TOPIC: Changes

So, there's gonna be some changes going on around here...

I updated security protocols and changed our captcha system as much as I could, and made a few other changes.

New users won't be able to post without approval until they have a post count of 25 - that means a moderator will literally have to look at your post and say yes or no before it's posted. No more spam from new bot accounts - period. Hopefully this will eliminate the spam that does manage to get through the updated protocols and new captcha.

Of course, this is inconvenient for some new members, but please look at the state of the forum currently (some 3,000 spam posts) and understand steps HAVE to be taken.

I will also be reaching out to a select couple people with some moderator offers. We're going to restructure the forum and add some new categories and services. If you have some special skills (excellent design skills, for example, and like to make forum signatures), post it up here! We're getting rid of the spam and expanding. (Hopefully. I really don't want to eat these words... stupid spambots.)

So yeah. That's my task today. I'm sorry if you're expecting an email from me directly today, there's a bit of a chance I just may not get to it today for a while.

Thank you all.... and may the Forge be with you!

Joshua S.

Awesome news Joshua, looking forward to the changes and new developments.

This will be an update long overdue, and I'm ecstatic to see that it is finally being implemented! Though the 25 posts thing will indeed make posting for new members difficult, spambots are really gonna have to work to get in here! Much approval!

I understand. I hate spam so anything that will help im fine with

It was rough trying to find a real topic without the restrictions.

I am glad for the change. Luckily, I just hit 25 posts again.

This is excellent news! I usually log in once a day to check out the new topics but lately its been nearly impossible to find them amidst the spam. Glad to be able to get back to nerding out about lightsabers!

Awesome that's great news thx to all you guys at the forge

sounds like a plan

I like this change.

It is regrettable that things had to go this way, but those BOTs were just too consistent, and aggressive to let them continue to foul up our little home away from home. It is just spam, but it had gotten to the point where I would wait for a clean-up before I would jump into the threads myself, just to avoid having to sort the wheat from the chaff, as it were. It was having a tangible effect on the time I spend here, so as much as I dislike the idea of having to implement countermeasures that affect our new users, I totally understand and agree with it. In the end, it is better for everyone.

I am glad you are working on the problem. This plan sounds solid. If someone is joining to just create a post immediately, there is a high probability it will be about how they ordered a saber and when is it coming, and why does it take so long, and blah, blah, blah. It will do us well to get involved in the forum (maybe read that most of our questions are already answered somewhere.) before we go posting away.

Excellent. I'm sure many of us are happy to help out.

In nature and in the force, all things evolve.
We, the saber community, apperitiate you taking on this daunting task. Things must change whether good or bad, to protect what we love.

We wish you luck.

Elim

Hm... 25 seems a bit overkill, but that might just be my post count talking. Anyway, I'll be glad to see these spammers go. Maybe we can get new spammers that post relevant information and constructive comments. In that case, mission accomplished.

I am very happy about this news, especially about the spam. I like the idea of how now posts by new comers are now regulated, for obvious reasons, they ask questions that could of easily avoided asking if they just read the FAQ, and it gets really repetitive. Still I, along with several other old timers, will do our best at keeping this place conflict free. Nice going

Any consideration in dropping the free-to-post limit down to 5-10? The spambots I'm familiar with only make 2 innocent-looking posts before they swap to spam-mode.

Thanks Knytiri,

This is great news for the community here, I hope it has the desired effect.
I will continue to do my part and wish the forum well.

For Tyeth
MTFBWY

Let them be destroyed with one swift stroke.

I understand Knytiri. I'm new to the forum and really enjoy it. Hopefully this solves the problems with the spammers.

Thank goodness something is finally being done here, those spambots have been a right pain since i first joined the forums here. Worse then the time an old forum i used to go to daily had the same spam attack also but it was only 4-5 threads daily, Hopefully this will stop them.