I've written a script to hide posts from a problematic troll.

[Furry_Monkey]

There's a guy posting gay porn in the GTA Online forum on a daily basis (not sure if that's the only forum he's targeting or not). Obviously this gets cleaned up and he gets kicked as soon as someone suitable is available to deal with it, but that can be a while sometimes, obviously due to the fact that the moderators don't sit on this site vetting every single new member or post (as no-one in their right mind would expect).

 

I've written a small script that automatically hides these posts. It requires a scripting extension like tampermonkey so that the script can be run on this site from the member's browser (http://tampermonkey.net/ - alternatives are available for other browsers)

 

My first question is, would there be any objections from the site admin and/or mods if I were to post this script. My second question, assuming that the first one is okay, is where to post it. I've looked at the forum descriptions and couldn't see anywhere that is immediately obvious to post it.

 

Also, I'd want to obfuscate the script so that it's more difficult to see how it works. I don't want to pretend I credit these cretins with any intelligence or knowledge, but I have to assume that they could figure out what the script does, if they had it. Obfuscation would make this a LOT more difficult. Also, there are certain things in the script that are determined by the site, and there's nothing they could do to bypass those checks.

 

With that in mind, it would be good to get someone "official" to okay the script, after seeing the original version and me running through my logic with them. That would allay the fears of people that don't like the idea of running a script that looks like gibberish.

 

Answers to the above questions, and thoughts and feedback would be appreciated

 

Edit: I've refined it somewhat after testing it and blocking a few innocent posts (but I'd rather block a few innocent ones than miss a few bad ones). The logic to detect bad posts is now a lot better, and rather than hide the post it does what it does when you add someone to your ignore list, and gives you a toggle link so you can open the post if you wish.

Edited December 5, 2013 by Furry_Monkey

[ALMOST610]

I think UserScripts cannot be kept private as the code has to be inserted into the browser somehow and stored on your PC so it is kinda impossible, but as far as I know you do not need permission to share or post userscripts here as I have done so with several for the old GTA Forums without any trouble, Where to post is a tough thing to do as there is no real specific place for them and some sections that are more relevant dont get viewed by a majority of members.

 

Best of luck.

[Furry_Monkey]

I think UserScripts cannot be kept private as the code has to be inserted into the browser somehow and stored on your PC so it is kinda impossible, but as far as I know you do not need permission to share or post userscripts here as I have done so with several for the old GTA Forums without any trouble, Where to post is a tough thing to do as there is no real specific place for them and some sections that are more relevant dont get viewed by a majority of members.

 

Best of luck.

Thanks Almost. I know scripts can't be kept private, which is why I discussed obfuscation. You can make a simple piece of Javascript look like absolute gibberish, and it's actually very difficult to undo. The reason I mentioned that is that many people would be reluctant to use that script as they themselves would only have my word as to what it does. If I don't obfuscate it and everyone can see how it works then the idiots it's targeting would see how it works and be able to figure out how to bypass it (to a certain degree).

 

I think I'll just stick with giving it out to people as and when these events take place. At least I know *I'm* covered from filling my screen with gay porn whilst I'm at work.

[Shoumaker]

I really don't think it was much of a problem to begin with because I've never really encountered these types of posters (luckily). But good job nonetheless, it may be useful to some members.

[ALMOST610]

 

I think UserScripts cannot be kept private as the code has to be inserted into the browser somehow and stored on your PC so it is kinda impossible, but as far as I know you do not need permission to share or post userscripts here as I have done so with several for the old GTA Forums without any trouble, Where to post is a tough thing to do as there is no real specific place for them and some sections that are more relevant dont get viewed by a majority of members.

 

Best of luck.

Thanks Almost. I know scripts can't be kept private, which is why I discussed obfuscation. You can make a simple piece of Javascript look like absolute gibberish, and it's actually very difficult to undo. The reason I mentioned that is that many people would be reluctant to use that script as they themselves would only have my word as to what it does. If I don't obfuscate it and everyone can see how it works then the idiots it's targeting would see how it works and be able to figure out how to bypass it (to a certain degree).

 

I think I'll just stick with giving it out to people as and when these events take place. At least I know *I'm* covered from filling my screen with gay porn whilst I'm at work.

 

Seeing as you only joined 3 weeks ago it may seem suspicious but I am sure if you showed your script to some trusted members or the Admins and they were will to back you up and stand behind your work then people would be happy to install it.

[Furry_Monkey]

Seeing as you only joined 3 weeks ago it may seem suspicious but I am sure if you showed your script to some trusted members or the Admins and they were will to back you up and stand behind your work then people would be happy to install it.

