Is it me or has chesscomputers.org been down several days?

Post by **Steve B** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 11:46 am

Steve B wrote:
ricard60 wrote:I can open the ismenios web page but when i click on the forum link of that page i get this message: Can't open file: 'c_log_online.MYI' (errno: 145)

forum regards
Ricardo
Yup
same here
looks like its down once again
Iffy Regards
Steve

Well its back up today
last two posts were 3 and 6 days ago
sadly.. i notice that the listing of moderators still shows the deceased person

R.I.P.Regards
Steve

Post by **Steve B** » Fri Jul 15, 2011 11:59 am

Seems like the site is just running on auto pilot now
nothing but spam posts for days on end

My Goodness Regards
Steve

ricard60 · Post by **ricard60** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 3:04 am

Steve B wrote:Seems like the site is just running on auto pilot now
nothing but spam posts for days on end

My Goodness Regards
Steve

Hello folks,

I've been away for quite a while as family work and other activities have left really no time for the chess computers, the site or the forum and I don't see that changing until 2012.

Regarding the forum, recently it's been plagued with spammers and things are really getting out of control. Alain has graciously offered to help and has been cleaning up these nasty messages (Thanks Alain!) but I cannot and will not ask or expect him to have this responsibility full time as that requires a lot of time and effort as spammers use scripts and robots to do their dirty work and I only see the volume increasing as time goes by.

On top of that, Boardnation doesn't really offer a lot of resources to help us, expect for the paid forums and from the start I wanted to make everything free and not ask for donations.

It seems that there is still a value to this forum so we all need to decide what to do about the spammers. I would like to have a discussion started and gather some options. Then we can all list those options into a poll, vote and decide what to do. That is, if you think that it is still worth maintaining the forum.

To start off. Here are a few options that I can think of:

1. Close the forum, archive the messages and open a new one using another board or another open source tool (suggestions?) (Archiving will be a challenge)

2. Just close the forum and redirect the ismenio.com/forum link to another forum or site/forum of your choice (which one?)

3. Get more moderators to help clean up the message and delete spam accounts on a daily basis (Volunteers? Anyone you guys indicate?)

Whatever you guys decide I'll be fine with. From the beginning I was happy to see all the great information being shared here, friendships formed and the opportunities for the computers to exchange hands. The friendly atmosphere was something that I was even proud to see, given what I sometimes have seen in other forums (not necessarily related to our hobby), so I think we have accomplished something useful here over the years.
That is all thanks to the community! The only minor credit I can take is for enabling the forum but you are the ones creating the great content! Thank you very much for your support!

Again, please feel free to voice your opinion and don't hesitate to contact me directly if you want. It's best to send me an email instead of a private message via the forum.

Sincerest regards,

Ismenio

Post by **Steve B** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 8:32 am

Hi Ricardo

you lifted this from the Forum?
posting the link to the post would have made a bit more sense
was the post made now in response to all of the spam posts or is there still spam posts after that post ?

Confused regards
Steve

ricard60 · Post by **ricard60** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 11:15 am

Hi Steve,

"you lifted this from the Forum?"

Yes it is from that forum

"posting the link to the post would have made a bit more sence"

Maybe it would had been better to put the link to that forum but it is done.

"was the post made now in repsonse to all of the spam posts or is there still spam posts after that post? "

Yes it was made in response of all spam posts.

http://users.boardnation.com/~chesscomp ... eadid=2143

Be aware of the spams regards
Ricardo

Post by **Steve B** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 11:23 am

OK Good
seems that all spam has now been removed
hopefully it can be maintained this way going forward

Checking Every Now And Again Regards
Steve

SirDave · Post by **SirDave** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 3:11 pm

Steve B wrote:OK Good
seems that all spam has now been removed
hopefully it can be maintained this way going forward

Checking Every Now And Again Regards
Steve

Each time I've checked in the last few days, there has been spam leading off the threads. As we speak, the first two subjects are 'Adult dating etc,etc' ( pure porn site) and 'Buy Paxil'. Spam is a constant threat on forum websites. From my experience, sometimes a more rigorous membership process is necessary and almost always there has to be a moderator who keeps an eye on the site. Set'm & forget'm doesn't work anymore.

