Spammers B. Gone!

by Ken Strong

Posted: 18 years ago 27 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

The infraction system seems to be working quite well. A few minutes ago there was a post in this section from a brand-new member posting a banner ad for some scammy thing.

It only took two or three minutes for it to be gone.

#spammers

WarriorAllen

18 years ago

Originally Posted by KenStrong

It works like gangbusters :-)

Members rule!!

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2 replies

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Cowboy 18 years ago

That'll learn 'em!

Cowboy
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Uanz

18 years ago

Originally Posted by WarriorAllen

It works like gangbusters :-)

Members rule!!

How does the infraction system work? i am clueless about this..
Is there an explanation on this?

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Scott Burton

18 years ago

Originally Posted by Uanz

How does the infraction system work? i am clueless about this..
Is there an explanation on this?

There are three ingredients to be looked at here.

Report is the easiest to explain. Like in the old forum, report is used to bring a thread or post to the attention of the admins.

Reputation is a long term measure of the user as rated by other forum members.

Everyone started (in theory) with a reputation power of Zero (0). Those with a reputation power of Zero make very tiny nudges when they choose to "add to" someone's reputation. As you get more nudges, your reputation, and thus reputation power, goes up. It takes fewer nudges from someone with high reputation power to move your reputation than it does from those with lower reputation power.

If you choose to add to someone's reputation you will get a box which asks you whether you agree or disagree with their post, and what comment you would like to include.

Generally if you feel strongly that someone has made a significant contribution with their post, you can give then a reputation nudge. It only takes a few seconds.

According to the information I've read, but I haven't seen the official implementation here, it is also possible to a reputation nudge to be a negative. This means it nudges the reputation of the recipient to be nudge DOWN instead of UP. This may be done when you 'disagree' with their post in the reputation nudge, but I'm not sure.

Reputation
Add to Reputation: xxxx

What do you think of xxxx's post? I approve
I disapprove
Your comments on this post:

Infractions
Lastly, we come to infractions, and they are a complicated topic.

While reputation is your opinion of someone, with infraction you take the role of the forum police officer, handing out a citation for violating the 'laws' of the forum.

Much like a drivers license in the USA (not sure about elsewhere) when the police issue you an infraction (ticket) points are added to your forum account (drivers license). With enough points, your right to post (right to drive) is suspended.

When you choose to give an infraction you will get a screen like the example below.

First you see a summary of how many infractions someone has had, and how many are active.

Next you see how many points and how many warnings are on their forum 'license'

The third section, and the most important to view is what kind of infraction you are issuing and whether you are giving a warning (no points?) or an actual infraction (Police offering a written warning or an actual ticket for your violation)

From here you can see how many points the different types of infractions are worth, and how long the points will stay on their account. You will notice that at present, spamming advertisements infractions do not expire!

xxxx Infractions
(Active / Total) 0 / 0
Points 0Warnings 0Infraction Level
Title Points Expires Warning
Inappropriate Language 1 10 Day(s) []
Insulted Other Member(s) 1 10 Day(s) []
Signature Rule Violation 1 10 Day(s) []
Spammed Advertisements 10 Never

Notices involved in infractions and reputation.

If you receive reputation, it can be viewed at the bottom of your main User CP screen and looks roughly like this:

Latest Reputation Received

Thread Date Posted By Comment

Thread/Post Title Date/Time of the Reputation Nudge Reputation
Giver Comment if any

I hope never to be on the receiving end of an infraction, but yesterday I did issue an infraction to a spammer, and I noticed that it automatically generated a private message to that user.
Just so you know, your userID 'signs' the infractions you issue.

The notice looks like this

rivate Message: You have received an infraction at Warrior Forum

Recipients: Who was issued the infraction

Date and Time issued Your user ID
Your title
Join Date: xxxxxx
Location: xxxxxx xxxxxxxx, xxxxxx.
Posts: xxxx
Rep Power: x

You have received an infraction at Warrior Forum
Dear recipients username,
You have received an infraction at Warrior Forum.
Reason: Spammed Advertisements (or whatever reason you selected)
-------
-------
This infraction is worth (number of points) point(s) and may result in restricted access until it expires. Serious infractions will never expire.
Original Post:
<link to thread>
Quote:
content of thread
All the best,
Warrior Forum
__________________
Your Signature File

I hope this helps with understanding the basics of how reputation, reporting and infractions work.

