UGX-Mods

UGX-Mods => Announcements => Topic started by: treminaor on October 15, 2014, 04:32:15 am

Title: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: treminaor on October 15, 2014, 04:32:15 am
Today we have added a new feature to the forum which will limit the features available to fresh user accounts on this forum. The reason we are doing this is because recently there have been a small group of people who make it their daily goal to create 1-3 duplicate accounts using proxy services and fake email addresses in order to spam the forum with 10-15 posts of pointless GIFs and "where is the download :troll:" comments in WIP topics. This is wasting the time of our staff and defacing the forum.

Unfortunately banning the IP addresses of these users is ineffective because they are changing their IPs with proxy services. I could ban all known proxy services from visiting the forum but there are legitimate users on the forum who use proxies for getting around school/work firewalls etc who would be affected by this ban. I could ban all of the known fake email generation sites from being used in registration but there are thousands of possible domains and I could not possibly ban all of them - this would be just as time consuming and ineffective as banning their accounts one at a time like we are right now.

As a result the only way to stop these people is to put limits on every single new account registered on the forum. This is a proactive solution to the problem instead of a reactive one, and should be more effective as a result. Obviously this is going to affect more legitimate users than it will spammers, so we were very careful in choosing what limitations we impose on new forum accounts.

New users on the forum can expect the following limitations to be placed on their account:
All of the limitations listed above will be removed automatically once your account reaches 5 approved posts. This proves to the staff that you are a legitimate responsible user who deserves unrestricted access to all the features this forum has to offer. Of course a dedicated no-life spammer could waste his or her time making 5 legitimate posts over a 3 day period just to spam right after they get the ability to, but this will take much longer and require much more effort than it does for them right now which will hopefully discourage it from happening in the future. Even if they continue to spam this will at least slow down the rate at which they can do it.

We apologize to all new members who have no intention of spamming our forums, but until the issue of spamming is resolved this system will have to remain in place. You can thank the spammers for ruining the registration process for legitimate users.

If anyone has any suggestions or comments on this new forum feature please feel free to reply below.
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: Dust on October 15, 2014, 05:04:11 am
Sounds good Trem! When will this new system be implemented?
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: treminaor on October 15, 2014, 05:11:45 am
Sounds good Trem! When will this new system be implemented?
Right now. Just finished adding all of the files to the live server and tested it with a test account.
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: haxman123 on October 15, 2014, 06:20:38 am
This is a really good idea :D I hope this deteriorate spammers  and people with nothing constructive to say, ive noticed predominately that its new users that post stupid and pointless replies to topics.

Good Job Trem :D
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: FATKIDSLOV3CAK3 on October 15, 2014, 06:35:40 am
great idea trem, glad we can get rid of the spamming ones now, hopefully for good :D
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: DarkWhiss on October 15, 2014, 07:43:54 am
What if there's a user who was under the 20 post mark before this? Are they affected? Or is it just new users who register from now on?
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: treminaor on October 15, 2014, 07:44:33 am
What if there's a user who was under the 20 post mark before this? Are they affected? Or is it just new users who register from now on?
It affects everyone under 20 posts.
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: Lukkie1998 on October 15, 2014, 07:45:08 am
Quote from: treminaor
You will not be able to make any topics or replies on the forum without a site moderator personally approving them first.

I thought someone told us that chat moderators were also able to approve the new posts?
Nevertheless, I love this new system and I hope that the spamming will stop now.

Good Job Trem!!

Lukkie1998
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: timelordalex on October 15, 2014, 09:18:24 am
Thank you for doing this, trolls got on my nerves
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: Psy0ch on October 15, 2014, 11:25:47 am
Im behind the 20 post limit wuhu xD
But yeah thx for doing this trem :)
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: Ramiabdh on October 15, 2014, 11:49:45 am
Don't you think 20 posts is a little low. I mean if you put 30 posts it wouldn't do bad, would it??
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: Lukkie1998 on October 15, 2014, 01:28:42 pm
Don't you think 20 posts is a little low. I mean if you put 30 posts it wouldn't do bad, would it??
It could have been higher, but people who only come to UGX for spamming won't even try to post 20 serious comments, just so they can spam some topics.

Lukkie1998
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: tomikaze on October 15, 2014, 01:38:03 pm
Great idea! I just pity the site moderators who have to approve new member comments all day long.
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: HitmanVere on October 15, 2014, 02:00:13 pm
Great idea! I just pity the site moderators who have to approve new member comments all day long.

