Does the SMF Forum Need A Board for Spam only Discussions/Help?

[xrunner]

Since it spans both v1.x.x and 2.x.x and it seems like a lot of people are always having spam problems, just thought I'd ask if a board (even child board) devoted to spam issues would be warranted.

Thanks for reading my suggestion.

[kat]

You'd imagine so, wouldn't you?

Trouble is, you'd expect people to read the stickies.

They don't.

You'd expect people to use the "Search" facility.

They don't.

A modicum of intelligence is required.

That having been said, a board marked "Spam issues", or something, MIGHT just work, to a limited extent.

So, my vote would be "Why not try it out?"

[Night09]

How about a quick links page leading directly to each subject so if someone wants spam help they click a link for that but if they want SMF 2 or 1 support theres links for them so on. have a warning on that page to check stickies for common issues. Just a thought on what you both say.

[xrunner]

How about a quick links page leading directly to each subject so if someone wants spam help they click a link for that but if they want SMF 2 or 1 support theres links for them so on. have a warning on that page to check stickies for common issues.

I don't know nightbre, I've found (unfortunately) that members needing help don't read rules or quick links or the like. They want answers and they want them fast. I do realize that over-boarding a forum isn't always a good idea, but I think in the case of this topic, it might be time for it's own board.

[Arantor]

I would note that rejigging the boards around - so there would actually be fewer boards, but encouraging a spam board in the process, has been suggested before but never actually implemented.

[Chalky]

At least a dedicated spam help board would give the moderators a rug to kick all the spam help posts under, getting them off the main support boards to make them cleaner for those who do bother to read before they post 

[lurkalot]

Since it spans both v1.x.x and 2.x.x and it seems like a lot of people are always having spam problems, just thought I'd ask if a board (even child board) devoted to spam issues would be warranted.

Thanks for reading my suggestion.

Sounds like a good idea to me. 

[xrunner]

IMHO, people having trouble with spam will come here, but not read the rules, stickies, and whatnot. No great revelation there. I think however, they do at least look for the best board to post their issue in. I believe they will use the board. It's also a place for them to see that many others are having the same issue with spammers, so it might be nice for them to see they aren't alone in their suffering. 

If it doesn't work out, the Admins can just move the posts out of the Spam board, and no great harm will have been done. I just seems to me I'm seeing a lot of people having trouble with spammers lately, and it might be a good idea to at least try for a while.

[MrPhil]

A board (or child boards for 1.x and 2.x) dedicated to spam issues would be the intelligent thing to do, but for some reason TPTB at SMF are highly resistant to doing that. I've suggested it a number of times myself -- to clear out all the spam dross from the support boards would be a big improvement, and more people might even be able to find a solution themselves if presented with a concentrated group of spam-related topics. Of course, if they would just bother to search first, there would be about one spam-related topic per year.

Don't hold your breath.

[Irisado]

I'm not sure it would really help that much, because you would still have users who just won't read.  Some people just turn up and post their thread/question/problem without ever bothering to see if the question has been asked before, even if there's a dedicated child board for spam issues.  I can also guarantee that you'd still end up with threads being posted in the wrong place.

A sticky of links to frequently posted topics regarding dealing with spam might be an option.  Of course, people still won't read it, but moderators could then just lock the duplicate threads with a link to the sticky.  That might get the message across in the end.

[MrPhil]

I say, keep count of what percentage of a given member's posts need to be moved because they were posted in the obviously wrong board. If they chronically exceed 5% after some startup leniency period, warn them and then ban them if they show they're still not bothering to read the board titles. Some people are just too stupid to be allowed to consume my oxygen supply.

I've complained about this forum's layout before. Of the boards that random members can post in, you put them up at the very top of the postable boards: Support 1.x, Support 2.x, Spam Issues. That way there's a good chance that they end up in the right board, even if they don't bother to read the titles. The current layout is stupid, as generally postable boards such as SMF Feedback and SMF Bugs come well before the Support boards, and get lots of support questions dumped in them. And before anyone objects "We have to have News near the top", that's not a generally postable board. Leave it near the top, because only a select few can post to it.

[xrunner]

I'm not sure it would really help that much, because you would still have users who just won't read.  Some people just turn up and post their thread/question/problem without ever bothering to see if the question has been asked before, even if there's a dedicated child board for spam issues.  I can also guarantee that you'd still end up with threads being posted in the wrong place.

