Guestbook Query - by Arislyn on 15:26 24 Mar 2003
Okay, I'm just looking for some opinions, here. You see, awhile back the guestbook at my website started getting flooded with people posting links to pornographic sites. Now, I have nothing against porn, per se, but my site is pretty much PG. I don't want anything linking to or from my site to anything adult related....including my guestbook. The posters were even being quite sneaky about it. They would use HTML code to hide the website addys within their normal message. It was only when I would go into manage the posts (which was usually prompted by 3 or 4 entries in a row that looked exactly the same and used bogus emails) that I would see what they had done.
I tried banning IPs, but that didn't even seem to slow them down. So, I finally gave up, archived my old guestbook after purging it of inappropriate entries and started a new guestbook. Now, this guestbook host allows me to moderate the posts. So, I have to approve them before they show up. I figured this would discourage anyone who would want to abuse the system.....and it has. However, I wonder if that is also discouraging legitimate guests from signing. I've only had a single guest sign since I implemented this a few weeks ago. I mean, I don't want it to seem like I'll only let through positive posts. People can tell me my site sucks eggs all day long and I don't care. I just don't want porno posters to be able to get in.
What do you guys think? Is it too discouraging to legit posters for me to do this? Should I suck it up, let people post as they will? I could have language filters and keep HTML turned off and hope that keeps the majority of them out.
Okay, I'm just looking for some opinions, here. You see, awhile back the guestbook at my website started getting flooded with people posting links to pornographic sites. Now, I have nothing against porn, per se, but my site is pretty much PG. I don't want anything linking to or from my site to anything adult related....including my guestbook. The posters were even being quite sneaky about it. They would use HTML code to hide the website addys within their normal message. It was only when I would go into manage the posts (which was usually prompted by 3 or 4 entries in a row that looked exactly the same and used bogus emails) that I would see what they had done.
I tried banning IPs, but that didn't even seem to slow them down. So, I finally gave up, archived my old guestbook after purging it of inappropriate entries and started a new guestbook. Now, this guestbook host allows me to moderate the posts. So, I have to approve them before they show up. I figured this would discourage anyone who would want to abuse the system.....and it has. However, I wonder if that is also discouraging legitimate guests from signing. I've only had a single guest sign since I implemented this a few weeks ago. I mean, I don't want it to seem like I'll only let through positive posts. People can tell me my site sucks eggs all day long and I don't care. I just don't want porno posters to be able to get in.
What do you guys think? Is it too discouraging to legit posters for me to do this? Should I suck it up, let people post as they will? I could have language filters and keep HTML turned off and hope that keeps the majority of them out.
Guestbook Query - by Brad on 16:41 24 Mar 2003
Open it up to all posters for 1 - 2 months and see how it goes. Simply edit out any porn posts. This will give you an idea if it is turning people off to moderate the posts.
There are guestbook spambots out there that do nothing but find guestbooks and spam them.
And then there are weirdos, that just have to post their conspiracy/religious cult/political manifesto in your guestbook.
You can always plant some negative posts in your own guestbook, about your own site, if you think that would encourage people.
Open it up to all posters for 1 - 2 months and see how it goes. Simply edit out any porn posts. This will give you an idea if it is turning people off to moderate the posts.
There are guestbook spambots out there that do nothing but find guestbooks and spam them.
And then there are weirdos, that just have to post their conspiracy/religious cult/political manifesto in your guestbook.You can always plant some negative posts in your own guestbook, about your own site, if you think that would encourage people.
Guestbook Query - by Arislyn on 18:41 24 Mar 2003
Thanks, Brad. I'll give that a try and see what happens. (Reopen to unmoderated posts, that is.
)
I'm sure that my zombie servants have a few complaints and would gladly put in some negative feedback....however, their fingers keeping breaking off when they type. And, they make the keys all gooey! Ewwwwwww!
Thanks, Brad. I'll give that a try and see what happens. (Reopen to unmoderated posts, that is.
)I'm sure that my zombie servants have a few complaints and would gladly put in some negative feedback....however, their fingers keeping breaking off when they type. And, they make the keys all gooey! Ewwwwwww!