The spam threads that have been appearing

[AH_Mod]

First, my apologies for not catching them sooner. I stepped away for a couple of hours at exactly the wrong time.

Because I anticipate this won't be the last round of this, a quick request:

Don't post in the threads, even to say you reported them. Just hit the report button. Don't worry about how many times it may have already been reported. Assume nobody else has, and that nobody else will. Send the report.

It takes only a few seconds to check an email reporting something that's already been handled. That's not a problem. I'd rather have a dozen reports than a delay in receiving the first.

 

[Kantarii]

Deleted

 

[AH_Mod]

I'm requesting that so the threads spend as little time as possible showing up on the front page of the forum. Every bump puts them there.

You can also help that by posting to some other thread as soon as you've hit the report button, if the spam thread is currently at the top. Get it out of that #1 position as quickly as possible. Go to the Isolated Blurt thread and complain about spammers if nothing else inspires an on-topic post.

 

[GoldenCojones]

Good Job

You must be doing a pretty good job. I don't remember seeing any spam threads.

 

[HandsInTheDark]

These spams don't seem to be a common problem, but consider passing this code change suggestion up the chain: if a post gets reported by ten people, that thread is automatically locked and made invisible until a mod takes a look at it.

Yes, it's abusable. But any such abuses would become obvious to the moderator.

The suggestion about posting to ANY other thread is a good one though.

 

[Jay321]

You must be doing a pretty good job. I don't remember seeing any spam threads.

same here /brownnosing

 

[AH_Mod]

That's probably not an option under current conditions. Once the database upgrades are complete and tested, upgrades of the forum should be possible.

Automating thread moderation isn't a good idea, though. There's a reason very little code of that nature appears in base forum software or major plug-ins. It's best handled by increasing the number of moderators, time moderators are on the site, or giving existing moderators wider latitude. That's also something that's best left until after an upgrade, where more advanced moderator privilege settings are available.

These spams don't seem to be a common problem, but consider passing this code change suggestion up the chain: if a post gets reported by ten people, that thread is automatically locked and made invisible until a mod takes a look at it.

Yes, it's abusable. But any such abuses would become obvious to the moderator.

The suggestion about posting to ANY other thread is a good one though.

 

[barefootgirl69]

That's probably not an option under current conditions. Once the database upgrades are complete and tested, upgrades of the forum should be possible.

Automating thread moderation isn't a good idea, though. There's a reason very little code of that nature appears in base forum software or major plug-ins. It's best handled by increasing the number of moderators, time moderators are on the site, or giving existing moderators wider latitude. That's also something that's best left until after an upgrade, where more advanced moderator privilege settings are available.

You're doing a great job!! I, for one, don't expect you to spend every moment of your day on Lit moderating.

Your advice about not posting in order to reduce the exposure is a good one.

Thank you for taking care of the problem so quickly!

 

[ishtat]

This might sound banal, but it might not be a bad idea if you pointed out:-

1 Where the report button is located.

2 What it looks like and -

3 The fact that you must be logged in to use it.

I know the answer to all 3 but suspect that many posters don't.

 

[Haulover]

I manage a very large forum (nothing to do with erotica or with writing) and I know what a PITA it is to deal with these spammers.

So kudos to AH_Mod for dealing with them effectively.

My standard practice is to delete the thread then ban the member for life (not that the banning makes much difference.)

...consider passing this code change suggestion up the chain: if a post gets reported by ten people, that thread is automatically locked and made invisible until a mod takes a look at it.
...

Great idea, but I agree with AH_Mod: It's a very bad idea to add custom code to VBulletin, because it paints you into a corner if you want to upgrade the system.

 

[Handley_Page]

Forgive the question but I received a PM the other day inviting me to join in
something ("Not Married. . .", etc).
Do I simply bin it ?

 

[ChloeTzang]

Forgive the question but I received a PM the other day inviting me to join in something ("Not Married. . .", etc). Do I simply bin it ?

Yes.

I think a lot of us get those.

 

[FantasyXY]

Agree with Ish...

This might sound banal, but it might not be a bad idea if you pointed out:-

1 Where the report button is located.

2 What it looks like and -

3 The fact that you must be logged in to use it.

I know the answer to all 3 but suspect that many posters don't.

I had some trouble finding the report button when I first saw one of these inappropriate spam posts. I knew I had seen it before, but I had to hunt for it.

The spam I get in my PM inbox or as story comments I just shit can... easy peasy.

 

[TxRad]

If you get spam in a PM, forward it to Laurel. Enough reports and the person gets banned just like spam in a thread.

 

[lovecraft68]

Not sure if the mod will come back, but I have a question. What if someone is promoting-but not linking-a site that does carry underage material? Is that something that should be looked into or only if a link is provided? I mean its not like people couldn't google the name given.

 

[NaokoSmith]

You must be doing a pretty good job. I don't remember seeing any spam threads.

Dash it! I missed them too I'll put my frying pan away again, then.

https://images.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fs-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com%2F236x%2F3e%2F10%2Fc4%2F3e10c40bb03505157723e614e5e0f1da.jpg&f=1

 

[_Lynn_]

Not sure if the mod will come back, but I have a question. What if someone is promoting-but not linking-a site that does carry underage material? Is that something that should be looked into or only if a link is provided? I mean its not like people couldn't google the name given.

As a mod, I believe that falls under guideline #2. If you aren't sure of something, you can always PM Laurel.

 

[Laurel]

If you receive PM spam, please forward it to me asap. I will then ban the account and delete all the user's PMs.

Thank you for your help!