Hello Irisado,

I know what you are talking about. Having run and helped run several forums I know new (and sometimes old) members do not want to read rules and stickeys. Sometimes even if they do read the rules they will then "lawyer" them and try to corner you into minutia and aspects of the rules that you didn't address. But I don't see a big downside to making a spam discussion board. The worst thing that can happen is that it doesn't work out, and they can just move all the posts in it to another board(s).

I've complained about this forum's layout before. Of the boards that random members can post in, you put them up at the very top of the postable boards: Support 1.x, Support 2.x, Spam Issues. That way there's a good chance that they end up in the right board, even if they don't bother to read the titles. The current layout is stupid, as generally postable boards such as SMF Feedback and SMF Bugs come well before the Support boards, and get lots of support questions dumped in them. And before anyone objects "We have to have News near the top", that's not a generally postable board. Leave it near the top, because only a select few can post to it.

MrPhil,

After reading your comments, the layout could be better, I agree. I would put the support boards close to the top, where new members needing help can find them faster. The more experienced members will be able to find the other boards nearer the bottom with no problem.

Yes, I know anyone should be able to find any board in any position, but they also should be able to search and read rules ...

[Irisado]

Hello Irisado,

I know what you are talking about. Having run and helped run several forums I know new (and sometimes old) members do not want to read rules and stickeys. Sometimes even if they do read the rules they will then "lawyer" them and try to corner you into minutia and aspects of the rules that you didn't address. But I don't see a big downside to making a spam discussion board. The worst thing that can happen is that it doesn't work out, and they can just move all the posts in it to another board(s).

The downside is that you'd be creating a board which you don't necessarily need to create in the first place.  If you have a sticky thread of frequently posted topics, and include links to all the FAQs about dealing with spam/spammers, why would you need a separate board?  The moderators wouldn't even need to worry about moving threads.  I find it's much quicker to lock threads, and post links as answers than it is to move them.

[xrunner]

Thanks for responding,

The downside is that you'd be creating a board which you don't necessarily need to create in the first place.

True, but as I said there is no big downside to doing it. Try it, if it doesn't prove to be a better resource related to spam issues, just move the posts out and close it. That's really easy to do.

If you have a sticky thread of frequently posted topics, and include links to all the FAQs about dealing with spam/spammers, why would you need a separate board?

Because the spam issue spans versions. It neither fits in 1.x.x or 2.x.x, specifically. I believe the spam issue is of concern equally to users of either version. If the posts were concentrated in one board, I believe users of both versions would find it a better resource area. Also, I think it's an interesting topic to discuss on it's own, so that contributes to my opinion it could support a board. That's my opinion, I might be wrong.

Let's say Sue runs a 1.x.x forum and hangs out in that support board looking for topics of interest. She has no interest in 2.x.x. If Ken has a 2.x.x forum and reports and gets a spam issue solved in the support board for 2.0, then Sue might not ever see it. Yes, yes, of course she should be able to search for anything, etc, etc, etc, but we know that doesn't always happen. But, the only "official" (that I can gather from the badging) to respond here has been K@, and he (she?) said it was worth considering. So far no other Admin has said anything. Plus as MrPhil has said, there are some other ideas floating around in the thread.

[xrunner]

Bump,

I still contend that this new board would be useful because this topic spans both versions and a lot of people seem to always have problems with this issue.

[Colin]

I think it is a very good idea. I will make a proposal and be following up on this thread. Thank you for taking the time to bring this to attention.

[xrunner]

I think it is a very good idea. I will make a proposal and be following up on this thread. Thank you for taking the time to bring this to attention.

Thank you for even considering the idea. That's all I ever wanted a staff member to say.

[Deaks]

how about someone creates a wikipage that can be linked too to give suggestions on how to deal with this?

[Arantor]

You mean like http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Spam_-_my_forum_is_flooded_with_spam,_what_can_I_do ?

The problem is that you need to get people to the wiki. Then beat them with a stick until they actually read it.

The point of the suggestions is about focusing all the spam questions in one place where hopefully people will read other suggestions before making their own, by virtue of it being even more prominent than a wiki article.

[Deaks]

maybe we need to link it more in posts as i didnt even know about that page :/