New Member Restrictions

[Steve Herschbach]

There is a long thread about issues I have been having with new members here. Long story short there are spammers who can evade automated spam checks by setting up endless new email accounts. They often join, post once, then edit the posts later to include links. This means I spend way too much time now reviewing new members who only post once or twice, going back for months. More obvious have been the spam attacks where we get hit by a bunch of new members who post dozens of crazy links in very short order.

So here is my plan. I will create a New Member account. New members will not be able to include links in their posts. They will not be able to download from the Downloads area, or post in the Classifieds.

They will have a limit of three PM messages a day - enough to contact somebody with an ad in the Classifieds who has not included contact info. I am looking for feedback on this. People may only want to be contacted by longtime members, and don't want to hear from some person who just joined. If you want that, well, then include contact info in the ad. But maybe you don't want to put your contact info out for people to know? Not sure, but allowing a new member to PM while limiting the number keeps them from spamming the entire forum with junk mail, so works for me.

The system allows for automated promotion, so after ten posts and 30 days, the person will automatically be promoted to the full member account. So this is easy to set up and requires no ongoing work on my part. It will get rid of both the sleeper spammers, and the massive spam attacks. Very few spammers are going to spend a month and ten posts when so much easier marks exist out there.

One might argue this penalizes lurkers by not allowing them to download owner manuals or use the classifieds. The simple reality is those are rewards for participating members. It's the people who post regularly and help answer questions that make this forum what it is. People who join just to sell stuff or download stuff are using the forum while not contributing anything in return. That being the case they can't be missed since in a way they really are not here anyway.

I've not done this yet but the more I think about it the more I like it, and just wanted to toss it out one last time for review or suggestions before implementing it. And I will use this as an opportunity to thank all of you who do post interesting content for others to read, and most especially thank those of you who answer questions for those that have them. That is what the forum is all about, and it is you all that make it happen. Without you, there is no forum, so again, my heartfelt thanks. 

[GotAU?]

Steve, personally, I trust you know what you need to do and emphatically agree to whatever it is. We don’t want you to burn out on the thing so take all the precautions you need to keep this full-time job of yours running smoothly! Thank you so much for your time, it’s an awesome forum!

And… your ideas above are great - that sounds like a perfect plan for dealing with it.  I never thought about the ins and outs about running a forum, your efforts are appreciated!

[Tahts-a-dats-ago]

More than fair in my opinion.

As someone who was a longtime lurker prior to becoming a member, I can say that such rules would not have bothered me in the slightest. I look at this forum as an opportunity to learn more about a hobby that I very much enjoy, and (on occasion) share my thoughts when I think they might possibly prove helpful to someone.

 

[Hard Prospector]

Seems very fair Steve,  need to adjust to changing times and the methods these skeemers use.

[Cascade Steven]

I agree. Steve, it seems very fair to me too. I am in full support of your proposed action.

[FishBamboo]

I like it. 👍

[D&P-OR]

Sounds like a good plan Steve.----Thank you for your efforts & this great forum---we appreciate you.----------Del

[Ken Walls]

Sounds pretty fair to me.

[Johnnysalami1957]

Heavy is the head that wears the crown. Steve. You have created a wonderful place for us to learn and exchange ideas. I for one have learned a great deal here. Do what you need to do to make things run smoothly and with less stress for you.

As long as I get to stay😇

[tboykin]

Reasonable. Most of the Facebook groups are also facing an onslaught of spammers. Tough to filter since they are run by people.