Attention new users!

[thessarabian]

For some reason this board attracts bots. In order to minimize the damage we moderators have started deleting inactive users. Please let us know that you're here and that you're a real person (not a bot) so we can 1. welcome you, and 2. not delete your account. Thanks!!!

[tneujahr]

Thanks for making sure new users know they are welcome and that we've not just deleted them out of spite.


Probably would be a good idea to make this topic sticky, though, so people in the future will know, too.

[Rowane]

thanks for not deleting me...i don't get on line much any more due to my mom as she gets sick and i have to take care of her...last summer she had gall bladder surgery and then had some mini strokes...she still gets pretty sick...any way..thanks... R

[Melissa1208]

I doubt I count as "new" but I'll post anyway since I've been inactive.

[Bill C.]

Not new, mostly inactive, but still present.

[match3frog]

For some reason this board attracts bots. In order to minimize the damage we moderators have started deleting inactive users. Please let us know that you're here and that you're a real person (not a bot) so we can 1. welcome you, and 2. not delete your account. Thanks!!!

Hello I am new. Hello I am here. Hello I am a real person. Hello I am not a bot. Hello...

[ValS]

Yay! Welcome! Post often!

[pstrmry]

hello -- I am so glad I didn't delete you because your name was unfamiliar! Thank you for playing our little game below~

[The German]

Couple of ways to reduce spam. Give brassco a separate platform as has been done with other categories. It accomplishes 2 things. it doesn't eliminate him from Table Talk, because even though his views are in space, it will at least provide an avenue for his rants while at the same time reducing the spam here by about 50%. And every other spam bot notice I've seen here can be picked out in a nanosecond and dumped. When you see Viagra in the title, you can be pretty sure it's spam.

I don't remember, but does one have to write down a set of letters and/or numbers before they can join? If they don't have to do that, I suggest implementing that immediately, if it isn't too late already.Because once that protocol has been bypassed, the other bots have already locked into this site and you're pretty much done. You'd have to shut down, re-open ( I suggest setting up a NING network/no bots) and make the letter/number sign-in a requirement.

[pstrmry]

btw, G, I didn't delete your post on the bot's thread out of spite, simply, a response to a deleted post made no sense, so I took yours off, too. The post above, however, might be helpful to someone who understands that sort of thing. And it is always good to see you around.
ttfn -- a couple more bots to zap!

[thessarabian]

We do have that protocol, but I think it was bypassed by some humans because it doesn't stop them now. I am banning usernames that reappear and banning IPs if p*orn shows up. I don't think OL wants to take the board down & restart it, so we just have to work with what we have. I think if he has to take it down it will just go away period.

[The German]

We do have that protocol, but I think it was bypassed by some humans because it doesn't stop them now. I am banning usernames that reappear and banning IPs if p*orn shows up. I don't think OL wants to take the board down & restart it, so we just have to work with what we have. I think if he has to take it down it will just go away period.

I think the issue with brassco is addressable. And should be. Anyone coming here for the first time and seeing dozens of brassco rants is unlikely to join, much less stay. It simply has to be done. I came here after weeks and of course I know the drill. Newcomers will be overwhelmed with his epic rants and someone is just going to have to decide to put him in his own category. It's killing the diversity here.

As for the second issue, I'm a member of a social network that had to move 1000's of people from a profit making site to a non profit version. It was a pain, but when it was all said and done, no more bot problems and more abilities. Loading your favorite music, personal home pages, family slide shows, lots of fun things. I wouldn't expect David to bother with it but the level of compromise on this board has reached the critical point as far as I can see. So ultimately, there will be little left to do.

I could create a NING site for you, let you and whoever wants to administrate it do so without any need for set up. Just log in and join. Considering the actual number of regular participants here, that should be fairly easy. If 1000's can do it, 30 or so will have no problem.

Of course, there is the issue of linkage from Old Lutheran. But at this stage and where this board is now, David would be better served to have a link BACK to Old Lutheran than what he currently has. Just my opinion.

[ValS]

Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.

Not necessarily, but probably.

[The German]

Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.

Not necessarily, but probably.

But present performance is indicative of future trends. Definitely true here.

[General Sterling Price]

I think the issue with brassco is addressable. And should be. Anyone coming here for the first time and seeing dozens of brassco rants is unlikely to join, much less stay. It simply has to be done. I came here after weeks and of course I know the drill. Newcomers will be overwhelmed with his epic rants and someone is just going to have to decide to put him in his own category. It's killing the diversity here.

Good point. Herding people that we disagree with into special areas will definitely make this place more welcoming.