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The official spam thread

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The official spam thread
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gregchivs
29 Nov 2011 at 11:23AM
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Hi all

I thought I better update you on where we're at with spam and software to stop it taking over these boards and making things totally unusable.

There should also be one single place for everyone to share experiences, ask questions, provide feedback etc.

So , over the weekend we added Mollom software to the boards to start detecting spam. It's clear to regular users that spam on the system was on the rise and that something needed to be done to get control of it. Every forum of any size uses uses such a system and we can't be an exception.

As a result some of you may well have been asked to verify that you are a real person making a real post by competing a CAPTCHA box. We accept that this is a pain but we think the alternative - forums overrun by spammers - is a worse alternative.

Over the weekend (26-27 Nov) we had the Mollom software at a quite high setting and, as a result, it picked up quite a lot of posts that definitely weren't spam. We have now weakened the settings so hopefully it shouldn't pick up as many genuine posts.

One of the problems we have is that lots of the content on these forums could be seen as spam - we talk about treatments, medication, drugs a lot and these are exactly the kind fo things spam filters are wise to!

 

Please post here with comments, problems, ideas etc as we really need your feedback to get on top of this and to make sure it causes the minimum possible disruption. 

best

Greg [admin]

Kimbell
29 Nov 2011 at 11:34AM
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Hey Greg,

How long before those of us that keep having posts disappear will be sorted? I havent been able to keep new posts on the board at all this week.

Kim

Anitra
29 Nov 2011 at 11:51AM
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Thanks for the update, Greg.

I believe one of mine was picked up because I'd mentioned anxiety meds - in a perfectly legitimate context, of course - but also a common topic for spam.

I wonder if this one will get picked up because I've mentioned them again?

Kind regards,

Tina

Anitra
29 Nov 2011 at 11:54AM
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Anitra wrote:

Thanks for the update, Greg.

I believe one of mine was picked up because I'd mentioned anxiety meds - in a perfectly legitimate context, of course - but also a common topic for spam.

I wonder if this one will get picked up because I've mentioned them again?

Kind regards,

Tina

Update: The answer was no; it didn't mind them being mentioned this time.  Maybe it's if I say the specific word: DIAZEPAM.

Now what happens?

Anitra
29 Nov 2011 at 11:55AM
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Anitra wrote:

Anitra wrote:

Thanks for the update, Greg.

I believe one of mine was picked up because I'd mentioned anxiety meds - in a perfectly legitimate context, of course - but also a common topic for spam.

I wonder if this one will get picked up because I've mentioned them again?

Kind regards,

Tina

Update: The answer was no; it didn't mind them being mentioned this time.  Maybe it's if I say the specific word: DIAZEPAM.

Now what happens?

UPDATE 2: Seems OK if I mention the brand name too.  So far, so good.

T.

gregchivs
29 Nov 2011 at 11:57AM
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Kimbell wrote:

Hey Greg,

How long before those of us that keep having posts disappear will be sorted? I havent been able to keep new posts on the board at all this week.

Kim

Hi Kim

I have no idea why but your above post went into my 'comments for approval list' - I waved it through straight away but I'm concerned if your posts are all getting caught up. Were you even asked to enter CAPTCHA text?

Greg [admin] 

gregchivs
29 Nov 2011 at 11:59AM
Top

Anitra wrote:

Anitra wrote:

Anitra wrote:

Thanks for the update, Greg.

I believe one of mine was picked up because I'd mentioned anxiety meds - in a perfectly legitimate context, of course - but also a common topic for spam.

I wonder if this one will get picked up because I've mentioned them again?

Kind regards,

Tina

Update: The answer was no; it didn't mind them being mentioned this time.  Maybe it's if I say the specific word: DIAZEPAM.

Now what happens?

UPDATE 2: Seems OK if I mention the brand name too.  So far, so good.

T.

Thanks for this Tina - excatly the kind of insight I need right now. Keep them coming if you get any more - I will monitor the approval queue very closely today.

