Stop the Leeching!

[DoA]

Hi guys,

Well thanks to this amazing software I now runa large forum that offers free music production downloads.

The problem with leeching is unbelievable though. I have tried absolutely everything I can possibly think of to prevent the leeching.

• Minimum post count before accessing downloads - all it did was move the rubbish replies to the open boards
• PM on registration warning of rules & bans - Users seem to ignore this
• Mods that (bless them) work extra hard to ban leechers on sight
• Max. download quota (MB) per day - Users simply wait till their download quota refreshes!
• Minimum characters in reply - Trying to prevent THX or fsfniksd replies - users simply make their rubbish replies longer

Has anyone found a succesful way to curb the leechers???

Thanks in advance!

DoA

[karlbenson]

Your idea is leeching seems to differs from the normal sense.
Usually on the net leechers are people who register, but never post.

If you've managed to get them to post on yourforum, thats good.

But to try to get them to become fully fledged good active posters on your board is probably unlikely.

[H]

Personally I don't see what is wrong with leeching

[Drunken Clam]

Your idea is leeching seems to differs from the normal sense.
Usually on the net leechers are people who register, but never post.

Hmmm, I always thought that was 'Lurking' 

[Drunken Clam]

Quotes from Wiki

In Internet culture, a lurker is a person who reads discussions on a message board, newsgroup, chatroom, file sharing or other interactive system, but rarely participates.

And

In computing and specifically on the Internet, being a leech or leecher refers to the practice of benefiting, usually deliberately, from others' information or effort but not offering anything in return, or only token offerings in an attempt to avoid being called a leech.

[nick09]

You gotta face it, people will always find ways to get what they want.

[karlbenson]

oh well.
Lurking or Leeching.
I don't think your going to find a way to stop it.

On some sites I do the same. Do as little as possible to get the required benefits.