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We want to reduce the spam in the offers category - share your ideas!

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Comments

  • TrKTrK Member

    @MannDude said: I asked ChatGPT (HuMaNs OnLy, hrr drr) what forum options exist that have native or well supported import options from Vanilla... It seems to suggest: phpBB, Flarum, Discourse, and NodeBB.

    Besides LET and LES, I don't know of any active communities that use Vanilla. If the software doesn't support the goals of the adminstration and community, a serious consideration to changing to something else shouldn't be off the table.

    Service providers make changes to software stacks all the time. Providers for years running OpenVZ and Solus wise up and migrate to KVM and VirtFusion or Virtualizor. People migrate to / from DirectAdmin and cPanel often. Users will survive a migration from Vanilla to a software that supports the goals of the site.

    I was also going to suggest moving from vanilla to flarum or something, but then again after looking various things on LET it's just too much customized and already a mess to deal with. on top of migration i can imagine them losing a lot instead of gaining. but then again it's all my opinion it's not like we can influence the top brass......

  • ArkasArkas Member, Retired Moderator

    @EthernetServers said: If a mod/admin could do the needful to the above thread, I'd be very appreciative.

    Done

  • EthernetServersEthernetServers Member, Patron Provider

    @Arkas said:

    @EthernetServers said: If a mod/admin could do the needful to the above thread, I'd be very appreciative.

    Done

    Thank you :)

    Thanked by 1Beniskickbutt
  • Thank you for your feedback! Rest assured, we will take it into consideration, then move on to further consideration, followed by some deep pondering. After that, we’ll submit drafts of potential actions to an internal review committee, edit them down for clarity, and maybe—just maybe—circle back to re-consider our considerations. It’s all part of our highly efficient, action-packed, thought-heavy process.

    Stay tuned for updates… or don’t. Either way, we’re definitely thinking about it.

    Thanked by 1Beniskickbutt
  • itachikonohaitachikonoha Member
    edited January 2025

    @MannDude said:

    @EthernetServers said:

    @MannDude said:

    To be fair, it looks like all the threads that got closed are re-opened, not just Purple and Co.

    Mine remains closed: https://lowendtalk.com/discussion/196415/from-14-95-yr-10gbps-ssd-frankfurt-new-jersey-los-angeles-miami-many-payment-methods/p1

    I don't necessarily have a problem with changes to the rules, but quite clearly, such changes should be the same for everyone - which is why it's a bit frustrating that other threads were indeed re-opened.

    If a mod/admin could do the needful to the above thread, I'd be very appreciative.

    Good catch.

    The rules need to be applied equally. Probably just human error, but this is what to expect when Vanilla is so limited in it's features.

    Hell, my giveaway was over well over a week ago anyway. I'm fine with mine being closed, the contest is done and over and has been. Gave away a little account credit and had front page coverage for 10+ days. I've joked internally to colleagues / peers that you could probably do a giveaway for $2 via PayPal and have people bumping the thread hoping to win it. Cheap marketing and brand awareness for literal dollars. ;)


    I asked ChatGPT (HuMaNs OnLy, hrr drr) what forum options exist that have native or well supported import options from Vanilla... It seems to suggest: phpBB, Flarum, Discourse, and NodeBB.

    Besides LET and LES, I don't know of any active communities that use Vanilla. If the software doesn't support the goals of the adminstration and community, a serious consideration to changing to something else shouldn't be off the table.

    Service providers make changes to software stacks all the time. Providers for years running OpenVZ and Solus wise up and migrate to KVM and VirtFusion or Virtualizor. People migrate to / from DirectAdmin and cPanel often. Users will survive a migration from Vanilla to a software that supports the goals of the site.

    The "needs" play the most crucial part in adaptation. Change the forum software and you may alienate a big part of the community because people generally resist changes and most don't have that much needs to overcome this natural hesitation towards adaptation in my opinion.

    Thanked by 1Beniskickbutt
  • @Arkas said:

    @EthernetServers said: If a mod/admin could do the needful to the above thread, I'd be very appreciative.