Greg 

Stephen-G
29 Nov 2011 at 12:21PM
Top

Hi Greg.

I just tried for the fourth time now to start a thread it never appeared, I never even got to "competing a CAPTCHA box" no offer came up, I assumed I was ok, but no. :-(

PS. I never mentioned anything that could be spam either I tried to choose words wisely and kept the thread to a small one. I read this page before starting the thread, it has allowed me to reply to other threads.

I know it's out with your control and I am not complaining just letting you know their is still problems on the site.

Stephen.

gregchivs
29 Nov 2011 at 12:29PM
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Stephen-G wrote:
Hi Greg. I just tried for the fourth time now to start a thread it never appeared, I never even got to "competing a CAPTCHA box" no offer came up, I assumed I was ok, but no. :-( PS. I never mentioned anything that could be spam either I tried to choose words wisely and kept the thread to a small one. I read this page before starting the thread, it has allowed me to reply to other threads. I know it's out with your control and I am not complaining just letting you know their is still problems on the site. Stephen.

Hi Stephen

I've just had to approve this comment but what you're saying about new threads is really worrying. I'm not seeing any top-level posts that need approval. I'm going to look into this further and get back to you.

Greg 

Stephen-G
29 Nov 2011 at 1:03PM
Top

gregchivs wrote:

Stephen-G wrote:
Hi Greg. I just tried for the fourth time now to start a thread it never appeared, I never even got to "competing a CAPTCHA box" no offer came up, I assumed I was ok, but no. :-( PS. I never mentioned anything that could be spam either I tried to choose words wisely and kept the thread to a small one. I read this page before starting the thread, it has allowed me to reply to other threads. I know it's out with your control and I am not complaining just letting you know their is still problems on the site. Stephen.

Hi Stephen

I've just had to approve this comment but what you're saying about new threads is really worrying. I'm not seeing any top-level posts that need approval. I'm going to look into this further and get back to you.

Greg 

Hi.

The thread I tried to start was "does anyone with MS do yoga".

Thanks a lot.
Stephen.

gregchivs
29 Nov 2011 at 1:36PM
Top

Stephen-G wrote:
gregchivs wrote:

Stephen-G wrote:
Hi Greg. I just tried for the fourth time now to start a thread it never appeared, I never even got to "competing a CAPTCHA box" no offer came up, I assumed I was ok, but no. :-( PS. I never mentioned anything that could be spam either I tried to choose words wisely and kept the thread to a small one. I read this page before starting the thread, it has allowed me to reply to other threads. I know it's out with your control and I am not complaining just letting you know their is still problems on the site. Stephen.

Hi Stephen

I've just had to approve this comment but what you're saying about new threads is really worrying. I'm not seeing any top-level posts that need approval. I'm going to look into this further and get back to you.

Greg 

Hi. The thread I tried to start was "does anyone with MS do yoga". Thanks a lot. Stephen.

 

Hi Stephen

I've added you to a user group that should mean you don't get any more problems. Could you try to create your topic now and report back here please?

Greg

 

gregchivs
29 Nov 2011 at 2:13PM
Top

Kimbell wrote:

Hey Greg,

How long before those of us that keep having posts disappear will be sorted? I havent been able to keep new posts on the board at all this week.

Kim

Kim

As you've been having problems I've added you to the verified users group too - please let me know if you have any problems with replies or creating new topics after this. 

If anyone else is having problems can they pay particular attention to whether it's a new topic or a comment on someone elses AND any system messages - even if you're being told your post has been created. Then get back to me here.

Greg [admin]

Kimbell
29 Nov 2011 at 3:23PM
Top

Hi Greg.

No nothing about captcha.......?!

Kim

Kimbell
29 Nov 2011 at 3:26PM
Top

Hi Greg,

Well whatever u did mine is fixed......yay!...Thanks Greg!

Kim

Stephen-G
29 Nov 2011 at 3:39PM
Top

Hi Greg.

