Enabled Registered Posts Only

[DarkUnderlord]

In an effort to combat spam, I've enabled "Registered Users Only" so only people who register an account can post in this forum.

If that's a problem and those in charge here want guests to be able to post, then let me know and I'll put it back.

This has happened as per request of Metallix.

 

[kingcomrade]

Metallix you Nazi. Everyone has to register with Big Brother, eh? I see where this is going. First it is the RPGC Posterriat Act, next you're going to install cameras on all of the street corners, to "protect from spammers." Next it's going to be mandatory electronic identification tags so that the Hive Mind knows where we all are. As a matter of fact this has already come to pass, while I was sleeping. The Codex is becoming a Police State and I encourage you all to speak Truth To Power! We don't let you brand us like sheep, DU!

 

[Frau Bishop]

SFW?!

 

[Andyman Messiah]

Someone insert a V for Vendetta joke.

Edit: But hey, I haven't anything against stopping guests from posting. I hate guests.

 

[kingcomrade]

That needs to be an emoticon, the Hitler smiley.

 

[Atrokkus]

That needs to be an emoticon, the Hitler smiley.

Too bad they are all stern, no smiles...

 

[mathboy]

(I made it)

 

[Wolf Mittag]

This forum has really been flooded by spambots, with 4 or 5 new spam threads posted every single day (commercials for pills, porn, mp3s, whatever).

Obviously, manually removing spam is far less efficient than automatically posting it, so my removing these threads once or twice a week simply couldn't keep pace with their posting of more and more new loads of spam.

If this continues then at some point, one would have to browse through hundreds of spam messages in order to finally find a real, topic-related posting. I think this destroys the usefulness of a forum. So in my point of view, once it reaches a certain volume, there's no choice but to remove spam.
(I also don't think this is censorship; nobody would be against spammers posting as many commercials as they wished to if they set up their own spam forum and posted their commercials there; but I think most people would agree that it's quite a different matter if they hijack other people's forums for this purpose.)

However, I'd really like guest posting to remain activated if possible at all, because, if one looks back at all the posts in this forum, lots of good topics have been started by guests, and guests made countless contributions to existing topics. I'd assume that many of them wouldn't have contributed if they'd been forced to register first.
(Personally, I find that even logging in is a nuisance. Filling out a form and giving away my email address - well, if I were a casual gamer just taking a brief look at this froum, I probably wouldn't do it; while if I could simply post without any hassles, I definitely would contribute if I had anything at all to say.)

AdamP has volunteered to delete spam postings on a regular basis. So if he agrees (and until he gets tired of battling all that spam), I'd propose to re-activate guest posting.

 

[Adam P]

I agree.

 

[DarkUnderlord]

However, I'd really like guest posting to remain activated if possible at all, because, if one looks back at all the posts in this forum, lots of good topics have been started by guests, and guests made countless contributions to existing topics.

As far as the staff at the Codex are concerned, this is your forum. So we'll do whatever you want. If you want unregistered posting, then that's fine by us. I only enabled it because Metallix brought it to my attention and asked for it.

I've re-enable it now though, so guests can post without registering.

HAH! Take THAT metallix!

 

[Atrokkus]

The naive... you called down the thunder, now reap the whirlwind.

 

[Balor]

Indeed.
Reap the electroman

 

[DarkUnderlord]

Not my problem. As I said, this isn't my forum. If the moderators here don't mind and are happy to deal with it, then that's their choice.

 

[Anonymous]

It seems none of the admins saw Wolf's latest post (from June) concerning the topic:

Well, I originally thought the spamming resulting from our activated guest posting was our problem (moderators AdamP and myself) and no one else's.

But I realize it's also a nuisance for users browsing the main forums portal, who see the 'there are new posts' sign next to the Teudogar forum, come here to check, and usually find the 'new post' they came to see is nothing but spam.

Sure, this spam will always be deleted after no more than a day or so (thank you AdamP! for your astounding reliability & persistance), but until then it may already have inconvenienced several dozen RPGCodex forum users - and this every day.

On the other hand, the potential inconvenience of having to register before being able to post would concern only one or two people per month (not-yet-registered guests), so from a utilitarian perspective I agree it makes sense to disable guest posting.

If, on top of this, we consider AdamP's probably enormous workload in deleting all that spam, I'd say, well, it's a pity but let's get rid of guest posting; it isn't worth all that trouble.

 

[DarkUnderlord]

Okay, guest posting has been disabled.

 

[Wolf Mittag]

Ok. Thanks, DarkUnderlord.

There was no choice but to do this. The amount and frequency of spam (automatically posted by spambots) was just too much, and, as discussed above, it was not just a problem for us moderators but also a nuisance for everyone browsing this forum and even the RPG Codex Main Forum Portal.

If you're a Guest and want to post comments or questions, please register!
(Click on the REGISTER-link at the top of this page, in the middle of the 2nd line.)
Registering takes only about a minute, it's free, and you needn't give away any sensitive information. So please don't be deterred by this process. Please register, and keep posting. Thank you!