Just a reminder for new member applications

[wally]

I apologize to anyone who has tried to join our group and has had their application rejected. I am rejecting about 60% of new applications these days. There are certain required fields I look for to be completed exactly right. If it's not right, I reject the application -- automatically.

I do this because the spambots have gotten pretty sophisticated at trying to auto-generate applications for membership. If you don't fill out the application exactly right, I can not tell whether you are a spambot or a real CVP enthusiast.

If I have rejected your application, feel free to resubmit it -- but you must complete the required fields correctly. This means put in your city AND your state AND your country in the location field. Also put something realistic in the interests field.

Thanks!

[BarryEslick]

The penguin is an iconic Linux logo. Are you using Linux? If so, is there software for the Yamaha in Linux?

[wally]

Not THIS penguin. This penguin is Opus from Bloom County. It has nothing to do with Linux.

The OS in the Clavinova isn't Linux.

[Jørgen]

Hi Wally

Please notice that many countries do not have "states"; just "cities".

Regards
Jørgen

[wally]

I know. I don't require "states" in countries that don't have them. But I do need to be able to confirm that the location exists, which is why I reject some applications based on not being able to validate the existence of the location.

This takes a lot of my time, folks. Please fill in the city, state (if you live in one), and country and at least one legitimate hobby or interest. This makes it a lot easier on me to approve.

Best wishes!

[ericho]

Wally,

Some fora have pictures of blury letter & numbers to avoid spambots
Or a easy question to fill in.

Wouldn't something like that make your life easier ?

Kind regards

Eric

[dbjorck]

Hi!


Please notice that many countries do not have "states"; just "cities".

Well, as a sidenote, this is something I have long contemplated due to American web sites that require filling in a "state". In a way, for Denmark, you could consider Sjælland, Jylland, Bornholm etc, "states"...

Most countries have these kinds of areas. In Sweden; Skåne, Småland etc: in Germany Bavaria, Shlesvig-Holstein, etc: in UK Northumberland and so on.

Danny, Copenhagen, Sjælland

MVH

Daniel

[wally]

Eric, we do use the blurry letters that you have to type in to submit an application, and it eliminated the problem for about six months. But the spambot designer has now figured out a way around it (why all the bother, I just can't imagine!). About 50% of the applications I get are from bots that have circumvented this feature.

There appear to be at least two bots operating against the CVPUG website, which I can detect from the common patterns I see in the applications I receive.

[Gwenlyn Norton]

After three weeks of trying to join, I had long given up. Then, I received an email stating I had been accepted. I still don't know what I did wrong or right? I simply thought you all were on vacation!!!!!

By the way, what is a 'Public Forum' or "Public Group.'

Why would I want to join one here?

I only want to discuss CVP pianos.

[Gwenlyn Norton]

I totally gave up on joining after three weeks. I thought you had all gone on vacation. Then I received an email that I was accepted. I still don't know what I did correctly or incorrectly.

But, now I here and hope to make some worthwhile contributions.

What is a public forum?

[Gwenlyn Norton]

How come it took three weeks for me to notified of my acceptance into this group? I thought you were all on vacation and I totally gave up. But now I'm here and hope to make some valuable contributions.

What is a public forum and where can I find them?

[wally]

Hi Gwenlyn

I am very sorry it took so long for me to approve your application. It's a completely manual process. In most cases, I check to make sure the application is filled in completely, with location and personal interests, which is the only way I know it's not a spambot generated application. Some of the locations are bogus, so I have to reject them. I want to at least be able to verify that you're associated with a city, in a state, and in a country that's identified.

Also, sometimes I don't get around to reviewing the applications every week.

But, anyway, welcome to the group and we're delighted to have you here!

[Jane]

Wally,

I have a forum I use to support some software products I develop.
It runs on phpbbs, which has a lot of user-contributed add-ons.

One of those add-ons is great. I can configure several fill-in-the-blank questions with information that a legitimate user could be expected to know and then the script randomly selects one of the questions for a new user application.

If the question isn't answered correctly, the user is bounced and I get an email including the attempted user name, email domain, and the website that the bot tried to promote.

Lately, I've been getting at least 20 reject emails a day... for my very obscure support forum.

I wonder whether there's a similar tool for vuBulletin ??

Jane Fleming