R3V needs James' help... and you need to ask him for it!

[James Crivellone]

Gone until it breaks again

Thanks.

[James Crivellone]

I enabled GD / Image Verification. Quite a few threads on the Vbulletin forums are showing Google Captcha being broken at the moment (which it is). It broke when we upgraded to 6.1.4.

[JasonWilson48]

To be frank I'm working 99% of the time, and in the off chances I get out I get out to an event, BMW etc. Even with my social media posts I'm still working in between them.

Totally fair. TBH, I don't think I have a leg to stand on, as I am someone who hasn't contributed much to the community yet. My words just come from a newbie trying to give some feedback on the website's UI and experience. I appreciate you and everyone else who are trying to maintain and improve this encyclopedia of E30 knowledge for future generations.

[2mAn]

I enabled GD / Image Verification. Quite a few threads on the Vbulletin forums are showing Google Captcha being broken at the moment (which it is). It broke when we upgraded to 6.1.4.

Thanks James!

I cannot figure out how we can make any changes to new members' pathway to membership. Is there a way to charge like $1 to join...

I would even be willing to send them a R3V sticker if we make it $5 which is what I charge anyways (break even cost basically)

The other idea I had was to create a new Usergroup that all newbies are automatically slotted into which prevents them from making new threads until they have ~10 posts or something. I just dont know how to route them into that group...

[MrBurgundy]

Thanks.

Just bustin your balls

[rturbo 930]

Thanks James!

I cannot figure out how we can make any changes to new members' pathway to membership. Is there a way to charge like $1 to join...

I would even be willing to send them a R3V sticker if we make it $5 which is what I charge anyways (break even cost basically)

The other idea I had was to create a new Usergroup that all newbies are automatically slotted into which prevents them from making new threads until they have ~10 posts or something. I just dont know how to route them into that group...

If there's a paywall, almost no one will join. A forum I was on years ago had it set up so that the first post/thread had to be in an introductions forum, and I thought that worked well. Bimmerforums had it set up such that you couldn't post a link until you had 10 posts or so. I'd probably prefer the former since then they're contained in one area, and a spambot will blow past 10 posts within minutes. Another option would be to make it so that a new user can't start new threads or post links until a week or two after joining. As far as I'm aware, these spam accounts typically join up, spam away, and mostly never come back again. That might be most effective option of the bunch.

[JasonWilson48]

Yeah, I like the ideas being thrown out, but I agree with rturbo 930 that a paywall would probably hurt the site more than help it. Even if it is only a dollar. I like an introduction post, where Simon (or other admins) could vet people. Like there can't be that many new users each day trying to sign up. Like no way more than 5 people are creating new accounts on here each day. My guess like it averages 1-2 actual humans creating new accounts each day. I don't know though. Just me throwing random numbers out there based on the vibes lol

[2mAn]

James Crivellone Can you just eliminate the Forums News & Suggestion sub-forum and the Testing123 ? Anything people used to post there they will just post in the General Discussion nowadays and I cant delete any of the Spam that ends up there.

[James Crivellone]

Thanks James!

I cannot figure out how we can make any changes to new members' pathway to membership. Is there a way to charge like $1 to join...

I would even be willing to send them a R3V sticker if we make it $5 which is what I charge anyways (break even cost basically)

The other idea I had was to create a new Usergroup that all newbies are automatically slotted into which prevents them from making new threads until they have ~10 posts or something. I just dont know how to route them into that group...

I can certainly force all new users into moderation, but will require someone to verify them prior to activating. I don't dig the idea of requiring a buck to join, at least at this point I think it will cause more harm than good.

[James Crivellone]

James Crivellone Can you just eliminate the Forums News & Suggestion sub-forum and the Testing123 ? Anything people used to post there they will just post in the General Discussion nowadays and I cant delete any of the Spam that ends up there.

Just nuke them entirely? I can hide them from regular users which will work.

[2mAn]

I can certainly force all new users into moderation, but will require someone to verify them prior to activating. I don't dig the idea of requiring a buck to join, at least at this point I think it will cause more harm than good.

I can moderate the new users… I basically moderate them when I ban the spam lol

and yes, the forum news and suggestion and testing forums are pointless today

thank you for your attention to this matter lol

SET

[MrBurgundy]

Simon is free labor, lets use it!

[McGyver]

How about adding some additional mods?

I'd be happy to take the east coast early shift, I'm browsing at work by 7am EST.

[DEV0 E30]

I've ran/installed/admin'd/moderated many a phpbb forums and other types many a years ago.

I can help but I do think filters on new members plus more spam protection should alleviate nearly every issue the forum deals with these days.

But Simon honestly could use some help - not because it is above him, but give him an hour off of the clock, ya know?

He's on here more than nearly everyone but he also is a dude and has a life.

[rturbo 930]

I agree we need more mods, nando and agent haven't been here in ages, I see MR325 from time to time, but overall it feels like it's just Simon. Devo and McGyver would both be good additions. And IMO Simon needs a promotion. He's here all the time, and I think it would be good if he had more or less admin abilities. Sort of a R3V VP position.