The amount of spam accounts is getting silly....

We don't have over 8,000 legit members. People on He-Man.org are commenting on the amazing amount of people joined up since the new toys and cartoon were announced and when they realise most are spam accounts we will look stupid. Infact it makes us look unprofessional that we can't be arsed to delete spammers!

I'm gonna be blunt about this.....either someone sorts this out asap or re-looks mine and Chris' admin priviledges so we can sort this! I'll be honest and say that my patience is wearing extremely thin on this issue! :mad:

Deleting spam accounts are done through the Users tab on the left under option Prune/Move Users. The only ones you delete from are the Board Members Usergroup and Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Usergroup. Make sure you sort the users to however you think is more efficient in finding spam accounts such as number of posts, etc

Second snapshot is how I typically sort the users but you can play around and see what works for you

Hate to say this but I really have no time to scrub the Board Members list for spam accounts...someone will have to do it and I dont have the time right now.

I'm sorry your patience is wearing thin, but I honestly do not know what or how to change your accounts to whatever status it is you want when they are already at the highest access. If you want, you can google for help, but as far as I know you have the same access and privileges as Manny R and I. I do not understand why you insist your access is different from ours.

I'm not trying to be offensive, but if you want to compare He-Man.org forums....or any other message board for that matter to this forum, then the registration process must change. He-Man.org only accepts email accounts from certain domains, therefore they do not get thousands of spam accounts. Other forums do the moderation queue, where moderators approve members of the forums.

We do not do either of those.

As for all the spam accounts, we've had tons of spam accounts even before we started acknowledging them just recently, as far back as two to three years ago.

If you'd like, you can use my username if you insist the access control is different. Otherwise, let me know how to change your account, if it is possible and I shall do it.

I dont think the problem lies in the access because as far as i know the access is the same for all the admins. The problem lies in where you look on the left side if you want to delete users. Bottom line is users are deleted through the Users tab, under the Prune/Move Option. Sort members whichever way is easier to spot spam accounts such as sorting it by email. You have to look at the options to learn the panel, it is too time consuming to explain every single step

Whatever you do do not mess with the usergroups titled "New Members" and Established Members.

Chris here...

I'm not interested in getting involved in any arguments - but, just to try and enlighten on this situation, what I've attached is a screenshot of the user admin panel that Neil & I both get when we try and access the Users area:



In case the forum software doesn't blow it up big enough, the message on there reads "Sorry, you don't have permission to access the administrative controls on this page. If you need to access this page, ask your lead administrator to enable your permissions for this page using the Administrator Permissions section of the control panel."

Looking at the screenshots from MannyC's screen, there's a bunch of features there that Neil & I can't access, or at the very least if we can we've neither of us any ideas how? :confused:

I'm not suggesting there's anything sinister going on, but just suggesting that either we don't know how to access the same features as you two (MannyF and MannyC), or for some reason the forum software doesn't recognise us as admins? :confused:

Anyway, hopefully this sheds some slight on the problem and we'll be able to get this sorted out. :)

Take care... :)

Ok I think I figured it out...it does seem that there is what is called a Super Administrator. In this case it would be MannyF since the account is under his name.

MannyF if you read this please go to this page: http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/usergroup_admin_perms

It will explain what is going on.

I am working on the config.php file and editing it. Lets see if it works

EDIT:
I have made the changes on the config.php file. It looks like there was indeed a "Super Administrator" who can enable different functions for other admins. At fiirst I didnt have the option to do it but editing the PHP file did the trick. All options should be available now for both Neil and Chris

"MannysCollectibles, post: 42545" said:

Hate to say this but I really have no time to scrub the Board Members list for spam accounts...someone will have to do it and I dont have the time right now.

Cheers Manny for trying to help, I really appreciate it. Unfortunately we don't have access to any of that. That's the problem.

and I totally understand you have little time, which is why I'm so keen for all 4 of us to keep this under control. We have all been MIA from the site at some point, so I totally understand. That's why it's so important that someone can be relied upon to take up the slack when this occurs.

"Manny, post: 42548" said:

I'm sorry your patience is wearing thin, but I honestly do not know what or how to change your accounts to whatever status it is you want when they are already at the highest access.

If they were, I wouldn't be posting this!

