At 2008-05-13 02:07, Bob Paddock wrote:
>On Monday 12 May 2008 02:19:43 pm Syd H. Levine wrote:
>
>> Personally, I would hate to see this list die after so many years.
>
>I agree, which is why I asked the question rather than just signing off like
>I've done to many other lists that have been overcome with spam.

Thanks Bob and the others. I'm still here and I'm
already very depressed about the spam problem (in
general) for several years. I get about 1000 spams
a day on my own email adresses and I had to shut
down the PHPBB after it was inundated with spam
after a while.

I tried to solve the problem by notifying the
programmers about it, but they didn't seem to care
much about a central solution.

I was notified by someone giving a tip about where to
add some sort of input filter and I don't mind doing
some programming but the PHP-BB software is quite
complex and instead of improving something it's much
more likely to upset some sort of delicate balance.
I just don't like changing part of a big program
when I can't oversee the complete program (or at least
the part that is relevant for the part that I'm changing).

And then again I saw myself as an end-user of the PHP-BB
software so why should I change it for something as crucial
as countering spam? Spam is much more easily fought on
a central level (and I couldn't have been the only victim).

By the way I'm very annoyed by the current 'Powers That Be'
that rather start foreign wars (US) or support it (NL) instead
of solving the spam problem.

As regards practical solutions: I have changed the policy
of membership acquirance to 'approve', but I hope I'll find
the time to check all of the spam messages to filter out the
serious requests...

Perhaps I should delete all the accounts of people who don't
allow mails from the mailing list? But there are valid reasons
not to allow mails...

Greetings,
Jaap

PS. Perhaps this mailing list is over it's prime years.
Some of you mentioned much more lively mailing lists. Please
send me the details.