Problem with Private Messages

[pxl8]

Originally Posted by StuartDH

As a result, red rag to a bull, the spammers would attack the site's email system to showoff their skills in overloading the system and creating a denial of service.

This I can understand but I seriously doubt it was the result of spammers searching for keywords, more likely word of mouth amongst trolls (so nearly back on the wildlife topic!) rather than the real spammers.

It's perhaps worth noting that a search for spam could (and probably would) include spa*, sp*m, etc. so masking characters in this way is futile.

[StuartDH]

Originally Posted by pxl8

This I can understand but I seriously doubt it was the result of spammers searching for keywords, more likely word of mouth amongst trolls (so nearly back on the wildlife topic!) rather than the real spammers.

It's perhaps worth noting that a search for spam could (and probably would) include spa*, sp*m, etc. so masking characters in this way is futile.

I agree that it has less of an effect nowadays, but only a couple of years ago a forum thread with spam or spammers written half a dozen times in each of 20 posts would soon reach the top of the search engines. I've been on a few forums over the years where spammers have turned up out of the blue, and with their first post they've joined the spam thread to hit back at the people that post about their activity. It seems likely that they found the thread in the engines.

As you mentioned, there are also the others, and they are often even more active than spammers.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by StuartDH

As boddie mentioned, at one time it was quite common to have spammers looking out for their next place to hit, by searching for threads on the Internet that had a go at them. As far as I know it's not that common now, but there are still a couple of other words that attract the wrong type of activity from certain Internet users.

I'm relatively new to the forum world, so a lot of the ettiquette is new to me. I obviously read the rules before joining up by I wondered if you could give me some general pointers, such as words not to use etc. (since you obviously dont want to post these words, feel free to PM me if its easier than describing them).

Also I'm having a bit of dificulty working out how to post stuff as new threads/ topics and am currently only using the quick reply, as this might lead to be going off topic or hijacking someone elses thread (which I guess is bad form), advice would be appreciated.

Fantastic site BTW

[glsammy]

The general principle for words, is common sense! No swear words, no direct advertising, try and keep posts to thread topics, but obviously there is a fair bit of latitude in that, just read through some of the threads and you'll soon get up to speed!
If a thread goes way off topic, but is still interesting, it's admins job to move in and redirect the thread to a new topic.

If you want to post some thing more general, perhaps off topic, the Treehouse is the place to post, again read through it and you'll see what I mean.

You've posted this, so you know how to post a new thread, it's exactly the same as posting into here.

So let's see some posts..

[eeyore]

Thanks for the info,one thing though I know how to do quick reply, what I am struggling to do is to post new threads into the right forum, what/where do I click ?

I know this is probably a totally idiotic question and I'm being really thick :-( so thanks for your paitience

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by eeyore

Thanks for the info,one thing though I know how to do quick reply, what I am struggling to do is to post new threads into the right forum, what/where do I click ?

I know this is probably a totally idiotic question and I'm being really thick :-( so thanks for your paitience

You must go to Forums at the top of the page
This will take you to the forums page

Choose your category by clicking on it

Then press new thread

Voila

[eeyore]

I thought i did it right last night but it isnt there, It was called "DIY photo projects" in the photo forum, but unless I have transgressed some rule and its been deleted, I must have made a boo boo and posted it somewhere daft. Sorry in either case.