laureatedvd.com

[kedwards]

Hello Everyone,

We, in common with just about every other open messageboard on the web, are being plagued with spam.

This is degrading our forum and I am endeavouring to stop it.

However, although I have already implemented mandatory registration for anyone wanting to post, and added a 'visual code' to try and circumvent the bots that sign up, it seems that that is not enough.

I have now added another sanction - I must personally approve all new members.

This is inconvenient for the genuine members who make such a fantastic contribution to this forum. I know Ken really appreciates the dialogues on here - and he spends a lot of time contributing himself.

We have nearly 500 genuine members / guests who have posted 2423 articles on 448 topics in the time that Laureate have been running a message board (including the old one).

So, with effect from today - 3rd February 2007 - all new members will have to register and wait for my approval in order to post. I'm sorry, but in most cases this will not be instant - I'm not at my computer 24/7!

I suggest that, if you are a genuine enthusiast, you register on your first visit here (please fill in the registration form properly so I know you're a real person) and I will approve it as soon as I get the form.

I have cleared all the spam that was on the board, and I am pruning the membership list right now.

If you are a member and have posted a legitimate comment, your membership is still active.

If you have signed up but not posted up to today, I will have deleted your membership and you will need to sign up again and wait for approval.

If you are a spammer (and why would you be reading this if you are?) I have not only deleted your membership - I have also banned your username!

I am sorry it has come to this, but for the moment, this is the simplest way to protect our forum.

I would like to thank everyone who makes this such a lively and informative forum and I ask for your patience while I try to find a fix that will allow genuine enthusiasts to join our group without the timelag.

The forum is still open for anyone to read and I hope that the new policy will not deter people from signing up to join us.

Karen
Admin - Laureate Forum

PS If anyone out there knows anything about protecting forums and can help me fix this, please message me.