Admin's Log. Stardate 26-03-2011

Message

#1 Post by **Kwackerz** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 1:09 pm

Lo all.

Just thought I would take time to let people know what's going on in the world of RS and ARS behind the scenes.

Not much really! Well I say that..

Firstly spam is continuing to be the bane of my life. Im going to spend a day (Tuesday) hammering the member's list, deleting the shite. it's always a problem and doesnt really get any easier. I dont have backdoor access to the forum files physically, so cant apply anti spam patches, not that I think they will really help. We'll keep soldiering on. I dont pay a donation to the Site running, well, I have, but normally I dont. I give up days instead, which i spend doing bits and bobs around the Site.

Thats the spam anyways...

What else? Oh yeah. Ive changed a few forums about. extracted a few things to different locations, such as the Games to a new games area (see forum index if youve not noticed.. click the words 'ridersite.com forum index' above..) Anyways it was mainly as I was finding it difficult to remember to do the daily quiz and find the bike racing league. Nothing major or life changing really.

Ive also created a few small moneyspinning ideas.. 'Discount Schemes' has all the various things ive signed the site up for. If it says 'discount scheme', you get the discount directly yourself. If it says 'Affiliate' then you hopefully get a good deal from those companies (i believe them to be meritous) but more importantly for the site, the site receives some cash back to it's coffers when you buy something.. This goes into helping the webhosting. it wont save the world, but 'every little helps' I guess.

I will continue to bring in companies as i find them that I think are worthy of gracing the RS/ARS forums. There's a few I want on board and they will emerge as and when the site strikes a deal with them. If you run a pukka business (as in it is yours) and are a member of the forums, drop me a PM if you wish to take part in the discount scheme. Anything, doesnt have to be motorcycle related. If it benefits you and our membership, thats all the criteria met. Similarly if you work out of a shed/workshop/garage/kitchen when the missus is at bingo producing bespoke parts for bikes, want to flog them to the world but want to offer your mates/fellow forum members a bit of a better deal, give me a shout too.

The RiderSite Daily Quiz continues to prove popular although it would be good to see some other names in there. It's probably the most random quiz to feature on a biker site, but hey, keeps the grey matter going when youre bored at work..

The MCN racing league is going well, although Im sure I should change my riders around... give Toseland a miss maybe..

Other than that lot, not much to report. Better weather is coming so I may get some flyers made up or some more cards done, depending on what people think?

If you're downunder there's not much we can really achieve in the way of discounts, I sincerely apologise however youve got better weather, smoother roads and your steaks are bigger, so chin up, eh?

If we can sort something out for you lot then we will. Nooj is available for 45 quid if you want your bike valeted, but you'll have to strike a deal on the mileage charges.

#2 Post by **Kwackerz** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 1:21 pm

While I remember (almost forgot..) we're on Arseface too. Face arse.. Arsebook. Facebook. ha! Thats it. Facebook.

Bang ridersite or aprilia ridersite into the search on facebook to find us

It's just a referral page really, but if we have any hugely good facebookers about who wish to become an admin on it, feel free to give me a shout. The idea of it is to basically provide a link from facebook to the forum rather than use it as a full social page. I dont want to detract from the forum, just enhance it

Right. Off to nuke spammers. PM me if you need me!

D-Rider · #3 Post by **D-Rider** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 2:19 pm

Cheers Tim .... all looking good - the volume of work you do to keep things going and improving on here is appreciated (though probably not as much as it really deserves to be).

Right - off to create some spam and flood the forum with bogus registration requests .......

Nooj · #4 Post by **Nooj** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 6:41 pm

For the discount area, would it be a good idea to run it like they do on ClubAprilia and not be able to post replies up there. It'll stop it becoming a shop front, as you say.

Anyone interested in the goods/services on offer can PM the person behind the offer directly rather than clutter up forum space.

#5 Post by **Kwackerz** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 6:47 pm

Yup, like that idea! I shall just nip over and do it before i forget..