    Done

    So we are now waiting for every provider to ask for their spam thread be reopened (or alternatively, they can start a new spam thread), and in a few days we are back to spamming as usual?

  • MannDudeMannDude Patron Provider, Veteran

    @itachikonoha said:

    @MannDude said:

    @EthernetServers said:

    @MannDude said:

    To be fair, it looks like all the threads that got closed are re-opened, not just Purple and Co.

    Mine remains closed: https://lowendtalk.com/discussion/196415/from-14-95-yr-10gbps-ssd-frankfurt-new-jersey-los-angeles-miami-many-payment-methods/p1

    I don't necessarily have a problem with changes to the rules, but quite clearly, such changes should be the same for everyone - which is why it's a bit frustrating that other threads were indeed re-opened.

    If a mod/admin could do the needful to the above thread, I'd be very appreciative.

    Good catch.

    The rules need to be applied equally. Probably just human error, but this is what to expect when Vanilla is so limited in it's features.

    Hell, my giveaway was over well over a week ago anyway. I'm fine with mine being closed, the contest is done and over and has been. Gave away a little account credit and had front page coverage for 10+ days. I've joked internally to colleagues / peers that you could probably do a giveaway for $2 via PayPal and have people bumping the thread hoping to win it. Cheap marketing and brand awareness for literal dollars. ;)


    I asked ChatGPT (HuMaNs OnLy, hrr drr) what forum options exist that have native or well supported import options from Vanilla... It seems to suggest: phpBB, Flarum, Discourse, and NodeBB.

    Besides LET and LES, I don't know of any active communities that use Vanilla. If the software doesn't support the goals of the adminstration and community, a serious consideration to changing to something else shouldn't be off the table.

    Service providers make changes to software stacks all the time. Providers for years running OpenVZ and Solus wise up and migrate to KVM and VirtFusion or Virtualizor. People migrate to / from DirectAdmin and cPanel often. Users will survive a migration from Vanilla to a software that supports the goals of the site.

    The "needs" play the most crucial part in adaptation. Change the forum software and you may alienate a big part of the community because people generally resist changes.

    It's a risk, but most users will adapt.

    Thanked by 1jsg
  • itachikonohaitachikonoha Member
    edited January 2025

    My solution towards this issue is rather simple.

    Allow custom forms to the providers for giveaways or double the resource threads. Let providers put their parameters and users will submit which will be shown to those providers in a tabular structure.

    Both parties will be happy.

  • TrKTrK Member

    @MannDude said: but most users will adapt

    Defo will, i am all up for the change. Flarum nodebb anything is fine(well nodebb is sometimes weird but not as weird as discourse.

  • plumbergplumberg Veteran, Megathread Squad

    @MannDude said:

    @itachikonoha said:

    @MannDude said:

    @EthernetServers said:

    @MannDude said:

    To be fair, it looks like all the threads that got closed are re-opened, not just Purple and Co.

    Mine remains closed: https://lowendtalk.com/discussion/196415/from-14-95-yr-10gbps-ssd-frankfurt-new-jersey-los-angeles-miami-many-payment-methods/p1

    I don't necessarily have a problem with changes to the rules, but quite clearly, such changes should be the same for everyone - which is why it's a bit frustrating that other threads were indeed re-opened.

    If a mod/admin could do the needful to the above thread, I'd be very appreciative.

    Good catch.

    The rules need to be applied equally. Probably just human error, but this is what to expect when Vanilla is so limited in it's features.

    Hell, my giveaway was over well over a week ago anyway. I'm fine with mine being closed, the contest is done and over and has been. Gave away a little account credit and had front page coverage for 10+ days. I've joked internally to colleagues / peers that you could probably do a giveaway for $2 via PayPal and have people bumping the thread hoping to win it. Cheap marketing and brand awareness for literal dollars. ;)


    I asked ChatGPT (HuMaNs OnLy, hrr drr) what forum options exist that have native or well supported import options from Vanilla... It seems to suggest: phpBB, Flarum, Discourse, and NodeBB.

