Why is it so hard to become a BonsaiNut member?

Bonsai Nut

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This is a general post about the unfortunate time that it takes between first visiting our site, and the eventual acceptance as a "registered member".

Over 90% of the unregistered web traffic that comes to this site is in the form of registration bots trying to gain access to the forums. Because this site allows users to post photos, links, and other content, someone who wants to abuse membership privileges can cause a lot of damage in a short period of time. Therefore, it is critical that we screen prospective members as rigorously as possible.

The first step in the process is the registration step - followed by the confirmation email. Assuming these steps are concluded correctly, your application is screened and (assuming you are not a spammer) you are accepted as a "new member".

These steps are an annoyance to new visitors, and I am sure we have lost many prospective members because the registration steps were not completed or were too lengthy or complicated. If you ever want to short-cut the system, please send me a personal email and I can register you immediately. Unfortunately these steps are necessary to keep porn, spam, and malware off the site.

Thank you for understanding!
 

Rick Moquin

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Greg,

I am going to have to recommend you leave what is in place in place as it is. Folks that are serious about this site will understand the stringent enrollment process, provided it is explained as part of their registration. If they don't understand or do not wish to play ball iaw your rules (your ball park) then do we really want them as a member? Something to ponder!
 

Bill S

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You mean we could have had porn here??? Bummer

It's a good thing you do, but it's become an instant gratification type of world, but stick to your guns.
 

Bonsai Nut

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A few years ago, this site was much more open. Then one night the site was compromised and I DID have someone post porn spam. I had to lower the boom. We have not had an issue since, though it comes as a cost - I have turned away hundreds of prospective members who did not have the patience to work through the registration system. But at the same time I have turned away thousands (probably hundreds of thousands) of spam bots and registration hacks. I still get 20-30 per day that make it all the way to the moderation stage, but I grab most of them there. There is no 100% fail-safe as long as I allow data from external sources -- someone who has been a great member for years can always turn around tomorrow and post spam -- but I think people understand rogue behavior much better than automated site hacks.

Today spam is a relatively heavy-handed and basic risk. It is too easy to detect and prevent or remove. The big risks are more insidious - ones where everything APPEARS to be functioning as normal, but you have actually been compromised. These include traffic redirects, trojans and keyloggers, spoofs, and phishing. Last week my site host was compromised with a traffic redirect hack and they didn't even know it.
 

Bill S

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I'll stick to the high voltage and leave the tricky stuff to you. Closest I come is wondering why I can't keep a pc running at decent speed, but I know how adware and spyware alone can chew up performance, let alone the redirects etc.
 

DaveG

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I admit that I was initially really put off by the long wait to become a member here. But once you explained to me the effort you have to invest to keep this place clean, I understand why it was necessary. It has to be a daunting task. I only wish I had some suggestion about how you might get some help with it all.

I also wish I had noticed this post before or soon after registering instead of seeing it for the first time just now.
 

jk_lewis

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Closest I come is wondering why I can't keep a pc running at decent speed, but I know how adware and spyware alone can chew up performance, let alone the redirects etc.

Very simple. Switch to Linux. No problems with all that BE-ware stuff.
 

Bones

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As they say better to be safe than sorry!

I find no problems arising from your security.
 

Smoke

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The big risks are more insidious - ones where everything APPEARS to be functioning as normal, but you have actually been compromised. These include traffic redirects, trojans and keyloggers, spoofs, and phishing. Last week my site host was compromised with a traffic redirect hack and they didn't even know it.

Tried Preperation H?

Keyloggers are painfull
 

GerhardG

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Hey BNut

These days you can't be too carefull, leave as is.

I have sacraficial email addresses I use for registering on forums because they do get hacked and information stolen - the spam is endless.
 

Joedes3

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I haven't been here that long but found the process fine. Everyone should appreciate the work you door in protecting this valuable site. Thanks for the fine work. Joe DeSisto
 

Mikee002

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Well, I'm brand spankin' new here and I can assure you that you're doing it right. I've found nothing but on-topic threads and posts by people that actually want to be here. That, and I think it took less than a couple hours to be approved. Anyway, Thanks for what you do.
 

Vance Wood

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I've been here for years and I have never been hacked or spamed, unless you call having an email from someone on the list informing you of something they think you might be interested in. You don't have to give out your email address any way so what's the problem? You have to give it out to the administrator but not publicly.
 
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I found BN to be easy to join. Only took a few minutes and was able to start a new thread the next morning. I'm digging it! (Pun intended :) )
 

edprocoat

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I wish it were more strict, I really hate seeing those asses who post 4gb Kumquat 7 EarPhone for $11 ! I would no sooner buy from them than a moron who posts about fishing gear on a religious forum. If I were looking for a new phone I would not look on a Bonsai site.... sheesh ! :mad:

ed
 

M. Frary

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I wish it were more strict, I really hate seeing those asses who post 4gb Kumquat 7 EarPhone for $11 ! I would no sooner buy from them than a moron who posts about fishing gear on a religious forum. If I were looking for a new phone I would not look on a Bonsai site.... sheesh ! :mad:

ed


But isn't this place where they would find tons of receptive phone buyers? I know that the best deals for rods and reels are found on religious forums. So making the connection between possible phone sales and guys who play with little trees is no stretch of the imagination.
 

sorce

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But isn't this place where they would find tons of receptive phone buyers? I know that the best deals for rods and reels are found on religious forums. So making the connection between possible phone sales and guys who play with little trees is no stretch of the imagination.

It would work better if the phones always posted pictures correctly orientated !

What's the link to the Holy fishing site? And if you catch one fish with them, do you actually land 100? With bread?

Sorce
 

jk_lewis

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I think he meant "reel"igious.
 
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