CountryPlans Forum

Due to spam and porn spam postings, registration is now required for guest postings.

We have kicked this back and forth for a bit now, but today I found out that some members were blocked in some IP number groups used by spammers.  The majority of votes on the poll were to block guest postings.  Note that guests can still read the forum.  I think if they are have a question or comment they will sign up.

Since the spammers are using proxy servers we don't seem to be blocking them anyway so I released all blocked numbers including those of our members.  Sorry to any members who were inadvertantly blocked.

[size=18]Sorry to any guests who would like to comment without registering.  Please sign up and comment ---- we promise we won't bite.  It's free and will be the best money you never spent.[/size]

*applause*

Thanks, Ailsa.  Hard to know what to do sometimes, but when members lose use of the forum because of spam it's time to do something.  Cecilia mentioned a board that she knows of that's been pulled off the net due to spam.

Hey Glenn,

I tried blocking by IP on my forum, but some smart aleck decided to spam using all of AOL's IPs. As a result all my aol users couldn't access the forum anymore.

So blocking by IP doesn't work, at least not for me.

I ended up adding some code that would kill the script for programs that would go around the registration form. And if someone gets in manually, I delete them manually. It's not easy any more, is it?

Mike...

Not too easy but without the automatic guest ones maybe it will be a bit better.

I think it is a good move, Glenn.  It is not that difficult to sign up. after all.  The folks who are just interested in reading still can, and anybody interested in contributing ideas won't be put off by the few minutes required to come on board.

Thanks for your contribution of time and knowledge as moderator, in addition to your great input on nearly everything else! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Many would question your good judgement, Billy Bob but thanks for the compliment. :) ;D

Looks like they are hijacking your name now, you must have made them really mad >:(

I sent John an email!  At least he'll see this first thing.

I have never seen anything like this spam in a good group like this anyway since 1999.    www.frugalsquirrels.com  is a good survivalist group that has a forum similar but different also to this good group-forum.    I don't know how they block spam but  I never saw any spam at frugalsquirrels.com    

In 1999 I helped fight a vicious troll in alt.discuss.y2k    That troll posted hundreds of times a day laughing and  calling names such as doomers, pathetic ..... etc.    We fought the troll by posting good survival info and good y2k prep info etc. hundreds of times a day also.    We also had a thread with over 900 posts that we were able to use to fight the troll.    This was on webtv when I was on that in  1999 and we could not block or delete trolls.     Sort of fun to fight that y2k troll  but the best way maybe is to ignore and delete the troll especially now with computers.   In alt. discuss groups I see trolls, spammers are really taking over some groups.     Never can understand them.

One more reason I will be glad to go off the Internet all summer hopefully until November even, for I Really do not like looking at sick porn and so much of the waste of time nonsense that is on the Internet.     When on my mountain place I forget the Internet and most of suciety...

Nice one Chuck, I think Glenn will be on to it fairly soon as well. Pity we can't gang up on him and give him a taste of his own medicine  :)

Glenn and me are about 80 miles apart....I could call him....but, I know he works long hard hours!

I wouldn't worry about it mate, he'll be on it soon enough

QuoteGlenn and me are about 80 miles apart....I could call

I blocked their entire range.  Looks like a lot of people in Hawaii will have trouble getting on the board.

How about making up a form letter that we can all post to his server. If they get enough e-mail about him they may do something about it. ;)

I should have used other words....no pun was intended....I did mean....that you are out of bed early and on the road.... :}

Just giving you a hard time Chuck --- no pun intended. :)

Please feel free to write to Hawaii Telecom ---- The Scott Weeks guy has never replied to me when I wrote to him before.

Unfortunately I didn't keep the time or exact IP address of the posting.

Thanks to Jonesy mentioning I missed one --- Here is the IP number  72.234.50.113  and time 1:32am Pacific Daylight time