"Manny, post: 42548" said:

If you want, you can google for help,

I would, but as I don't have full access to admin, whats the point as I can't implement the changes myself. If I found the problem and posted details, would they be ignored?

"Manny, post: 42548" said:

but as far as I know you have the same access and privileges as Manny R and I. I do not understand why you insist your access is different from ours.

er..because it is! :rolleyes: I'm not simple. I've tried everything in the current admin panel I can access.

"Manny, post: 42548" said:

I'm not trying to be offensive, but if you want to compare He-Man.org forums....or any other message board for that matter to this forum, then the registration process must change. He-Man.org only accepts email accounts from certain domains, therefore they do not get thousands of spam accounts. Other forums do the moderation queue, where moderators approve members of the forums.

I never did compare other forums in this thread :confused: I said someone on He-Man.org had commented on our forum members total (that said person thinks all 8000 are ThunderCats fans) It was agreed ages ago in the Mods forum that we would ban and delete spammers. That isn't the problem so no idea why you brought it up?

"Manny, post: 42548" said:

As for all the spam accounts, we've had tons of spam accounts even before we started acknowledging them just recently, as far back as two to three years ago.

Yes and for the last few years I've been banning them. But whats the point when a blatant spammer with 'Man' written all over his profile might as well be outright deleted?

"Manny, post: 42548" said:

If you'd like, you can use my username if you insist the access control is different. Otherwise, let me know how to change your account, if it is possible and I shall do it.

Why don't you just hand those details over to Chris, since he's been 'you' in regards to the site for the last year or so? Manny I've tried with you, I really have and I thought things were good during the site relaunch. They were for a few weeks, but then ThunderCats NOW comes along and makes me feel disheartened again. Why do you have so much energy for a solo site, but for a team project that you have invested so much money and time can be sidelined?

I know you wanted out, but to basically jump ship and have all the enthusiasm in the world for ThunderCats NOW is kinda a kick in the teeth for us. Are we that bad to work with?

Lets all take a breather...I doubt MannyF knew what was happening and I sure as hell didnt know. Neil and Chris...both of you should be able to access ALL the options now. Let me know if you are not and Ill look into it further

Chris here...

"MannysCollectibles, post: 42557" said:

Neil and Chris...both of you should be able to access ALL the options now. Let me know if you are not and Ill look into it further

Just taken a quick look now - yep, I can now access everything! :thumbsup: Thanks so much for your help, MannyC, I really appreciate it! :)

Take care... :)

"blackiecats, post: 42556" said:

Why don't you just hand those details over to Chris, since he's been 'you' in regards to the site for the last year or so? Manny I've tried with you, I really have and I thought things were good during the site relaunch. They were for a few weeks, but then ThunderCats NOW comes along and makes me feel disheartened again. Why do you have so much energy for a solo site, but for a team project that you have invested so much money and time can be sidelined?

Gladly. It's all yours.

I'm done guys.

I will be sending info to Chris regarding access to the Google Ads and whatever else belongs to the site. Please delete my account on the forum and on WordPress.

If there is something related to the site that needs to be transferred to another team member, you have my email address.

Neil, change the cpanel password so I no longer have access to it. Please delete my thundercatslair email address as well. I won't be signing onto the forums anymore after this message.

"Manny, post: 42612" said:

Gladly. It's all yours.

I'm done guys.

I will be sending info to Chris regarding access to the Google Ads and whatever else belongs to the site. Please delete my account on the forum and on WordPress.

Come on Manny! I only wanted full admin access so I could delete spammers accounts. There is no need to go to extremes! I might have posted some harsh words, but it was what I am feeling about things right now. I have too much respect for you, to bull**** you.

"Manny, post: 42612" said:

Neil, change the cpanel password so I no longer have access to it. Please delete my thundercatslair email address as well. I won't be signing onto the forums anymore after this message.

I've sent you a message on Facebook, even if you do completely go, I'd like to resolve our differences and for it all to be an amicable split....we've known each other too long! :(

Chris here...

I don't really want to waste too much time on this issue but feel kind-of duty bound to make some sort of comment...