There has been talk about chat mods also having powers to approve, which is good :P
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: treminaor on October 15, 2014, 03:05:59 pm
There has been talk about chat mods also having powers to approve, which is good :P
I looked into it and the only way for me to give chat mods permission to approve posts is by giving access to the moderation panel, which comes with other site moderation features that are intended only for site moderators - so I didn't do it. I could probably rewrite the default system a bit so that chat mods have permission to approve posts they see on the forum without using the moderation center but I think we have enough site mods to manage the job right now, plus its not worth me taking more time away from UGX Mod development at this time.
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: x_xMayheMx_x on October 15, 2014, 08:33:34 pm
It is to bad it had to come to this conclusion. When I first joined ugx I was completely new to custom zombies and pc gaming all together. If it wasn't for a few members I had talked to in the chat lobby I would probably still be screaming at my pc  :lol: trying to figure out why I was getting these errors, luckily the chat was available and a couple of good guys gave me some advice on what to do to get things in proper working order! I completely understand your reasoning behind this, its just a shame that a few spoiled eggs ruined it for everyone new.
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: x_xMayheMx_x on October 15, 2014, 08:37:09 pm
Even though now that I'm 2 posts away from the 20 required for "full access" have you considered making exceptions for newer member's who have donated?
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: timelordalex on October 15, 2014, 09:44:17 pm
Even though now that I'm 2 posts away from the 20 required for "full access" have you considered making exceptions for newer member's who have donated?

this is actually a good point, its very unlikely trolls that want to bring down the site, will then donate and support the site, perhaps donators should be exempt from these new regulations
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: gamer9294 on October 15, 2014, 10:00:19 pm
Hello treminaor,

I have a question about my account,

I see that you have a topic about the accounts and I know your point and it is a great idea and good plan :)


Sorry but I'm not spamming guy sorry, I'm making maps and need what help and sometimes I got problems but some one is help me out with a problem from the PM message but I can't reply back :(


I love this community forum website ;) and I like to help people out that have a problem if I can help :)
and I will also releashing maps here for everyone :)


is it possible that i get my full account back ? or is that not possible.


that is also the point that i have written here the message.


best regards,
Gamer9294
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: Dust on October 15, 2014, 10:17:35 pm
Hello treminaor,

I have a question about my account,

I see that you have a topic about the accounts and I know your point and it is a great idea and good plan :)


Sorry but I'm not spamming guy sorry, I'm making maps and need what help and sometimes I got problems but some one is help me out with a problem from the PM message but I can't reply back :(


I love this community forum website ;) and I like to help people out that have a problem if I can help :)
and I will also releashing maps here for everyone :)


is it possible that i get my full account back ? or is that not possible.


that is also the point that i have written here the message.


best regards,
Gamer9294

You got 20 posts now so you should be able to enjoy all the features of the forum without needing a moderators help
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: gamer9294 on October 16, 2014, 10:22:11 am
You got 20 posts now so you should be able to enjoy all the features of the forum without needing a moderators help

thank you very much  8)  ;)


best regards,
Gamer9294
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: CreepersAreEpic on October 16, 2014, 03:12:01 pm
It's a good idea but it can be a disadvantage to people that have posted maps/content to this site which has been accepted. They may not be allowed to post replies on their own content? Also people such as myself are active on other sites as well,l so for example I have 49 posts on zombiemodding  AND 31 posts on GCZ.

I know you might be thinking "Well this is our site we don't care if you have posts on other sites" but please consider the fact that there are people like me who have contributed to this site by uploading content and helping users.

We would at least like to have our posts on our own content without authorisation.

Thank you for considering.
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: DeathBringerZen on October 16, 2014, 03:39:49 pm
I know you might be thinking "Well this is our site we don't care if you have posts on other sites" but please consider the fact that there are people like me who have contributed to this site by uploading content and helping users.

These new conditions were not introduced to the forum lightly, and have only been done to deter recent troll users from spamming the forum and in the process, ruining good threads.

All we are asking is that new users have to submit a minimum of 20 posts over 4 days or more to move from a probationary period to a full member. This move has so far proved to be successful. All posts requiring authorisation are being seen to quickly and the site is now troll/spam free for the most part.

