So many canoes, this board risks becoming worthless

it's becoming steadily harder to sift through the trash to find real threads. Might well be time for some rather draconian measures by the board moderators to keep the spammers out.

EDIT! I just created a canoes to delete thread. If you see any canoes, report them there and we can delete them quickly. We'll all be monitoring that thread.

I checked at 2:00am, and again just now (i.e. a little after 7:00am.) I just deleted seven threads that were created during the time I slept. I've lost count of how many threads I deleted yesterday. Seriously, I delete spam before going to take a shower in the morning. I check for canoes before going to bed at night. I do it during my half hour lunch break at work. I definitely dislike it even more than you

All canoe deleting duties fall onto three or four people.We realize that it is becoming a major issue, and frankly, we're being overwhelmed. If you have suggestions, post them here or email/PM them to a GRM staffer. (Don't send them to me, I would only pass them on to Tom and Alan, anyway.) I'm sure they will welcome any ideas.

In the meantime, we have to clean canoes up/delete them as quickly as they can be found. The best way to get canoe threads deleted quickly is to send a PM/email to the GRM staff (Especially Tom S. or Alan Caesar) or to me. For the fastest response, include the offending username and the URL. If you are on a mobile device and cannot cut and paste, send the number from the URL. One way we find the offending thread is searching by thread number. (example: this is thread #66671)

Again, we know this is a major issue, and trust me, everybody is very concerned. I'm sure that Tom Suddard, Alan Caesar and Dave Wallens would consider any suggestions that you guys can come up with.

I'm curious why.

Why is this site such an attraction for canoes? They are MUCH more prevalent here than other comparably sized sites.

Software? Web management decisions? User's surfing habits? Poor filtering? Canoes like cars?

As a frequent user, it makes me concerned for my own system's integrity. But mostly, I am just interested in learning.

EDIT! I just created a canoes to delete thread. If you see any canoes, report them there and we can delete them quickly. We'll all be monitoring that thread.

just a guess: Maybe the clever use of metatags on the forum software has made GRM results prominent in google's search results.

I just wanted to add one other thing; hitting '!' basically does nothing to help, and typing 'canoe' is only a minor help. Email/PM is better. Hopefully, the new thread will be the best method.

SVreX wrote: I'm curious why. Why is this site such an attraction for canoes? They are MUCH more prevalent here than other comparably sized sites. Software? Web management decisions? User's surfing habits? Poor filtering? Canoes like cars? As a frequent user, it makes me concerned for my own system's integrity. But mostly, I am just interested in learning.

The price of using home-spun forum software. vBulletin has countless apps designed to stop spam from getting posted.

I never really understood why GRM chose to reinvent the wheel like they did.

I notice that I seem to often be the first to post "canoe", just now realizing that that doesn't help. I am on here a lot, if there's a way I can assist, please let me know.

I don't mean to entirely discount shouting 'canoe'....it used to be the primary method that I used to look for spam. (I would log in, go to Latest Topics, and look for the word 'canoe'.) Right now, we have so much spam that I start by looking for thread titles.

'Canoe' is still sort of useful....it is one way to locate zombie threads that were resurrected by canoes.

The BEST method, at the moment, is to alert us via email/PM. If possible, include username and URL/thread number

GRM has a high google ranking. As evidenced by the R/C build thread. Within hours one of his pics was page 1 of google image search. The spammers aren't looking for click-throughs from users. They are looking for link back hits on google to help legitimize their spam.

Perhaps we really should prepare the coastal defenses by giving some more people Mod powers.

That's an idea. Years ago I was a moderator on a really popular R/T Dakota site. There were a team of us that kept an eye out for spam and trolls, leaving the folks who run the board free to do their jobs.

How about making it harder for spammers to register/create an account? Have a security question at the end of the registration form, like, “What is the 'answer'?" That way, only someone that has actually read the forum could sign up.

SVreX wrote: I'm curious why. Why is this site such an attraction for canoes? They are MUCH more prevalent here than other comparably sized sites.

I'm a mod on a couple of other car forums and they are just as prevalent there. It IS a full time job keeping up with it. We've tried making it harder to register, and it still happens.

Osterkraut wrote:

SVreX wrote: I'm curious why. Why is this site such an attraction for canoes? They are MUCH more prevalent here than other comparably sized sites. Software? Web management decisions? User's surfing habits? Poor filtering? Canoes like cars? As a frequent user, it makes me concerned for my own system's integrity. But mostly, I am just interested in learning.

The price of using home-spun forum software. vBulletin has countless apps designed to stop spam from getting posted. I never really understood why GRM chose to reinvent the wheel like they did.

Agreed. I think it may be the whole “grassroots" mentality. “I can make something better than an off-the-shelf product."

Would it be possible to limit the number of accounts per IP adress? Basically, it is the same canoe over and over so if we can eliminate this one spammer, we should be canoe free.

I'd suggest adding a "report spam" button, combined with some extra moderators to help with the load.

MadScientistMatt wrote: I'd suggest adding a "report spam" button, combined with some extra moderators to help with the load.

+1. Easiest thing to do.

Changing the registration process will take care of a lot of.

wasn't a big deal when it was just a bit of spam. Now, upwards of half the threads are spam canoes.

We already have a "report spam" button. Extra moderators could help. I'll volunteer in EST, I'm typically checking the board around 6 - 7 am.

Grtechguy wrote: We already have a "report spam" button.

I was this close to asking where it was, but realized the ! button was the ticket. Frankly I never caught that till now.

Sine_Qua_Non wrote:

MadScientistMatt wrote: I'd suggest adding a "report spam" button, combined with some extra moderators to help with the load.

+1. Easiest thing to do.

Isn't that what the exclamation point is for?

I own MNMazda, and was a mod/admin of the site and others prior to my taking over of that site. I know a thing or two about baleeting spam.

Jerry wrote:

Grtechguy wrote: We already have a "report spam" button.

I was *this* close to asking where it was, but realized the ! button was the ticket. Frankly I never caught that till now.

Given what JoeyM said above, the "!" Button does not work.

Annnnnd just found another spam thread. Tried the ! button & going to email now.

Yeah, we're not happy about the spam, either. I am spending way too much time deleting it, too. So, what are we doing about it? We just deputized two more spam hunters, plus the GRM site update is on the way.

Either way, we're working to make this a more pleasurable place to hang out.

Thanks for your patience.

..and if you wish to be the willing to download the GRM Spam control film which is hilarious but allows for the application of Louie Vuitton handbags but the secret illegal picture of Britney Spears and shows of the by made for by the simple providing your bank number and i will

Alright, I'm out of jibberish

JoeyM wrote: [Edit: I just wanted to add one other thing; hitting '!' basically does nothing to help, and typing 'canoe' is only a minor help. Email/PM is the way to go.]

i did not know that. thanks!