Here's where we can discuss how to best fix this bot problem. I see that it is VERY bad and isn't going to get better unless strict email bans are setup. I have had a bot problem on my site (no where near as bad as this though). I have mine on my site set up to ban any non-.com, .org, and .net email domains. That takes care of many of the problems. Then after that, a ban on *@*poker*.com, *@*texas*hold*em*.com, as well as other common ones to stop the main poker sites. If worst comes to worst, Kerm could make it admin-verification (I can understand why you wouldn't want to do that though). If you like, I can provide my email ban-list that stops many bots from joining.

You could also scan for "I AM A SPAMBOT" in their posts because the last few have been saying that.

Also, I think we should have a more challenging sign up like the one elfprince made a while ago.

The point of bots is not really to post, but to get some website out there (usually the one in the profile page). There are MANY more bots that don't post than those that do. That is why I have a no-mercy-delete policy on my forum. Look/act like a bot and bam, you're deleted and email banned. Over half of the users (from the count on the forum, not those who actually use the forum to discuss in posts) on this forum either don't have any posts at all or are bots. That is absolutely unnecessary and ridiculous.

I still say Kerm should enable e-mail verification. I have no idea WHY he is against it so passionately, its not a big deal at all. Hell, ticalc.org makes you reverify every couple of months, surely enabling e-mail verification on registration isn't a problem...

user validation is one thing, and I am in favor of that, but admin is not a fan of mine really.

How about this. I'll enable e-mail verification for a week, and if we have no bots, I'll keep it. If we do keep getting new bots, I'll remove it and consider a nonstandard validation system similar to something I saw being discussed on phpBB's forums.

haha, thats my phentermine filter I put in.

Why would you care if the bots aren't posting? Does it really matter if we have bots that noone notices?

it does lower your page rank I think, that and it is more the ones that post we care about.

E-mail verification doesn't stop them from registering, only posting. If they get to posting, they have gone way too far past the security in my book. Registering is even too far.

No person may notice, but their profiles link to casino, poker drug sites, raising their page rank with Google and such. Google spider doesn't act like a person and ignore uncommon links, hidden ones, or those which are obviously spam sites. I don't really feel like contributing towards their "popularity" at all and ban them not caring what anyone else thinks. Plus, it makes searching the memberlist absolutely painful (there are reasons for doing so). If bots aren't in that list, you can get meaningful information in 3-4 pages instead of over 9 as it is right now. And those with dial-up know that 3-4 pages to look at beats 9 any day.

even those on broadband know 5 beats 9 pages.

True, but it's irrelevant if you do things as I do for reading things. I load 1 page then n-1 and read the first while the others load. Increases efficiency and allows me to just close the current tab to keep reading instead of waiting to load the next page.

How about if the "Official bot banninator" checks the userlist regularly instead of waiting for complaints? That might work.

Just have one of those things where they have to read t423uyht34

and type it back.

Wow, that is a long message!

Alternatively, we could just delete every member with 0 posts, thereby eliminating most of the spambots.

No, because there are some who are legitimate, but have not posted at all (mdjenkins comes to mind). They do not deserve to get booted by this. Also, there are bots who have 1 or 2 posts and should also be deleted.

I figure that if they have 0 posts but actually log on occasionally, then they'll return and register again, maybe even post.

how about if Kerm installs the "Official bot banninator"'s anti bot registration system and save everyone work? That might work.

Absolutely true, that could work.

Hmm, these are all interesting ideas. And you're right, the thing I was thinking of only stops posting, not registering. I think netham may actually on the right track for this one.