Should I Close the Working at Home Forum?
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As some of you may know, I started the Working at Home on the Internet Forum back on August 6, 2006. I have had some people sign up and contribute a little here and there in the beginning.
It may be time to consider closing it down. Since the beginning, I have gotten a lot of Spam of various sorts, but recently have been spending a lot of time deleting PORN SPAM daily.
It may just be time to quit, I don’t want to, but it has gotten to the point of making a decision. I’m not getting a lot of new recruits, and almost no contributions from the few visitors I do get. But I do continue to get Spammed out the butt.
I started the Forum to try to build a community, not to play Mr Delete. I really would like to help others trying to find answers about Working at Home, what seems to work that is legitimate and the real scams out there that aren’t worth the time, money or effort.
I am going to give it a little more time before I make a final decision, but I would like to ask you…
Should I Close Down the Forum? or Should I put more effort into Building It Up?
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My Skype: joe.hauckes
I’m not much a forum guy. If no one’s using it and it is eating up your time, I say give it the axe!
Input by Chris Cree | November 13, 2006 @ 8:50 pm
Hey Chris,
I take that as one vote “No”.
I still haven’t made a decision, there are a lot of people who like and participate in forums.
I may just throw a coin in the air…
Joe
Input by Joe | November 13, 2006 @ 9:01 pm
Hi Joe,
How exactly are you spammed? Are these the posts from already registered people?
I think you should simply work a bit on improving the registration procedure. I don’t have much to contribute yet, so I haven’t even registered - but I remember I was in a similar position once. A simple email-based activation trick helped me greatly reduce the spam - this should be a standard feature of your forum software. An email is sent to the new user request, and the person has to click a link there, otherwise the account is left locked. Spam scripts are not this intelligent yet, and so it really helps.
All the best! It is a great idea to share best tips on a forum, but it does require maintenance and time.
Input by Gleb | November 14, 2006 @ 1:08 am
Hey Gleb,
In the beginning, I wanted to leave the registration process as simple as possible to attract more users.
I recently shut the url feature off, so that should cut down on the spam a little. The spammers would register, then leave all kinds of links to not so nice sites.
Live and learn…
I haven’t reset the registration procedure (yet). That will be the next step.
I really don’t want to give up yet, but we shall see.
Joe
Input by Joe | November 14, 2006 @ 8:27 am
Joe,
Cut your losses now. If it’s so much of a drain that it caused you to waste your wonderful mind by posting about it, get rid of it.
Keep the coin in your pocket.
Carolyn
Input by Carolyn Manning | November 14, 2006 @ 10:16 am
Hey Carolyn,
Thanks for the compliment.
It doesn’t cost anything, it’s part of the hosting package. Unless you count time, and I do.
Unfortunately, I am an optimist, I can see where the Forum could be a good thing for the community.
I think tossing that coin into the air may be the only way for me to make a decision.
Joe
Input by Joe | November 14, 2006 @ 10:36 am
Joe,
“What’s on the telly?” “I don’t know, it looks like an albatross.”
That’s all,
Carolyn
Input by Carolyn Manning | November 14, 2006 @ 10:46 am
Carolyn,
The took Monty Pyton off my “telly” I don’t know what I’m going to do now…
“This polly is dead, deceased…”
Joe
Input by Joe | November 14, 2006 @ 10:53 am
Wait until I give it a complete lookover before ya cut and run, eh? lol I just found your site and am finding it very helpful. If there’s a way to cut down on the spam and you get some enjoyment out of offering this service I say keep it up.
Tracy
Input by Tracy | November 14, 2006 @ 12:03 pm
Hey Joe,
If you don’t want to get rid of the forum, don’t. If the big problem is spam, find a way to require proving you’re a real person to register and post, maybe something like what Gleb suggested. I know if I had to continually deal with deleting spam every day on the blog, I wouldn’t use a blog. I would use some other format that wasn’t open to abuse.
The spam that does show up probably turns people off. I’m not a big forum guy (is there a difference between people who frequent forums and those who frequent blogs), but I’ve abandoned forums that had spam.
Input by Rick Cockrum | November 14, 2006 @ 3:33 pm
Hey Tracy,
I’m not closing it just yet, so you still have a chance to look it over. And if you want to contribute, I would be very happy to have you join in.
I do like having the forum, but have only the experience of a user, not a moderator.
Everything is still up in the air, waiting for the coins to fall.
Joe
Input by Joe | November 14, 2006 @ 5:02 pm
Hey Rick,
I did implement some of the suggestions I got from Gleb and others. I put the verification by email on and also excluded the ability to add links other than in the signature.
Hopefully, that will keep “real” people coming back and omit most of the spam I’ve encountered.
Joe
Input by Joe | November 14, 2006 @ 5:07 pm
Joe,
We’re all of us looking. You’ll find what you need. “The polly isn’t dead, it’s sleeping.” “Looks dead to me.”
Their wisdom was timeless. Take from it.
Carolyn
Input by Carolyn Manning | November 14, 2006 @ 5:18 pm
Carolyn,
Anyone who can quote from Monty Python has my utmost respect. I’ve always found that I can take a silly walk and turn it into my own way of falling down and getting back up again.
(especially if it’s a race).
Hope to see you at Liz’s tonight.
Joe
Input by Joe | November 14, 2006 @ 5:29 pm
But is it a larch? Oh, no. It was “A Larch, A Larch”
Input by Carolyn Manning | November 14, 2006 @ 7:11 pm
It pleases me to be able to bring humor to everyone. We need to find the humor, else we cease to be human.
Carolyn
Input by Carolyn Manning | November 14, 2006 @ 7:13 pm
Carolyn,
Thanks for bringing back those images of one of my favorite shows.
Humor separates us from the parrots of the world!?!
Joe
Input by Joe | November 14, 2006 @ 8:26 pm
Joe,
I was having a hard time sleeping, feeling down, wondering when I’ll get it together again, so the logical thing to do was to turn Hannah (my computer) on again. Did I miss the episode with the parrots?
Carolyn
Input by Carolyn Manning | November 14, 2006 @ 10:03 pm
Hi Carolyn,
Why don’t you wander over to Liz Strauss’ place for Open Comment Night?
Input by Rick Cockrum | November 14, 2006 @ 10:15 pm
Hey Carolyn,
Sorry I didn’t get back earlier, I was over a Liz’s Open Comment Night. I thought you might stop by over there.
I’m on the way to see the back of my eyelids soon, but I know Liz is still there.
So if you and Hanna still can’t sleep, you can always visit Liz, she’s a good Blogging Friend.
Nite Carolyn,
Joe
ps the parrot has gone to roost for the night.
J.
Input by Joe | November 14, 2006 @ 11:48 pm