Full Version: Advertisement On BrainMeta
Okay their has clearly been some attempts to abuse BrainMeta by guests continously posting advertisements and spamming topics. So I am looking to do some brain storming on how we will "encourage" guests to not post advertisements. One option is to report them to their service provider who will have the authorities deal with them, another option is report them to whoever hosts the site they use and have them shut down, A simpler option is to simply ban the guests from BrainMeta, I do however feel something needs to be done because people are obviously abusing the site.
let me think about this some more. There are problems with simple IP bans because the advertisers/spammers often go through proxies which masks their IP. Complaining to ISP thus is often not effective. However, filtering by posted URLs is an option, or having it so guests can't post URLs. What do you think?
Hmm, so far the ISP seems like the best option, it isnt all that difficult for a person to make an account on BrainMeta so they may just sign up and then post, get banned and make a new account.
Sorry maximus, I edited the typo in my post above. Complaining to the ISP is not effective if they are going through a proxy or if the ISP is located in a country that is indifferent to internet decency guidelines/laws, like Russia or China.
One other option is increasing moderation; to have more people on the lookout that can remove adverts or otherwise annoying posts. However, this shifts responsibility heavily onto moderators, and should probably only be used in combination with other measures.
One other option is increasing moderation; to have more people on the lookout that can remove adverts or otherwise annoying posts. However, this shifts responsibility heavily onto moderators, and should probably only be used in combination with other measures.
Well Filtering links is a good place to start, many of the ads are originating from BlogSpot, in fact we have one right now, unfortunatly im not a moderator in that section so you will have to take care of that one Shawn.
http://brainmeta.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=2415&hl=
Increasing moderation should also be a good way of handling things. If that doesnt work we could always have a minimum number of posts for a member before they can post links, that way it is too much trouble for the advertiser to post an ad.
http://brainmeta.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=2415&hl=
Increasing moderation should also be a good way of handling things. If that doesnt work we could always have a minimum number of posts for a member before they can post links, that way it is too much trouble for the advertiser to post an ad.
I, and other members or visitors sometimes post links to good information on the web.
It would be a shame to prevent these because the alternative would be to copy the data to a Brainmeta post, and that may breach copyright (as well as waste storage space).
Perhaps a limit on the number of linkages to any one website base URL (say 5 from ALL members or guests in any 1 month) might work. Is this programmable Shawn?
It would be a shame to prevent these because the alternative would be to copy the data to a Brainmeta post, and that may breach copyright (as well as waste storage space).
Perhaps a limit on the number of linkages to any one website base URL (say 5 from ALL members or guests in any 1 month) might work. Is this programmable Shawn?
I agree that it would be a shame to stop the link posting Rhymer, I think that the place to start is the Link Filtering, their are a few individuals who are trying to advertise the same sites, so it shouldnt be that hard to filter them out. Also we still have an adverb up right now that no one has taken care of
http://brainmeta.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=2415&hl=
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http://brainmeta.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=2415&hl=
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thanks Maximus for the link to the blogspot adverts; they have been deleted. The thing about advertisers is, chances are that they are not making these posts manually; they are running scripts which automatically post to tens, hundreds or thousands of forums.
Editing/filtering by posted url is not always effective because advertisers can generate new sites automatically through free hosting companies like blogspot.
Advertisers use automated methods to mass-produce their adverts and sites. It is relatively simple to write scripts for automatically filling out and submitting web forms, and for crawling the web, running searches, and finding forums to automatically post in.
The fact that they often use automated methods can be used against them. Let me think about this some more.
Editing/filtering by posted url is not always effective because advertisers can generate new sites automatically through free hosting companies like blogspot.
Advertisers use automated methods to mass-produce their adverts and sites. It is relatively simple to write scripts for automatically filling out and submitting web forms, and for crawling the web, running searches, and finding forums to automatically post in.
The fact that they often use automated methods can be used against them. Let me think about this some more.
Cant you just write a script to counter it that wont interfere with googles bot?
QUOTE(maximus242 @ Jul 23, 02:42 PM) 
Cant you just write a script to counter it that wont interfere with googles bot?
no because automated methods for web submission can be made to look identical to the server as manual methods. Note that GoogleBot does not submit forms, so GoogleBot cannot post.
Should we start by filtering all links from the blogspot server? Or at least require blogspot links to be approved by a moderator?
