Omicron

Folks, in order to cut down on the spam on this site I have created a "New User" (member) category that all new users will be automatically registered into. After registration, they must then wait 2 days and make 5 legitimate posts - which can ONLY post in the new "New Member" forums at the top - before they have access to the rest of the site.

Once a new member has 5 legitimate posts and 2 days registered, they'll automatically be promoted from "New User" to "Registered User" and be able to post anywhere else on the site.

This new registration/promotion process should all but eliminate Spam Bots from registering then randomly posting all over the site before we can catch and ban them. If nothing else, it should restrict it to the newbie forums so we only have to watch 1 place.

As always, please use the REPORT POST button (looks like a little red-lined triangle with an exclamation point in it at the lower left of the post) if you see spam.

Please let me know if you have any questions. THANKS for everyone's help and input on this!

gearheads78

I want to be the first to say a huge thank you!!!!

ozoneblue

Hey thanx it should work Larry & Susan vintageozarks

Omicron

You betcha. Let's hope it works!

csstrux

Thank you, just one question, I'm getting a goofy message when I toggle out and then back in about not being able to post as a new member or something to that effect. Is this across the board? Or did I write another offending post? I have to sign out and then back in and kind of work my way around to see posts. Sorry I'm not being more specific, I'm still not that computer savvy.

redoldsman

Since I was one of the ones to complain, let me be one of the first to say "THANKS"

Omicron

Let me know if it continues after I tweak things a little bit.

EKi

This sounds great, it should cut out most of the spam.

Bluevista

Thanks Omicron, too cool.

Olds64

I think we all know who the man is.

Half Baked

I get some message about not being able to post, not the normal " New post since last visit" What's up
That's a great feature

74 Omega

Thank you as well
And thanks for all your work to keep the site going...

Cameo White

I also get the "you don't have the right privileges or your access is denied" kind of message since the tweak. I just click into one of the forums and it goes away.

Allan R

I got the same problem trying to log in today. So I surfed to the CP and came in through that access. Otherwise the site wouldn't let me in. Wierd.

lshlsh2

Never found much spam but it must of been a problem with some. Must have been loggiing on at the right time. It is great that you can get rid of it with less work.
Larry

yogi442

thanks, lately there has been enough. I wish a couple other sites would do the same.

Oldsguy

As usual guys. I hardly post on Friday nights or Saturdays so missed this until Sunday evening. I thank Paul has put a lot of effort into this and want to publicly say "Thank you".

Per his recommendation I will be moving a few threads/posts to this forum to help "introduce" the new members, then maybe will tag or sticky them (if I can do it right).

Omicron

For those of you having problems like this one, I think just changing your homepage to https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/ instead of https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...searchid=63167
will take care of the issue.

Jokers69

Thanks for the work.. mucho appreciated. The site looks great.

If only the geniouses who put their time into spambot code, trying to rip people off with look-alike webpages and developing malicious viruses put their talents, (yes talents, it takes brains to do that crap) into something constructive, who knows what could be.. alt fueled cars, cures for cancer, aids, world peace.... ahh but there's always someone else waiting in the wings to be a scumsucker..

Omicron

Unfortunately scumsucking has the allure of being able to make money quickly.

Smurf

Looks like you guys have your house in order, so a big "Thank You" is in order from a newbie. It will be nice not to have to surf through all the bad stuff in order to get to the good stuff. Keep up the great job!
Bob

Omicron

Shucks, thanks for the nice words.

Allan R

I notice this policy is not really enforced much if at all. Is it relevant any more?

Omicron

Well the "promotion" is automatic. System doesn't care where they make the posts, or what's in them, just that they post. It's up to the mods to make sure posts are legit. If it hasn't been a problem for a while now, just ignore it and let it happen.

Far as I know, Dan (Oldsguy) is still manually approving all new registrants, and that helps too.
Dan is that true?

Oldsguy

Yep, I review all applications every day. Haven't been thinning out too many though as we haven't had trouble with spammers lately, except for maybe that one last week. I mostly approve all apps, the only ones I don't are if they look obvious to me to be a potential spammer or fisher or whatever they are called now.

Tb442

Respectfully, I realize u have the authority to make the rules! Having said that
making fair rules is a different story. As I have multiple make autos I am on several
classic car forums. Urs is the only one who treats new members as though they’re diseased
& need to b quarantined! If ur goal is to attract / gain new members, ur rules do the opposite!
not sure how they do it but u need to check on other sites like Fordbarn.com, they make new members
feel welcomed, wanted & with the same privileges of membership the most senior member has!
Also not sure how they do it but they have practically none of the annoying adds u have. I’ll watch & wait but I am contemplating leaving ur site!

oldcutlass

This thread is a bit old and does not apply anymore. I'll remove the sticky. If you want to leave one of the best and friendliest Olds sites, that is entirely up to you.

Koda

You can do two things to mitigate ads. The first is run an adblocker software. I used to like ad block, and ad block pro, but I like uBlock Origin. It's an extension for your desktop browser, firefox, explorer, edge, chrome. For the phone, you need an ad blocking browser. I like the "Free Adblocking Browser" for Android.

The second thing you can do is use proper spelling and grammar. Lack of capitalization, bad punctuation, and "net-speak" shortcuts like "u" and "urs" and "b" attract the adware crawler bots, and they hit you with more ads because they think you are a person that will be easily convinced by them. Typing more correctly shows higher intelligence and makes the bots pick easier targets than you.

Tb442

I appreciate the prompt reply. If I decide to cancel my membership, how is that done insuring all info is removed as well!

Koda has me thinking it’s probably a good idea. If he is one of the “Friendliest” you speak of, he’s moved me closer to the leave column.
Thx & Best

OLDSter Ralph

You can go through your profile and delete any information and pics.

If Koda has you straddling the fence about leaving, perhaps you can tell us how this site will collapse and fade into oblivion without your membership.

Perhaps you can show us the certificate you received from the "Charm School" you attended. Good luck.

Tb442

OLDSter Ralph
Not that it matters now but I’ve been nothing but polite, no snarky or hidden but obvious insults as from Koda & now you! While I never indicated Classic Oldsmobile would “collapse or fade into Oblivion W/O me, it is sad that it’s management is left in the hands of people who obviously can’t respond respectfully with civil discourse. Thx for being obvious you have no real interest in any real dialog on improving the site, your way or the Highway.

oldcutlass

You have been a member of this site since 2013 with 18 posts, 3 of which are in this thread. If you have not realized the site is a tremendous tool for the Oldsmobile community by now then perhaps you are in the wrong place. PM me and let me know if you want to be removed from the site.