United3dArtists Archive

I think it's time for a better way to stop spammers and non participants from getting in the forum.

Make an obligatory hello post in a new member area or your new profile gets deleted . Just answering a math problem only stops non humans but spammers get in and so do those who never post. If you are here as a new member the least you can do is say hello. Then moderators can weed out those who are not here for 3d before they get access to the forum.

Also delete all old members who never posted and only came here once.

I like both ideas and would be willing to help with both. We need the agreement of others.
The second suggestion would also cut Norm and Roman too btw. They joined years ago but never posted or came back.
What do others think about all this?

I also think the connection between Emmanuel's site and here should be stronger.
http://truespace.kabrite.com/"
The design and substance is outstanding!

Norm Roman and Tom have been back. I mean those would joined and never came back ..ever. big difference.
Yes Emmanuel's site should be linked That's why I mentioned before about using it as the front page. It was created for us..

Sounds reasonable to me. It would be nice to filter spammers better and have sign ups be real participating members. Of course some are valid in the sense that they are interested in reading and looking at the images but have nothing to say. Nothing wrong with "viewers". They could state that intent in your hello thread and be welcome. Some are seldom active but are genuine members.

Deleting never active members should be safe. Just define them well.

Advisement that you must post in the hello thread or be deleted would reduce, what to call it, non-genuine members but spammers expect to be deleted soon. They would probably see the hello thread as a frequently viewed place to put spam.

Let's look for software to help. Surely there are anti-spam plug-ins (whatever that's called in phpBB) or built in abilities. Maybe there are plug-ins to enforce policies and filters that could help screen potential members. Someone investigate what's available and what other phpBB forums do.

We should have our own front page again but many other CG sites, not just TS related, should link here too. We might want to avoid a trueSpace forum perception. Not deny our origin and value as that but I think it should be a nice non-software specific place for CG people.

Thinking on the other side of this, spam isn't that burdensome here is it? Do moderators delete a lot of it? Never active members are numerous but other than a little space in the database they are no trouble to the system. Restrictions, requirements, difficulty in joining could discourage some people. It could be seen as unfriendly. Our welcoming niceness is one of the great things about U3DA.

Am I on here again? I should be working. The real world might delete my membership for inactivity! http://www.GetToWorkYouLazyBum.work/login" ...

I wouldn't purge old users who have not posted anything unless they posted spam. People could only be looking at threads (with limited access, so you have to be a member) or downloading files without actually wanting to post anything. I have done that in other forums.

I have removed members starting in 2012 until Oct 2016 who have never revisited or posted. They joined but never came back.

Why would we want to "avoid a trueSpace forum perception." . This is a truespace site first. how many people have come here to post about other software aside from regular truespace users. If people join it's because of truespace that they find us. Encourage those new arrrivals don't tell them to use other software.

There is enough spammer blocked to want to find a way to get rid of them.
Discouraging a new user by having them show interest in this site or having their profile deleted shouldn't be an issue.

Draise, if they use the forum but don't post it shows, but to join and never return is pointless. It's already been done..lol

"This is a truespace site first." Why? Who says so? Why should it be? This is not the official Caligari forum intended to promote their product. Yes, due to our heritage its current content and membership background is mostly TS and it's a valuable resource for TS'ers. Current. I'm talking about the long term. TS is good but it will fade away as people move to other software and it becomes so obsolete that no new users start. U3DA dies with TS or it is "a nice non-software specific place for CG people" (which somehow means discourage TS'ers and "tell them to use other software"?).

We should avoid a TS only forum perception (should have written "only" before) because TS will fade away ... blah blah ... but the forum can continue if we appeal to all CG people. That doesn't mean hide our TS awesomeness. Flaunt it! U3DA is already "a nice non-software specific place for CG people". When is the last time you wanted someone banned for not being a TS'er? If you promote us then encourage CG folks to come here regardless of software used. Sure tell TS'ers and link to and from TS places (Emmanuel's site!) but don't limit promotional action (mentions, links, whatever) to TS appeal. Make our own front page/mini site that promotes the forum as a friendly helpful community for CG folks, have links to lots of CG resources not just TS, etc. Over time we will gain content with diverse appeal to CG folks. We'll never be like big forums in scope of audience or expertise but we are a the local coffee shop or tavern where your CG friends meet.

But this thread was about spam and inactive users. Yeah my Pros and Cons analysis had pretty weak cons because there aren't significant cons. Thanks Steinie! Y'all investigate what plug-ins there are to help with that and what strategies other forums use.

Steinie wrote:...
I also think the connection between Emmanuel's site and here should be stronger.
http://truespace.kabrite.com/"
The design and substance is outstanding!

I agree.

[quote="stan"] 'This is a truespace site first.'
I agree, there are plenty of "...nice non-software specific place('s) for CG people" and individual 3D softwares all have their own forums. What makes U3dA unique and leads people here in the first place, is the trueSpace core.
I also agree with the front page use of Emmanuel's site, perhaps it's just a case of adding this forum to that site?

I have noticed a few spam posts lately. You could start by removing users that actually post spam rather then regular posts. Happy New Year to all btw. Leroy.