'Probie' Status for New Members

[kiwigater]

Please don't confuse "Probie" as a rank (which is post number and length of membership based" and "probie/newbie" where you have your posts checked first. The two are not necessarily the same.
And I think you're underestimating the tenacity of spammers These days they are employing more and more determined and sneaky ways of getting spam onto the site, and we have to take more extreme measures to block them. Unfortunate but true.
Possible time delays mean we suggest new posters stay out of the game threads, and please be patient. The best way to get of "newbie post approval" is to go ahead and post as you normally would

[ross613]

Sorry if this was asked/answered elsewhere, but I looked around and didn't find an answer immediately....

How come I can't seem to see profiles when I click on my own user name adjacent to the "Welcome, {username}" message at the top of the forums pages or in the headers of forums posts? All I get is a message saying the following:

Sorry, ross613! You do not have access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:

1. If you've recently signed up, your new account may still be awaiting activation. Have you received your validation e-mail?
2. Your user account may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else's post, access administrative features or some other privileged system?
3. Only advanced members may add items to the Calendar. Check the FAQ for more info.

Appreciate any/all assistance!

[Skydiver]

it's something we just changed. We've had some users receiving spam and there is a suspicion that spammers (we get hit on a daily basis, fortunately teh probie net seems to catch them) might be culling contact info from profiles to send out their junk.

it may or may not stay that way.

However, when we first started the probie system, all that was moderated was posts. But then spammers started to harass people with spam visitor messages. so we had to lock those out. then they started putting thier links in their sigs, so we had to pull those.

I know a lot of good and innocent people are getting inconvenienced by this all, but it's the spammers. the more we try to keep them from attacking this board, the more they try to find a way to work around it.

Access to the profile may/may not be permanent. We'll see as we work to track down the origination of the latest attack

[Paradoxum]

why whenever I make a post does it have to be approved by a mod before it shows up? what the heck?

[Skydiver]

You are on probationary status.

Due to spammers, we have a probie status, where all your posts must be approved until either you earn your way off by posting, or we decide that you are real people and not spammers.

It happens to everyone

[Ayla142]

Even though being a "probie" is annoying I can understand where you are coming from completely, and I really hope that its working for you! I'm just hoping that I dont have to stay as a "probie" for a super long time! But what will be will be!

[Pharaoh Atem]

anyone was on the day of the massive spam attack you will understand without any doubt why probie status was created.

it has saved this forum

[Skydiver]

regardless of organized spam attacks, we get hit by a few to several dozen 'helpful spam messages' on a daily basis.

You guys dont' see them because they get handled 'behind the scenes' most of the time.

We first started modding posts only, then these spammers learned 'dude, i can still send visitor messages and PM's to people', so those abilities were curtailed.

Believe me, we didn't want to do this. We didn't want to lock things down. But as we get spammer after spammer using this board to hawk nike shoes, purses, perfume, drugs, cialis, viagra, porn sites, torrent sites....etc, THEY have left us no choice.

[sgjedi]

As a newly registered person (probie), I appreciate the caution being implemented. I'm looking forward to the fun to be had in the site and grateful that the garbage is taken out before I have to see it!
sgjedi

[Akamaimom]

Amen! I second that! I logged onto a fic homepage once and my entire computer got immediately hosed. Sad days! Thanks for running this site well.

[Girlbot]

anyone was on the day of the massive spam attack you will understand without any doubt why probie status was created.

it has saved this forum

I was here and my VM got nasty stuff. I almost had a heart attack when I logged in
But the mods were great. and I appreciate all their efforts.
Shame on spammers.

[nephtys59]

Just one question: probie can have a signature or not?
Because I didn't find the option to personalize it on my controls and I thought maybe this is due to the fact that I'm still probie ...

[Skydiver]

yeah, i'm afraid that probies don't get signatures either. We had some spammers join and then put their links in their sigs.

[Gen Blue]

It's sad that a few jerks (the spammers) can even temporarily ruin the fun for so many others.

I missed the spam attack. Thank goodness.

[kusanagi]

It's sad that a few jerks (the spammers) can even temporarily ruin the fun for so many others.

I missed the spam attack. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...es/bigWhew.gif Thank goodness.

Fortunately missed it as well. I had to go through probie status too, and even though I was frustrated at that time, I still think that benefits are much bigger than all this hassle at the beginning.

[Pharaoh Atem]

after probie status is done think of the things you earned. sigs,profile,PM's unmodded posts. it's worth it.

[kusanagi]

after probie status is done think of the things you earned. sigs,profile,PM's unmodded posts. it's worth it.

This is what positive thinking means

[SilverRider]

It's sad that a few jerks (the spammers) can even temporarily ruin the fun for so many others.

I missed the spam attack. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...es/bigWhew.gif Thank goodness.

I missed it too Yay for sticking to RP section

[Crashbarrier]

"Basic Trainee" when they meet a minimum threshold for posts, length of membership, Reputation.

sorry to ask this but i am curious.

What does this mean to "lurkers" like myself who just want to keep up with the news and views. I won't (and don't) have much in the way of "number of posts" and/or reputation because I don't actively post on the forums.

Does this mean I will never be able to edit my profile details?

[Girlbot]

"Basic Trainee" when they meet a minimum threshold for posts, length of membership, Reputation.

sorry to ask this but i am curious.

What does this mean to "lurkers" like myself who just want to keep up with the news and views. I won't (and don't) have much in the way of "number of posts" and/or reputation because I don't actively post on the forums.

Does this mean I will never be able to edit my profile details?

You must post to get certain privileges. Lurkers are usually here, but don't post on the thread.
(we have a spray for that called lurkicide to bring you out of the shadows and join in)