    Besides LET and LES, I don't know of any active communities that use Vanilla. If the software doesn't support the goals of the adminstration and community, a serious consideration to changing to something else shouldn't be off the table.

    Service providers make changes to software stacks all the time. Providers for years running OpenVZ and Solus wise up and migrate to KVM and VirtFusion or Virtualizor. People migrate to / from DirectAdmin and cPanel often. Users will survive a migration from Vanilla to a software that supports the goals of the site.

    The "needs" play the most crucial part in adaptation. Change the forum software and you may alienate a big part of the community because people generally resist changes.

    It's a risk, but most users will adapt.

    💯 this.
    Change is inevitable.
    There will always be outliers that no not appreciate a change and they will voice their concerns with threats of boycott. At the end, if one really cares about the community, they will embrace it.

    Bugger issue is not just about having fancy software and systems. It's more about enforcement of rules across the board without any bias.

    New tool will look good but be a superficial change while not accomplishing anything better than what was before.

  • yoursunnyyoursunny Member, IPv6 Advocate

    Create a Clean Offers sub-category (under the Offers category) in which spam replies are prohibited.
    The regular Offers category allows spam.

    Readers can click Clean Offers category to see only clean offers, or click Offers category to see both.

    Provider can choose to post in either category, sharing the same 10-day frequency.
    If a provider encourages spam in Clean Offers, the thread gets deleted.
    When an offer thread is deleted, the provider must still wait out the 10-day clock before trying again.

    Thanked by 2Arkas hobofl
  • plumbergplumberg Veteran, Megathread Squad

    @yoursunny said:
    Create a Clean Offers sub-category (under the Offers category) in which spam replies are prohibited.
    The regular Offers category allows spam.

    Readers can click Clean Offers category to see only clean offers, or click Offers category to see both.

    Provider can choose to post in either category, sharing the same 10-day frequency.
    If a provider encourages spam in Clean Offers, the thread gets deleted.
    When an offer thread is deleted, the provider must still wait out the 10-day clock before trying again.

    What happens when a post in clean category still has users blindly spamming? Punish the provider? Punish the users? Punish both?

    Will moderators like the extra work to be vigilant?

  • jsgjsg Member, Resident Benchmarker

    Guys, don't be so pessimistic! I think chances are good that with a little luck LET will have anti bot and spamming rules before the year 2040!

  • jarjar Patron Provider, Top Host, Veteran
    edited January 2025

    @itachikonoha said: Define spam

    Pure database rot. Posts that have absolutely no reason to be read by any website visitor except for the one person who requested that it be posted endlessly, repeatedly, and even then it means nothing to them that can expand to any greater purpose to any other reader. Even a little relatively useless comment is still a comment that could provide insight into someone's personality, these are purely junk database entries that could be completely removed after the fact and the forum would lose absolutely zero content for having done so. That's spam. Stop trying to gaslight everyone and muddy the waters, we all know it's spam.

  • @plumberg said:

    @yoursunny said:
    Create a Clean Offers sub-category (under the Offers category) in which spam replies are prohibited.
    The regular Offers category allows spam.

    Readers can click Clean Offers category to see only clean offers, or click Offers category to see both.

    Provider can choose to post in either category, sharing the same 10-day frequency.
    If a provider encourages spam in Clean Offers, the thread gets deleted.
    When an offer thread is deleted, the provider must still wait out the 10-day clock before trying again.

    What happens when a post in clean category still has users blindly spamming? Punish the provider? Punish the users? Punish both?

    Will moderators like the extra work to be vigilant?

    This offers should be closed by default, so no interaction is possibly. Well, that would go in a way of WHT.

  • yoursunnyyoursunny Member, IPv6 Advocate
    edited January 2025

    @plumberg said:

    @yoursunny said:
    Create a Clean Offers sub-category (under the Offers category) in which spam replies are prohibited.
    The regular Offers category allows spam.

    Readers can click Clean Offers category to see only clean offers, or click Offers category to see both.

    Provider can choose to post in either category, sharing the same 10-day frequency.
    If a provider encourages spam in Clean Offers, the thread gets deleted.
    When an offer thread is deleted, the provider must still wait out the 10-day clock before trying again.

