Site Help
Anti-Spam - Guest Posting Rules
Due to spammers and other people who would like to ruin the good fun of normal people we are changing how BBCode, linking, and sigs are displayed for Guest and Unverified accounts.
If you are a member of the site you are posting on then you don't have to worry about these changes at all.
The following rules are now in effect for posting by Anonymous and Unverified accounts:
If the post is made by a Guest or Anonymous poster then:
- The post will not have any links enabled
- The post will not have any BBCode enabled
- The post will not show any Signature info
This is done to dissuade spammers from posting these links since they are of little value.
If the post is made by a Registered Account that is Unverified and NOT a Member of the Site they Are Posting on then:
- The post will not have any links enabled
- The post will not have any BBCode enabled
- The post will not show any Signature info
This is done to dissuade spammers from posting these links since they are of little value in plain text.
If the post is made by a Registered Account that is Unverified but *IS* a Member of the Site they Are Posting on then:
- The post will have full functionality enabled
This is done to dissuade spammers from posting these links since they are of little value.
To sum it up:
If you want to post links on a site you aren't a member of then you must verify your account. So, accounts using bogus emails will no longer work.
FAQ:
Q. Why did you do this?
A. Without some restrictions on Guest and Unverified accounts the system is abused by spammers. These restrictions are a good blend between usability and deterrence. Valid users can still post the content they need to. Spammers don't get free links and porn images displaying in forums.
Q. We use public forums to allow people to post Armory links, etc. for new applicants. This won't work now!
A. Anonymous users can still post the link, they just won't be automatically linked. The URL will still be visible and can be copied by anyone viewing the post. In addition, the user can register an account and verify it and post those links. They just can't do it anonymously.
Q. Removing all BBCode removes formatting.
A. Yes it does. The easiest way to solve this problem is to verify your account. Anonymous users and people who aren't members of a site they are posting on are probably not posting novellas. If you want to post complexes posts on sites you are not a member of then you need to verify your account.
If you are a member of the site you are posting on then you don't have to worry about these changes at all.
The following rules are now in effect for posting by Anonymous and Unverified accounts:
If the post is made by a Guest or Anonymous poster then:
- The post will not have any links enabled
- The post will not have any BBCode enabled
- The post will not show any Signature info
This is done to dissuade spammers from posting these links since they are of little value.
If the post is made by a Registered Account that is Unverified and NOT a Member of the Site they Are Posting on then:
- The post will not have any links enabled
- The post will not have any BBCode enabled
- The post will not show any Signature info
This is done to dissuade spammers from posting these links since they are of little value in plain text.
If the post is made by a Registered Account that is Unverified but *IS* a Member of the Site they Are Posting on then:
- The post will have full functionality enabled
This is done to dissuade spammers from posting these links since they are of little value.
To sum it up:
If you want to post links on a site you aren't a member of then you must verify your account. So, accounts using bogus emails will no longer work.
FAQ:
Q. Why did you do this?
A. Without some restrictions on Guest and Unverified accounts the system is abused by spammers. These restrictions are a good blend between usability and deterrence. Valid users can still post the content they need to. Spammers don't get free links and porn images displaying in forums.
Q. We use public forums to allow people to post Armory links, etc. for new applicants. This won't work now!
A. Anonymous users can still post the link, they just won't be automatically linked. The URL will still be visible and can be copied by anyone viewing the post. In addition, the user can register an account and verify it and post those links. They just can't do it anonymously.
Q. Removing all BBCode removes formatting.
A. Yes it does. The easiest way to solve this problem is to verify your account. Anonymous users and people who aren't members of a site they are posting on are probably not posting novellas. If you want to post complexes posts on sites you are not a member of then you need to verify your account.
Last edited by GL_Support on Thu Jan 20, 2011 2:11 pm; edited 1 time in total
Thank you so much for doing something to stop the spam.
I actually came to the support site today to ask how I could ban a block of IP addresses to deal with the massive volume of Russian spam we have been getting recently; so I am really glad to see that measures are being taken in this matter.
I do however have a question about the new changes. How will this affect applications? Under the current system in order to utilize the private shared apps (applicant and private users can see and comment on the app but non members cannot see it), the application forum is a public forum, and when a prospect fills out the application it is posted to the applications forum under their name. They are, of course, not members of the site yet, as they are applying to join.
I actually came to the support site today to ask how I could ban a block of IP addresses to deal with the massive volume of Russian spam we have been getting recently; so I am really glad to see that measures are being taken in this matter.
I do however have a question about the new changes. How will this affect applications? Under the current system in order to utilize the private shared apps (applicant and private users can see and comment on the app but non members cannot see it), the application forum is a public forum, and when a prospect fills out the application it is posted to the applications forum under their name. They are, of course, not members of the site yet, as they are applying to join.
We have a special exclusion for the Application posts. I didn't get into it in the FAQ, but they will work just fine.
-Stephen
-Stephen
These changes are now live. Please let us know if you see any issues.
http://www.guildlaunch.com/
-Stephen
http://www.guildlaunch.com/
-Stephen
Last edited by GL_Support on Thu Jan 20, 2011 9:53 pm; edited 1 time in total
