Bots again

[Julius Seeker]

Is it possible to cut off registration completely and have instead a guest account that is advertised on the page which can be used to ask for permission to register?

As it stands our Gamethought forum spam is way out of control, it is pushing our threads right off the board.

[Nev]

Sine could just change the numbering used to access Gamethought from 3 to 4, or something. They all use some sort of automated crack to auto-register, but I note that they're not smart enough to find these other two forums from Gamethought.

If Sine changes the access number, five bucks says the bots dry up in a hurry.

[Kupek]

I noticed that only Gamethought gets spam, too. I wondered if their scripts might post in the last active forum listed. Maybe create a spam forum and put it last?

[M'k'n'zy]

Either that or just require email activation of your account before you can post.

[Oracle]

I have noticed that Sine really isn't around much, and I assume he's just too busy to look after the shrine as attentively as he used to be able to (not bashin ya Sine, just making an observation).

Maybe time for a co-admin? I'm definitely not suggesting myself, however. Just someone who can either put the email authentication in place for new members, or even giving someone enough privileges so they can come in and clean up gamethought's spam when they see it around.

Or we could not. Just a suggestion

[Julius Seeker]

I think Sine should be the only one with deletion powers and such, because he won't use them except on spam, none of the rest of us are trustworthy =P

Though for the Email authentication thing, I wouldn't mind having a co-admin for that purpose. I would probably recommend Zeus for that job since he is very active here. That is if Sine decides to go that route.

[Flip]

I think a lot of us could handle deleteion powers. I mean, why would i delete any posts other than spam? The activity here is great and any less would make it too slow of a board. Plus, the arguments are fun and interesting, not worthy of deleting.

I think you speak for yourself only when you say you would abuse it.

[Julius Seeker]

I think a lot of us could handle deleteion powers. I mean, why would i delete any posts other than spam? The activity here is great and any less would make it too slow of a board. Plus, the arguments are fun and interesting, not worthy of deleting.

I think you speak for yourself only when you say you would abuse it.

All who have had the deletion powers in the past, except Zeus and Sine, have abused them. So I have little reason to think it would not happen again.

As for me? I wouldn't abuse it since I would have no reason to, but I am not interested in the responsibility when Zeus can and would probably do it.

[Nev]

Okay. First of all, Sine can't be trusted with deletion powers. Do you all have such short memories? Sine's deleted more legitimate posts than anyone else on here. Shit, Sine's deleted arguments he wasn't even involved in, and driven people away from the board to boot.

Secondly, not that I'm particularly recommending myself as a co-admin, but just as a counterexample to Dolph's misplaced principle, I might point out that I did run this board for about a year before I gave it to Sine. And, to the best recollections of my memory, the only posts I ever deleted were the pure trolling posts. I'm not talking about trolling in the context of an argument, either - I'm talking about trolling in the sense of linking the 1997 equivalent of Tubgirl, or else board floods. Anyone who can recall me abusing admin powers here is welcome to mention it, but I don't think you're going to be able to.

Either way, I think co-admin stuff is a great idea. I think Zeus would be a great choice if he wanted to do it. I am also available if you all like - while I know I tend to say some pretty inflammatory things on here, I also take freedom of speech very, very seriously, and wouldn't delete anything except the adbot garbage, and/or pure trolling or Tubgirl-ish stuff.

One way or another, though, I agree that something's got to give, as the adbots are indeed out of control.

[Julius Seeker]

Really? I don't recall. Sine suspended me from posting a few times, but that was back like 10 years ago when I was still a complete asshole =P

Anyways, I do know that you (Nev) are a good mod as well. Plus you seem to be much more active now than you were in previous years.

Anyone know what the hell happened to Crono?