    What happens when a post in clean category still has users blindly spamming? Punish the provider? Punish the users? Punish both?

    Will moderators like the extra work to be vigilant?

    If provider encourages such practice (either in top post or comment), the thread gets deleted.
    If provider does not encourage and engages (e.g. reply to spam saying double bandwidth is granted), the thread gets locked.
    If provider neither encourages nor engages, writer gets a warning.

    Thanked by 1Arkas
  • jsgjsg Member, Resident Benchmarker

    FWIW I am currently running an experiment along the lines of "who wins when one provider runs a thread bot spamming operation -vs- even just a few pissed off LET users spamming back (in his thread)?"

    RackNerd's spanking galore thread has gone much quieter after some spamming eruption.

    It's certainly not my preferred way, I'd much prefer sensible rules (which do not basically ignore the users wishes), but it seems counter-spamming (TM) is at least somewhat helpful.
    Side note: it's based on two principles, judo (use the opponents force against him) and "careful what you wish, you might get way more of it than you wanted".

    Hth.

    Thanked by 1Beniskickbutt
  • @yoursunny said:
    Create a Clean Offers sub-category (under the Offers category) in which spam replies are prohibited.

    Are spanking deals allowed in Clean Offers? Asking for a friend... ;)

    Thanked by 1plumberg
  • plumbergplumberg Veteran, Megathread Squad

    @yoursunny said:

    @plumberg said:

    @yoursunny said:
    Create a Clean Offers sub-category (under the Offers category) in which spam replies are prohibited.
    The regular Offers category allows spam.

    Readers can click Clean Offers category to see only clean offers, or click Offers category to see both.

    Provider can choose to post in either category, sharing the same 10-day frequency.
    If a provider encourages spam in Clean Offers, the thread gets deleted.
    When an offer thread is deleted, the provider must still wait out the 10-day clock before trying again.

    What happens when a post in clean category still has users blindly spamming? Punish the provider? Punish the users? Punish both?

    Will moderators like the extra work to be vigilant?

    If provider encourages such practice (either in top post or comment), the thread gets deleted.
    If provider does not encourage and engages (e.g. reply to spam saying double bandwidth is granted), the thread gets locked.
    If provider neither encourages nor engages, writer gets a warning.

    Apart from option 1, remaining options are simply a slap on the wrist. What's stopping user/ host from repeating this? Who keeps a real-time tab?

  • LeviLevi Member
    edited January 2025

    This is real treat to follow :D . A struggle! On one line is waste of bytes by absorbing useless spam and on the other side is dollars and pressure from providers. Diplomatic approach or just slam dunk it or maybe leave as it is?

    Boy ou boy. The money making platform should evolve, not just simply improve.

    • hire staff
    • Upgrade forum theme to explore new horizons of advertisement
    • Bsa ads is laughable. Instantly blocked by adblocks
    • Increase price for providers. Just do it! Because there is no viable alternative for them to advertise in such niche market
    • Start pumping forced “news letter”. Yea, that’s the stuff!
    Thanked by 2MannDude TrK
  • plumbergplumberg Veteran, Megathread Squad

    @ascicode said:

    @plumberg said:

    @yoursunny said:
    Create a Clean Offers sub-category (under the Offers category) in which spam replies are prohibited.
    The regular Offers category allows spam.

    Readers can click Clean Offers category to see only clean offers, or click Offers category to see both.

    Provider can choose to post in either category, sharing the same 10-day frequency.
    If a provider encourages spam in Clean Offers, the thread gets deleted.
    When an offer thread is deleted, the provider must still wait out the 10-day clock before trying again.

    What happens when a post in clean category still has users blindly spamming? Punish the provider? Punish the users? Punish both?

    Will moderators like the extra work to be vigilant?

    This offers should be closed by default, so no interaction is possibly. Well, that would go in a way of WHT.

    Maybe encourage that for a time period and see what community feels.

    No harm in keeping a shitpost / comment post pointing to a different subdomain. Double admin work but can be best of both?

