Why are the forums so restrictive?

Matt · 2007-02-20, 18:54

Why are these forums so restrictive? I have to enter a captcha just to search (ridiculous!) before I created an account. Even after creating an account I can only make one search a minute, so if I mistype, or get no results, I have to sit and wait (why???). Now I've noticed that my posts have to be "approved" before they are posted. Again, why? What's going on here that everything has to be so restrictive?

akruppa · 2007-02-20, 19:09

We've had a problem with DDOS attacks recently. One of the targets of the attacks was the search function which puts great load on the database behind the forum, and those attacks managed to crash the database server several times. Hence the captcha for unregistered users and the wait between searches.

The moderation system (requiring approval for posts by unregistered users and the first post of newly registered users) is to keep spam out. We're weeding out about 1-2 spams per day this way, and you may notice that the forum is spam-free.

Once you registered and had one posting approved, you'll find that the forum is not very restrictive at all.

Alex

Uncwilly · 2007-02-20, 19:12

These measures are mainly the result of several attacks on the site. Doing searches ties up the server. Once you are no longer a new user, you won't need approval.

Matt · 2007-02-20, 19:21

Thanks for clarifying that for me. I appreciate it.

Matt

ixfd64 · 2007-02-26, 19:42

Unfortunately, moderator approval can't stop spammers 100% of the time. I've seen spammers make innocent-looking posts and edit them later to include spam links.

ewmayer · 2007-02-26, 20:18

Yes, but we've now gone one step further - a post must be more than merely "innocent-looking", it must also in some way one-topic, and not simply by way of including a few randomly inserted "magic" words. Very few spammers are going to bother custom-tailoring their post content this way, especially for a small forum like this.

Xyzzy · 2007-02-27, 08:40

Inexplicably, Apostol's Calculus (volume one) rockets to the top of amazon.com's bestseller list. Volume two languishes at position 245,174.

ewmayer · 2007-02-27, 16:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xyzzy

Inexplicably, Apostol's Calculus (volume one) rockets to the top of amazon.com's bestseller list. Volume two languishes at position 245,174.

It's *so* hard to do a really good sequel...

2007-02-20, 18:54	#1
Matt Feb 2007 San Francisco, Calif, USA 17₁₀ Posts	Why are the forums so restrictive? Why are these forums so restrictive? I have to enter a captcha just to search (ridiculous!) before I created an account. Even after creating an account I can only make one search a minute, so if I mistype, or get no results, I have to sit and wait (why???). Now I've noticed that my posts have to be "approved" before they are posted. Again, why? What's going on here that everything has to be so restrictive?

2007-02-20, 19:09	#2
akruppa "Nancy" Aug 2002 Alexandria 2,467 Posts	We've had a problem with DDOS attacks recently. One of the targets of the attacks was the search function which puts great load on the database behind the forum, and those attacks managed to crash the database server several times. Hence the captcha for unregistered users and the wait between searches. The moderation system (requiring approval for posts by unregistered users and the first post of newly registered users) is to keep spam out. We're weeding out about 1-2 spams per day this way, and you may notice that the forum is spam-free. Once you registered and had one posting approved, you'll find that the forum is not very restrictive at all. Alex Last fiddled with by akruppa on 2007-02-20 at 19:13 Reason: spelling

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2007-02-20, 19:12	#3
Uncwilly 6809 > 6502 """"""""""""""""""" Aug 2003 101×103 Posts 23132₈ Posts	These measures are mainly the result of several attacks on the site. Doing searches ties up the server. Once you are no longer a new user, you won't need approval.

2007-02-20, 19:21	#4
Matt Feb 2007 San Francisco, Calif, USA 17 Posts	Thanks for clarifying that for me. I appreciate it. Matt

2007-02-26, 19:42	#5
ixfd64 Bemusing Prompter "Danny" Dec 2002 California 5·479 Posts	Unfortunately, moderator approval can't stop spammers 100% of the time. I've seen spammers make innocent-looking posts and edit them later to include spam links.

2007-02-26, 20:18	#6
ewmayer ∂²ω=0 Sep 2002 República de California 19·613 Posts	Yes, but we've now gone one step further - a post must be more than merely "innocent-looking", it must also in some way one-topic, and not simply by way of including a few randomly inserted "magic" words. Very few spammers are going to bother custom-tailoring their post content this way, especially for a small forum like this.

2007-02-27, 08:40	#7
Xyzzy "Mike" Aug 2002 8234₁₀ Posts	Inexplicably, Apostol's Calculus (volume one) rockets to the top of amazon.com's bestseller list. Volume two languishes at position 245,174.