Gaining Trusted Member Status.

[nancyannee]

While I appreciate the caution in not allowing spammers and other undesirables access, I am wondering how long it takes to gain a trusted member status to gain access to the forums where I most want to participate?

I understand about gaining reputation points. I also agree it is a good idea. I just find only so many things to post in the new member section....I will continue to post where I can and hope to be allowed access soon....

I find it hard to talk about myself and find a great deal of relief in relating to others and offering support to them as I can.

Please Senior Members rate my posts so that I may participate...:)

Nancy

[nancyannee]

I see many here get responses from an Admin. Is there something wrong with me that I don't? I always read into things and think there is more wrong than there actually is....most of the time I feel as if everyone is "out to get me" I worry about what people think of me. what is said and how I make people feel. I only want to participate in the bipolar forum and gain support and give support to help gain the courage to seek out the help I know I really need. :confused:

[silentmist]

i think after your content and 26 posts it's pretty obvious your not a spammer lol

[nancyannee]

LOL. I hope to be able to participate more, especially in other areas. Please vote for me!!!!

[Proverbs31:28]

Not sure what the threshhold is but I have added to your rep 2x. It will only let you add once until you add to someone else then you can add again.

[kaudio]

As a timely reminder, the "reputation" system is intended to vet spam posts. In other words, any posts written by new members which are not spam should receive the approval of trusted members. For further details please refer to the announcement (http://community.mentalhelp.net/announcement.php?f=30).

For my part I have already given my approval. If you cannot yet post in the other forums, nancy, please post back here and we will try to sort it out.

[nancyannee]

thanks kaudio. I will keep trying!

[Mark]

Nancyannee

I had the reputation system tuned too high but have adjusted it so that any single reputation hit will result in promotion. Really the intent has not been to make people jump through hoops - only to get people to show that they are not spammers. You have been promoted to Trusted Member, and I'm sorry that it has been this complicated to get you in here.

Mark (administrator)

[DaveInOz]

I had the reputation system tuned too high but have adjusted it so that any single reputation hit will result in promotion.

any posts written by new members which are not spam should receive the approval of trusted members. For further details please refer to the announcement (http://community.mentalhelp.net/announcement.php?f=30).


I've set-up close to 50 of these boards on most of my web sites (yes I have a lot of web sites). So I understand exactly how frustrating it is to spend time deleting spam and banning IP's on forums.

Although the idea used to prevent the spam is good, its intended functionality based approval is flawed unless a "Trusted Member" actions a reputation hit.

If a reputation hit does not take place then people who are seeking help may slip through the cracks. Which to me seems rather ironic that a safe guard to prevent spam risks alienating people the forum is supposed to be here to help.

There are many good free mods for vBulletin that stop spammers in their tracks but don't require participation from members - granted a few tweaks by Admin.

Still IMHO unless "Trusted Members" can be nominated on a rotation basis to give a reputation hit to all posts that are not spam then I can see this topic becoming a common occurrence.

(no offence intended to anyone I just thought at add my 2 cents).



Cheers

:)

Dave

[nancyannee]

Thanks Mark! I totally understand the safguards! I look forward to participating to all the forums that hold my interest!

[JustTrying]

Sorry .. I had just been reading . I didn't understand how this new system worked. Mark. Good job. I agree and am happy that you made it easier to be promoted. Like Dave said those seeking help may need it.


JT

[Mark]

Dave

Can you elaborate on the alternative better solutions than the sandbox I've come up with? The requirements are that we must maintain the ability for a person in need to acquire an account without moderator approval, but at the same time, we need to be able to prevent spammers and trolls from getting through. If there are better solutions than the sandbox that are readily available, I'm all for exploring replacing the sandbox with those solutions.

Mark

[nancyannee]

The system seems to be a sound one. Only.... members have to vote. and maybe not set the limit too high.

:)