SPAM is out of control. What can we do about it?

[Sir_Loin_of_Beef]

As a new low, we even had an erectile dysfunction post.

For, or against?

 

[caseydog]

`Member now y'all - post "reported" on this spam threads posts so that the poor mods/admin are not really overwhelmed.

Problem is that even if we do that, the mods have to deal with a problem they are not paid to deal with... since they are not paid to be mods.

We need to find a way to block the spammers, so the mods don't need to deal with this $#iT.

CD

 

[dragnlaw]

casey, just curious, what do you think mods do?

 

[Badjak]

I'm not an early riser. I see the spam before I go to bed.

I'm in a different time zone....

 

[Roll_Bones]

Maybe we could block first posts with a link. Or require review of first posts prior to posting.

Requiring new possible registrants to complete their profile would be a start. I don't remember if I was required to complete my profile before I was able to post when I registered?
But if I was, that alone could stop most all spam. Auto generated spam, I don't think, has the ability to complete a profile before being able to post.
Also, requiring new people to read the TOS would be helpful. But we all know no one reads the TOS top to bottom.
But we could have it where they must "accept" the terms of use which requires user input.
This is a big world and the spammers are part of it. You will never stop/block it all. But there are tools and I bet they are working/have been working on implementing some of them at this point.

I just spend a few minutes (sometimes more, lately!) reporting the bot-generated garbage and adding the “reported” tag.
Sometimes I wonder if the mods get tired of seeing my many reports, but I think it’s just me being very invested in this, my very favourite site. I think we should try to keep it safe from these annoying cyber attacks.
I wonder if we fight back for long enough, maybe the spam bots will move on to another site?

Member reports are the one most important functions for a smooth running community.
I can atest that mods do not get tired of those reporting. They do get tired regarding the reason for the report. And spam is on the top of the list. Mainly because of the amount of spam and the aggressiveness of the spammers.
Keep reporting when you see inappropriate content and or spammers. Mods and admin cannot read every thread or post. They rely heavily on reports.

Problem is that even if we do that, the mods have to deal with a problem they are not paid to deal with... since they are not paid to be mods.

We need to find a way to block the spammers, so the mods don't need to deal with this $#iT.

CD

You're right, but mods and admins do these tasks as part of their willingness to help with no compensation.
Mods/admins are not drafted into these positions. They are asked by the current regime, usually the admin. Mods do not in most cases have the ability to install anyone to mod status.
So we have volunteers. Volunteers know what they are up against before they accept a position.
Blocking spammers is what every site wants to do. But it's not as easy as some may think. But we do have tools.

casey, just curious, what do you think mods do?

There is a lot. This question would require a thread of its own.

 

[dcSaute]

the Xenforo software has rather unrobust tools for spam control.
options are here:

Spam prevention | Manual | XenForo

End-user documentation for XenForo

xenforo.com

when spammers 'discover' a vulnerable forum software package, they will flock to those forums . . .