Are new Downers getting blocked? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

***The Barrow-Wight*** · 05-11-2020, 09:07 AM

"Too Well Fortified" would be a generous way of describing the actual state of affairs in our admissions office, which would be better characterized as "Absentee Landlord".

I scanned the new applications for years but became weary of approving bots with cleaver names and ignoring well-intentioned recruits with suspicious email addresses. Instead, for the past few years I have often just let things linger in limbo until someone made a special plea. This is obviously not optimal.

There are two possible solutions, as I see it.
(1) Drop the moderation and tolerate the spammers, which are likely to be more active than our membership.
(2) Create a better process for new members to validate their humanity (Elfenticity? Dwarvishness?) [The current question and answer is easily circumvented by clever Goblins.]

Any thoughts on how we can be more welcoming to new wights but less vulernable to pesky marauders?

Thanks!
BW

Inziladun · 05-11-2020, 10:07 AM

I remember well the constant war with the spammers, some of whom would merely copy/paste from other posts to "prove" their legitimacy, while peppering useless or dangerous hyperlinks everywhere. I certainly wouldn't want that again.

Maybe some sort of probationary period, where new members could comment on existing threads and posts, but couldn't immediately start their own? That would still leave it somewhat open to the bots, but maybe also asking a "deeper" Tolkien question on registration would help.

Formendacil · 05-11-2020, 12:52 PM

I assume that promoting new admins wouldn't help with this specific issue? Not that a site this sleepy *needs* more admins, but if it's a manpower issue, perhaps it's time for the first new "Steward of Cardolan" in a generation?

Morthoron · 05-11-2020, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Formendacil

I assume that promoting new admins wouldn't help with this specific issue? Not that a site this sleepy *needs* more admins, but if it's a manpower issue, perhaps it's time for the first new "Steward of Cardolan" in a generation?

I agree. I would volunteer; unfortunately, that would truly be the case of the cure being worse than the disease.

***The Barrow-Wight*** · 07-19-2020, 07:59 PM

I have removed new user moderation but strengthened the application process to weed out the bots and spammers. It seems to be working for the moment. Let's see how long it takes for a determined maggot to wriggle its way into the barrow.

Inziladun · 07-20-2020, 04:23 PM

Good deal. To the Fire with them!

***The Barrow-Wight*** · 07-22-2020, 05:29 AM

You may have noticed a couple of dirty orclings that slipped through because of a hole I left in the hedge, but I've patched it. Let's see if it holds.

05-11-2020, 09:07 AM	#1
*The Barrow-Wight* Night In Wight Satin Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 4,043	No Admittance Except on Party Business "Too Well Fortified" would be a generous way of describing the actual state of affairs in our admissions office, which would be better characterized as "Absentee Landlord". I scanned the new applications for years but became weary of approving bots with cleaver names and ignoring well-intentioned recruits with suspicious email addresses. Instead, for the past few years I have often just let things linger in limbo until someone made a special plea. This is obviously not optimal. There are two possible solutions, as I see it. (1) Drop the moderation and tolerate the spammers, which are likely to be more active than our membership. (2) Create a better process for new members to validate their humanity (Elfenticity? Dwarvishness?) [The current question and answer is easily circumvented by clever Goblins.] Any thoughts on how we can be more welcoming to new wights but less vulernable to pesky marauders? Thanks! BW __________________ The Barrow-Wight

05-11-2020, 10:07 AM	#2
Inziladun Gruesome Spectre Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Heaven's doorstep Posts: 8,039	I remember well the constant war with the spammers, some of whom would merely copy/paste from other posts to "prove" their legitimacy, while peppering useless or dangerous hyperlinks everywhere. I certainly wouldn't want that again. Maybe some sort of probationary period, where new members could comment on existing threads and posts, but couldn't immediately start their own? That would still leave it somewhat open to the bots, but maybe also asking a "deeper" Tolkien question on registration would help. __________________ Music alone proves the existence of God.

05-11-2020, 12:52 PM	#3
Formendacil Dead Serious Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Perched on Thangorodrim's towers. Posts: 3,328	I assume that promoting new admins wouldn't help with this specific issue? Not that a site this sleepy needs more admins, but if it's a manpower issue, perhaps it's time for the first new "Steward of Cardolan" in a generation? __________________ I prefer history, true or feigned.

07-19-2020, 07:59 PM	#5
*The Barrow-Wight* Night In Wight Satin Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 4,043	Moderation removed I have removed new user moderation but strengthened the application process to weed out the bots and spammers. It seems to be working for the moment. Let's see how long it takes for a determined maggot to wriggle its way into the barrow. __________________ The Barrow-Wight

07-20-2020, 04:23 PM	#6
Inziladun Gruesome Spectre Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Heaven's doorstep Posts: 8,039	Good deal. To the Fire with them! __________________ Music alone proves the existence of God.

07-22-2020, 05:29 AM	#7
*The Barrow-Wight* Night In Wight Satin Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 4,043	Sting is glowing! You may have noticed a couple of dirty orclings that slipped through because of a hole I left in the hedge, but I've patched it. Let's see if it holds. __________________ The Barrow-Wight