[MacNNUK]

Suggestion.

Why not have an automatic removal of threads when a certain number of Alerts are reported, until the Mods have had a chance to review the thread.

There do seem to be quite a few threads worthy of removal, started up overnight.

Macnn forum is quite quick usually, having Mods dispersed around the world it seems in different time zones.

[turtle777]

Sounds like something that is not a standard feture of vBulletin, and would need to be programmed specifically for 'NN.

Not a bad idea, but probably too much effort for 'NN.

-t

[MacNNUK]

I suppose you could only allow newbies to post when a Mod is present.

[CharlesS]

Usually the staff here is pretty good at deleting spam threads before anyone even sees them. So where's the problem that requires such a work-intensive solution?

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by MacNNUK 

I suppose you could only allow newbies to post when a Mod is present.

That, again, would need to be programmed.

The only (standard AFAIK) vBulletin function is moderated posts until a certain postcount is reached.

This has been proposed by users (me, among others), and repeatedly rejected by 'NN mods and admins.

-t

[Spheric Harlot]

Also, would you remove a perfectly good, active thread that has been spammed?

[MacNNUK]

Originally Posted by CharlesS 

Usually the staff here is pretty good at deleting spam threads before anyone even sees them. So where's the problem that requires such a work-intensive solution?

I see them, I'm usually awake here just after most in the US have gone to bed, my RSS feed informs me of new posts almost immediately, ( and of course the multiple SPAM ones are really obvious) but yes, the Mods are usually quite quick most of the time.

I presume they need other members to be awake and spot the dodgy threads to alert them ?

[-Q-]

I do like the idea very much but I'm reasonably sure turtle is correct: it would take a lot of development effort as it's not a standard feature in VB. And as much as we'd like to automate some of the spam removal tasks, I think we do an excellent job of eliminating it very shortly after it appears. There does seem to be a small window where they can get through but the Eye of Sauron does eventually notice them.

And we have debated turtle's idea of requiring moderated posts by new users, but in the end decided that we didn't want to alienate (or confuse) a new user that comes to MacNN with a technical issue and then putting a technical "barrier" in their way when trying to post a question. We felt we'd rather manually clean up spammers than risk having a new user post something and then not see it appear in the thread list.

[Thorzdad]

Originally Posted by MacNNUK 

Suggestion.

Why not have an automatic removal of threads when a certain number of Alerts are reported, until the Mods have had a chance to review the thread.

You guys would be amazed how many threads rack-up multiple reports for some reason or another. Heck, the PWL alone would be a ghost town if threads with multiple reports were removed.

[MacNNUK]

Originally Posted by Thorzdad 

You guys would be amazed how many threads rack-up multiple reports for some reason or another. Heck, the PWL alone would be a ghost town if threads with multiple reports were removed.

Perhaps post some details, without naming names of course.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Thorzdad 

You guys would be amazed how many threads rack-up multiple reports for some reason or another. Heck, the PWL alone would be a ghost town if threads with multiple reports were removed.

Wow, you almost make it sound like a good plan

-t

[Thorzdad]

Originally Posted by MacNNUK 

Perhaps post some details, without naming names of course.

Sorry. What happens in the High-Earth-Orbit Moderator Sanctuary stays in the High-Earth-Orbit Moderator Sanctuary.

[mduell]

So all I have to do is ballot stuff to get your thread suppressed?

[Big Mac]

Yeah, it sounds like a well meaning idea not worth the effort or the downsides.