Validation Of New Members - And Re-Validation Of The Rest Of Us?

[sunny-dave]

Hello Ed - from a rather damp Dave

In the light of the appalling hoax perpetrated on AB (and Craft1948) by persons unknown, is it time the AB toughened up its procedures for registration of a username?

I hope that you will be asking your techies to have a dig into the details (IP Address, MAC address etc etc) used by the current hoaxer, and referring the matter to the Police if possible?

But ... I won't hold my breath for any positive outcome to enquiries.

Perhaps this will be the motivation for a change?

For example, AnswerBank (or more precisely Silverdisc) must already be set up to process credit/debit card transactions .

Requiring a card number and matching name to validate registration is a commonplace and easy to implement system - no charge needs to be made - just a pre-authorisation to confirm name and card number are valid.

How about all new usernames must do this after a maximum of five posts (or a couple of days) - with the username going inactive if they don't comply? A process of re-validation of existing members over a period of a month or two wouldn't hurt, either?

Not only would it stop some of the spammers, but (more importantly) it would weed out the serial 'returners' who cause 99% of all the grief on here?

Cheers

SD xx

PS : Still fishing, still house-hunting :)

[spathiphyllum]

but if they are less than a month old and all ready getting big for their boots then suspend em ennit.. It's been a while since i've been suspended are people getting soft?

[Zacs-Master]

I think the whole situation is being blown out of all proposition, frankly. Craft has shrugged it off and it’s the first time I’ve ever seen anything like this in my 10+ years on Answerbank.

[jackthehat]

Blimey, spath....

One of the perils of a site as open as AB is that those who are 'differently sane' will use it for their own amusement.
However, exhorting people to be more vigilant or circumspect or encouraging one group (newbies) to be scrutined more thoroughly than established users does smack of taking things everso slightly too seriously.

Moderators seem to be being urged to tighten up their moderating procedures whilst, at the same time, being criticised for being too heavy-handed.....what a thankless task.

[Barmaid]

I see where SD is coming from. However, anyone who is determined would get through any checking procedures and the site doesnt really need to make it more difficult.

I do however think that threads like this kind of fuel the fire for this particular idiot. He'll be giggling away to himself and laughing with his other under bridge dwelling mates about how he had us all fooled and how we are all talking about it now.

[naomi24]

Zacs, It's happened before - but really, nothing can be done to prevent the odd weirdo popping up occasionally.

[spathiphyllum]

I just don't think that new members should be able to come and personally attack or be spiteful / malicious to established members, who are here to help said new members?
Little digs here and there ruin the user experience for everyone, cannie we all just get along like?

To be fair i guess Whit's fur ye'll no go past ye

[jackthehat]

If you see that happening, spath, use the 'Report' button and bring it to the attention of the Ed no matter who it is; new user or established user, it shouldn't matter.

[naomi24]

//Moderators seem to be being urged to tighten up their moderating procedures whilst, at the same time, being criticised for being too heavy-handed.....//

Heavy-handedness is a different issue.

[ducksie]

I don't count myself a 'member' of answerbank, no more than I'm a member of any other forum or social network, I use them, the craft issue is not the first time people have been tricked - thankfully craft is still alive and well, just has a life, I didn't read all the answers but no way would I give my bank details to a site just to find the answer or reply to an answer on crosswords or chatterbank, if I was gonna spend money on chatting I'd go out and meet real friends for a coffee, | was the victim of nastiness here almost 6 yrs ago, the Gardai became involved as items were being posted to my home (I'm no longer at that address in case the thicko is still about) the post was traced back to a postal sorting office in UK I won't name it, but it's the internet, not a village, a private platform and you just have to come online but remember, you don't really know everyone no matter how they come across. It's the cuddly huggy people scare me most

[hc4361]

I agree with you about the cuddly, huggy people, ducksie :D

[Zacs-Master]

N, hadn’t realised that. Still think it’s a storm in a teacup. Seems to be a lot of people who are being offended on behalf of Craft. If she’s portraying her true feelings then she’s really not fussed.

[naomi24]

Me too.

[spathiphyllum]

I don't think people are offended on behalf of craft.. the joke isn't on craft it's on the other users, craft didn't have a clue about it, and when she did she simply put the record straight.. It was 'us' who had to think a god user had passed

[naomi24]

^That was to HC.

Zacs, I'm not 'offended' on behalf of Craft. I just think whoever did this is a crackpot.

[Zacs-Master]

Fair point, Spain.

[Zacs-Master]

Spath

[Zacs-Master]

I never said you were, N. Some seem to be, by proxy.

[LadyCG]

I suggested exactly the same a few years ago, SD, and got nothing but negative replies.

[spathiphyllum]

The site is open to all ages.. Try getting a person of all ages to sign up with credit card info.. Very oldies won't do it out of trust and very young ones won't do it out of not having credit card info

The best solution is if peoples attitude was a bit more respectful to other users. We're all real people, evil or not and it doesn;t matter who we are, it's how we act.. Why have snides and digs at users because you don't like them? Just try to get on with it and if you do want to have digs, do that by not going on their threads, give them less audience. Simple.

I like it when debates get heated and that brings out a bit of malice, but nit picking, and backhanded comments for the sake of it really do me nut in. Immature and pathetic lol..

Just remember.. Anything "Objectionable" is against Site Rules. So yes, you may think you're obeying Site Rules and simply airing your dirty opinions.. but in fact it's against Site Rules.

[naomi24]

Spath, Site Rules are as elastic as people’s perception of ‘offence’. Neither can be depended upon for accuracy.