I don't think it is a great deal to ask if it means the forum remains clean and tidy. It is a feature that is already in-place on many other forums and works well there where people cannot get access to certain things like downloads to prevent leaching or certain areas of the forum that are for regular members only.

Either way, all posts made by members below the 20 post limit are usually authorised fairly quick, so it is a minor inconvinience at best for the user.
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: eliudjb on October 16, 2014, 04:41:13 pm
I was thinking a similar idea because there's a lot of new guys who posts on WIP (as you mention) "Help! I can't find the download link", "Download link?", "Wheres the dowload link?", etc, etc. And it's annoying  >:(

And don't forget the kind of post who ask about how to play a map because it dont have a Solo start Button (Like Freefall's map Dome). We constantly repeated again, again and again that they need to open the console and that kind of things, but those guys don't read a sh*t.

What happen if a user who reached 20 approved posts became a spammer/troll user? In common sense, that will be banned, don't you?

And of course, you need to do a " Call of duty " to the users to report that kind of posts. :lol:

Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: Lukkie1998 on October 16, 2014, 04:51:08 pm
What happen if a user who reached 20 approved posts became a spammer/troll user? In common sense, that will be banned, don't you?

And of course, you need to do a " Call of duty " to the users to report that kind of posts. :lol:

Trollers and/or spammers who'll pass the 20 post limit, and start to spam again, will obviously be dealt with like before this new system. But there are (almost) no spammers who will take such an effort to spam after 4 days of posting serious comments.

Lukkie1998
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: eliudjb on October 16, 2014, 08:27:07 pm
What if some new user want to post a WIP? I mean, In what way the user will let to administrators know? They cannot send a PM, Chat... like the user  "『 』". He already have a WIP Mod but he can't edit it anymore, because he has only 4 post.

I propose to you guys make an inbox for new users, where do requests or to make themselves known, proving that users are not spammers. This is in case they want to contribute from the first comment.

Another proposal would only Introductions section is enabled. So we can meet them and know how kind of user is.  :boss:



Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: treminaor on October 16, 2014, 08:30:46 pm
What if some new user want to post a WIP? I mean, In what way the user will let to administrators know? They cannot send a PM, Chat... like the user  "『 』". He already have a WIP Mod but he can't edit it anymore, because he has only 4 post.

I propose to you guys make an inbox for new users, where do requests or to make themselves known, proving that users are not spammers. This is in case they want to contribute from the first comment.

Another proposal would only Introductions section is enabled. So we can meet them and know how kind of user is.  :boss:
I dont think some of you guys fully understand the system. New members are allowed to make any post or reply they want. However it does not become public immediately, it is invisible and all staff are notified of the invisible post. If we look it over and it does not appear to be spam then the post is approved and it becomes visible to the public. We did not take away posting privileges for anyone.
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: TheProBas on October 19, 2014, 05:50:28 pm
When will you be an approved poster? Because I have been around this site for over a year but never posted things. I used to chat a lot but now i am neither allowed to do that.

Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: Lukkie1998 on October 19, 2014, 06:13:33 pm
When will you be an approved poster? Because I have been around this site for over a year but never posted things. I used to chat a lot but now i am neither allowed to do that.
Like in the OP already mentioned, you'll become an approved member after you've posted 20 posts (All matching the forum rules of course). Everyone with less than 20 posts has to go through this.

Lukkie1998
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: -Leask- on December 17, 2014, 08:14:08 pm
Trem -

I have been a member since 2012 believe it or not. I never post topics or really comment on topics. I have started doing it now and its annoying waiting for a mod to confirm the comment. I really don't want to spam but If I went through 10+ W.I.P asking if there are any updates would that be classed as spam? Thanks.  :)
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: Dust on December 17, 2014, 09:01:07 pm
Trem -

I have been a member since 2012 believe it or not. I never post topics or really comment on topics. I have started doing it now and its annoying waiting for a mod to confirm the comment. I really don't want to spam but If I went through 10+ W.I.P asking if there are any updates would that be classed as spam? Thanks.  :)

So far, the mods have been pretty good at approving comments pretty fast. Also you can only post 5 posts per day, but still dont spam the WIPs asking for updates, that is usually not a good thing to do.
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: treminaor on December 17, 2014, 09:20:38 pm
Trem -

I have been a member since 2012 believe it or not. I never post topics or really comment on topics. I have started doing it now and its annoying waiting for a mod to confirm the comment. I really don't want to spam but If I went through 10+ W.I.P asking if there are any updates would that be classed as spam? Thanks.  :)
Hi Leask,

I am sorry that despite being a member for so long, you are limited the same way as new member accounts. Maybe there is a way for me to exclude accounts which are over 3 months old. It will take me some time to implement it as a feature because I do not have much free time these days, but I will see what I can do.