 

Yep, that's why I suggested it.

 

Believe me - 3 weeks is more than enough time to get sick of animated gay porn pics.

[gnad]

I really don't think it was much of a problem to begin with because I've never really encountered these types of posters (luckily). But good job nonetheless, it may be useful to some members.

 

Just hang around GTA online section, especially in the morning (gmt -3).

 

The guy will show up probably with fake mods nicknames (0tter, Glrish, GunWrafh, etcetera) as he did in the past.

 

Just be sure to read the threads titles (it's threads like "NEW MONEY GLITCH", "NEW LEVEL 1000 GLITCH", etcetera.) and avoid it.

 

Open every thread with caution and if there is a pic on the OP, scroll down fast, close your eyes, and close ASAP.

[iFight]

 

I really don't think it was much of a problem to begin with because I've never really encountered these types of posters (luckily). But good job nonetheless, it may be useful to some members.

 

Just hang around GTA online section, especially in the morning (gmt -3).

 

The guy will show up probably with fake mods nicknames (0tter, Glrish, GunWrafh, etcetera) as he did in the past.

 

Just be sure to read the threads titles (it's threads like "NEW MONEY GLITCH", "NEW LEVEL 1000 GLITCH", etcetera.) and avoid it.

 

Open every thread with caution and if there is a pic on the OP, scroll down fast, close your eyes, and close ASAP.

 

When i click accidentally on one of these threads, I just watch the X red icon up and i already notice there's a gif there's no need to watch directly the gif and then i scroll down fast or just click on "go back to previous page".

Also before i click, I check if the user has at least 2 reputations before clicking any threads.

 

[Furry_Monkey]

My main issue is that I often check the forum at work (I'm not active, obviously. I'm working )

 

It really wouldn't be good if someone was looking over my shoulder and I didn't realise. The phrase "not safe for work" is not strong enough for this garbage.

 

Thankfully the script has worked 100% of the time, and only hidden 2 posts that weren't bad ones. Now that I've changed the hidden post message to a toggle link I can just view the post manually. It is quite easy to spot most of the posts as he's not very clever, but the odd one gets through so I'm glad I've got this backup.

[gnad]

yeah that is the problem, when I'm at work and some of that sh*t pops up on my screen, that's a bad thing

[Furry_Monkey]

yeah that is the problem, when I'm at work and some of that sh*t pops up on my screen, that's a bad thing

He's been very quiet recently, but popped up this morning with a few different usernames and a bunch of threads. The script hid 100% of them without me having to do anything, so it's definitely working.

 

Let me know if you want it.

[caddymanlnl]

With this site running xenforo i think it would be easier to just not allow 0 posters to post pictures. Setup a promotion that 0-5 post posters have very limited access to embedding and posting tools. This is very simple stuff.

 

 

reference: i have been a professional forum admin running my own (and others) sites for years, specializing in vbulletin and xenforo.

[Furry_Monkey]

With this site running xenforo i think it would be easier to just not allow 0 posters to post pictures. Setup a promotion that 0-5 post posters have very limited access to embedding and posting tools. This is very simple stuff.

 

 

reference: i have been a professional forum admin running my own (and others) sites for years, specializing in vbulletin and xenforo.

Of course there are a ton of ways to deal with this problem, but as of this moment none are in place. Also, I'd imagine that if the site admins were going to try and do something about it that it wouldn't be a 5 minute solution.

 

What I use can be used by anyone, right now. I'm just offering to help people who are concerned about this issue, as I was.

[caddymanlnl]

I appreciate that monkey, good on you, but really the admins should just fix it m

[Furry_Monkey]

I appreciate that monkey, good on you, but really the admins should just fix it m

Totally, but from my experience of working with forums, site-wide changes don't happen quickly, even on a smaller forum like this.

[caddymanlnl]

They do if someone who cares about the site it's running it. My forums are well taken care of and if someone was posting porn on one of them I would be dealing with it instantly and permanently.

[Furry_Monkey]

They do if someone who cares about the site it's running it. My forums are well taken care of and if someone was posting porn on one of them I would be dealing with it instantly and permanently.

 

I'm not saying anything.

[Girish]

I appreciate that monkey, good on you, but really the admins should just fix it m

Totally, but from my experience of working with forums, site-wide changes don't happen quickly, even on a smaller forum like this.

haha, good one.

[Furry_Monkey]

 

I appreciate that monkey, good on you, but really the admins should just fix it m

Totally, but from my experience of working with forums, site-wide changes don't happen quickly, even on a smaller forum like this.

haha, good one.

 

I wasn't calling this forum small - I was making a comparison (smaller != small)