Or...

Instead of having a post limit before people can post ads...

Why not have a post AND a time limit. Like 10 posts and one month or something. Perhaps that will encourage people to browse a bit more and only reply when they have a genuine contribution to make?

That might also scare genuine people off - because what if they have more than 10 posts that actually contribute to the community?

I like the time time idea

If they are genuine then they will be around for a month and the posts may start to be genuine too

Real people who want to contribute and be part of the forum won't mind

Cheers
Angus

Sounds like a good idea.

If they are genuine posters and not just some kid wanting to spam another forums with their "I am the best game hosting provider in australia" garbage, then sure, they will sit it out, post useful information/acceptable posts and atleast gain some form of credibility.

Me...I lost my credibility when I woke up this morning! ..... but that's a whole other story.

I agree.

Posting ads is a different matter again. Only members of the Registered Provider's usergroup can post ads.

None of these restrictions will be imposed unless the situation happened to become unbearable for all concerned (members and moderators alike), and even then any restrictions would need to take the forum as a whole in to consideration.

G

I'm confused by this comment. To me, any web hosting offers posted in the advertising areas are ads. And there are definitely offers being posted there by users who a) are not registered providers (according to their titles anyway) and b) have spammed to get their 10 posts.

That's fair enough... clearly though it is an issue for some people (or this thread wouldn't exist). If nothing else it's rather annoying.

This thread is about users (new or otherwise) resurrecting old threads (to spam some links, increase their post count, etc).

You then brought up people posting ads, which is a different matter altogether because only a specific usergroup can post ads in the advertising area. Members generally only get added to this group if they've contributed to the wider forum. There have been some exceptions, but that's between me and the person requesting to be added.

Back on topic, I'm not opposed to locking threads after x amount of time (3+ mnths). That's about the only restriction I can see that would serve any purpose at this time.

G

Oerr, but then we won't be able to dig this thread back up.

Stu

I sure it could be changed to something other then post count, Couldn't it be days rather then posts ?

No it isn't

It is about these annoying newbie pricks who dig up old threads to get to 10 posts to be able to post links or whatever it takes and I used to think it was the same for the advertising threads but now I am totally confused as I see people advertising there who appear to have never posted anything

A

I 2nd that Angus, when I saw a new member post an offer on their first post it totally threw me so I am also now confused about the rules for posting in the advertising section

maybe this needs to be defined as from what I can see it's not just Angus and myself who are confused about the advertising rules.

please explain!

Cheers
Ros

Glad I'm not the only one who was confused then!

This thread is a lot like the which came first, the chicken or the egg… if you are required to have 10 posts before you post in the advertising section you will always have people trying to post 10 lots of crap before their first post to advertise… if you remove this rule you will have a lot more people being 1 time advertising posters.

The way I have always seen the 10 post rule, is the rule is there to allow the forum member to contribute to the forum and become part of the community by providing input to fellow members, whilst at the same time be allowed to advertise after a certain number of posts.

You could raise the limit to 20 posts, but this might bring about 2x as many crap posts… and or you need to moderate this rule closer, that or design a script which only gives people access to the forum once they have been validated as a member… from valid posts… but all of that really is fixed by closer moderation which I think is the answer. Automatically closing old posts is also a good idea if they have been dormant for “x” amount of time.

Regards James

Your first post spoke of "before being able to post links" so that's not specific to the advertising area. You're refering to people digging up old threads, and that happens mostly in the general discussion area.

You need to make your whinges more specific Angus.

That was dropped some time ago. It disadvantaged more people than it annoyed.

I'll wear that one. I have just checked the forum permissions, and at some point during the recent changes everything has been reset. All my hard work...gone.

I'll batten down the hatches again Angus. Anything to stop this bloody whinging! Not sure what you'll do with your time then...

G