Suggestion: Limiting Number of New Threads for Newbies
Sep 17, 2015, 6:12 am
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels
Posts: 10,187
As long as there has been spam, there have been ways for spammers to get around any roadblocks put up to try to stop it. It's constantly evolving, unfortunately.
I know IB and mods are doing an awesome job attacking spam each time something crops up, as evidenced by the thread in the Tech Support forum. Until they know the next method of attack, it's impossible to plan for everything.
I know IB and mods are doing an awesome job attacking spam each time something crops up, as evidenced by the thread in the Tech Support forum. Until they know the next method of attack, it's impossible to plan for everything.
All of that said - I visit some boards that have restrictions like needing to post in a "Let Me Introduce Myself" type of forum/thread before being able to post anywhere else on the site, so if the spam REALLY becomes a site-wide problem, something like that could be implemented to at least corral it to one forum. Just an idea.
Sep 17, 2015, 8:20 am
#17
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,114
I'm not sure someone who comes to FT looking for info on his/her airline or hotel program is going to want to post a Who I am/Let Me Introduce Myself post just to ask a question about an upgrade on an airline or if they get exec lounge access as part of their bennies.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Sep 17, 2015, 8:23 am
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NJ
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, UA Silver, dirt elsewhere
Posts: 46,919
I'm not saying I don't think they should be able to post more than 5 times a day, I'm saying they shouldn't be able to start more than 5 threads a day for a limited period of time.
But it was just a thought after I saw 25 threads started by a seriel spammer only to come back the next day and do it all again.
Sep 17, 2015, 8:52 am
#19
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
I'm not sure someone who comes to FT looking for info on his/her airline or hotel program is going to want to post a Who I am/Let Me Introduce Myself post just to ask a question about an upgrade on an airline or if they get exec lounge access as part of their bennies.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Sep 17, 2015, 9:13 am
#20
Flyertalk Evangelist and Moderator: Coupon Connection and Travel Products
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Milton, GA USA
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum Elite, Hyatt Discoverist, Radisson Elite
Posts: 19,040
What tool is not working? I find the tools work pretty fine.... and have mods really complained about workload to you?
I probably get more SPAM posts in Travel Products than most other mods.... but I do not consider it hard work.... that is what we are here for.... and the tools are pretty good at pre-empting spammers.
Flyertalk members often make it difficult for new members to feel welcomed as it is.... why should we make it more unwelcoming?
If you see a post you believe is SPAM... report it and move on.... I cannot believe one or two spam messages is really ruining your FT experience.
I do hope that the Talkboard does not give this serious consideration.
I probably get more SPAM posts in Travel Products than most other mods.... but I do not consider it hard work.... that is what we are here for.... and the tools are pretty good at pre-empting spammers.
Flyertalk members often make it difficult for new members to feel welcomed as it is.... why should we make it more unwelcoming?
If you see a post you believe is SPAM... report it and move on.... I cannot believe one or two spam messages is really ruining your FT experience.
I do hope that the Talkboard does not give this serious consideration.
Sep 17, 2015, 9:58 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 1999
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 15,354
A solution in search of a problem.
Sep 17, 2015, 10:25 am
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NJ
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, UA Silver, dirt elsewhere
Posts: 46,919
What tool is not working? I find the tools work pretty fine.... and have mods really complained about workload to you?
I probably get more SPAM posts in Travel Products than most other mods.... but I do not consider it hard work.... that is what we are here for.... and the tools are pretty good at pre-empting spammers.
Flyertalk members often make it difficult for new members to feel welcomed as it is.... why should we make it more unwelcoming?
If you see a post you believe is SPAM... report it and move on.... I cannot believe one or two spam messages is really ruining your FT experience.
I do hope that the Talkboard does not give this serious consideration.
I probably get more SPAM posts in Travel Products than most other mods.... but I do not consider it hard work.... that is what we are here for.... and the tools are pretty good at pre-empting spammers.
Flyertalk members often make it difficult for new members to feel welcomed as it is.... why should we make it more unwelcoming?
If you see a post you believe is SPAM... report it and move on.... I cannot believe one or two spam messages is really ruining your FT experience.
I do hope that the Talkboard does not give this serious consideration.
I never said that any mod complained
I never said that it ruined my experience.
What I did say was that I thought limiting new threads for new users might make mods life a little easier.
No more, no less.
Sheesh... you would think I suggested paining a red N on all their posts.
Sep 17, 2015, 10:27 am
#23
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
One thing that is not going to happen here: disclosure of specific FlyerTalk parameters and methodologies of handling spam; we're not going to give spammers a platform to learn that information.
