NuttsnBolts

Let's B!tch. I feel it's a healthy release for our roleplay annoyances 2.0

So this something I have come across a few times, both here and in chat, but it's people with English as a non primary language. I can understand how it's difficult to learn a new language and communicate with the non native tongue, so this is me saying well done for attempting your best in order to learn a second language... however I don't like being told that I am aggressive in the way I speak as an Australian when my own accent may come through in text.

Terrible example to get the point:

Person: "I heard Pluto is being dropped from the list of planets"
Me: "oh that's bloody stupid"
Person: "no need to be so agressive about it"

For us as Australians 'bloody' is as regular as many other swear words. We can make a sentence with nothing but swear words, and if we wanted we will say words like ratshit, rooted, cock-up and pig's arse. To us, these aren't swear words! This is normal speak.

I just wish that when some non English people talk to an English speaker, they understand that there are many different varieties and we don't all use the same mannerisms.

Massive Spambot invasion 4/16/2016

<Snipped quote by NuttsnBolts>

When a new user is created, they're automatically added to a list that moderators have in the moderator forum. It shows their username, the email address they registered with, and a post count. So, really, all the reporting people are doing is somewhat redundant, as we can tell who the spammers are simply by following the generated moderator list and applying common sense. Now, that said, when it's happening this frequently and on this large a scale, it's almost impossible to keep up with, regardless of the information we have at hand. More moderators won't necessarily fix the problem because the bots will simply find a way to eventually circumvent our efforts and we can't all be around all the time. (That's just life.) Once Mahz puts his new system in place, whatever system that happens to be, we'll be able to keep things like this from happening and clean up the forum more effectively. Patience is key in this situation, however frustrating it happens to be in the meantime.

TL;DR -- The bots will get theirs in the end. Just sit tight. We'll handle it.

@Sherlock Holmes

Fair enough. I've used the vbulletin mod kit before but that was about 5 years ago so I don't have the best memory for what it actually offered.

The Pickers: (High Casual)(Sci-Fi Alien-Race-Building/Scavenging Roleplay)

Interesting.... Add me to the list.

As a question for the extent of the Alien race, only cause I was in one once where some people had some terrible ideas, is there any other details on what you would like us to keep in mind for what we create besides iconic creatures?

Massive Spambot invasion 4/16/2016

If you notice, every spam post uses ☆____☆ so just auto-delete every post who uses more than 2 of ☆ or who uses ☆____☆
In all my time here I haven't seen an RP use this image.

@Bishop

Some bots are designed to have a return ping (terminology?), meaning that if they get blocked on something, they'll switch up their posting structure. Same can be said about the user names. If they are making multiple post per account they can tell when they are actively logged in and when they are blocked they'll just create a new account.

One way is for the mods to look at the log-in emails, although its not the best way, it can help if the email provider is something obscure. There are many sites out there that offer temporary email services or non-public emails so a block could be placed on those providers.

Mahz's Dev Journal

@Mahz
Would it be a good idea to have an announcement for members on where they can go to report bots? It seems like people are reporting like mad and giving all sorts of info to the mods.

Massive Spambot invasion 4/16/2016

Bots are being reported in too many different places. Pick one, and only one, and make it official. Having more than one location to report bots is ultimately counterproductive.

@Shienvien

Also, only the profiles need to be reported. The mods can look through the post history and clean the spam up that way. Posting multiple threads from one bot is going to be less productive than a profile itself.

Use this thread to report spam bots

Make it easy for the mods so they can spend less time cleaning up.

NCQ — Season I: Favors for Favors

Seems to be a bit quiet this weekend. xD

Massive Spambot invasion 4/16/2016

Something I saw on one forum was a tempory/rotational mod system where a couple of members are put up for a short basis (eg. 30 days) to counter issues like this. It might be worth looking into just until the bots can be successfully blocked.

Cara's Originally Titled OoC Hangout Thread ♥ (Still)

@The Harbinger of Ferocity If you'd like xD

Plaaaaaaant

@Carantathraiel

Looks poisonous

Artifacts of a Lost Civilisation - ( Kitsune & NuttsnBolts )

Hey @Kitsune. Dunno if I have the motivation or interest to keep going with the RP. I'm sort of lost for ideas so I might back out of this.

Sorry, but thank you. It has been enjoyable. :)