23-07-2001 16:36									#1
	anti-spam idea Increase the size of your Attachments

MarkG, DanQ

isn't it possible to only earn a postcount if your post ie. consists of at least 50 characters ? That'll stop a big load of spam.....

	23-07-2001 17:31									#2
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Even better solution, disable post counts altogether...

(By the way, the first line of this message was 56 characters long, so a 50 characters limit would most probably not stop oneliners... It would stop the post-only-a-rolling-eyes-smiley business, though)

	23-07-2001 17:42									#3
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

removing postcounts at all won't be a good idea.
The biggest instrument to use against spam is... PR !

Only 56 ? In that case the limit should be 100 or 150 I guess.

	23-07-2001 18:19									#4
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

Who cares? Why the fuss? Why do you care about other people getting post counts so much? Unless you care about post counts yourself...

...sometimes all of these anti-post count rants just seem to be a form of jealousy; if you didn't care, you wouldn't be bothered in the slightest, either pro and anti-

	23-07-2001 18:44									#5
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why I care ?
Because a big % of the threads are about people complaining they got a pr after spamming while they weren't spamming but the mod thought they were spamming though and then they agree to disagree and all that.

I wouldn't really care less if you got suddenly twice as much pc as you have right now.

	23-07-2001 18:49									#6
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I don't care about post counts, but the problem with it is it is the single biggest incentive for spam on 'Poly. So doing away with post counts will cause a huge decrease in spam.

	23-07-2001 19:16									#7
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post counts / schmost counts. I do not understand why people seem to think that a succinct post must be spam, whereas a long post won't be.

	23-07-2001 19:20									#8
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Gary is 100% correct. The length of the post has nothing to do with whether it is spam or not.

I've seen situations where a single "smile" post is not only appropriate, but the only response possible. On the other hand, I've seen the exact same smile used and it is pure spam... it depends on the context.

I've also seen 1000 word posts that are spam... remember when people first found the complaint generators...

	23-07-2001 19:54									#9
	Remove this text

of course you're both right,

but I think 90% of the spam contains less then 150 characters.
And, it's not that bad if your post doesn't improve your postcount, does it ?

	23-07-2001 21:38									#10
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One begins to wonder if the continuous post-count / spam discussions aren't themselves spam... I agree with Ming, automating a spam finder just won't work.

	23-07-2001 22:44									#11
	Inflate your Upload Space

I believe everybody worries a bit to much about it, but it is a subject we all like to talk about.

I still have the same opinion (PC, and titles=waste of time), but I also know I'm in the minority in this view, as proved by the many people who post about it.

And on the hypocrite meter (did I spell it right? wouldn't want someone to think I don't know how to use it), Rich, didn't you ask repeatedly for your 4900 posts to be restored? I have lost some over time, through PCR and the various tech glitches at poly, and I still don't care about it, or them(the posts).

It's just a stupid number, for god's sake.

	24-07-2001 01:00									#12
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Cybershy, and why exactly wouldn't removing PC's be a good idea? It would be pretty effective in ending fights about PC's IMO.

	24-07-2001 05:14									#13
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quote: Originally posted by Urban Ranger I don't care about post counts, but the problem with it is it is the single biggest incentive for spam on 'Poly. So doing away with post counts will cause a huge decrease in spam.

I'm not too sure about that. At present the only ways of punishing people for spam is banning them or reducing thier post counts. As banning would be a huge overreaction in many cases, geting rid of post counts would take away an important weapon for punishing spammers.

	24-07-2001 07:42									#14
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Some spammers spam just for the heck of it. The rest spam for post counts. Clearly abolishing post counts has no effect whatsoever on the former group, but it would remove the fundamental cause for the latter group.

I realise there's no way one can completely stop spam without stopping everybody from making posts, but taking away the incentive seems to be a reasonable measure. As an analogy, the best way to stop a kettle of water from boiling is to turn of the stove underneath it.

	24-07-2001 09:11									#15
	All my posts are short and lovingly crafted Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

Brevity is the soul wit - which would make Cybershy pretty witless

And don't get me started on MTG. Does his train of thought ever have a caboose?