Dalemac · #6 Post by **Dalemac** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 7:07 pm

On the spam front, how does registration happen on this forum?

do user's have to activate their account?

I could edit the registration script if you like, try and make it a little more bot proof.

Dale

#7 Post by **Kwackerz** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 7:14 pm

Admin has to activate the account. (Sam and I). The spam problem isnt a problem physically on the forum, so much as on the memberlist.. and therefore on the database size.

Jake (you'll see her pop in now and again) is the one with the backend files access and the expertise.. I have had a word earlier on a few subjects so i'll see what comes of that. It's not a technical ability problem as much as an access issue.

I shall keep a note though and may give you a shout at some stage if I find need to

Dalemac · #8 Post by **Dalemac** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 8:13 pm

Kwackerz wrote:Admin has to activate the account. (Sam and I). The spam problem isnt a problem physically on the forum, so much as on the memberlist.. and therefore on the database size.

Jake (you'll see her pop in now and again) is the one with the backend files access and the expertise.. I have had a word earlier on a few subjects so i'll see what comes of that. It's not a technical ability problem as much as an access issue.

I shall keep a note though and may give you a shout at some stage if I find need to

So the user's sign-up - and the admin activates the account?

I could always fix the members list page to only display active members? (i.e. admin approved ones) would only be a small db query change, and could save you lots of time. every now and then you could run a script that deletes all inactive accounts (because you wouldnt activate the spam accounts).

Dale

#9 Post by **Kwackerz** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 8:40 pm

True.. however we have a lot of 'lurkers' who sign up yet don't post, or who post a couple of times then revert to lurking. That muddies the water a bit.
Ive looked at inserting code ( I found some readymade down the bottom of the page HERE a while back) but like I said, need access to the darkside to drop those codes in.

I'm waiting on a reply from Jake at present

Dalemac · #10 Post by **Dalemac** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 8:57 pm

Kwackerz wrote:True.. however we have a lot of 'lurkers' who sign up yet don't post, or who post a couple of times then revert to lurking. That muddies the water a bit.
Ive looked at inserting code ( I found some readymade down the bottom of the page HERE a while back) but like I said, need access to the darkside to drop those codes in.

I'm waiting on a reply from Jake at present

Yup - most of those are simple MySQL queries. make sure you choose the right one, if you want any custom conditions, let me know.

Oh and dont forget to back up the database before you change anything. Wouldn't want to remover everyone accidentally :P

and then optimise the tables in the admin scetion to remove empty rows from the database tables.

Dale

#11 Post by **Kwackerz** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 9:00 pm

I backup the DB every week

just dont ask how often I back the pooter up...

#12 Post by **Kwackerz** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 2:19 pm

For those of a less techy nature who're interested, you can keep tabs on how the deletions are going and during the day you can see how quickly the spammers rise up using this little area at the bottom of the forum index..

DavShill · #13 Post by **DavShill** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 5:48 pm

Thanks Tim - Really appreciate all the work that goes on in the background. If it wasn't for people like you, people like me would not have the benefit of forums and friendships like this. Great job mate please keep it up.

HowardQ · #14 Post by **HowardQ** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 7:15 pm

Another big thankyou from me Tim.

We all very much appreciate all your efforts.

#15 Post by **Kwackerz** » Mon Apr 04, 2011 8:18 pm

Thought i would just do a quick top up on the log..

Obviously we've got various companies in the discount list as well as those that are supporting the site by way of their affiliate schemes. This will continue to expand a bit as further decent companies come on board.

I am acutely aware that we've got an international site and i've spoken to a firm in Melbourne who deal with Aprilias and do mail order and the like..

Theyre relaunching their business in a month or so (change of tack kinda thing) and have offered discount for our members.. just how much is still to follow and be thrashed out.

Hopefully that will be of use to our members down under.. I hope so cos it'll be fuck all use to the rest of us!!