Update on forum features Forum Guidelines Discuss Update on forum features in the Good Background Information forums; I thought I would update everyone on where we stand with Spam, moderation, etc. Over the past weekend, we successfully ...

[james]

I thought I would update everyone on where we stand with Spam, moderation, etc.

Over the past weekend, we successfully installed a new version of the forum software, along with a couple of nice new anti-spam features. It works like this; we are now using a sophisticated image identification feature that keeps computer spambots from registering fake members. So far, it is working nicely. I have been moderating new member sign up this week, and the spambot registrations are gone for now.

I went back an manually deleted the obvious spam registrations, but there are still a few, so we had decided to moderate the first posting for all new members. It's easy to do, and there won't be a long delay for first postings to appear. This way spam postings won't appear in the forum, and there is a one-button click to delete spam posting member (or bot).

Finally, there is new software that scans member's first few postings for obvious spam patterns, and puts those in a moderated queue.

Over time, we may ask members to moderate postings, which will speed up how fast a new member's first posting appears. But for now, we're looking good!

Thanks for recommendations that we go ahead and do this.
James

[Ken524]

Glad it's working James!

[Jed]

Thanks James,

I appreciate your work and efforts to keep this forum first rate!

JED

[PizzaPolice]

Dang! Now where will find all those great deals on electronic stuff?

Thanks, James

[dmun]

Just a note of thanks to James, and a word to our many new members. Forno Bravo expends a lot of time, effort and money to keep this brick oven forum the best on the internet. Other than a prime Google position for his website, he gets precious little out if it.

Anyone who's been around the internet for a while knows that online communities tend to fall into petty disputes with anger and hurt feelings all around. There's been precious little of that in my years on FB, and I think it's because of the James' example of warmth and generosity.

I think we all need to give a big thank-you to our forum founder, who has worked hard to bring an obscure occupation of specialists to the wider community of cooks and home builders worldwide.

Thanks, James!

[james]

Wow. Thanks David and everyone. That is very kind.

Now, I'm off to make a bread video -- though I will only post it if it comes our really well. :-)
James

[christo]

Hear! Hear! I agree as well. Thanks James!

[Dutchoven]

Thanks from us down here too! Good luck with the bread video...I guess I will have to think about doing something like that too! Could be too much fun though!
Best
Dutch

[Bacterium]

thanks from this corner of the world

cheers
<raises glass in the air>

[Frances]

This new system seems to be working really well, no spam for quite a while now. Cool!

I just wonder Ken, dmun, how many first posts do you have to delete? One or two a week... or a day? or more?