What do PSers think about requiring X number of posts or Y number of days before new members can start threads?

[yssie]

I'm unreasonably annoyed by the adverts for male enhancement, software developers, and floral supplements that proliferate on here after about midnight. They're persistent and predictable.

Many forums impose a waiting period before new members can create their own threads. Doing so would quickly eliminate the late night spam we get here!!

What do folks think of the idea? I'm thinking something like make (3) posts in other threads or wait (30) hours - intended to eliminate the lowest hanging spam but not dissaude actual participation.

Is there a way to require captcha to start a new thread? I imagine a good number of those threads ARE bot beasts. Question for @psadmin.

 

[Karl_K]

The problem with that is then you would have a bunch of new people hijacking each others threads to ask questions instead of starting their own threads for help.
The board is to help people and grow consumer voices.

captcha has been been beaten by the bots and is useless.

My answer would be someone submits their first post they get emailed a code to the email on record they have to enter the code for the post to post.
This verifies the email on record as being good and at least slows down the bots.

 

[yssie]

My answer would be someone submits their first post they get emailed a code to the email on record they have to enter the code for the post to post.
This verifies the email on record as being good and at least slows down the bots.

I like this idea a lot
Is something like this doable? I'll be forward and tag @psadmin again!

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I like Karl's idea
the spammers are driving me insane

As someone who has wasted a ton of money down the mall because i didnt know any better, i would hate someone who needs help buying an expensive and meaningful diamond (or in fact any sparkly piece) not get the help they need when they need it

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

I think the problem is that most people who sign up for PS to make a thread are doing so to just ask a single question.

I think we could definitely create a limit on the number of posts that can be made in a 24h period for all users, eg, you can’t make more than 3 threads. I can’t think of a single reason why a bonafide user - even the most prolific of posters - would start more than 3 threads in a day, and it would at least cut down the amount of spam being posted by a single profile. In conjunction with Karl’s suggestion (though I’d move the email verification forward to requiring it when someone makes an account in the first place) I think it could help.

 

[kenny]

But, but, but, those "male enhancement" ads have ... uh ... saved my marriage.
You have no idea how big my ...

... oh never mind.
I was speaking for a friend.

Seriously, yssie I see your point but worry that PS and its sponsors would lose tons of traffic and eyeballs (translate, revenue) from diamond-shopping noobs coming here to post their first question.
I think if we make 'em wait we'd lose half of them.

Unfortunately these days our culture is obsessed with instant gratification.

 

[Karl_K]

(though I’d move the email verification forward to requiring it when someone makes an account in the first place)

Many of the bots can already handle/bypass that by themselves by moving it to the first post stage it will throw them off for a while until more sites do it.

 

[smitcompton]

Hi,

Oh, please don't do the email verification thing. People should be encouraged to just sign up to be a member so they can post whatever question they wish quickly.

I don't know the answer, I am tech dumb, but to delay a post is not the answer, IMO.

Annette

 

[yssie]

@smitcompton Can I ask why you would oppose email verification? It’s easy (for a human!) to set up a dummy email to maintain privacy, much harder for a bot to go through all those steps

 

[oncrutchesrightnow]

Those stupid spam threads bug me too but are only on for a few hours before the mods take them down. Whereas think how many sweethearts have benefitted from the “opinion needed NOW!” newbie engagement ring-buyer one-time-poster threads. If the mods can handle the work, maybe just vent your frustrations by replying to those threads with some DSS jokes.

 

[kenny]

Those stupid spam threads bug me too but are only on for a few hours before the mods take them down. Whereas think how many sweethearts have benefitted from the “opinion needed NOW!” newbie engagement ring-buyer one-time-poster threads. If the mods can handle the work, maybe just vent your frustrations by replying to those threads with some DSS jokes.

DSS jokes?
Do you mean joking about the ... "male enhancement" spam?

 

[yssie]

Bumping this thread.

@Ella, @psadmin, can @Karl_K’s suggestion in Post #2 be implemented? What are the downsides of this?

 

[Missy]

@yssie there has been a lot of spam recently. I have noticed more than usual. It is annoying. Anything that can cut that down is a plus IMO. If someone is motivated to post they can wait a bit to do so. Just my opinion.

 

[PreRaphaelite]

Could we have a one-hour delay? A ten-minute delay? Something long enough to defeat the bots and short enough to retain new members?