Visitor Messages Removal from Profiles (Yes / No / Don't Know)

DH · 06 November 2017, 12:37

Basically, the problem we're having, as in the Moderators of this forum, is too many visitor messages are being spammed.

Last night I removed over 419 spam visitor messages out of 13,499 messages, and I haven't even scratched the surface. Prowler did similar, 150 or so, and even then neither me nor prowler have even made a dent in any of it yet. Our time is needed elsewhere and we simply do not have time to sift through the massive amount of Visitor Messages. Would be great if everyone reported them so we could act, but that simply doesn't happen enough + a lot of these spammers are only spamming the visitor messages and are slipping through the net without detection.

So the word is, do we really need those visitor messages at all, after all why not PM instead, it's private and more secure.

I guess there'll be arguments as to why we should keep them, and arguments against, but we, and RCK, would really like your opinions on this.

So here it is, a Poll to see.

EDIT: If the outcome is to get rid of visitor messages, I would imagine RCK would provide an announcement for all to check and copy any visitor messages of any importance before they are switched off and purged, and, give you all time to complete it too.

Predseda · 06 November 2017, 13:08

I have used those maybe 3-4 times many years ago, just to discover nobody is checking them (including me) and in my point of view those visitor messages are redundant. I rarely go to my own profile and there is no indication of a new VM.

DH · 06 November 2017, 13:14

I'm sure there is some kind of notification, can't remember what it is though, or where it would be either

Thanks for replying Predseda

I have also added a "Don't Know" option to the poll for obvious reasons

zipper · 06 November 2017, 13:28

I suppose there was a notification last time as I got a VM. But just two in over ten years, both spammish so not too important for basic users.

StingRay · 06 November 2017, 13:59

Visitor messages can be set to private so they are only visible to registered members of EAB. This should be the default setting and would fix the spamming problem.

DH · 06 November 2017, 14:07

Yes that is indeed true, but nowhere on my test site can I find where to change the default option to private, any ideas as I'm a little rusty atm?

EDIT: Ah, it's OK I found it

EDIT 2: Yes this will work, only for Moderators and who's in your friends lists, not all registered users that haven't befriended you beforehand I'm afraid. Seems pretty pointless to me IMHO

ptyerman · 06 November 2017, 15:25

The only one I had was a spam message in some alien language. I don't think they would be missed so I voted no.

DH · 06 November 2017, 15:52

Must admit, my last VM was in Apr 2014 and that too was spam (sorry Prowler

).

In all honesty I can't really see why we still use them, it's more of a show of popularity than anything else and doesn't really serve any purpose other than for spammers. My preference would be to PM people, especially when needing medical help with herpes

DamienD · 06 November 2017, 16:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by DH

Must admit, my last VM was in Apr 2014 and that too was spam (sorry Prowler

).

Dito (sorry DH)

daxb · 06 November 2017, 16:41

What a fortuity. Today I noticed visitor messages for the very first time. 2 glorious VM's.

However, I thought about for what it is good but failed. So, remove VM.

Amiga1992 · 06 November 2017, 17:22

Begone with them. I Never understood the point.
IS it BB trying to be Fakebook?

DH · 06 November 2017, 17:27

Wow!

I was expecting the odd "No" or even "Don't Know", suppose we'd better wait for Prowler to upset the trend

Amiga1992 · 06 November 2017, 18:13

I don't even remember how to access mine, I thought they were on my user profile? I might have just deleted them all.

DamienD · 06 November 2017, 18:23

Yes, click on your username and then the "Visitor Messages" tab Akira

DH · 06 November 2017, 18:25

You've probably already disabled it in your UserCP. If there's no "Visitor Message" tab (3 tab along from "About Me" in your profile then it'll be disabled

DannyBoy · 06 November 2017, 18:28

Have none, and prolly won't be needing any

Amiga1992 · 06 November 2017, 18:29

Yup, must have. No idea where to enable/disable it though!

DH · 06 November 2017, 18:35

UserCP/Edit Options/ under Messaging & Notification, there you'll see it right at the bottom of that section

prowler · 06 November 2017, 18:39

Well, I believe in democracy, so I've voted.

You know my thoughts. I haven't changed my mind, but it looks like I'm backing a loser despite that.