  • @plumberg said:

    @ascicode said:

    @plumberg said:

    @yoursunny said:
    Create a Clean Offers sub-category (under the Offers category) in which spam replies are prohibited.
    The regular Offers category allows spam.

    Readers can click Clean Offers category to see only clean offers, or click Offers category to see both.

    Provider can choose to post in either category, sharing the same 10-day frequency.
    If a provider encourages spam in Clean Offers, the thread gets deleted.
    When an offer thread is deleted, the provider must still wait out the 10-day clock before trying again.

    What happens when a post in clean category still has users blindly spamming? Punish the provider? Punish the users? Punish both?

    Will moderators like the extra work to be vigilant?

    This offers should be closed by default, so no interaction is possibly. Well, that would go in a way of WHT.

    Maybe encourage that for a time period and see what community feels.

    No harm in keeping a shitpost / comment post pointing to a different subdomain. Double admin work but can be best of both?

    I think even for a specific offer / provider, it'd be worth having separate threads.

    So, e.g. "post invoice # in blah thread" and provide a link - allows engagement, easier management of who replied than just VM, first n response giveaways, better transparency over who made the cut off and who didn't, actually allows the provider to provide LET only deals, rather than a coupon code that just gets C&P'd to another forum etc.

    But for the actual offer thread, it'd be better to keep spam out of it, so people can ask questions and/or discuss the thing on offer, so that relevant information is easy to find without being swamped by spam. So, I care about someone's YABS (in a spoiler tag) on an offer thread, but invoice numbers are just trash.

    We should also enforce the "don't be a dick to a provider in offer threads" rule. I know I've been guilty of it occasionally, but as we've seen recently, it can easily take over the entire thread and is effectively spam for anyone wanting to buy and/or get delivery updates. Maybe we should have a firm rule that complaints about providers and/or offers must be in their own thread or a specific provider complaints thread.

    Thanked by 1plumberg
  • BeniskickbuttBeniskickbutt Member
    edited January 2025

    @jsg said:
    FWIW I am currently running an experiment along the lines of "who wins when one provider runs a thread bot spamming operation -vs- even just a few pissed off LET users spamming back (in his thread)?"

    RackNerd's spanking galore thread has gone much quieter after some spamming eruption.

    It's certainly not my preferred way, I'd much prefer sensible rules (which do not basically ignore the users wishes), but it seems counter-spamming (TM) is at least somewhat helpful.
    Side note: it's based on two principles, judo (use the opponents force against him) and "careful what you wish, you might get way more of it than you wanted".

    Hth.

    Your results may also be skewed as people still process the aftermath of what occurred yesterday ;)

  • jsgjsg Member, Resident Benchmarker

    @Beniskickbutt said:

    @jsg said:
    FWIW I am currently running an experiment along the lines of "who wins when one provider runs a thread bot spamming operation -vs- even just a few pissed off LET users spamming back (in his thread)?"

    RackNerd's spanking galore thread has gone much quieter after some spamming eruption.

    It's certainly not my preferred way, I'd much prefer sensible rules (which do not basically ignore the users wishes), but it seems counter-spamming (TM) is at least somewhat helpful.
    Side note: it's based on two principles, judo (use the opponents force against him) and "careful what you wish, you might get way more of it than you wanted".

    Hth.

    Your results may also be skewed as people still process the aftermath of what occurred yesterday ;)

    What do you mean?

  • Would love to see a "new" next to new offer posting with few comments. I can't find new offers just old ones with spammy Invoice ID's for promo upgrades.

  • @jsg said:

    @Beniskickbutt said:

    @jsg said:
    it seems counter-spamming (TM) is at least somewhat helpful.
    Side note: it's based on two principles, judo (use the opponents force against him) and "careful what you wish, you might get way more of it than you wanted".

    Hth.

    Your results may also be skewed as people still process the aftermath of what occurred yesterday ;)

    What do you mean?

    When it reopened people were very cautious about what they can and cant say. I myself, as a newer LET user really have no idea what i can and cannot say anymore so im just staying turned for official rule updates here. I have some more remarks I wanted to make about one of my VPSs i bought from them but im just staying tuned for offical rule updates here. For now I just assume when the thread owners are present we are "safe"

    I dont want another mass lock hammer to drop on these threads again because then we lose out on more deals, not just the purple thread, but all threads.

