"Guest log-in"

[Adam]

Me thinks the idea of allowing the default "guest" log-in to post is not working well (ahem....the certain posts of ill repute). May I suggest posting can be made by registered users only - even better is registered and verified.....

[Steve]

Adam:  I know what you mean.  I have deleted bunches of these offensive messages.  The reason I have left it open is to encourage use as we build this thing up.  It was suggested that many folks prefer not to obtain IDs out of privacy concerns and therefore instead choose not to participate.  This is a discussion I have with myself frequently.  At this point, I am leaning towards leaving it open a bit longer.  However, I have definite plans to require registration in order to post sometime in the not-too-distant future.  The SPAMmers make this difficult. 

Thanks for bringing up the topic.  As a loyal member, your opinion counts.

-Steve

[Jon]

Geez!  I thought those were your posts Adam!   

Seriously, good suggestion.  Most Boards have had to do this...

Jon 

[Steve]

I.m getting close.  I just had to delete about 30 porn messaged from the guest book as well.  I wish these SPAMmers had better things to do with their time.

[Adam]

I think one of the spamers is "Bayliner"

I have to agree with Jon - The internet has been around long enough that if folks don't know what's "safe" and "not safe" by now with personel info then they are probably not going to be "joiners" anyway...Besides this is a Herreshoff site - who the heck would you "sell" the demographics of the typical Herreshoff owner to - Wooden Boat? Mystic Seaport? Harding? God forbid

[Steve]

I had to take down the Guest Book today because of the SPAMmers.  I think I will probably start requiring ID's to post here in a week or so, after I get back from vacation.

-Steve

[Steve]

In order to post here, an ID is now required.  This was done because we can no longer keep up with the SPAMmers who get their jollies by flooding any place they can find with offensive messages.

The forum is still open for anyone to read.

-Steve

[Adam]

Seems we have some - ahem - new friends on a daily basis... Looks like an "approval" process IE Wooden Boat Forum?

[Steve]

I can't tell you how many times I have deleted these bogus ID's before they actually post offensive messages.  In tracking the IP addresses, they are nearly all coming from Russia, and from the same SPAM outfit.  Apparently they have figured out how to write a bot that registers for an ID, then comes back around and uses that ID to create a message.

One way to combat it would be for me to approve a request for an ID.  I've been resisting that not so much because I am afraid of becoming a bottleneck (I only wish that was a problem) as I don't want to make the process of joining the fray more difficult than some would like.

The other alternative would be to set up some type of arrangement where you need to type in the graphically-represented letters in a box as many sites do.  I have actually already registered for the key mechanisms for that.  I am afraid implementing it may be a bit over my technical head, though.  I may ask my son to do it for me.

In any case, these jerks really tick me off.

[Adam]

I guess the Russians are still PO'd about not getting that torpedo boat from the Herreshoffs...