Either that or at My-S the mod team are faster deleters than us 😉
I'm thinking what helps with the registered postings is that it's easier to spot IP patterns and ban repeat Warez offenders IP addresses.
Random Forum thoughts...
This thread included a poll: Should there be some pruning on the forums?
SwitchBlade wrote:it's easier to spot IP patterns and ban repeat Warez offenders IP addresses.
I can't see anywhere within vB admin/mod menu to ban IP addresses or email addresses.
I know there is an add on though, which I think it would be nice to have on the forum, then I think that could help to start reducing the numbers of warez posts, as at the moment if someone posts as a guest there is no way of banning an IP or IP range last time I looked.
Might have missed it though knowing me.
Disabling guest posting:
Pros:
- Users having to go through the process of registering are less likely to post spam/warez.
- Moderators can easily ban a registered user, which will lessen the chance of repeated offence.
- It will make the forum "cleaner", possibly attracting more developers to post. And possibly raise the standard/quality of posts a bit.
- Less headaches for active moderators.
Cons:
- Users having something useful to contribute will have to register before they can post
Upon registering it might be wise to implement some sort of pop up window stating in huge letters that warez are not allowed on this forum.
And getting back on topic; a nicely pruned forum will be much easier to moderate. Having a dozen sub sections makes moderating so much more troublesome.
J2theIZZO wrote:I can't see anywhere within vB admin/mod menu to ban IP addresses or email addresses.I know there is an add on though, which I think it would be nice to have on the forum, then I think that could help to start reducing the numbers of warez posts, as at the moment if someone posts as a guest there is no way of banning an IP or IP range last time I looked.
Might have missed it though knowing me.
No IP ban facility as standard? Seems awfully daft. Free version of IPB (which I've mostly used for forums) has that functionality, seems lunacy that a comercial product would lack that. IP banning is also handy for killing off bots that stick random pages on search engines or M$ bots that sieve through your forums (possibly for a chance to sue you over something).
There is an IP ban facility, but it may only be accessible to certain levels. I'll check this out.
Still thinking about guest posting, but am hopefully going to do some forum pruning in the next few days (when I feel less like death warmed up).
Rafe
The key there Rafe is to not get so drunk at christmas 😉 On a serious note it would probably be sensible to put a couple of people as warez terriers to sit and ban repeatedly offending IP addresses. Also think about collateing a list of IPs of guest warez posters and registered users 😉
A simple message stating "a certain IP address had been banned from posting due to violations of the rules of conduct on the forum and to e-mail the admin team if it doesn't effect you" should let people who haven't been naughty and access the forum get their voice across.
I'm not sure how vB handles IP addresses for guest posters, but here's where registration rears it's ugly head again, in that it's probably easier to get, track-down and cross reference IPs used by registered users than the multitude of guest posters.
Rafe wrote:(when I feel less like death warmed up).Rafe
Get well soon Rafe! 😊