DH · 06 November 2017, 18:41

Aww! Prowler Man, you've gone and upset the apple cart

View Poll Results: Do we really need the Visitor Messages in the User Profile
Yes	2	5.26%
No	35	92.11%
Don't Know	1	2.63%
Voters: 38. You may not vote on this poll

06 November 2017, 12:37	#1
DH Global Moderator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Might as well be WORK :( Age: 56 Posts: 4,110	Visitor Messages Removal from Profiles (Yes / No / Don't Know) Basically, the problem we're having, as in the Moderators of this forum, is too many visitor messages are being spammed. Last night I removed over 419 spam visitor messages out of 13,499 messages, and I haven't even scratched the surface. Prowler did similar, 150 or so, and even then neither me nor prowler have even made a dent in any of it yet. Our time is needed elsewhere and we simply do not have time to sift through the massive amount of Visitor Messages. Would be great if everyone reported them so we could act, but that simply doesn't happen enough + a lot of these spammers are only spamming the visitor messages and are slipping through the net without detection. So the word is, do we really need those visitor messages at all, after all why not PM instead, it's private and more secure. I guess there'll be arguments as to why we should keep them, and arguments against, but we, and RCK, would really like your opinions on this. So here it is, a Poll to see. EDIT: If the outcome is to get rid of visitor messages, I would imagine RCK would provide an announcement for all to check and copy any visitor messages of any importance before they are switched off and purged, and, give you all time to complete it too. Last edited by DH; 06 November 2017 at 13:05.

06 November 2017, 14:07	#6
DH Global Moderator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Might as well be WORK :( Age: 56 Posts: 4,110	Yes that is indeed true, but nowhere on my test site can I find where to change the default option to private, any ideas as I'm a little rusty atm? EDIT: Ah, it's OK I found it EDIT 2: Yes this will work, only for Moderators and who's in your friends lists, not all registered users that haven't befriended you beforehand I'm afraid. Seems pretty pointless to me IMHO Last edited by DH; 06 November 2017 at 14:36.

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06 November 2017, 13:08	#2
Predseda Puttymoon inhabitant Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tromaville Age: 46 Posts: 7,537	I have used those maybe 3-4 times many years ago, just to discover nobody is checking them (including me) and in my point of view those visitor messages are redundant. I rarely go to my own profile and there is no indication of a new VM.

06 November 2017, 13:14	#3
DH Global Moderator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Might as well be WORK :( Age: 56 Posts: 4,110	I'm sure there is some kind of notification, can't remember what it is though, or where it would be either Thanks for replying Predseda I have also added a "Don't Know" option to the poll for obvious reasons

06 November 2017, 13:28	#4
zipper Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: finland Posts: 1,837	I suppose there was a notification last time as I got a VM. But just two in over ten years, both spammish so not too important for basic users.

06 November 2017, 13:59	#5
StingRay move.l #$c0ff33,throat Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Berlin/Joymoney Posts: 6,863	Visitor messages can be set to private so they are only visible to registered members of EAB. This should be the default setting and would fix the spamming problem.

06 November 2017, 15:25	#7
ptyerman Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Worksop/UK Age: 59 Posts: 1,328	The only one I had was a spam message in some alien language. I don't think they would be missed so I voted no.

06 November 2017, 15:52	#8
DH Global Moderator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Might as well be WORK :( Age: 56 Posts: 4,110	Must admit, my last VM was in Apr 2014 and that too was spam (sorry Prowler ). In all honesty I can't really see why we still use them, it's more of a show of popularity than anything else and doesn't really serve any purpose other than for spammers. My preference would be to PM people, especially when needing medical help with herpes

06 November 2017, 16:41	#10
daxb Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 3,303	What a fortuity. Today I noticed visitor messages for the very first time. 2 glorious VM's. However, I thought about for what it is good but failed. So, remove VM.

06 November 2017, 17:22	#11
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,644	Begone with them. I Never understood the point. IS it BB trying to be Fakebook?

06 November 2017, 17:27	#12
DH Global Moderator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Might as well be WORK :( Age: 56 Posts: 4,110	Wow! I was expecting the odd "No" or even "Don't Know", suppose we'd better wait for Prowler to upset the trend

06 November 2017, 18:13	#13
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,644	I don't even remember how to access mine, I thought they were on my user profile? I might have just deleted them all.

06 November 2017, 18:23	#14
DamienD Banned Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: London / Sydney Age: 47 Posts: 20,420	Yes, click on your username and then the "Visitor Messages" tab Akira

06 November 2017, 18:25	#15
DH Global Moderator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Might as well be WORK :( Age: 56 Posts: 4,110	You've probably already disabled it in your UserCP. If there's no "Visitor Message" tab (3 tab along from "About Me" in your profile then it'll be disabled

06 November 2017, 18:28	#16
DannyBoy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 42 Posts: 90	Have none, and prolly won't be needing any

06 November 2017, 18:29	#17
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,644	Yup, must have. No idea where to enable/disable it though!

06 November 2017, 18:35	#18
DH Global Moderator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Might as well be WORK :( Age: 56 Posts: 4,110	UserCP/Edit Options/ under Messaging & Notification, there you'll see it right at the bottom of that section

06 November 2017, 18:39	#19
prowler Global Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sidcup, England Posts: 10,300	Well, I believe in democracy, so I've voted. You know my thoughts. I haven't changed my mind, but it looks like I'm backing a loser despite that.

06 November 2017, 18:41	#20
DH Global Moderator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Might as well be WORK :( Age: 56 Posts: 4,110	Aww! Prowler Man, you've gone and upset the apple cart

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