Discuss Scratch
- TheHockeyist
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Scratcher
1000+ posts
Bot Spam Blocker
Semi-support.That's true right now..
I think that New Scratchers should only be able to post links within the Scratch website.
support
Oh really? Well then, if a new Scratcher tries to write out an html link ( http://anything.that.is.not.scratch.mit.edu ), it is removed?
Last edited by TheHockeyist (Nov. 22, 2015 14:21:39)
- ItchyCatIII
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Scratcher
500+ posts
Bot Spam Blocker
Okay, so we all know of the bot problem, right? Just today, the suggestions forum was hit with a bot. (If that link doesn't work, then the thread was deleted. You can still view my screenshots below. Nvm, the screenshots were removed…)
(removed by moderator - please don't advertise for the spammers)
(sorry…)
Anyway, this is not the first time this has happened. And I doubt this is the last. So I am suggesting a new feature to prevent this.
Perhaps banning excessive amounts of links in one post? No. Because then stuff like this couldn't happen-What about banning New Scratchers from posting links? I don't think that would go down too well-Hi im new how do i make a project?Hello, User1! Welcome to Scratch! These are some helpful links that will teach you how to program-
(insert a bunch of links here)
And here are some example projects that you can take a look at-
(insert more links here)
And if you don't know what a block does, check out the scratch wiki! It's got a lot of useful tips. Here are some really good tips-
(insert even more links here)
Have fun Scratching!My suggestion is a combination of these two ideas- Don't allow new scratchers to post excessive amounts of links in one post. Say, maybe 10? Or 15? Those are my suggestions, but that's really up to the ST to decide (but you guys can also debate that below if you want). That way, normal posts would go unharmed, but posts made to advertise or spam will be instantly stopped in their tracks before being posted! Hopefully, this suggestion will stop spambots like the one above!my project isn't working!!!!!!!!Could you post a link to your project so we can help you out? Make sure the project is shared so that we can see it.it won't let me post the link!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, in the first example, what if User2 was a New Scratcher, giving helpful links to another New Scratcher. User 2 could've been somebody that changed usernames, and is just waiting for Scratcher status again, or a New Scratcher who knows enough to help other New Scratchers, and is trying to be active and constructive to become a Scratcher. There are many cases when a knowledgeable New Scratcher would help another New Scratcher.
I'm fairly sure New Scratchers can't post external links anyway. And the only other “link-spam” I can think of would be advertising their projects. But, they'd have to make a project first, and then give the spam bot the link. In order for a 10-15 link rule to work, they'd have to make at least 10 projects before they become a Scratcher. Yes, I suppose it can happen. But it can't be very common that a New Scratcher is able to make 10 projects before they become a Scratcher, and set up a spambot to advertise these. And most spam bots aren't advertising projects, but giving out phone numbers.
Well, we don't have a forum FilterBot as far as I know. So, I don't know how we'd block phone numbers. The 120 second rule is the best thing I can think of for preventing spam.
Anyway, semi-support if New Scratchers can post external links. I don't think they should post any external links (as long as the Scratch Wiki doesn't count as external). Otherwise, no support.
- Zro716
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Scratcher
1000+ posts
Bot Spam Blocker
How many links? 10? 20? 100? Keep in mind some good posts contain lots of links. Perhaps a limitation of, say, 5 links per post, is applied to New Scratchers (not counting their signature), and a limitation of 100 for regular Scratchers (just for safeguarding).
- MegaApuTurkUltra
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Scratcher
1000+ posts
Bot Spam Blocker
Support.
Really this is why the ST prevented New Scratcher posts from linkifying urls. However seeing all the spam Scratch usually gets, the strategy needs to be a bit stronger.
P.S. here's an automatic support listing

Really this is why the ST prevented New Scratcher posts from linkifying urls. However seeing all the spam Scratch usually gets, the strategy needs to be a bit stronger.
P.S. here's an automatic support listing

