An interesting discovery

[John]

Okay, I have received some emails over the last couple days from some frequent contributors that wish to remain nameless....they have expressed unhappiness at posting pics and stories without many comments and are asking me WHY more people don't post when there are so many views...(you guys already know MY opinions... ;) )

I've really never even looked much at this software since I got it, but it has some interesting features...

I hadn't realized it, but apparently some people have been using fake emails when registering....doing that means you don't get the confirmation email required to make a post, but for some retarded reason, the software still allows pic downloads...(for now..)

What this means is, it helps the freeloaders to just download pics without the necessity of really registering and even being ABLE to post in the first place...

Sooooooo....even though I'm still looking at functionality, the first thing I've done is to delete all people that never clicked the confirmation email because their email address is fake. Realistically, I would expect people to do that again, so I'm preparing some nifty cookie and session based tricks that will identify the people that do it, and once they do it twice, they are gone for good...no more free pics for them...also, I will be setting up random confirmation emails so that people that create an address for use one time and never check it again will get deleted also... ;)

If you are one of those people, look very soon to always be redirected to a page that says "You Are An Idiot" any time you try and come here... :)

As usual, bad apples cause problems for everyone...but soon, we will be a community ONLY of people that wish to BE a community...

[floam]

Thanks John, for all your effort. Though I do not reply much, I do reply. I am mostly a watcher. I would contribute pictures but I don't have any that are my own. Which makes me grateful for everyone who does post. I like other people should take the time to post a reply. Being a quiet watcher here I still totally support this movement to get the lurkers out. I will do my best to reply more.

Thanks.

[Estese]

I applaud your intentions, as you are undoubtedly making this decision for the welfare of the community. However, aren't you concerned that by blocking people off who don't contritute to the community, you may be detracting from potential customers? Your assumption seems to be that those who don't post and/or give fake e-mail addresses are worthless to the community. However, it could be quite possible that those people are simply non-vocal/shy/do not have time to frequently post, and could in fact be paying customers of paysites. It could also be that they gave fake e-mail addresses for fear of being put on a spamlist (which is a worthwhile concern).

I think it's akin to a radiostation. A given station may have thousands of listeners, but only a select few may have ever called in to the show. However, simply because the majority have not called in, does not mean they are not fans of the show, and are not worth having as listeners. Just like a messageboard, they could be shy of speaking in public, don't think their opinions are important, do not have time to be calling in, etc. However, those silent majority are the ones - through their sheer numbers - whom the commercial advertising on the show (just like the website adtertising on messageboards) is likely to affect the most (as opposed to the small vocal minority).

My point is that it's not fair to make assumptions about the worthiness of viewers simply because they do not post or give fake e-mail addresses. Although there are undoubtedly some who do give fake e-mail addresses and do not post because they are freeloaders, making a blanket statement that they are all this way is not fair, in my opinion.

[coolshot]

Thanx John, I should've remebered. I'm glad all that is settled.

[editor]

Originally posted by John
Okay, I have received some emails over the last couple days from some frequent contributors that wish to remain nameless....they have expressed unhappiness at posting pics and stories without many comments and are asking me WHY more people don't post when there are so many views...(you guys already know MY opinions... ;) )

I've really never even looked much at this software since I got it, but it has some interesting features...

I hadn't realized it, but apparently some people have been using fake emails when registering....doing that means you don't get the confirmation email required to make a post, but for some retarded reason, the software still allows pic downloads...(for now..)

What this means is, it helps the freeloaders to just download pics without the necessity of really registering and even being ABLE to post in the first place...

Sooooooo....even though I'm still looking at functionality, the first thing I've done is to delete all people that never clicked the confirmation email because their email address is fake. Realistically, I would expect people to do that again, so I'm preparing some nifty cookie and session based tricks that will identify the people that do it, and once they do it twice, they are gone for good...no more free pics for them...also, I will be setting up random confirmation emails so that people that create an address for use one time and never check it again will get deleted also... ;)

If you are one of those people, look very soon to always be redirected to a page that says "You Are An Idiot" any time you try and come here... :)

As usual, bad apples cause problems for everyone...but soon, we will be a community ONLY of people that wish to BE a community...

John, do i hear bountyhunter???:D......

excellent idea, so i finally can delete my fakeaccounts in Kabul and Uzbekistan..:D

[John]

Estese, you have great points, and in fact, *I* agree with most of them...however.... :D

1.) Only CONTRIBUTORS make forums work. Period. As I have stated before and lildog was too stupid to understand (as we eventually all figured out), a forum of people that only read and never post is NOT a forum...clearly, the people that only read would have nothing without the contributors...therefore, any attempts to try and get them to contribute SOMETHING should be a step forward. Not everyone has pics, can write stories, etc...but surely anyone can say the very rare "thank you, great pics" or tell of a personal experience or even just the desire for a personal experience. Shyness is not a valid reason for such a small effort. This is the internet....no one can see you sitting there in your underwear and that you haven't showered in 3 days...

