Forum topics disappearing

Yeah, I noticed that. I posted something yesterday and it's vanished.

I know, it turned up on my rss feed but wasn't here when I followed the link. Neither was yesterdays thread about Millets.

Sorry, I deleted the Millets thing by accident. I don't think there was anything after my link to the Guardian article about the AA and its troubles. Which is here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/feb/23/privateequity1

I blame sleep deprivation, I was up all night. Sorry about that.

The brooosh post I deleted because it contained a link to barely disguised advertising material. At first I left a comment, then I thought better to do it privately so as not to embarrass Mr. brooosh. (I sent an e-mail via his contact form.) brooosh: If you want to ask Tony for a second opinion, he's off on a long weekend break, I think he'll be back on Tuesday. I don't think his opinion will differ from mine, in spite of my currently wonky head.

Phew that's OK then. Last thing we need is mischievous gremlins.

I fear you have completely misunderstood my intentions, FTS100.

Absolutely the last thing on my mind was to advertise anything to anybody.

I specifically drew people's attention to the riddle at the end of the blog, which I thought would be a fun thing for people to try to solve.

Since this is a site about writing and encouraging writers, I thought people would be pleased for me that I have landed a job as a blogger.

Over the years many people have posted links about writing successes they have had and I have been among the first to congratulate them.

I can't believe that ABCtales would react in this negative way to my modest piece of writing success.

Also, I wanted to have a go at the riddle.

Hi Maddan

You can still do so. My blog comes up first if you enter these words in Google:

Bruce Beckett nautical riddle

Just scroll down to the subheading "One for you to solve" and there you have it.

If you have any thoughts on the solution, please feel free to leave a comment. So far no one has solved it.

Regards

Bruce

It was a mistake to delete that, I think.

Congrats broooooooooooooosh on getting the job.

I posted a comment on your blog with a guess at the answer.

Ben

Thanks Ben

I appreciate what you've done.

Your comment will appear on Monday. I suspect you've probably got it right, but we shall see.

Bruce

Sorry, but we really do have to be pretty strict about this. You use other sites with forums, so you know what can happen. You might not be aware of how much effort it takes to prevent it happening here! We also look to our long established members to set an example to others.

I don't see why it's such a problem. In the past members have often have often used these forums to push their own books, both self published and otherwise, to mention work they've done for other publications, to try and pull readers to their own blogs (sometimes, like broosh, blogs written for companies).

Broosh is a long standing member and contributor to the site, it's obvious he was not just spamming and even if it wasn't obvious, he should be given the benefit of the doubt.

Tony just used the newsletter to push the issue of The Big Issue he's editing, how is that any different apart from the fact you might approve of one publication more than the other?

I think you've been a little trigger happy here.

Maybe you're right in this case.

I spent months securing the site against spambots. Tony used to have to remove several items of automated spam a day and spam is still something he's very concerned about. The spambots are now gone. Behind the scenes ABC is exchanging information with several anti-spam organisations so we know which IPs are being used by spambots, which servers are compromised, how spam is being relayed, and so forth. The ABC server is updated several times an hour with the latest information, and we pass on anything we discover. All this is invisible to ABC users, who just go about their business as if spam didn't exist.

There are other anti-spambot measures too, but not ones I want to divulge in a public forum! Bot farms are run by spammers, and spammers, it is rumoured, can read, although probably not without moving their lips.

It's harder to guard against human spammers because they look just like everybody else. At any moment I could go over to the dark side and fill the site with ads for inflatable sheep (very popular in Wales, and I'm allowed to say that because I live there) and who would predict it? We now get three or four cases a week of people opening accounts just to leave forum or comment spam. It's better than three or four cases a day, but to site administrators the spam hasn't entirely gone away, we are reminded of it frequently.