We can say that new members with posts that have certain markers or inclusions will have their posts detoured to a moderation queue for approval (or other actions) by Moderators; new members are therefore throttled on their ebilities to start new threads because of that, and they are throttled back on how many PMs they can send. (We do not publicly specify the restrictions by numerical limits for obvious reasons.)
We can say that between the spam control protocols and the Moderator team, FlyerTalk is remarkably free of spam. Though occasional spam storms manage to broach our defenses, they are usually brief and dealt with effectively. As Moderators, we see the suppressed and deleted posts and threads; thankfully, other members generally don't.
Mostly, if not entirely, these issues pertain to Internet Brands Admin and Tech, and to the FlyerTalk Community Director. TalkBoard Topics is not genuinely the venue for deciding further refinement or changes regarding FlyerTalk spam control protocols.
JDiver, Senior Moderator
We can say that new members with posts that have certain markers or inclusions will have their posts detoured to a moderation queue for approval (or other actions) by Moderators; new members are therefore throttled on their ebilities to start new threads because of that, and they are throttled back on how many PMs they can send. (We do not publicly specify the restrictions by numerical limits for obvious reasons.)
We can say that between the spam control protocols and the Moderator team, FlyerTalk is remarkably free of spam. Though occasional spam storms manage to broach our defenses, they are usually brief and dealt with effectively. As Moderators, we see the suppressed and deleted posts and threads; thankfully, other members generally don't.
Mostly, if not entirely, these issues pertain to Internet Brands Admin and Tech, and to the FlyerTalk Community Director. TalkBoard Topics is not genuinely the venue for deciding further refinement or changes regarding FlyerTalk spam control protocols.
JDiver, Senior Moderator
Sep 17, 2015, 11:26 am
#24
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Sep 17, 2015, 12:37 pm
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
re comparisons, everyone on FT has to wait 30 seconds between posts
Sep 18, 2015, 4:46 am
#26
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Either at the shooting range or anywhere good beer can be found...
Posts: 51,059
Their contributions are already limited by the PM limit.
I'm not saying I don't think they should be able to post more than 5 times a day, I'm saying they shouldn't be able to start more than 5 threads a day for a limited period of time.
But it was just a thought after I saw 25 threads started by a seriel spammer only to come back the next day and do it all again.
I'm not saying I don't think they should be able to post more than 5 times a day, I'm saying they shouldn't be able to start more than 5 threads a day for a limited period of time.
But it was just a thought after I saw 25 threads started by a seriel spammer only to come back the next day and do it all again.
Sep 18, 2015, 10:22 am
#27
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
Sep 18, 2015, 12:26 pm
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NJ
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, UA Silver, dirt elsewhere
Posts: 46,919
No, we don't. It was just a thought that popped into my head when I saw a seriel spammer AND the thread about PMs for newbies popped up in technical issues.
Sep 19, 2015, 8:33 pm
#29
Moderator: Hilton Honors forums
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Marietta, Georgia, United States
Posts: 24,997
Just to chime in here on the record: with a team of 94 moderators, for these reasons...
...and more, I am opposed to this proposal.
We can say that new members with posts that have certain markers or inclusions will have their posts detoured to a moderation queue for approval (or other actions) by Moderators; new members are therefore throttled on their ebilities to start new threads because of that, and they are throttled back on how many PMs they can send. (We do not publicly specify the restrictions by numerical limits for obvious reasons.)
We can say that between the spam control protocols and the Moderator team, FlyerTalk is remarkably free of spam. Though occasional spam storms manage to broach our defenses, they are usually brief and dealt with effectively. As Moderators, we see the suppressed and deleted posts and threads; thankfully, other members generally don't.
Mostly, if not entirely, these issues pertain to Internet Brands Admin and Tech, and to the FlyerTalk Community Director. TalkBoard Topics is not genuinely the venue for deciding further refinement or changes regarding FlyerTalk spam control protocols.
We can say that between the spam control protocols and the Moderator team, FlyerTalk is remarkably free of spam. Though occasional spam storms manage to broach our defenses, they are usually brief and dealt with effectively. As Moderators, we see the suppressed and deleted posts and threads; thankfully, other members generally don't.
Mostly, if not entirely, these issues pertain to Internet Brands Admin and Tech, and to the FlyerTalk Community Director. TalkBoard Topics is not genuinely the venue for deciding further refinement or changes regarding FlyerTalk spam control protocols.
Sep 20, 2015, 5:55 am
#30
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Yiron, Israel
Programs: Bates Motel Plat
Posts: 68,930
