preventing abuse

[factor-fiction]

Once again a poster has set himself up under anew ID and is posting questions in every section and using HTML based underlinings to leave his/her mark.
isn't it ime to limit postings to say 3 questions a day except on chatterbank, and perhaps remove the undeline facility?

[Velvetee]

They won't do anything, as they don't care. As long as they keep bringing in advertising revenue, what do they care.

[Petal~flower]

I have been reporting him?her along with IAP

[Buenchico]

I'd prefer not to go along the path of permitting a maximum number of posts each day. There are a few occasions when somebody might genuinely need to ask lots of questions.

Like others, I believe that the relevant poster really is a pain in the ass but there's a very simple way to stop him from playing about with bold type, italics and underlining. All that is needed is for AB to ensure that the code for switching off these features is automatically added to the start of every post. (That's an incredibly simple bit of programming). Then, when the idiot turns on these features by leaving HTML code in his own post, it won't show up in the posts further down the page

Chris

[gen2]

Chris, I was about to add a very similar comment except that it was to add code that appended the CLOSE tags to the end of every post to ensure they were switched off.

Not much difference I admit but the difference would be seen with the last post on a page if it wasn't closed off properly.

[factor-fiction]

I can understand the reluctance to place limits on the number of postings per day for established posters, but it seems reasonable to me to limit postings for newbies (names in green) untli they've been with AB for a week.

[Buenchico]

Perhaps we could also adjust the technology so that posters can't award themselves 3 stars while ignoring everyone else's comments? ;-)

On a serious point though, there's nothing to prevent somebody from registering under a dozen different usernames in the space of a few minutes. That person could then, even with your suggested rule, post 3 dozen pointless questions in the same day.

Chris

PS: Gen2: We've agreed that it's really simple to prevent this type of abuse happening. What do you think the chances are of anyone actually doing anything about it? (I'll email the techies, with a link to this thread. You never know, they might actually take some notice for once!)

[Ethel]

Chris, I emailed the techies and the ed last week, telling them how easy it is to stop the abuse of HTML.

You may be more persuasive than me. :)

Good luck

[hammerman]

The site needs moderating....not just with one moderator but with two or three per section.

The mods can then simply ban these creatures the moment they make an appearance under a new name.

[knobster]

Well done factor limit them for a week that really will help wont it

DERRRR

[knobster]

I mean you are even dumb enough to give yourself 3 stars and think that none off us would notice.


Did you go to clown school then.

[Ethel]

To moderate this site effectively would require a bare minimum of 3 full time moderators each day working 8 hour shifts.

Plus another 2 at the very least to cover rest days, annual leave and sickness.

That would give one moderator at any given time.

Would it be cost effective? I really don't know. I know of 7 people who used to be regular and reliable contributors to this site - one was very good on history and another was a whizz on all things techie. They no longer use the site because of the trolls. I'm sure there are others that I am not aware of.

I can no longer recommend the site to my friends and acquaintances - I would be too ashamed, frankly.

I am never offended by words, or pictures, despite what some of you may think. I object to some content because this is an open forum and I know children do use the site.

Also, there is no such thing as a watershed on the internet. This site is accessed by people all over the world, so while it is the middle of the night here, Australian children are on the internet during their daytime, as an example.

I believe in free speech and do not believe in censorship. However, if people want adult content then that is freely available on adult sites which hopefully have measures in place to at least try to ensure the viewers are over 18.

Whilst I understand that children DO see unsuitable content on the internet, it should never be on a site that is family orientated and open to all.

This site escapes NetNanny and other software programs available to parents to prevent children accessing unsuitable material. For that reason alone, I do not want porn, explicit sexual matters discussed nor obscene language on AnswerBank. If you want that - there are millions of other places for you.

Unfortunately, I don't know the solution.

[factor-fiction]

I know the suggestion of limiting postings for newbies isn't perfect- if people want to get round it they will. But at the moment if someone feels like making mischief , maybe after a few drinks its too easy , whereas if they had to wait a week maybe the drink/idea would wear off and they'd find some other form of amusement.

But maybe the answer is for me and everyone else just to ignore these postings as by responding we are feeding his/her ego.

[Ethel]

factor30 - they wouldn't have to wait a week. They could generate several new usernames straight away, simply by using different email addresses - yahoo, gmail, hotmail and so on.

[factor-fiction]

Yes Ethel, I realise that abusers will always look for ways round any controls and could set up multiple user names but it would make things a bit more difficult and maybe they couldn't be bothered.
By making suggestions, even if they aren't good suggestions it may just spark a better idea from someone.
But I think we are probably swimming against the tide. The best solution is probably to ignore these posters and with a bit of luck they'll lose interest.
Whilst the biggest problem is numerous frivolous (sometimes abusive/offensive) postings which clog up the system, the HTML abuse also needs to be addressed. There must be something the AB editor could do though about the HTML abuse- I hope the editor follows up your suggestion on this.