This is getting ridiculous, and it's even more worrying when you consider the number of kids (our kids!) that also like to have a look at what's going on.

It's been going on for over a month now, and very little appears to have been done by SN to stop it (I say 'appears' as I haven't had a single reply to any complaints that I've made. Perhaps there are move afoot behind the scenes, but there have been no reassurances of such)

Can I suggest that we consider moving the main WYIOC forum to another site until things get sorted?

I can get a free bbs set up in no time, link to it from wyioc.co.uk, and use that for the time being.

I'm not suggesting that we abondon SN, but I don't want my kids subjected to such blatant crap, often with explicit images. Perhaps a temporary move would spur the management on to do something about this.

Thoughts?

 

Interesting proposition mate... and I agree that the current spate of Spam is unacceptable.

SMACS did something similar (for other reasons) and their site is an excellent tribute to them... Chris did send me some prices from one of their guys/contacts but the price was too much for us at this time to have such a pro looking site...

Not sure if Si can modify the WYIOC.co.uk to have a decent board, but I'm wary of us having a DIY or Hobbyist site that doeasn't refelect the status we want....

I'd be happy to look at any alternative if the functionality can be somewhere near what we get now....

I'll contact Simon & Shaun to ask what's been going on behind the scenes......

 

LOL

Incorrect. It's been going on for over 6 months.

Incorrect. The user ban feature was set up as a direct result of this, which is purely one of the things that we can sensibly tell you we're doing about.

Please read the scoobynet policy forum and you'll see a number of discussions about it.

-

Now, moving on.

If you're THAT concerned about this, why have not ONCE used the ban user feature?

We're working hard on this.. but you'd rather moan about it and even go to the trouble of setting up a new forum, than click the ban button?

I think your motives might be questioned a little Sticky.

 

Ban user is only available to Orange user

 

Oops.

Sticky, I have to humbly apologise.

About a week ago, I planned to set up plus members to also be able to use the ban button, but I have just been reminded that this hasn't happened yet.

As I said. I apologise for that.

I will set up plus members to be able to use the feature in a few minutes.

Simon

 

Right.. Done.

All plus members can now ban people also.

Could somebody please test it (when the opportunity arises!! not just on anyone! ) and confirm it works?

Cheers

Simon

 

I banning every morning always have a look, and Webbie is well aware of it as I posted in bugs a little while ago about it....

 

It will be a pleasure to do so

 

Trying to be positive about this

Simon can you not give certain members a kind of moderator privelage to ban users and remove post immediately, rather than vote once then hope another member comes along quickly to second the action before our little people see the images./content.

I have tried to vape quite a few but the second vote rule on this type of spam & **** is one vote too many.

Not only could the member remove the post directly, if the member was not online a quick txt or call from other members and poof Gone!!

I know, I know, its a great idea

 

Bugger, you beat me to it

 

In reply...

I have been asking for Plus members to have the ban facility since it was first set up, not bad rolling it out (finally) to those members who choose to pay the highest subscription fees.

You've answered your own point re the ban button, it will now be used (only where appropriate, of course)

And you couldn't be more wrong about my motives. I've been an active member of SN for 4-5 years now, and plan to keep it that way. My main motive was protection of those who should not be subjected to such stuff, i.e. our kids (and JB)

I still think you ought to consider restricting new users from posting images or links until they have a few posts under their belt, but then I suppose that would conflict with the ban system and the way that it works.

Food for thought, I'm sure there must be a way around this.

 

Hi Mick

The problem with this idea is that it leaves it more open to abuse. Now the "crack banning force" has increased significantly, it should be a far smaller problem.

Sticky.

As I said, I apologise, so ignore most of my drivel!

In terms of restricting images and links.. that's actually a pretty good idea, and I'll put some thought into that.. but we have to be really careful not to spoil the experience for the VAST majority, which are decent respectable people. So I'd really rather not do this unless this latest measure doesn't help significantly.

-

On top of this, please be really clear, that there are other things going on behind the scenes, which would be foolish for us to talk about as it would render them valueless.

But it couldn't be further from the truth to suggest that we're not doing anything about it.

Cheers

Simon

 

Cool.

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Now go get some work done

 

I did ask Shaun at TOTB about mod status for one or two WYIOC members that can only be applied to the WYIOC Events area... he did say Tiny has it for the ESC, which is a great idea considering the type of posts we've been having recently..

He did say it would be given some thought once the new WYIOC Club area is working......... which is very soon I hope.

 

How are you getting the spam... I've not seen any

 

Actual posts being dropped in the forum...

They can last seconds or a few hours depending on how soon Orange members get around to deleting them... so you may have missed them, though you may have seen the odd post asking for another ban or someone just saying 'done' when a spammer been banned...

 

It often appears overnight, probably meaning it originates in the US, and the surge in it over the last few months may point to the college holidays over there. I tend to spot it when I'm trolling at w*rk at weekends and Infract as well as RTM as I don't have 'Orange' status. The mods do remove it quickly I've found.

 

Spammers will use automated tools to subscribe and log in to BB's like this, so there's very little that can be done to completely eradicate the problem.

Image verification and other protective measures like IP blocking and various general and content filtering of routing addresses can be employed at the subscription stage and whilst the site is up but, like Virus & Malware writers, these people use ever increasing sophistication and simple brute force techniques to overcome these barriers.

The idea of handing the power on to board members is a great way of removing the ones that do find their way through and realistically, the two person approach is the most balanced against the spam and abuse by anti-social board members (and I'm sure there's a few on here!!).

There's no reason not to look at a BB style section for the club as it will allow that individuality and some quiet, private space to go when you need to, but as we've hinted at, I don't think it would compete with SNET for being THE core network for Scoob related stuff...

 

Thankyou for all acting on this appropriately. As Sticky has said this is derogatory to the forum.
Alas Alan has said that we will encounter spammers from time to time.
So I am grateful to Simon (Webby) for my inclusion of the using of this "Get Lost Button".
It is always on the forefront of my mind, eachtime I log in a morning to what I encounter.
But with gratious thanks, I can now prevent this type of material appearing on our screens, especially when youngsters use it too.

Just My Tuppence Worth

Regards

Ant

 

The question, like many other unanswered ones in life is why the hell do they do it? Nobody follows the links, they're wiped off most forums as soon as they appear. Why do these people think that the whole world want to look at that sort of thing on every forum/website ever created. These people have nothing else better in their sad little lives.

 

I always wondered why they send spam mail, but apparently theirs millions to be made in it. I personally have not, and never will click open any email from a name I don't recognise, and everyone I've ever spoken to concurs. Saw an article on Click (News24) a while back which mentioned the profits involved and I was amazed. Then again, there are plenty who fall for the car buying scams from abroad and the African royalty who secreted $millions before the military coup and offer you a percentage for letting them use your bank account