Posts Awaiting For Approval

[webdev1958]

Just wondering why after I submit a post I get a message saying it has been submitted for approval by a moderator before it can be visible in the forum.

I doubt it's a spam filter of some kind because just about everyone else's posts would also be submitted for approval before becoming visible. The last couple of my posts contain only code and a bit of simple plain text.

Is there a minimum number of posts we need to make before they are automatically made visible in the forum without requiring prior moderator approval?

[TheBearMay]

The site filters on several things, but as you build history and reputation more of your posts will go through without moderation.

[webdev1958]

ok thanks :)

But just some food for thought.

With this system of approving initial posts are you not indirectly encouraging legitimate users with queries (and also those just trying to help others) to go elsewhere as well (which many do anyway) where they are much more likely to get a quick response to their query?

If you're concerned about spam posts, surely there is a better way of combating them without also penalising legitimate users by making them wait for their request for help to first be approved :confused:

[TheBearMay]

I'm sure it happens, but with the recent surge in spam attacks, it's an unfortunate necessity. Thanks for sticking around. :D

[jacksters]

When our posts are moderated you are sure that your question will be answered with relevant and helpful answers: excluding spam postings that only make you think about the horribleness of this world.

[Steve R Jones]

It's the CODE part and or URL's that will trigger the posts to go to a pre-moderated status.

We feel being a little overly cautious is worth the small price of admission;)

I believe the magic number here is 20 posts... But I'm checking on that and will post back.

[JunkMale]

If posting is moderated, why do moderators let through posts where things like code are not wrapped in forum tags then? Its in the posting guidelines yet mods are letting these posts through...

It sort of defeats the object moderation.

[JunkMale]

ok thanks :)

But just some food for thought.

With this system of approving initial posts are you not indirectly encouraging legitimate users with queries (and also those just trying to help others) to go elsewhere as well (which many do anyway) where they are much more likely to get a quick response to their query?

If you're concerned about spam posts, surely there is a better way of combating them without also penalising legitimate users by making them wait for their request for help to first be approved :confused:

Which is typical of the "Want it now generation" & "With butter on" posting. "All good things" come to those who wait and its not just spam that is the reason, the moderation is supposed to deal with other posting scourges that cause annoyance like double posting, posting code without tags, shameless advertising of websites by posting a link rather than the code, posting the code at all & the Request line posts!!! and several other things that evade me at the moment.

So it is a very small price to pay for what it provides and that is hopefully quality posts.

Ohhh that final thing we have a problem with is the group that come back to say that they figured it out without having the courtesy to inform the rest of the world thats having the same problem what it was that cured this issue. If you have 2 cents worth on that, I am all ears as I am sure the rest of the forum will be and those that moderate and run the board.

Remember... Small Price, Big on quality. :D

[webdev1958]

So it is a very small price to pay for what it provides and that is hopefully quality posts.


The fact is, it only encourages and genuine new members to also post elsewhere which TheBearMay said is occurring. So if a new member gets the help they are after first on another website before their post even appears on this website, then they are much more likely to post first on the other website next time and maybe even not at all on this one. So if that's a "small price" for this website, as you say, then that's fine. I have no vested interest in any of the websites I post on.

In my experience this is the only website of this type that requires the first few posts to be approved by a moderator before being displayed in the forum and so then the risks to the website are as I described earlier.

I would think a better, but not necessarily easier, way would be to ensure you have enough moderators to adequately patrol the forums (btw, I'm not interested in being a moderator) and delete "junk" posts quickly and efficiently.

But if there is insufficient moderators to do that then maybe there is another problem with a website resulting in inadequate numbers of moderators being attracted to it.

[JunkMale]

I don't know myself but I believe that some of the leg work could be done with scripts that parse posts for traits that indicate code without tags, auto reject the submission, then inform the user that a delay between posting and display will happen.

I have proposed this method of screening, even allowing the person posting to see the post may help before moderation passes it.

I tell you what I also find annoying is the multiple sign ups by people who then post a multitude of questions about scripts that are basically several boiler plate examples mashed together and people expect fully working examples. If people want instant answers then its more like they need paid support than voluntary free guidance and hints on how to change or improve code.

This site is not like other sites that I have visited and seen the sheer amount of junk posts where the person has posted a question in several forums likely using a shot gun method, shoot out as many posts across many sites to see what gets answered first.

Like I said, Quality Counts and I am in favor of proactive moderation to steer new members in to posting correctly and that they understand how to ask a question. You only have to trawl the latest batch of new questions to see a common trait.

[webdev1958]

I don't know myself but I believe that some of the leg work could be done with scripts that parse posts for traits that indicate code without tags, auto reject the submission, then inform the user that a delay between posting and display will happen.


yep, even some sort of scripting filter would be better, imho of course, than the apparent mandatory "moderator approval" method


This site is not like other sites that I have visited and seen the sheer amount of junk posts where the person has posted a question in several forums likely using a shot gun method, shoot out as many posts across many sites to see what gets answered first.


I'm not so sure. I currently post on 6 different websites atm and I see lots of usernames that appear on this website and many of the other 5 I also post on. Maybe they are not actually all the same person but I suspect most if not all, are.

There is nothing wrong for someone to post a request for info/help on multiple websites. Common sense says the more people you ask the more likely you are to get the help you need as quickly as possible.

When I reply to a post, I do it knowing full well the request for help is probably also on another website and it's not an issue for me. And I don't expect, let alone demand, to be thanked for any help I provide. Of course everyone likes to feel appreciated but in an environment like this type of website and human nature being what it is, I can't expect everyone to go posting the solution to their problem or a thank you on every website they posted their request on.

To be honest, to demand to be thanked in an environment like this comes across to me as being narcisistic.

[JunkMale]

Yep, its nice to have a comment left thanking you for your input, they are rare and I know of a couple of sites that implement routines forcing you to comment on help and award points. Some even will not allow you to post more than one question at a time. One site I was a member of that was a help site for proxy servers deleted my account because I hadn't asked any questions in 90 days..!

So you will find a mix of ideas on how to deal with site issues, I do believe that this site should prune its membership after a year to clear out junk & orphaned posts, those posts that never got answered but still appear in search engines...