The WIP posts would be considered spamming, yes. Please avoid doing that very often.
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: KnivingCombat777 on February 19, 2015, 10:52:30 pm
I am a new zombie player and ugx forum reader and quite disturbed by this, but I understand this has to be done and I even have to admit this is a good idea. But how long do you have to wait(average) to let a message get approved?
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: Lukkie1998 on February 19, 2015, 11:47:58 pm
I am a new zombie player and ugx forum reader and quite disturbed by this, but I understand this has to be done and I even have to admit this is a good idea. But how long do you have to wait(average) to let a message get approved?

This totally depends on how many mods/admins are online. If i don't notice a new post, it might stay unapproved for a while. It won't take longer than 24 hours!
Again, depends on multiple things..

And btw Welcome to UGX, enjoy your stay here!!

Lukkie1998
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: treminaor on February 19, 2015, 11:49:18 pm
I'd say based on what I've seen lately, on average it's within a few minutes. At the most, within an hour or two.
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: Rorke on February 20, 2015, 01:22:42 am
im so glad im not under 20 posts this would piss me off completely
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: tomikaze on February 20, 2015, 01:31:20 am
im so glad im not under 20 posts this would piss me off completely
If you are in for the long term you'd get over it and if this is too much trouble for you then this probably isn't your thing anyway. I totally stand by the ruling.
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: Dust on February 20, 2015, 03:15:44 am
I am a new zombie player and ugx forum reader and quite disturbed by this, but I understand this has to be done and I even have to admit this is a good idea. But how long do you have to wait(average) to let a message get approved?

I usually am online all through the day, and as soon as I get on, I go straight to the page to approve replies/topics. So it usually doesn't take too long to get approved.
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: joj on February 20, 2015, 05:42:03 am
im so glad im not under 20 posts this would piss me off completely

Ain't so bad. no-one really cares what anyone have to say anyway. Delaying a post by an hour or so won't make that any different lol.
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: Rorke on February 20, 2015, 01:31:16 pm
Ain't so bad. no-one really cares what anyone have to say anyway. Delaying a post by an hour or so won't make that any different lol.
then why you here?
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: GreyHound on March 13, 2015, 01:24:43 pm
It sounds like a good idea but its going to annoy the crap out of me.
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: Shroomy on May 26, 2015, 04:44:37 pm
this is the topic i have been looking for, IMO i think it is a tad hard, unless obviously you try to post right away. I myself have been trying yo figure out why for the past week i could not send a PM to a friend. I believe this is a really awesome newcomer law, but i also believe it should be easier to find, like say automatically send it to an inbox/make them read it.
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: UndeadGaming on May 26, 2015, 07:13:31 pm
Well i think its not fair if you have donated to the site to keep it up your still treated as a noob and have to wait every day for a moderator to approve your posts until you hit 20 posts
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: treminaor on May 26, 2015, 11:11:40 pm
Well i think its not fair if you have donated to the site to keep it up your still treated as a noob and have to wait every day for a moderator to approve your posts until you hit 20 posts
I agree with this sentiment but I simply have not had time to rewrite the existing system to exclude donators from the post limitations. Maybe I'll have time now that I'm on summer break.
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: treminaor on May 27, 2015, 04:31:08 am
but i also believe it should be easier to find, like say automatically send it to an inbox/make them read it.
Good idea, I've added a link for this topic to the Welcome PM that gets sent to all new members.
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: Scobalula on May 27, 2015, 09:40:24 pm
I didn't find it that big of a dead, sure it is annoying waiting for mods to approve your posts but after you get 20 posts (which isn't that hard), things go smooth.  8)


Though it would be nice for those who have donated to be exempted from this as I doubt those who have donated would try and ruin the forums.  :)
Title: Re: Limiting Forum Features for New Accounts
Post by: treminaor on November 30, 2016, 09:05:23 pm
Hello everyone - reviving a long-dead topic here. Today we have relaxed the post threshold from 20 posts to 10 posts for new accounts. Once you hit 10 posts you will have full access to site features - I will update the OP with the new info. We will continue to relax these requirements until we start to see spammers become an issue again.