I HATE SPAM

someone is back, selling cc.

Can we PLEASE block a person, by similar rules to flagging a post.

In case you missed it a spammer was back I believe this person signed up on 3/9/12 and just posted about 6 spam posts, about cc

I don't understand the poll choices.

Anyway, yes I saw some spam today, but it was all gone within minutes. So I'd say the double-secret administrators are working just fine.

Quote: Nareed

I don't understand the poll choices.

Anyway, yes I saw some spam today, but it was all gone within minutes. So I'd say the double-secret administrators are working just fine.

OP wants an option to flag a user specifically, as opposed to just flagging a post. With enough such flags, an account would theoretically be banned/suspended/etc.

I also briefly saw the spam, but (*crosses fingers*) it seems to have passed quickly.

I would assume that there is a log of posts that are flagged, including user info. If so, then I'd also assume that the Wiz and/or JB regularly checks the log.

That being the case, there is no need for the general members to have to go to any effort to flag another user. The mere fact that a user pops up in the log would be enough for the Wiz and JB to look closer.

Therefore, I voted "Don't..."

I think it would be ok to flag a person, and have that person's account suspended until an Admin can review it.

The name of our latest spammer, heimhost, is not in red yet but I'm sure it will be soon. I think the secret administrators are quite capable.

Quote: AcesAndEights

OP wants an option to flag a user specifically, as opposed to just flagging a post. With enough such flags, an account would theoretically be banned/suspended/etc.

O, I see. Then no, I don't think that's a good idea. I mean that won't slow down the spammers more than a few seconds, and it might inconvenience new, inexperienced users who post twice.

Quote:

I also briefly saw the spam, but (*crosses fingers*) it seems to have passed quickly.

My point exactly. I flagged a few, but they're all gone now. It seems current measures are more than good enough.

Actually, the only "problem" I saw earlier today was what appeared to be a legitimate post, posted four times in the same forum.

I had a feeling that it wasn't spam, but a jittery finger doing the accidental multiple post thing.

At any rate, three of them are gone.

There is no mechanism to flag a user, and no plans to add that capability. Any changes are a double-edged sword. If I allow for flagging of people, not posts, then legitimate members will get flagged off the site by people who don't like him/her. About two months ago I made it more difficult to flag posts due to a problem of over-flagging. The recent change was to make it easier to flag NEW members, and to restrict their number of posts and threads per day.

It's too bad somebody can't come up with a way legitimate users of a great site like this could strike back against spammers.
What we need is a tool which would allow us to find out who is behind the spam, and then post that information so our members could 'contact' that person with a few dozen emails each. Not spam of course, just a few dozen personal messages.

We have a great tool with the internet. It's too bad the morons and thieves are intent on making it a dangerous place to be, especially if you are not technically savvy and have a low to medium shot at steering clear of trouble.