[M'k'n'zy]

I wish I did know what happened to Chrono. I am actually here more often than it seems, I just dont post much these days. Not that I am suggesting myself, I have my hands full as it is being the only active admin at the Megaten Haven. Lots of arguements there break into flames, and keeping up and locking em can be a headache sometimes *laughs*

[Eric]

Really? I don't recall. Sine suspended me from posting a few times, but that was back like 10 years ago when I was still a complete asshole =P

Oh Seek, how much I laughed at this statement. :p

[Kupek]

Bump because the bots are really annoying me this morning and I want this thread to catch Sine's eye.

[Imakeholesinu]

I'm with Kupek on this one. Nomination of Nev.

[Kupek]

I got curious, poked around, and found a good thread on the phpbb boards talking about spam prevention methods:
http://www.phpbb.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=427852

I know we already do some of these, but when was the last time we updated?

[Kupek]

Another good thread:
http://www.phpbb.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=393503

[M'k'n'zy]

I would like to say that I also recomend Nev.

[Nev]

I'd love to do it, if you all will have me.

[Zeus]

I'd love to do it, if you all will have me.

Good 'cause it's nothing but a hassle, man. I'll do it to save the board from being overrun like it is now, but I'd rather not otherwise. Been there, done that.

[Nev]

I have too, ya know.

[Oracle]

I don't care who it is. For the love of god, purge the spam that has now taken the form as our Gamethought forum

[Julius Seeker]

"Most users ever online was 157 on 26 Dec 2005 03:59 pm"

This is awefully strange. Last I checked, we had about 15-25 users who posted in total.

[Eric]

"Most users ever online was 157 on 26 Dec 2005 03:59 pm"

This is awefully strange. Last I checked, we had about 15-25 users who posted in total.

Says the poster with 7100 posts!

[Julius Seeker]

Says the poster with 7100 posts!

No shit, I am a Posting God! =)

Though with my last post I should have worded it as 15-25 real users here. So at that time, there must have been a lot of bots formed all at once.

[Zeus]

"Most users ever online was 157 on 26 Dec 2005 03:59 pm"

This is awefully strange. Last I checked, we had about 15-25 users who posted in total.

Says the poster with 7100 posts!

He's just a rook :-)

[Nev]

We'll get it handled, but Sine has to put in one of his infrequent appearances...

[Julius Seeker]

"Most users ever online was 157 on 26 Dec 2005 03:59 pm"

This is awefully strange. Last I checked, we had about 15-25 users who posted in total.

Says the poster with 7100 posts!

He's just a rook :-)

Just because you've been a God for the past 3500 years does not make any of us newer Gods any less!

[Flip]

*dreams of one day being a god*

[Oracle]

Stay on Topic!

--> GET RID OF THE FUCKIN BOTS! <3

[Julius Seeker]

Lets brainstorm more ideas for the final sollution, and eliminate the Bots from our sacred Shrine forever!

[Oracle]

Let's move all conversation to Music and Movies, that'll fool em.

[Julius Seeker]

Let's move all conversation to Music and Movies, that'll fool em.

Bad idea, the Bots control the media! And judging by the sites they link us to, all they want is our money. The bots love the money!

[Flip]

I refuse to believe that Seraph or Sine cant find 5 min to surf here and fix this with a new mod. I think they are dead.

[Tessian]

*puts shovel back in garage*

Uhm yeah...they're dead.

I'm having fun yelling at their ridiculous posts (the bots)

[Zeus]

I refuse to believe that Seraph or Sine cant find 5 min to surf here and fix this with a new mod. I think they are dead.

Someone's paying the bill :-)

[Lox]

I refuse to believe that Seraph or Sine cant find 5 min to surf here and fix this with a new mod. I think they are dead.

Someone's paying the bill :-)

Auto-Debit.

[SineSwiper]

Sorry guys. I've been way too busy at work. I'm on my vacation this week.

I installed another mod, but I doubt it will fix the problem. PHPbb sucks. I can't believe that they are getting past the visual stuff, though. Must be using some sort of OCR. If they can get past that, they can do anything a human can do.

EDIT: Fucked with the visual stuff again. See if they can OCR that shit!

[Zeus]

PHPbb sucks.

Isn't that what I've been sayin' all along? :-)