The upshot of all this is that if I see anything even vaguely reminiscent of spam, if I even hear the word 'spam', it arouses my killer instinct. I can't even listen to Monty Python's spam, egg, sausage and spam without wanting to murder! "He lived quietly and was always very polite," say my neighbours, "until he met the spammer. See that up in the tree? Spammer's nose. You don't want to know where the ears are."

So that's my story. Maybe I over-react, I expect I do, but Tony is the final judge. It's his site, and if he says it's okay, then it's okay. If he says it ain't, then it ain't.

Now that's what I call spamming:

http://www.abctales.com/user/zulmacarlson

oh yes I saw that - bit pointless don't you think? Why bother? Wrong country, wrong season etc

The Spambot is proof that artificial intelligence is still a distant dream.

Indeed.

I deleted that as the first thing I did on my return.

I think FTSE may have been a tad swift on this occasion but he has done so much work for us on the site that I think we should all declare it FTSE adoration day. Without him we might well not exist. The site is secure and safe with him around - and whilst we have always tried to ensure this in every way we can, we have never had as much excellent security as we have now. I am in awe of the man and I thank him each day as he improves little bits of the site and beavers away behind the scenes.

All hail FTSE!

Much as I enjoy being hailed and adored, I think you're taking it a bit far, Tony. One way and another this site has done a lot for me, so I'm just repaying a debt. The thanks should go in the opposite direction.

It was through ABC that I discovered I could write fiction. I did a creative writing course, just an evening course at the local tech college, a few years ago and produced nothing of any merit. I very much doubt I'd ever have written anything again if not for ABC.

My thanks go to Tony, without whom ABC wouldn't be anything like the site it is, and to all ABC-ers for putting up with me. God bless you all.

I would also like to add my appreciation of FTSE100 and rejoice in the fact that today, as Tony has indicated, is his Adoration Day.

The job of moderator is an almost impossible one and I certainly would be hopeless at it, so I have nothing but admiration for what he is doing on behalf of all of us.

FTSE ain't the moderator - that's normally me with help from others. FTSE is something far more complex - he's the techie! Without him we don't get to square one.

FTSE is a bit like all the other essential services that we take for granted. I don't think that we really appreciate the firemen or police or nurses and doctors until we need them...but we are damn glad to see them coming when things go wrong - and we wouldn't do their jobs, for all the tea in China.

Thanks for all the effort FTSE; it is appreciated!

Apologies Tony. I misunderstood his role.

In that case my admiration for him is even higher for dealing with all that technical stuff that I don't begin to understand.

And I second threeleaf's comments about all those providers of essential services.

The thing that surprises and saddens me is that there aren't more people willing to lend a hand. ABC makes no money. That isn't because it couldn't, it's because if the site were 'monetarised' it would no longer be a place where you can read and enjoy without being bothered by ads or demands for payment for reading X-rated stories or whatever. Everything on ABC is free and, apart from the unobtrusive Google ads, the commercial world doesn't exist here. That's great for us but not so good for Tony, who has to pay the bills!

You don't have to be a 'techie' to lend a hand. One area where help would be much appreciated is on the graphics. I make up the banners and logos and so forth because there's nobody else to do it, but I hate it because I know very well that I'm producing amateur work where others could provide us with something spectacular.

But I've said it all before...

I would love to help in any way that I could. I am not a 'techie' either and wouldn't know where to start with the banners (although, I will look into it and have a go). I would also be willing to set up a standing order for a few bob every month (if that is possible from Ireland). It wouldn't be a lot while I'm 'temporarily' unemployed but anything would be better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, I imagine. I'll get on to Tony about it.

...I fancy an ABC mug for my coffee anyway ;)

Why not! I have never used ebay but I'll give it a go and the graphics thing too.

Going shopping with the wife just now (I'd rather stick pins in my eyes) but I'll get back to you before the weekend and sort a few details out.

Bear in mind that I am working out of Ireland - don't know if that makes any difference or not.

That's the spirit. It might all go to hell in a handcart but we'll give it a go! I'll mail you soon. Thanks a lot for this Chris, you've restored my faith in human nature!