    Thanked by 1jsg
  • MannDudeMannDude Patron Provider, Veteran

    @bozolover99 said:
    Would love to see a "new" next to new offer posting with few comments. I can't find new offers just old ones with spammy Invoice ID's for promo upgrades.

    You don't want to dig through 10+ pages of nested quotes, dumb memes, and order numbers to find a flash deal?

    /s

    Thanked by 1Beniskickbutt
  • MumblyMumbly Member
    edited January 2025

    @yoursunny said:
    Create a Clean Offers sub-category (under the Offers category) in which spam replies are prohibited.
    The regular Offers category allows spam.

    Readers can click Clean Offers category to see only clean offers, or click Offers category to see both.

    Provider can choose to post in either category, sharing the same 10-day frequency.
    If a provider encourages spam in Clean Offers, the thread gets deleted.
    When an offer thread is deleted, the provider must still wait out the 10-day clock before trying again.

    This does not solve the problem. In fact, it does nothing problem related.
    Spam offers still get bumped up on the top of the front page, and non-spam offers disappear, which puts hosts who do not encourage spam in their sales threads at a disadvantage.
    It's not about forum categories really, but about the front page being full of the same old constantly bumped up crap.

  • plumbergplumberg Veteran, Megathread Squad

    @ralf said:

    @plumberg said:

    @ascicode said:

    @plumberg said:

    @yoursunny said:
    Create a Clean Offers sub-category (under the Offers category) in which spam replies are prohibited.
    The regular Offers category allows spam.

    Readers can click Clean Offers category to see only clean offers, or click Offers category to see both.

    Provider can choose to post in either category, sharing the same 10-day frequency.
    If a provider encourages spam in Clean Offers, the thread gets deleted.
    When an offer thread is deleted, the provider must still wait out the 10-day clock before trying again.

    What happens when a post in clean category still has users blindly spamming? Punish the provider? Punish the users? Punish both?

    Will moderators like the extra work to be vigilant?

    This offers should be closed by default, so no interaction is possibly. Well, that would go in a way of WHT.

    Maybe encourage that for a time period and see what community feels.

    No harm in keeping a shitpost / comment post pointing to a different subdomain. Double admin work but can be best of both?

    I think even for a specific offer / provider, it'd be worth having separate threads.

    So, e.g. "post invoice # in blah thread" and provide a link - allows engagement, easier management of who replied than just VM, first n response giveaways, better transparency over who made the cut off and who didn't, actually allows the provider to provide LET only deals, rather than a coupon code that just gets C&P'd to another forum etc.

    But for the actual offer thread, it'd be better to keep spam out of it, so people can ask questions and/or discuss the thing on offer, so that relevant information is easy to find without being swamped by spam. So, I care about someone's YABS (in a spoiler tag) on an offer thread, but invoice numbers are just trash.

    We should also enforce the "don't be a dick to a provider in offer threads" rule. I know I've been guilty of it occasionally, but as we've seen recently, it can easily take over the entire thread and is effectively spam for anyone wanting to buy and/or get delivery updates. Maybe we should have a firm rule that complaints about providers and/or offers must be in their own thread or a specific provider complaints thread.

    Yup. Makes sense. But the administrative burden to enforce this may not make this a good deal at the end.

    Another issue is, it's a game of posts/ views that the forum or community garners is what is dictating this. I do not think that will ever change.

    Some comments say Vanilla is not the best forum. Upgrade to something modern. But this problem will not be solved if $$$ and views are all that matters.

    On the OGF, The rules there clearly define that spamming of order number or ither shitpost is not allowed. Post is typically moderated to change it to something else like DM the order numbers. If that doesn't work, provider is given a red avatar. The real thing is, enforcement of rules across the board.

    These are all false hopes being garnered by forum admins/ mods every few months/ years. If someone really wanted to make a change, it would have already happened.

This discussion has been closed.