Scott Burton

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KarlWarren 18 years ago

If a spammer gets enough infractions they are automatically banned...

Yesterday I caught someone posting three spam posts, I reported each, and gave an infraction to each and after the third they were banned.

If it was 'slightly dubious' I would have just reported the post, but it was one of those "buy these shoes" posts and got what it deserved.
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- Scott Woodside 18 years ago
  
  What a great feature. This new software really works well. I really welcome the infraction. Now when I log onto the warrior forum and click on a link that interests me, I feel assured that i'm going to either be able to give or receive valuable information on the topic that's posted.
  
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  Tyler Ellison 18 years ago
  
  The forum has recovered its strength by keeping the trash out. It's also nice to get familiar with folks visually.
  
  Although I wish the WSO bumping was still in place, overall it's been a postive upgrade IMHO
  
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  Alan Petersen 18 years ago
  
  I agree with Jenn. The admins should be able to see who issued an infraction just in case someone is abusing it because they don't like someone but it should be anonymous to the offending party.
  
  Jelasco is being a bit over dramatic about trials. This is a forum not a court of law. And there is a reason why crime stoppers, America's Most Wanted, and those type of hotline promise the tipster can remain anonymous. :-)
  
  I'm happy to help out this community but the last thing I need or want to deal with is to get into PM arguments over the infractions. Or to piss the person off so they launch a DOS attack on my server, etc. Or retaliatory infractions.
  
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Amino Zawawi

18 years ago

Originally Posted by randalin

I hope this helps with understanding the basics of how reputation, reporting and infractions work.

Scott Burton

Scott, this definitely cleared up everything. Kudos on the useful reply. The rep system is very useful, and having members report and catch spammers is much more effective than having a couple of mods.

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jasonl70

18 years ago

sounds like it can be abused - give someone and infraction, and they can just give one back to you out of spite

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KarlWarren

18 years ago

Originally Posted by jasonl70

sounds like it can be abused - give someone and infraction, and they can just give one back to you out of spite

They all (apart from Spam Infractions) expire after a while... and the infractions you're given are linked to the user who gave it, the reason, and the post they gave it to you under. If someone is giving out infractions out of spite, they'll soon be banned (after a complaint) I'm sure - and I think Admin might be able to remove them.

Kindest regards,
KArl.

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thatgirlJ

18 years ago

I'm kind of upset about infractions, I gave one to someone who abused the WSO section yesterday...and they were able to PM me about it! They copied and pasted the infraction message they received and it had my name on it! If this system is to work well enough for people to feel comfortable reporting things that are wrong, this is not the way it should work. These reports should be anonymous (to everyone except admins) or else we are opening ourselves up to harassment.

Not happy.

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KarlWarren

18 years ago

Originally Posted by Jenn Dize

I'm kind of upset about infractions, I gave one to someone who abused the WSO section yesterday...and they were able to PM me about it! They copied and pasted the infraction message they received and it had my name on it! If this system is to work well enough for people to feel comfortable reporting things that are wrong, this is not the way it should work. These reports should be anonymous or else we are opening ourselves up to harassment.

Not happy.

I'm not sure either way about the anonymity issue. I think if it's anonymous, it's more likely to be abused - as unjust infractions cannot be traced back.

I agree with what you're saying that it has the potential to open you up to harassment. I don't mind personally as I give as good as I get, but I can see the position it could put some people in - and make them not want to report things.

I reported someone with one post for spam (a cookie cutter affiliatejunktion post) and they PM'd me back apologising... I actually felt bad as it was their first post and I have a feeling that they learned their lesson.

Then there was the 'sig line' issue caused by the way the forum itself formats the posts - I think that one has now been rectified.

Kindest regards,
Karl.

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Sirius Lin 18 years ago

Agreed, Jenn. Just reported someone for an infraction and now he's demanding that I give him an explanation! These reports should be anonymous, but the sender should be visible to the admin at least.

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Scott Burton

18 years ago

Originally Posted by Jenn Dize

I don't know the details, but this is part of why I mentioned the infraction private message item above. It's important to know.

Infractions are serious business. Reporting the thread will not generate this type of message as far as I can tell. (I've reported and infractioned threads and posts on the new forum. No sign that the user even knows their thread has been reported.

When a police officer hands you a ticket, his badge number and name is generally on it here in the US.