- DaSpudLord
-
Scratcher
1000+ posts
Bot Spam Blocker
Well, in the first example, what if User2 was a New Scratcher, giving helpful links to another New Scratcher. User 2 could've been somebody that changed usernames, and is just waiting for Scratcher status again, or a New Scratcher who knows enough to help other New Scratchers, and is trying to be active and constructive to become a Scratcher. There are many cases when a knowledgeable New Scratcher would help another New Scratcher.That's a good point, I added it to the OP.
How many links? 10? 20? 100? Keep in mind some good posts contain lots of links. Perhaps a limitation of, say, 5 links per post, is applied to New Scratchers (not counting their signature), and a limitation of 100 for regular Scratchers (just for safeguarding).I'm not sure if you read the whole thing… I'm suggesting for this to only apply to new scratchers, and I purposely left the number of links to trigger the bot up in the air-
Say, maybe 10? Or 15? Those are my suggestions, but that's really up to the ST to decide (but you guys can also debate that below if you want).
P.S. here's an automatic support listingI know about that, but on every thread I've seen that, the image shows up as a broken image link-
So I don't use it.
- IronBit_Studios
-
Scratcher
1000+ posts
Bot Spam Blocker
I'll support on a few conditions:
- New Scratchers have no external link capability and are blocked for 5+ links per post.
- Scratchers are alerted for 5+ non-image host links per post.
- MegaApuTurkUltra
-
Scratcher
1000+ posts
Bot Spam Blocker
But it shows up here!Well, in the first example, what if User2 was a New Scratcher, giving helpful links to another New Scratcher. User 2 could've been somebody that changed usernames, and is just waiting for Scratcher status again, or a New Scratcher who knows enough to help other New Scratchers, and is trying to be active and constructive to become a Scratcher. There are many cases when a knowledgeable New Scratcher would help another New Scratcher.That's a good point, I added it to the OP.How many links? 10? 20? 100? Keep in mind some good posts contain lots of links. Perhaps a limitation of, say, 5 links per post, is applied to New Scratchers (not counting their signature), and a limitation of 100 for regular Scratchers (just for safeguarding).I'm not sure if you read the whole thing… I'm suggesting for this to only apply to new scratchers, and I purposely left the number of links to trigger the bot up in the air-Say, maybe 10? Or 15? Those are my suggestions, but that's really up to the ST to decide (but you guys can also debate that below if you want).P.S. here's an automatic support listingI know about that, but on every thread I've seen that, the image shows up as a broken image link-
So I don't use it.

I had some trouble when gwiddle went down but it's fine now.
- DaSpudLord
-
Scratcher
1000+ posts
Bot Spam Blocker
Bumpity.
Last edited by DaSpudLord (Nov. 29, 2015 20:21:13)
- DaSpudLord
-
Scratcher
1000+ posts
Bot Spam Blocker
<b><u::control><m::operators><p::motion>::grey
Last edited by DaSpudLord (Dec. 7, 2015 17:31:36)
- DaSpudLord
-
Scratcher
1000+ posts
Bot Spam Blocker
Flippity flappity dippity dappity bippity bappity bump
- tiger75
-
Scratcher
100+ posts
Bot Spam Blocker
My total support. But what is a spambot? Also, maybe when registering for an account you have to identify the blurry picture of a number/letter combination; aren't those supposed to prevent robots?
- DaSpudLord
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Scratcher
1000+ posts
Bot Spam Blocker
Butwhat is a spambot?A spambot is a computer designed to send spam. It can be a computer designed to send mass emails, or a computer designed to log into social network sites and post spam, etc.
Also, maybe when registering for an account you have to identify the blurry picture of a number/letter combination; aren't those supposed to prevent robots?That's called CAPTCHA. And I thought Scratch already had one of those.
- DaSpudLord
-
Scratcher
1000+ posts
Bot Spam Blocker
_____
____________________/BUMP\_______________________

____________________/BUMP\_______________________

Last edited by DaSpudLord (Jan. 18, 2016 19:38:21)
- gamebeater187
-
Scratcher
1000+ posts
Bot Spam Blocker
Capatcha?
STILL, SUpport.
STILL, SUpport.
Last edited by gamebeater187 (Jan. 18, 2016 21:34:24)










