Usagi Yojimbo DojoBoard

Based on the thread about email spamming,
http://www.usagiyojimbo.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3213

where Todd mentioned using a bogus address, I went to my control panel and changed my address to something nonfunctional.

...not realizing that causes a deactivation of the account and an automated verification email to be sent--to the now-bogus address!

Locked out of the forum, I no longer had any access to any page that provided contact info for the moderators! In fact, nowhere on the dojo site is any contact info provided for anyone involved with the site (that I could find).

The only thing I could find was, in the registration page where you're given the code image to transcribe, there's an email link to Todd that you can use if you can't read the image. I emailed him but I guess I lost patience waiting for a reply, so I created this duplicate account for the sole purpose of asking for help.

If you guys could use the email address of this duplicate account and restore it to Treadwell, and delete this one, I would much appreciate it!

Thanks,

-Jay

Yeah, because of the security of the forum, your bogus address has to be a real one at first, in order for you to stay active on the board. Otherwise, this exposes the board to spamming by bots. Changing your email address requires you to re-activate your account from the new address.

I've reactivated your account, however, manually with your "bogus" address intact. You should be all good now.

If anyone else needs me to bogus out their email address, just lemme know!

Treadwell2 wrote:Locked out of the forum, I no longer had any access to any page that provided contact info for the moderators! In fact, nowhere on the dojo site is any contact info provided for anyone involved with the site (that I could find).

Unfortunately, this is what those slimey scumbag spammers have caused. Webpages with no email contact info. We used to have it, but those addresses ended up being targeted by spambots. Now the only way to seek help is to login to the DojoBoard and register as a user and then post an inquiry. A bit of work but worth the benefit.

Treadwell2 wrote:The only thing I could find was, in the registration page where you're given the code image to transcribe, there's an email link to Todd that you can use if you can't read the image. I emailed him but I guess I lost patience waiting for a reply, so I created this duplicate account for the sole purpose of asking for help.

I'm glad you pointed this out. I went in and changed the autoresponder so it's a little more helpful. It also explains WHY a living breathing human will not read their emails...sucks, but this is the world we live in...you can thank the spammers for that one

Todd Shogun wrote:Webpages with no email contact info.

Have you given a method like this a try instead (explaining how to make an address out of it for the newbies)?

todd AT usagiyojimbo DOT com

sschroeder wrote:

Todd Shogun wrote:Webpages with no email contact info.

Have you given a method like this a try instead (explaining how to make an address out of it for the newbies)?

todd AT usagiyojimbo DOT com

I wish. I'm no programmer...perhaps it is something the phpBB folks will develop in time...unless someone out there knows of a way?

Thanks for the repair!

Other forums have a feature in which you can email a member or moderator but it never shows you what the address is. You compose the email within the system and the forum software sends the email behind the scenes. I don't think harvester bots can "see" such addresses.

Todd Shogun wrote:

sschroeder wrote: todd AT usagiyojimbo DOT com

I wish. I'm no programmer...perhaps it is something the phpBB folks will develop in time...unless someone out there knows of a way?

That wouldn't take any programming. Write the contact addresses out like that on the contact list page you need to make and then put a note at the end saying to

replace AT with a @
replace DOT with a .
and then remove the spaces

If you think bots can parse AT into @ (no idea if they can), use something more confusing like *AT* or /AT/ to start with.

(Maybe I'm not making any sense here. Apologies, if so.)

I just think it would be silly to have no place on the site to contact anyone if someone sees a needed correction or has a suggestion. I suppose requiring joining the board to make any comment about the site is a solution, but not an ideal one.

Treadwell wrote:Other forums have a feature in which you can email a member or moderator but it never shows you what the address is. You compose the email within the system and the forum software sends the email behind the scenes. I don't think harvester bots can "see" such addresses.

We have that feature here but I've disabled it. I figured PM would suffice...

sschroeder wrote:That wouldn't take any programming. Write the contact addresses out like that on the contact list page you need to make and then put a note at the end saying to

replace AT with a @
replace DOT with a .
and then remove the spaces

Okay you meant for the contact email address. Not a bad idea! I though you meant for members' addresses on the DojoBoard.

Todd Shogun wrote:

Treadwell wrote:Other forums have a feature in which you can email a member or moderator but it never shows you what the address is. You compose the email within the system and the forum software sends the email behind the scenes. I don't think harvester bots can "see" such addresses.

We have that feature here but I've disabled it. I figured PM would suffice...

Not when you're not a member of the forum but still need to contact someone in charge.