderators for folk who just meet the minimum. I've seen anywhere from 25 to 50 posts required.

Generally, to start a thread in a tech forum or a regional forum, there is no post requirement.

It helps because the thread is removed from the marketplace and a simple "Please read the TOU as it relates to the Marketplace" is posted in place of the spam. A second spam attempt results in not only a username/e-mail ban but also an IP ban.

It takes a concerted effort to keep up with it but its doable.

A sticky of the specific TOU for the marketplace is at the top of each marketplace sub-forum with "Read this before posting a for sale thread."

 

35? good thing i make it!