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Forbid new forum members to post links?

Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 10:39 am
by Little John
Is it technically possible to disable posting of "clickable" links here for new forum members?
If so, maybe only members should be allowed to do so, after they previously have already posted say 10 messages.
This might protect the forum better against spam. Just an idea.

Re: Forbid new forum members to post links?

Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 11:23 am
by Fred
I quickly watched the admin options, but I can't find something like that in phpbb3.

Re: Forbid new forum members to post links?

Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 1:36 pm
by Little John
Hello Fred,

thanks for looking into it!

Re: Forbid new forum members to post links?

Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 1:42 pm
by MachineCode
First Google hit from a search for "phpbb to stop links from new users" -> https://www.phpbb.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=2096637 ;)

Re: Forbid new forum members to post links?

Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 3:03 pm
by Fred
We don't like installing external mods as it often requiers further maintenance when the forums are updated

Re: Forbid new forum members to post links?

Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 2:10 pm
by heartbone
Little John, I think it is not a good idea,
unless you want the forum cluttered with even more junk.

For example I would have had to post 9 unneeded messages in order to post my first one.
http://www.purebasic.fr/english/viewtop ... 27&t=54318

Re: Forbid new forum members to post links?

Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 3:52 pm
by Little John
heartbone wrote:Little John, I think it is not a good idea,
unless you want the forum cluttered with even more junk.

For example I would have had to post 9 unneeded messages in order to post my first one.
http://www.purebasic.fr/english/viewtop ... 27&t=54318
And in that thread you see what can happen when there is no such restriction which I suggested. How many "unneeded" messages does that thread contain?

Additionally, you should be aware that the situation which you encountered is only one side of the medal. The other side of the medal (at which my suggestion was targeted) is, that here often robots register as new "users", and then post spam messages (which only make sense if they contain links, of course).

So the question would be, whether or not overall the advantage would be bigger than the disadvantage. Anyway, Fred already wrote that such a feature will not be implemented here.

Re: Forbid new forum members to post links?

Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 4:18 pm
by heartbone
Little John wrote:And in that thread you see what can happen when there is no such restriction which I suggested. How many "unneeded" messages does that thread contain?
None that I posted.
If that is what you are inferring, kindly post a link to them,
so I can see what you consider to be an unnecessary post that I've made.
I consider refuting posted inaccuracies about what I post here to be necessary.
Additionally, you should be aware that the situation which you encountered is only one side of the medal. The other side of the medal (at which my suggestion was targeted) is, that here often robots register as new "users", and then post spam messages (which only make sense if they contain links, of course).

So the question would be, whether or not overall the advantage would be bigger than the disadvantage.
So you think that you are going to outsmart them?
No.
They will post 9 or however many it takes nonsense prose messages, then start with their links.
So you'd also have to impose more user restrictions to deal with the spambots.
Anyway, Fred already wrote that such a feature will not be implemented here.
Yes that was a smart decision.
I was just driving members to view my thread, while replying 'on topic' with appropriate information, ironically using my 10th post to do it. ;)
Can you forgive me?

Re: Forbid new forum members to post links?

Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 4:30 pm
by Little John
heartbone wrote:
Little John wrote:And in that thread you see what can happen when there is no such restriction which I suggested. How many "unneeded" messages does that thread contain?
None that I posted.
If that is what you are inferring
You might want to read again. Did I write "'unneeded' messages" or "'unneeded' messages by you" :?:
BTW, if there are unneeded messages, then I don't care very much by whom they have been written.
heartbone wrote:
Additionally, you should be aware that the situation which you encountered is only one side of the medal. The other side of the medal (at which my suggestion was targeted) is, that here often robots register as new "users", and then post spam messages (which only make sense if they contain links, of course).

So the question would be, whether or not overall the advantage would be bigger than the disadvantage.
So you think that you are going to outsmart them?
No.
They will post 9 or however many it takes nonsense prose messages, then start with their links.
Maybe yes, maybe no.
Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future.