Increased moderation

klembot

Because of our recent spam problems, I'm going to try a policy of requiring all posts by new users to be approved by a moderator before they appear.*

The reason for the asterisk is that even if you have posted here before, your message may get held for moderation. Our forum software requires that users be marked as trusted by hand, e.g. it doesn't look like there is a rule that can automatically trust someone once they have passed moderation once. Some people have already been marked trusted in the past -- where the spam filters mistakenly marked a post as spam, and it was corrected -- but not everyone.

So, your patience is appreciated. It may take a day or more for a post to be approved, which is why I have been reluctant to go down this road.

Deadshot

Nice one.

MoLoLu

Sorry you guys had to go so far. Glad the spam is dealt with though.

Wraithling

Unsure if it's even possible, but if there were some way to notify new users about this (brief notice in their registration email, automatic forum message) it might help to prevent confusion and frustration in first-time posters who manage to miss this notice and can't figure out why their post isn't appearing.

Wraithling

Welp, as soon as I posted that, a popup informed me that "Your comment will be shown after it is approved."
Point moot. I feel vaguely foolish.

klembot

My intention is, if we have to keep this long-term, to have a general announcement about it, yeah.

storymasterq

So, just to confirm, just by replying this announcement, we'll be moderated, approved, and can get on with our lives?

Khaloodxp

well thank god that weird chinese spam was annoying (I'm assuming I'm not a new user fingers crossed)

TheMadExile

Korean.

Khaloodxp

korean it is then

Singletona

Hey these things happen. No worries guy.

starvingindie

Thanks for handling this, I'm sure it's no fun.

klembot

The tide of incoming spam seems to have subsided, so I've turned this moderation off. (And it caused some confusion for new members -- as it's not super clear that a post has been held, so duplicates cropped up.)

If it turns out to be just a momentary lull, I'll bring it back.

storymasterq

It's just a momentary lull. I see one already sneaking back in.

klembot

I'm going to give it another 24 hours and make a decision.