QUOTE(maximus242 @ Jul 23, 02:50 PM)
Should we start by filtering all links from the blogspot server? Or at least require blogspot links to be approved by a moderator?
no, since blogspot is not the only free hosting service used by advertisers; there are dozens, and probably hundreds, of others. There's a better way to deal with this.
While it wouldn't totally eliminate the problem, I suspect that it would happen less frequently with a registration requirement. You could also require prospective members to provide a valid email address from which membership must get activated.
I'm not entirely sure why there is such a resistance to requiring membership, but I'm guessing that some of our members like to be able to post annonymously on occasion. Maybe a special "guest" user name could be created that any member could use for that purpose--after logging in.
I agree with the others that it would be most unfortunate to be unable to post URLs.
I'm not entirely sure why there is such a resistance to requiring membership, but I'm guessing that some of our members like to be able to post annonymously on occasion. Maybe a special "guest" user name could be created that any member could use for that purpose--after logging in.
I agree with the others that it would be most unfortunate to be unable to post URLs.
Hmm I was thinking about taking a progressive defence approach, you simply make a lot of easily surpassed things, however each one is just another step they have to take to succeed. In other words, having to register, change ips, make a diffrent website to avoid being filtered and sneaking under the mods noses makes things very difficult for an advertiser. While they may be surpassed, few people want to go through all that trouble for an ad that will be seen by few people before its deleted.
Moderators try and do their bit, but different time zones means that there might be delays.
I check brainmeta nearly every day plus if i'm e-mailed to report a post it goes straight to my blackberry device. Its not perfect but its a fast as one can expect.
How about allowing members only (that is, registered members with 50 or more posts to his/her credit) post their links. It's just getting ridiculous!
Seriously, we need to get some solutions up and running, it is degrading BrainMeta.
QUOTE(maximus242 @ Jul 26, 11:54 AM)
Seriously, we need to get some solutions up and running, it is degrading BrainMeta.
Ok, I have just now implemented something which I think will prevent future automated spam postings.
.....ahhhh, that's too bad! Some good porn might liven things up around here, add a lil colour to the place....and CB can go wild on his inflatable doll and discharge some of that testosterone build up!
QUOTE(Shawn @ Jul 26, 01:43 PM)
QUOTE(maximus242 @ Jul 26, 11:54 AM)
Seriously, we need to get some solutions up and running, it is degrading BrainMeta.
Ok, I have just now implemented something which I think will prevent future automated spam postings.
I'm afraid this isn't doing the trick. The ads are still here in full force.
You're right code buttons.
It's unfortunate that spammers have nothing better to do with their time than harrass others and contribute noise to discussions. In an effort to curb spam, I have resorted to turning off Guest posting, at least for the time being.
It's unfortunate that spammers have nothing better to do with their time than harrass others and contribute noise to discussions. In an effort to curb spam, I have resorted to turning off Guest posting, at least for the time being.
....I say good riddance, and hopefully it becomes a permanent fixture here at BM. We have over 5000 members by now who contribute to this forum, some more than others. If people want to contribute to discussions they should have to become members!!!!! What do others who faithfully contribute here feel about this?
QUOTE(Trip like I do @ Aug 09, 01:22 PM)
....I say good riddance, and hopefully it becomes a permanent fixture here at BM. We have over 5000 members by now who contribute to this forum, some more than others. If people want to contribute to discussions they should have to become members!!!!! What do others who faithfully contribute here feel about this?
It's a good temporary solution. Untill the spammers start becoming member for one day. I say only registered forum members with 50 or more posts should be able to post links.
Guest contribute greatly to this forum and I would rather not see them be discomforted because of a few "bad" Guests. Guests should be able to post. Just not links.
Would it be possible only to allow guests to post after they have provided an email address, to which is then sent, an enabling code of some sort to allow them to post?
That way, Shawn would know the email address of subsequent spammers and could presumably take action against them (or block them).
Guests would remain anonymous to members, but known by their address to Shawn!
That way, Shawn would know the email address of subsequent spammers and could presumably take action against them (or block them).
Guests would remain anonymous to members, but known by their address to Shawn!
That would be essentially the same as disabling guests and enabling a new feature to allow cloaked posting by members.
Isn't annonymity one of the built-in features of most message boards?
I must confess: OnlyNow is not my real name.
Registered forum participants can usually remain just about as annonymous as they so desire. I suppose an especially motivated computer-savvy infiltrator could track down a registered participant if he wanted to. But let's face it, most of us are not interesting enough to be stalker material. Like message boards, email id's don't need to involve a person's real name. You can spend less than a minute creating pseudonym accounts for both hotmail and Brainmeta.
