This morning saw the most substantial attack on the site by spammers in it's operating history. I am about 50% done with some changes to the site that will make it easier to use for regular users while preventing new users from getting their content on the main page. I hope to be able to post an update this weekend. Until that time, new account registration has been disabled.

I still think we need to implement an invitation code system. Almost every single user on this system that is active, came here because they already knew at least one person present.

Rattle wrote:

This morning saw the most substantial attack on the site by spammers in it's operating history. I am about 50% done with some changes to the site that will make it easier to use for regular users while preventing new users from getting their content on the main page. I hope to be able to post an update this weekend. Until that time, new account registration has been disabled.

I still think we need to implement an invitation code system. Almost every single user on this system that is active, came here because they already knew at least one person present.

Agreed

Rattle wrote:

This morning saw the most substantial attack on the site by spammers in it's operating history. I am about 50% done with some changes to the site that will make it easier to use for regular users while preventing new users from getting their content on the main page. I hope to be able to post an update this weekend. Until that time, new account registration has been disabled.

I still think we need to implement an invitation code system. Almost every single user on this system that is active, came here because they already knew at least one person present.

i didn't i found it through google (memes)
i know you said almost but ...

i didn't i found it through google (memes)
i know you said almost but ...

When I wrote that, you were actually the only one of the active posters I could think of that someone else in the system didn't know from elsewhere.

We are really glad to have you here, btw..

So, coming from your fairly unique perspective, what do you think of an invitation system, with periods of open registration?

My thinking has three angles to it. First, it would have covered the vast majority of the system's users. Second, it would be effective in cutting down spam. Thirdly, the air of "exclusivity" (which was rarely the case in reality) created by such systems when in use has actually helped boost everything from Gmail to Demonoid..

Decius remains unconvinced, several members of the community really didn't like the idea, and all the "I think it's a good idea" posts haven't come with reasons why..

Rattle wrote:

i didn't i found it through google (memes)
i know you said almost but ...

When I wrote that, you were actually the only one of the active posters I could think of that someone else in the system didn't know from elsewhere.

We are really glad to have you here, btw..

So, coming from your fairly unique perspective, what do you think of an invitation system, with periods of open registration?

My thinking has three angles to it. First, it would have covered the vast majority of the system's users. Second, it would be effective in cutting down spam. Thirdly, the air of "exclusivity" (which was rarely the case in reality) created by such systems when in use has actually helped boost everything from Gmail to Demonoid..

Decius remains unconvinced, several members of the community really didn't like the idea, and all the "I think it's a good idea" posts haven't come with reasons why..

Since its a pretty brainy crowd here, would an invitation system enforce that 'exclusivity' in a... positive, suit guy marketing sense, and attract better posters?

Since its a pretty brainy crowd here, would an invitation system enforce that 'exclusivity' in a... positive, suit guy marketing sense, and attract better posters?

I'm really not sure. I think that since new users would have to had some type of contact with someone else in the system to get on, they might be more likely to be drawn into a conversation on the system because of that contact..

I don't actually have a strong opinion about it. I'm kind of hoping that some discussion about it will help me come to some kind of strong opinion. :)

The main point I'm stuck on, is that it would be effective in eliminating the spammers. And if the spammers colluded, we would have everything we needed to remove them and whoever let them on the system.

Rattle wrote:

The main point I'm stuck on, is that it would be effective in eliminating the spammers. And if the spammers colluded, we would have everything we needed to remove them and whoever let them on the system.

I would caution against that going too far with that last part.

When I read "invitation" system, I'm thinking of a mechanism whereby an existing user can generate a one-time-use token which enables account creation. It's a gating/throttling mechanism.

When you propose a traceback method that punishes the source of the token, then you are asking the existing user to vouch for the new user. This is a much higher bar.

With an invite token system, I could hand out a MemeStreams access card to someone I'd just met -- at a party, or a technical conference, on the airplane, whatever. These are opportunities where the site could branch out to reach entirely new audiences, as opposed to just adding one more person within the same circle of friends. But if I was expected to personally vouch for every one of these new users, none of them would receive an access card.

I would caution against that going too far with that last part.

When I read "invitation" system, I'm thinking of a mechanism whereby an existing user can generate a one-time-use token which enables account creation. It's a gating/throttling mechanism.

When you propose a traceback method that punishes the source of the token, then you are asking the existing user to vouch for the new user. This is a much higher bar.

With an invite token system, I could hand out a MemeStreams access card to someone I'd just met -- at a party, or a technical conference, on the airplane, whatever. These are opportunities where the site could branch out to reach entirely new audiences, as opposed to just adding one more person within the same circle of friends. But if I was expected to personally vouch for every one of these new users, none of them would receive an access card.

I see your point. We would put a layer of common sense on top of it though.. If a chain of spammers came back to a user that was actually an active member of the community, we obviously wouldn't delete them. If a user was regularly giving out invites to spammers, we would take their ability to give out invites rather than deleting them if they were not spamming themselves.

At this point, I'm getting push-back on doing the invite system thing, so it's unlikely I'm going to sit down to code it up anytime soon..