Call For Feedback: My New Guest Idea

[wading thru the muck!]

Posts over there are removed for the most absurd reasons and people left in droves.

Sure you are not talking about the ASAA forum??? LOL!

Johnny, I'm unclear about your suggestion. Are you saying that the proposed modification would indicate the IP address of origin on all posts? ...or indicate on guest posts when the IP address matches that of one used by a registered user? Would you be posting the IP address only or indicting the user name?

I agree with your suspicion that this could liven things up, considering that IMO, most of the controversial guest posts are by registered users.

You could always give it a try and see how it plays out. Otherwise try using the suggestion offered in a post by _SWS (or whatever "guest" name he is currently using, LOL!) --- Just kidding!

[Darth Vader Look]

I have always been in agreement for guest posting. Most make good sense on either side of a discussion. I am also in favour on guests using image text verification in order to submit a post as others have said. However, my understanding of SSL (secure socket layer) technology is that the IP address is only relevant at the time of the post (ie. so if I post today, shut down my DSL, log onto my DSL later and post again my IP address will in all likelihood be different than it was). This is where the problem occurs should someone else have that same address and post on this site. The slam a spam button is great even though I have only used it twice.

[Mikesus]

At the risk of getting slammed, here is a suggestion.

There is one commonality between 99% of the spam mail. Hyperlinks.

Spammers want to link to their sites. The solution is to not allow hyperlinking by guests. If someone wants to link to something, then they can register.

I am sure there will be some nasty comments, but I know that this method works.

As for the spam registrations, all I can say is .htaccess is your friend.

[kteague]

Not going to slam that idea. I personally support guest postings because of 1) The well-being of the guest seeking advice, and 2) The valuable input a guest may have. In the first one, hyperlinks aren't really an issue. In the second one, a guest who is truly trying to be helpful and knows of a related site can just type in related web addresses and if the reader is interested enough, they'll cut and paste it. If it serves a purpose, I don't see restricting hyperlinks to registered members as offensive or even a compromising.
Kathy

[Sidesleeper]

Johnny,
What's wrong with the way it is?
The spam has been cut way, way down.
Who would want their IP address made public ? that would open the door to all sorts of problems. The reason your forum experiences so much popularity is because of your openness because, personally, I have nothing against TAS and Sleepnet except that I can never remember passwords so I don't use them. So....I come here instead because your not an anal forum.

[wading thru the muck!]

So....I come here instead because your not an anal forum.

I'm confused... exactly how are these other forums suggesting we use our cpap?

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP

[NightHawkeye]

The solution is to not allow hyperlinking by guests. If someone wants to link to something, then they can register.

Sounds like a great idea to me, Mikesus!

It's hard for me to believe that anyone ready to hyperlink (other than a spammer) would be put off in the least by having to register. And besides, even without hyperlinks, one could always simpy post a website address.

Yep, I'd vote for eliminating hyperlinks from guests. (Hmm . . ., I sense a poll coming on . . .)

Regards,
Bill

[Darth Vader Look]

Yup I think that Mikesus is on to something here. I agree, being a guest and not being able to post a hyper link is no bigger.

[-SWS]

And besides, even without hyperlinks, one could always simpy post a website address.

If that's true, then even this tactic may not dissuade spammers. Google and other search engines heavily formulate rankings according to how many times a web site is referenced on the Internet. And I don't believe their ranking formulation factors in whether that referenced link is clickable hypertext or ordinary text referring to the URL.

My understanding is that spammers will try to paste their URLs (or their spam-clients' URLs) all over the Internet, including and especially message boards, to increase overall references to their URLs and thus search engine rankings. So... this particular facet of the guest posting issue might do best to discuss allowing/disallowing even text references to URLs.

I personally think the current spam solution is an effective one.

[harikarishimari]

I personally think the current spam solution is an effective one.

SPAM?

WHAT SPAM?

-HKS