	24-07-2001 10:19									#16
	Get a bigger avatar today!

Christ you people are stupid.

	24-07-2001 10:37									#17
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I agree with ACOLKitty.

PCRs for everybody other than me in this thread for contributing to spam.

	24-07-2001 11:02									#18
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quote: Originally posted by ACOLKitty Christ you people are stupid.

And what makes you so special, dear, with your little attention getting games?

And Glonk, don't be such a poodle.

	24-07-2001 11:05									#19
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MTG made a short post!

	24-07-2001 11:24									#20
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I've made shorter.

	24-07-2001 13:37									#21
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Cool, even MtG starts to spam !
I always like it when people start to prove my point on volunteer base thanks !

now back to the topic.

99,999% of the people posting on msgboards care about postcount. Some people care more than other people, but everyone cares.

I care about postcounts, pherhaps I don't care much, but I would rather be Emperor then the puny king I am right now. honestly.

PCR is for that reason the very best way to keep a msgboard on track ! PCR is the only way to punish regulars !
Imagine what would happen if there wouldn't be postcounts...... much people would start to use double logins, just for the fun of it (how can you punish them ?)

You could start hijacking threads, spam on topic forums, post discriminating posts etc . etc. without a good way to be punished.
What's the value of a ban if you can create a dl that can't be punished ?

For that reason, postcouts should always stay.

The only negative side of postcounts is spam.
People will spam to increase their postcount.
How do people mostly spam ? By posting short (and less time consuming) posts in reply to someone else.

If you would take away the postcount improvement people won't post a message just for spam-sake. Of course the valuable one-liners will still be posted !
It's not like people that post valuable one liners will be punished, they just won't get a postcount, well, that's not that hard, is it ?

And of course the admins could add the postcount ban....
a period in wich people still can post, but won't receive postcounts. Something that would be a perfect way to punish spammers ! Their valuable opinion won't be lost, but they'll be hitted in their most weak part.... their postcount-heart !

Imagine what would happen if a spammer runs the risk of not collecting postcount for one month....... a very mild punisment that can be given out easily without being cruel (ban)

	24-07-2001 14:58									#22
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perhaps jsut give PC back to OT and be done with all this. Would allow people to post what they want (as long as it not offensive) without cluttering up all the On Topic...

	24-07-2001 15:04									#23
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when people got pc on the otf there were spam problems as well.

	24-07-2001 15:51									#24
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Keeping PC’s so that you can punish spam with PCR’s? Would make sense if it weren’t that PC’s themselves stimulate spam... Maybe it’s just me but I think this kind of logic has something perverse.

Cybershy, I already had a discussion with Immortal Wombat (<A HREF=/forums/"/forums/showthread__amp_threadid=20871"_.html TARGET=_blank>here’s the link</A> ) in which we pretty much agreed that the only purpose behind PC’s is the fun of seeing an increasing score. Would you agree with that?

	24-07-2001 16:41									#25
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quote: Originally posted by CyberShy when people got pc on the otf there were spam problems as well.

mainly in the Offtopic area so nobody excpet ming minded....

	26-07-2001 22:26									#26
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All posts should be screened by moderators before they are placed on the bulliten board.

	26-07-2001 23:12									#27
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Thats agreat idea Dashi. That way we can continue to spell terribly and use bad grammer and Mtg and Ming can correct it for us before it gets posted. Fantastic.

	26-07-2001 23:32									#28
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I think branching threads would help. There is a lot of repeition here. Maybe if we went to BT, the amount of spam (posting) would drop.

	26-07-2001 23:45									#29
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Why not just create a Spam forum? That way Eli and Horse can post as much as they like without threadjacking any threads and leave Rasputin to add his usual trenchant one liners to the 'Poly forum.

And before Eli starts protesting his innocence note the avatar. Da Tovarish? Ili Nyet? Smishno.

	27-07-2001 01:00									#30
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quote: Originally posted by GP I think branching threads would help. There is a lot of repeition here. Maybe if we went to BT, the amount of spam (posting) would drop.

AHHHHH! Kills GP! NO BRANCHING THREADS!