I repeat for the reading challenged - Posting does NOT mean pics...ANY kind of post (words) is contributing...and if anyone considers posting ONCE per month frequent...not sure what I can say about that... :p

2.) If you use fake email for the reason of being afraid of a spamlist, I'll say it once - there is no spam from here. I was an original member of the Black Hole with Paul Vixie...I have stopped more spam than 99.99% of internet dwellers....if you note the way the Destiny newsletter is set up, you have to get the confirmation email and click on it to AGREE to receive email, otherwise you are not added. No one who doesn't want email gets any...

The problem with allowing fake emails is I really have no other way (at this time) of determining if the individual is a contributor or not. It's possible that sometime in the future I can devise something different, but for the recent future, THAT works...

3.) No, I am not worried about foiling possible customers for the paysites. If anything, this will get them MORE traffic. The links to the paysites will still be there (and on the idiot page), they just won't be able to see the enlarged pics.

4.) What it boils down to is an ATTEMPT at least to keep contributors happy....without them, the rest of the freeloaders don't HAVE a forum in the first place. Watching out for them can only be a distant second... :(

I am MORE than open for suggestions on ways to do this...help is always appreciated! :D

[Logan]

I understand your reasoning but I was a watcher alot longer than I have been a contributor. True I don't contribute much, maybe a story here or there or the occassional "way to go" but my point is this you may be deleting future contributors to the forum and with every forum people come and go. We may very well in time lose those that contribute the most, and or may see a switch in contributors to watchers. I myself prefer to keep my posts to this forum and if anyone has anything good or bad to say to me I would prefer it be done here in the open as oppossed to someone sending me mail. I am married and my wife know of my desires but she doesn't want to see it in our mailbox at our personal address. So I prefer to wait mostly in the wings until I have a story or the occassional slap on the back for a posting well done. These are just my thoughts and if you delete me off your list then its my loss. but I would prefer to come back time and time again to this site. I have been to many sites and forums and I come here exclusively to post my stories or read others or look at pic's. This is a class act here and I would prefer to be a part of it! Whatever happens I just thought you should know

[John]

Email is NOT an issue...no one here can send you email unless you allow it....

You are NOT a watcher...you are a contributor...a watcher has NEVER posted....at this time I am not deleting people that don't contribute...I am only deleting them if their email is fake, which is the only reference I have right now...

I don't delete valid people so the arguement is moot... :D

[underheragain69]

Hi John...

I agree in theory... but, and I am sorry there is a but... If all people who veiwed added a "nice pic" reply to each post then there is a danger of losing a fresh post deep onto page three or four and risk it never being read or seen... That said, I still agree with you that emails should be valid (hands up anyone who doesn't know how to use Hotmail or yahoo) and should be checked.. I use yahoo mail so that I can keep work and "my" mails seperate.. and yes, a forum is made up of people who post but please allow new member time to realise we all don't bite and are just like them at heart. Everyone needs to use a proactive posting technique to try to draw the watchers into our world. Who knows they may enjoy the experience.... we all do :) .

On balance John is right and it will mean a stronger more active forum for us all..

All I want to know is have you peeking through my webcam again John? If not then how do you know my underwear is three day old? :confused:

UHA69

John is trying to make a good forum better and he is doing it for us..... Thankyou John
:thumbsup:

[John]

Thanks for understanding what we are trying to accomplish here, UHA69... :D

However, I'm not sure you understand exactly...

There is NO way this forum could support everyone who views pics to say thanks or even make a comment every time....the server would blow up...it's straining as it is...

However, if less frequent posters made ONE post per month, that would be MORE than enough...maybe even too much overall, still...but they don't... :D

Hope that clears it up!

BTW, new users are welcome to take as much time as it takes to get comfortable...the issue we are having right now is keeping track of people...thus the reason for the emails as it's the only thing I have available right now....

[underheragain69]

Phew! I was only worried I would have to wade through 2000 "great pics"... :eek: every day .:cry:


On another note... Any Chance of posting the pic you have used as your avatar as it looks mighty fine ... I am sure the full size is awesome! :thumbsup:

Many thanks

UHA69

[John]

Yeah, how annoying would that be? A forum of posts that say "thanks" - sounds great.... NOT! :D

I think I've posted this one once before...here it is again...the whole set is kinda cool... :)

Shit, I can't get any pics to upload...ARGH! They are screwing with it trying to get it not to take so long...afterwards!

[Chrispy]

Hello, John and others who make this forum SO GREAT!!! This is my second post EVER!! No, 3rd.. Wait, no I am pretty sure it's my second!! Perhaps you remember my first!!! <--- Never Mind!!

What I want to say, though, is this:


John, with the functions that you say you have noticed available to you, is there a way that when a viewer is trying to express his or her "Nice Pic" or "thank you", or ay other applicable reply, that it could show up in one section of the topic? For instance, perhaps, an icon that, when clicked on, would show all the people who would like to express their appreciation?

Similar to what you and UHA69 have already implied, it would save all the different posts cluttering a thread and put them in one secluded spot that anyone could check out!! Then, the people that come to check the pics, mpgs, stories and such, would be happy, the people who are looking for (WELL DESERVED) notes of thanks would be happym and God KNOWS me --- Chrispy -- would be happy!!! LOL.

Just my $.02 worth as I celebrate my 2nd career post!!!