A pox on spammers regards,
Dave

Post by **Steve B** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 3:59 pm

SirDave wrote:
Steve B wrote:OK Good
seems that all spam has now been removed
hopefully it can be maintained this way going forward

Checking Every Now And Again Regards
Steve
Each time I've checked in the last few days, there has been spam leading off the threads. As we speak, the first two subjects are 'Adult dating etc,etc' ( pure porn site) and 'Buy Paxil'. Spam is a constant threat on forum websites. From my experience, sometimes a more rigorous membership process is necessary and almost always there has to be a moderator who keeps an eye on the site. Set'm & forget'm doesn't work anymore.

A pox on spammers regards,
Dave

Agreed
you need day to day attendance by at least someone who can clean up spam
i myself will check out the forum now and that porn site for scientific research purposes

sadly ...they are STILL showing as one of the moderators the name of a person who passed away almost two years ago

Regards
Steve

Post by **Alain** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 4:14 pm

Hi Steve,

Steve B wrote: you need day to day attendance by at least someone who can clean up spam
i myself will check out the forum now and that porn site for scientific research purposes

I connect at least 2-3 times a day to clean up spam, but the technology of the forum cannot stop it

best regards,
Alain

Post by **Steve B** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 5:24 pm

Alain wrote: I connect at least 2-3 times a day to clean up spam, but the technology of the forum cannot stop it

best regards,
Alain

Well then the forum could not be in finer hands
perhaps you can get Ismenio to remove Overtoms name Alain?
it is a bit creepy already to still see the name as an active moderator

Best Regards
Steve

Mythbuster · Post by **Mythbuster** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 9:35 pm

Steve B wrote:
Alain wrote: I connect at least 2-3 times a day to clean up spam, but the technology of the forum cannot stop it

best regards,
Alain
Well then the forum could not be in finer hands
perhaps you can get Ismenio to remove Overtoms name Alain?
it is a bit creepy already to still see the name as an active moderator

Best Regards
Steve

I wrote this also to Ismenio and I offered also my help ... but no reaction up to now ...

With no ideas Regards,
Sascha

Post by **Steve B** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 10:24 pm

Mythbuster wrote:
Steve B wrote:
Alain wrote: I connect at least 2-3 times a day to clean up spam, but the technology of the forum cannot stop it

best regards,
Alain
Well then the forum could not be in finer hands
perhaps you can get Ismenio to remove Overtoms name Alain?
it is a bit creepy already to still see the name as an active moderator

Best Regards
Steve

I wrote this also to Ismenio and I offered also my help ... but no reaction up to now ...

With no ideas Regards,
Sascha

i myself could not think of two better moderator's then you and Alain
the forum would spring to life

IMHO Regards
Steve

Post by **Alain** » Sun Jul 17, 2011 10:32 am

Hi Steve,

Steve B wrote:perhaps you can get Ismenio to remove Overtoms name Alain?
it is a bit creepy already to still see the name as an active moderator

I dont know : it is somehow a way to remember his contribution to our hobby ?
I guess this is the reason why Ismenio didn't do anything about it...

Best regards,
Alain

Post by **Steve B** » Sun Jul 17, 2011 10:44 am

Alain wrote:Hi Steve,

Steve B wrote:perhaps you can get Ismenio to remove Overtoms name Alain?
it is a bit creepy already to still see the name as an active moderator
I dont know : it is somehow a way to remember his contribution to our hobby ?
I guess this is the reason why Ismenio didn't do anything about it...

Best regards,
Alain

Hmmm
must be a better way to pay tribute to him Alain
showing him as a currently active moderator is somewhat strange i think
perhaps even Ghoulish
members must be trying to PM him or contact him and wonder why he refuses to reply
however its Ismenio's decision of course

A Bit Bizarre Regards
Steve

Mythbuster · Post by **Mythbuster** » Sun Jul 17, 2011 11:02 am

Hi Steve,
I agree 110%!

Of course, everybody remembers Tom, but keep him as an acive Mod is strange and looks more like: Nobody cares about the forum ...

Sunny Sunday Regards,
Sascha