I think the purpose of the non-anonymity is to discourage abuses. Likewise the person receiving the infraction needs to know they have been given an infraction.

Originally Posted by Kay King

For "spam" posts that are clearly promotional and in violation, I don't use "infraction" but the "spam" button to the right of it - but guess either might work. We're all still finding our way around.]

The problem with the report button, I believe is that it is to bring attention to the thread from the admin. I'm not sure if there's admin here 24/7 (I'm not here all the time, so I wouldn't know for sure), but it won't remove the thread, necessarily.

On the other hand, if someone comes in and wants to spam like crazy (creating spam replies and threads) Infractions for spam will quickly build up and make the user unable to post at all.

Scott Burton

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Kay King

18 years ago

uanz -

Click on "main internet marketing discussion forum" and you'll see a sticky about rules.

I think "infraction" is good to use for a new member who hasn't read the signature rules as it gives them info and allow them to correct.

For "spam" posts that are clearly promotional and in violation, I don't use "infraction" but the "spam" button to the right of it - but guess either might work. We're all still finding our way around.

With time, the rep system will work. Initially perhaps it will be friends rep'ing friends but as it loses it's newness it should be helpful for new members especially.

kay

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Jelasco

18 years ago

I think if you're going to accuse someone of something, they have a right to know who did it. That is not harassment. Harassment is letting anonymous people stab you in the back with no idea why. If you got a PM you could ignore it. It's not like someone showed up at your house.

What I hear people saying is "I want to be able to get people in trouble but don't want to be responsible for my actions" - like people who file false spam complaints.

Do you think witnesses in court should be anonymous, too? We could just do away with trials.

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thatgirlJ

18 years ago

Originally Posted by Jelasco

That is absolutely not the reason. It's opening up for harassment if the person gets pissed that you rightfully reported them. I have no problem with admins knowing (this would prevent abuse of the system)...but I am not comfortable with pissing people off even if they rightfully did something wrong. We (most of us) use our real names, and that could open up some serious problems.

I'm not going to be using the infraction system, no matter how much it is needed, if this is the case.

The person should be told the reason, but not the person who reported them.

Everyone will have to make their own choice on giving infractions to those who deserve it, but I do not agree with the way this is done.

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Rufus Steele

18 years ago

Well Scott, you've just been nudged for a most excellent and informative post!

And if the 3 Strikes & You're Out rule works on the Infractions - theoretically, anyone could ban anyone else who bugs them, surely?

Or has my brain left work early today :confused:

Rufus

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KarlWarren

18 years ago

If enough people report the post, it will go into moderation and will not be visible to non-moderators

Kindest regards,
Karl.

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ExRat

18 years ago

Hi,

SPLORF!

Jelasco, totally anonymous poster with a strong resemblace to Chris Lockwood who was n/a'ed - most of your posts are either wind-ups, or disagreeing just for the sake of it in a troll-like manner...yet you're against people wanting to anonymously moderate the forum so that maniacs don't send them death threats.

If you're against anonymity so much, why don't you 'come out of the closet'?

Also interesting to note that on another forum, Chris has a huge negative balance in the 'rep' department - which just could explain his opinions here.

You make me chuckle Jelasco...

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admin Administrator 18 years ago

Reported posts are anonymous..

The infractions are not. I suppose this is done to keep people from abusing the system. It's good in a way because other members can warn a member who has a huge sig file that he needs to change it.
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Tirmizi

18 years ago

wow that is really coool ....well just send out a msg ..... dont' waste your time in just adding spamy stuff or you'll " B Gone " ;-)

tirmizi

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zerofill

18 years ago

ok so...you see a spam post come on the forum...You are supposed to hit the report button or the infraction option for the member moderation aspects? Because I hit the report button on some spam thing that showed up yesterday.

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KarlWarren

18 years ago

Originally Posted by zerofill

Hit the report button...

If it's a BLATANT spammer, i.e. a username like - BuyShoes646540
and they've posted three times with a post full of links, in 5
seconds in different sections of the forum - hit the infraction button.

I did that on all 3 posts and the third time the forum software said
something to the effect of:

"please provide a reason as the user will be banned"

Kindest regards,
Karl.

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zerofill 18 years ago

Thanks for clearing that up for me Karl
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Uanz 18 years ago

Ya.. I saw that too.. i was wondering where is the usual sticky Rule of posting for new members?

It is not there.. It will be good to have the Rules to this forum especially for new members..
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