My fake id has always been enough for me to feel annonymous. But if someone really felt a need for yet another level of annonymity, say, to post something controversial (ie, "Nuke Iran"), he could always create a second user id. If that id started feeling too personal, then he could create a third. And so on.
I know that the initial hurdle of creating an account, plus the hassle of logging in for every posting session isn't quite as easy as simply slapping things up at will. But it's not that difficult, either. If the extra effort alleviates some of the spam, then I think it's well worth it.
Thank you, Shawn!
I must confess: OnlyNow is not my real name.
Registered forum participants can usually remain just about as annonymous as they so desire. I suppose an especially motivated computer-savvy infiltrator could track down a registered participant if he wanted to. But let's face it, most of us are not interesting enough to be stalker material. Like message boards, email id's don't need to involve a person's real name. You can spend less than a minute creating pseudonym accounts for both hotmail and Brainmeta.
My fake id has always been enough for me to feel annonymous. But if someone really felt a need for yet another level of annonymity, say, to post something controversial (ie, "Nuke Iran"), he could always create a second user id. If that id started feeling too personal, then he could create a third. And so on.
I know that the initial hurdle of creating an account, plus the hassle of logging in for every posting session isn't quite as easy as simply slapping things up at will. But it's not that difficult, either. If the extra effort alleviates some of the spam, then I think it's well worth it.
Thank you, Shawn!
I agree. People's log in names establish a personality with a sequence of posts, and if someone wants to jump out of character now and then, he can just create a new account name, although why somebody would feel the need to be deceptive to friends is beyond me.
Ever read the science fiction story "True Names"?
Ever read the science fiction story "True Names"?
QUOTE(Rick @ Aug 10, 01:08 PM)
I agree. People's log in names establish a personality with a sequence of posts, and if someone wants to jump out of character now and then, he can just create a new account name, although why somebody would feel the need to be deceptive to friends is beyond me.
Ever read the science fiction story "True Names"?
No. Good book?
Yes, but it's a bit dated now. It was written before the internet explosion.
http://home.comcast.net/~kngjon/truename/truename.html
http://home.comcast.net/~kngjon/truename/truename.html
QUOTE(Shawn @ Aug 09, 08:45 AM)
You're right code buttons.
It's unfortunate that spammers have nothing better to do with their time than harrass others and contribute noise to discussions. In an effort to curb spam, I have resorted to turning off Guest posting, at least for the time being.
The board does seem a little bit strange without any "Guests" input. But Mr. spammer is staying away too. I got myself a brick, though. Just in case DATTA-TSUNAMI shows his ugly face again.
hmm its a good solution for now, but I think we will need a better solution in the future.
QUOTE(maximus242 @ Aug 11, 11:14 AM)
hmm its a good solution for now, but I think we will need a better solution in the future.
Maxi--may I ask why you think we need a better solution? No disrespect, just wondering why a world that includes unregistered guests is superior to what we have now...
People enjoy being able to post as the elusive guest, not to mention we have had some excellent posts by guests in the past, I would hate to turn those people away who only visit BrainMeta once so often, look at RTB, he always posts as a guest and no one minds..
QUOTE(maximus242 @ Aug 13, 11:46 AM)
People enjoy being able to post as the elusive guest, not to mention we have had some excellent posts by guests in the past, I would hate to turn those people away who only visit BrainMeta once so often, look at RTB, he always posts as a guest and no one minds..
Well, maybe RTB et al will consider registering now. Of course if he decides not to, that would indeed be a shame. But note that he hasn't been banned. He does have a choice in this matter.
Another argument could be made that we're losing or repelling good posters by not requiring registration. A board that allows unregistered participants invites a lack of consistency and control. Maybe RTB is good about always labeling himself as RTB, but I doubt that every guest who makes up a temporary user name for each post always uses the same name. Plus, consider that anyone can pose as RTB, so we never know for sure if it's the real deal. Of course, most of our guests provide no label at all, in which case we can't possibly see a consistent pattern of who these idea-makers are. Knowing a consistent user name for each contribution by a given poster promotes understanding. Over time, we truly get a better grasp of registered posters' perspectives such that they don't always have to explain every nuance of their viewpoint with every post.
It's unfortunate that we might lose a few good posters. but perhaps the overall outcome will be for the better. We'll see. At any rate, I sure haven't seen many ads (none) since Shawn imposed the registration requirement.
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