Admin help! Banned for Spam, not a spammer! (and your spam problem fixed...)

[jonathantaufer]

So I'm using this website on my [s]third[/s] fourth account right now through a proxy since apparently my ip or email address is banned.

I had posted in a thread about using kill-o-watt's to total up the energy usage by your cpu for folding to write it off on taxes. I wasn't sure that would work, but I offered up some detailed advice about how you could write off all your folding pc's as a business expense as long as they were in your "business" portion of your home. Then I signed it with my REAL NAME and my home page (cause I couldn't find a sig box in userCP) and the Next day I'm banned for a "Spam attack" (LOL) on your forums!

Now it takes two to ban... So someone who apparently couldn't comprehend what I was talking about clicked the "mark as spam" button, and then a mod or forum admin came by, also couldn't take the time to realize that my post was completely relavent and useful, and confirmed a ban on me. This is complete nonsense.

So for one. I'd like my account back please. It's willpower101 with the same named email at gmail.

I've gone over your entire faq and there's nothing against me linking to my home page in my sig. In fact there's a thread IN THE SUGGESTION forum where an admin has ENABLED linking in your sig!

Lastly,
Don't you think it's a pain to fight spam every day on here? The real question is, who do you have to blame? Actually, no one but yourselfs.

Seriously, what kind of tech forum doesn't require an EMAIL verification before they allow someone to start posting?! I could sign up with ANY random email address and start posting immediatly!

Next, what kind of tech forum uses FIVE, that's right count em, and ONLY FIVE anti-spam questions?! (ever heard of captcha?) So we have:

What color is the sky?
Which of our four seasons is the hottest?
What is the opposite of day?
How many legs does a dog have?
What is the opposite of hot?

How hard do you think it would be to write an if <=> then script that answers these? And for the lazy spammer, just have the bot refresh the page until it gets back to the 'Sky' question.

I bet if you fixed these TWO things you would instantly cut down on over HALF your spam. All you're currently doing is lockign the door and telling everyone the key is under the mat.

Jonathan Taufer
(I won't link about myself cause I'll probably get flagged for a spam 'attack' again)

[jonathantaufer]

Since it seems there is a good deal of confusion in the "tech"imo community with what I am saying I would refer you to the end of the 60 second spam thread above.

I am not suggesting that there be an email confirmation for EVERY SINGLE POST. I am however suggesting that there be an email confirmation on accounts so that people can't use fake ones.

I'm also suggesting that using the newest version of captcha would be infinitely more secure than using five rotating security questions.

[edit: and I'm also wondering why my post count is not going up. Just because I'm posting in the suggestions forum doesn't mean my posts are contributing to the community :P ]

[Steve R Jones]

Food for thought-> don't post what ever it was you posted and you won't get banned

Kind of like "when in Rome do as the Romans do."

[KarmaKiller]

Oh I remember that thread. I reported it for spam because generally when we have a first time poster leave any kind of link, it's normally always spam.
Us members can report spam, and it's up to the admin from there on out to decide if it's spam or not. Apparently they agreed.

And I can also tell you that they don't look highly upon a member having more then one account here.

[RicheemxX]

First I'll strongly suggest you read out FAQs especially the proper forum conduct section.

Quote:

Members will not create multiple accounts. Each member is entitled to a single account. Once discovered, multiple accounts will be subject to administrative action, up to and including the originating member being banned.

Members will not publicly question a moderator's decision. All moderation concerns should be addressed in a private manner, either by private messaging or emailing the moderator in question.

That said, without seeing the original post or the material in question I will not venture a guess as to why you were banned however the fact that you are admittedly on your 3rd or 4th account could have something to do with it.

Should you wish to discuss the issue further you can contact any of the mods or admins privately via pm or email.