Improving ASR as a member/moderator

[respice finem]

Can someone please screen-capture what a spam would look like on a desktop monitor?
No, I don't want to apply for SST membership.

I'll do a screenshot when I catch one again. Usually offtopic ad-spam and some fishy crypto stuff.

 

[RickS]

Considering myself a helpful member, I'm thinking how to fill the time-gap before first sight of a spam post and effective intervention, without mod presence at all time. Hence the idea of such "temp-ban" status, because reporting isn't automatically blocking the spam poster, not even temporarily.
The benefit for the forum would be, the spammer activity would be "frozen" (ideally) after his first spam post, before he can flood "half the forum". Distributed denial of spam, so to speak. BTW, if a spammer tries to flood, it's counterproductive to have these long waiting times between reports, but that's probably "hardcoded" in the software.

To a certain extent, your are describing the status quo. If there had been spam filters catch the offending content, it is either rejected or reported for moderator review. Am not sure why sometimes the content is viewable, but once a moderator spam cleans, the account and content are removed. I usually review the system reports first as the automated clean will close member reports caused by the same spammer.

So far, if a spammer slips by, worst case it just takes more effort to clean up. Given my background in automation systems, I tend to want to prevent as many bad actors from getting a beachhead as possible, but then Amir reminds me to lighten up as ASR is not exactly mission critical. There is only so much we need to do.

 

[respice finem]

To a certain extent, your are describing the status quo. If the spam filters catch the offending content, it is either rejected or reported for moderator review. Am not sure why sometimes the content is viewable, but once a moderator spam cleans, the account and content are removed. I usually review the system reports first as the automated clean will close member reports caused by the same spammer.

So far, if a spammer slips by, worst case it just takes more effort to clean up. Given my background in IS, I tend to want to prevent as many bad actors from getting a beachhead, but then Amir reminds me to lighten up as ASR is not exactly mission critical. There is only so much we need to do.

As the Germans say, your word in God's ear. Thank you for your work.

 

[kyuu]

Given my background in IS, I tend to want to prevent as many bad actors from getting a beachhead, but then Amir reminds me to lighten up as ASR is not exactly mission critical.

Not mission critical? I do declare!

 

[Mnyb]

Cold not any report of post or acount auto-freeze that account for review ? Or possibly only if the complaint contains the word spam ?

Or can the forum software provide two kinds of report buttons one for spam or one for bad behavior

IME someonetimes the spammer plants dozens of post containing unintelligible stuff as placeholders for later edit possibly by a bot .

Sometimes it’s the usual ad or sales pitch .

Sometimes as reply to treads even .

 

[DVinylfan]

Spam lol. Gen X here, I was force-fed Monty Python's Flying Circus as a child in the 70's & 80's it was on tv and my parents rarely missed it

 

[Keith_W]

Cold not any report of post or acount auto-freeze that account for review ? Or possibly only if the complaint contains the word spam ?

Without writing custom code, all they can do is what forum software and plugins allow them to do. You can take a look at the Xenforo plugins page, I don't think I see a plugin that enables that kind of functionality.

 

[antcollinet]

Cold not any report of post or acount auto-freeze that account for review ? Or possibly only if the complaint contains the word spam ?

Or can the forum software provide two kinds of report buttons one for spam or one for bad behavior

IME someonetimes the spammer plants dozens of post containing unintelligible stuff as placeholders for later edit possibly by a bot .

Sometimes it’s the usual ad or sales pitch .

Sometimes as reply to treads even .

You don't think that would open the system to abuse by bad actors? Troll comes along. reports a bunch of folk to stop them responding to him?

 

[Audionaut]

Maybe "a well regulated militia" might help?

For many different reasons, I consider any kind of militias, regardless of the field or context, to be the absolute worst possible solution.
If anything, there should be official moderators and assistant moderators whose roles, powers, and rights are completely clear.
A sort of block warden or neighborhood watch is just annoying, especially in a forum.

 

[RickS]

For many different reasons, I consider any kind of militias, regardless of the field or context, to be the absolute worst possible solution.
If anything, there should be official moderators and assistant moderators whose roles, powers, and rights are completely clear.
A sort of block warden or neighborhood watch is just annoying, especially in a forum.

Your opinion is noted but will note that I do not endorse any vigilantism by members. In any community, there will be folks willing to support the cause in different ways. Mine here started out by helping see that DIY products were considered. As moderator, I started this thread partly because am mostly a member who volunteer moderates. I understand some may prefer a clearer separation of roles but Amir supports the more hybrid approach and do my best to ensure I balance my actions.

As for your more formal, structured preference, while I can see your point, is not the ASR way. If you feel more strongly, my actions are limited and suggest you discuss with Amir.

 

[Audionaut]

As for your more formal, structured preference, while I can see your point, is not the ASR way. If you feel more strongly, my actions are limited and suggest you discuss with Amir.

Rick, I think you completely misunderstood something in my post, though I’m not sure what exactly was confusing.
I really appreciate the way you and Amir moderate the forum.
I would be delighted if you could welcome equally capable people to your moderation team. It would be great if they could also identified as moderators.

 

[RickS]

Rick, I think you completely misunderstood something in my post, though I’m not sure what exactly was confusing.
I really appreciate the way you and Amir moderate the forum.

Thanks. May be a bit defensive, however…

I would be delighted if you could welcome equally capable people to your moderation team. It would be great if they could also identified as moderators.

Some members prefer to support ASR in a less formal, less visible manner. To be clear, even if they preferred otherwise I do not have any formal authority to support such a structure. Amir and I have discussed and he prefers the status quo.

 

[Audionaut]

Amir and I have discussed and he prefers the status quo.

... and I'm perfectly happy with the status quo as a member of ASR. I'm not criticizing you or Amir here; I'm just sharing some ideas. If the ideas are helpful, great; if they seem to be heading in the wrong direction for you > trash can
Best regards to you

 

[Mnyb]

To RickS credit the spam volume seems to have gone down lately maybe some spammers runned out off sleeper accounts or something ?

 

[RickS]

To RickS credit the spam volume seems to have gone down lately maybe some spammers runned out off sleeper accounts or something ?

Perhaps a little credit but suggest is likely mainly due to asking Amir to tighten up the spam filters. Amir says the frequency can also be somewhat irregular so may just be a lull too.

Member diligence has also helped identify sleeper accounts and more elaborate social engineering. We have reduced a number of them recently.

 

[antcollinet]

It cant be said often enough, Rick: You are doing a great job. The work done here by you and @amirm is greatly appreciated.

 

[Luvchampagne]

Put all.new users in quarantine by highlighting threads started by new users.
90% of them just are blatant examples of having to IGNORE them. Whether Spam, troll bait or just irrelevant to discussion.
Much easier to avoid these threads/landmines.

 

[RickS]

Put all.new users in quarantine by highlighting threads started by new users.
90% of them just are blatant examples of having to IGNORE them. Whether Spam, troll bait or just irrelevant to discussion.
Much easier to avoid these threads/landmines.

The forum software is supposed to do this. It does not do it very consistently though.

 

[respice finem]

Can someone please screen-capture what a spam would look like on a desktop monitor?
No, I don't want to apply for SST membership.

Below, the promised "specimen" (already reported):

 

[Spkrdctr]

Below, the promised "specimen" (already reported):

View attachment 538737

Holy Cow!!! I have never seen any of this stuff. I am so glad our mod is jumping on it right away. This is the dirty trash side of the internet.......