06-02-2008, 02:43 AM
[quote graylocks]make sure you set up your group so that you approve every member. this prevents spammers from joining. another option is to let anyone join but moderate initial postings; after they've proven themselves to be posting legitimate stuff, you can unmoderate that member.
I don't like the first route graylocks mentioned. Here's why:
1. You have to approve EVERY member. If you end up with a lot of members, this is a PITA.
2. Unless you plan to tackle your duties as owner/moderator several times a day, those who have not yet been approved will get impatient and pissy (yes, I have seen this lots on lists I have no control over).
For all the groups I have control over, I chose the second option graylocks mentioned which is to let anyone/everyone join but moderate all members (initially). Once they've done 1-2 legitimate posts, you can be pretty sure they're not spammers. At that point, go in and remove the moderation.
You may be thinking, "doesn't the second option require just as much as the first?"
No. It definitely doesn't. You may get a lot of members but not everyone is there to post. A lot are strictly lurkers. Also, a lot of people don't like waiting to be approved for a group. Many will simply not join at all.
The second option really does a good enough job at catching spammers. When one tries to post, simply go look up his user id and ban him!
I don't like the first route graylocks mentioned. Here's why:
1. You have to approve EVERY member. If you end up with a lot of members, this is a PITA.
2. Unless you plan to tackle your duties as owner/moderator several times a day, those who have not yet been approved will get impatient and pissy (yes, I have seen this lots on lists I have no control over).
For all the groups I have control over, I chose the second option graylocks mentioned which is to let anyone/everyone join but moderate all members (initially). Once they've done 1-2 legitimate posts, you can be pretty sure they're not spammers. At that point, go in and remove the moderation.
You may be thinking, "doesn't the second option require just as much as the first?"
No. It definitely doesn't. You may get a lot of members but not everyone is there to post. A lot are strictly lurkers. Also, a lot of people don't like waiting to be approved for a group. Many will simply not join at all.
The second option really does a good enough job at catching spammers. When one tries to post, simply go look up his user id and ban him!