My thread appeared seems everything is ok now.

Thanks again.

Stephen.

gregchivs
29 Nov 2011 at 4:55PM
Top

*Relieved*

It feels like we're getting on top of this and I haven't seen any actual spam for the last day or so!

Greg [admin]

skippysprite
29 Nov 2011 at 9:54PM
Top

Hi Greg

 

I have just answered a post and not had a problem. Yippee!

Thanks

Pamhappyflower

ROSE117
30 Nov 2011 at 5:06PM
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Hi Greg..I can respond to other posts but cant start one and like Kim have received nothing about catchcha?

gregchivs
30 Nov 2011 at 6:21PM
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ROSE117 wrote:

Hi Greg..I can respond to other posts but cant start one and like Kim have received nothing about catchcha?

 

Leave it with me.

Greg

AnnieB
03 Dec 2011 at 6:20PM
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Hi Greg

I PM'd you about not being able to post new topics on EL, I've just discovered that my ordinary replies to posts get sent to the mods for checking. I posted one reply over an hour ago and it is yet to appear, other replies have in the meanwhile appeared

Could you look into this please? I am normally quite well  behaved happy2

Thanks

Anne

Brog64
04 Dec 2011 at 9:11AM
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Hi Greg,

 

I am having to do the Captcha box nearly everytime I reply to a post. I find them really hard to read and it is actually putting me off posting. I have given up a couple of times because I just can't read the box :-(

 

It is getting to the poitn where I won't be bothered coming here as posting is becoming a near impossible chore.

 

Don't know what yu can do but I wonder how many others have given up in frustration as well.

 

Cheers,

 

Belinda

 

trish44
04 Dec 2011 at 11:28AM
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hello greg hope this one gets to you as i have tried to post all eekend with no joy

AnnieB
05 Dec 2011 at 11:11AM
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Testing.........

 

happyflower

gregchivs
05 Dec 2011 at 11:41AM
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brog64 wrote:

I am having to do the Captcha box nearly everytime I reply to a post. I find them really hard to read and it is actually putting me off posting. I have given up a couple of times because I just can't read the box :-(

We're still working on the fine-tuning of the anti-spam system so if anyone else is having similar problems please PM me and I'll add you to the whitelist so you don't get any hassle from the anti-spam.

Belinda - You've been added.

Greg

 

Broushka
06 Dec 2011 at 3:43AM
Top

Yep,me too, still being asked to the CATCHA thingy everytime I post.You try it with ON.And please don't tell me about the audio thing,no idea how it works and doesn't solve the problem anyway.I'll pm you,thanks.

lph48
22 Dec 2011 at 10:15PM
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I haven't posted on here for a while because I was asked to do the captch which I struggle to read (MS blurry vision!), Just posted a new thread and then replied to another and was asked to do the captcha each time. This is definately going to cut the ever dwindling users even more!!

Lynne

lph48
22 Dec 2011 at 10:16PM
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Hi, it didn't aske me then???

Lynne x

shirleymoss
09 Jan 2012 at 6:24PM
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im new to this site but use the fb chat room for ms but it means that eveyone on fb can see what i put and it sometimes not appropiate .is this a everyday chat room so that we can have a moan to other ms sufferers

gregchivs
10 Jan 2012 at 11:16AM
Top

Hi Shirley

You're right - this  is the Society's chat forum system. Feel free to have a moan here if you like but you'll also find loads of quality support, laughs etc. if you need those too.   

It's different to FB in a number of ways  but the main one is that we have a facility to post a question anonomously and people don't even have to declare their real names if they don't want to.

Greg [admin]

Hissingsid
19 Jan 2012 at 6:08PM
Top

it is not letting me post on the pages as a new page - and I wanted to share some good news too

gregchivs
20 Jan 2012 at 10:43AM
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Hi Sid

I'm seeing a new thread started by you at 17:10 - is everything OK now?

Greg [admin]

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