Manny, the first comment I'd make is that I'm very disappointed to see that as a consequence of this conversation with Neil you've felt it necessary to "un-friend" me on Facebook. I take offence at this considering that the only other member of the team you've removed from your friends is Neil, and I never actually said anything to you about any of the above!! I'll be blunt, I think that's a really ****ty and spiteful thing to do! :mad:

I have to be honest and say I wouldn't have been as forthright as Neil has been above - but, at the same time I can't really disagree with any of what he says. The plain and simple truth is that, prior to the relaunch, you basically went AWOL and left this site to flounder, I only took charge because there was no one else to do it, had it been left then this project would still be in limbo, and since the relaunch has happened you have, at least on the surface, put more work into ThunderCatsNOW than you've put into this site for frankly years!

I'm sure that some people must think that Neil & I staged some sort of coupe to gain ownership / leadership of this site and elbow you out, someone even alluded to as much in the thread on the forums you started about ThunderCatsNOW launching. Whereas in reality nothing could be further from the truth, I was looking forward to working with you on preparing the site for the relaunch, and my happiest time working on the site in the last year has been when we were getting ready to push the button and make it happen.

All of that said, like Neil, if you & this site are going to part company then I too would really like it to be on amicable terms. God knows I've fanned the flames of rapid fire conflict on this forum myself, but these days I would rather devote the time and energy into adding new content...or indeed porting over the massive amounts of content still to transfer from the old site. Nick has just sent over to me the latest ThunderCast and I've just looked at the page we have up for ThunderCast on the new site and seen that the entire damn section is empty - so that's another thing that needed doing that's fallen to me to do! :duh:

I know in the past we've always talked you out of leaving the team, however, this time I'm going to say I think it would be for the best moving forward. I think you certainly will be happier with the finality of leaving it behind, and will allow all of us to move forward in a (hopefully) amicable fashion.

Take care... :)

I think if MannyF was gonna respond to me, he would have done by now.

I've deleted MannyF's FTP account and the Hosting password has been changed as well.

Manny, can you make me a Super Admin and downgrade MannyF to a regular member?

Oh and can you also let me know which FTP account you use? You seem to have 2! lol

[email]mannyscollectibles@thundercatslair.org[/email] or [email]mannyr@thundercatslair.org[/email]?

and I'm not gonna make myself feel guilty over MannyF's departure. I did try. I made a thread called ADMIN Privilages, where I asked politely about the issues but the forum issue was not resolved... Changing some permissions on the admin panel was all that was needed. Instead it took MannyC to alter a file to gain Super Admin access to then alter those permissions himself.

and I feel the stuff concerning ThunderCatsNOW had to be said. No idea why Manny is taking it out on Chris, but I think what I said, most of the team thinks.

This is the one I use.
[EMAIL="mannyscollectibles@thundercatslair.org"]mannyscollectibles@thundercatslair.org[/EMAIL]

Ill go ahead and edit the admin info

Chris here...

I've finally heard from MannyF re: the transfer of the Google Adsense account into my name - he's having trouble deleting his address but once he does he says he'll transfer it to me.

I must admit I have no idea how a Google Adsense account works, and honestly, as he's the one who's paid for this year's hosting, I'm asking myself if it would be better transferred to Neil rather than me. I promise I'm not trying to palm any responsibilities off, but just thinking whether it might cut out the middle man. Neil, LMK what you think so I can get back to Manny ASAP! :)

He's also asked me if he has access to any other accounts or what-have-you that need transferring to me. One that springs instantly to mind is the ThunderCats Lair Twitter account, which to be honest we should make more of. Can you guys think of any others? :)

I'm very tempted to also ask him for names and contact details for any individuals he's dealt with in an "official ThunderCats Lair" capacity.

The e-mail he's sent me is perfectly nice and civil and so I will be as well. ;)

Take care... :)

Looks like the latest changes to verification is working out nicely. Ive done some mass pruning already but the list still needs to be trimmed some more. Ive basically deleted obvious spam accounts. Lets hope spammers dont get smart now but so far so good.

Chris here...

Just to let you guys know I've heard from MannyF regarding various bits - the Google Adsense is going to be a bit more complicated than first thought but shouldn't be a deal-breaker, for quickness I'll quote that part of Manny's e-mail:

Manny said:

Unfortunately, I'm having problems transferring the account. Basically, I've been trying to edit the email address, but because the Adsense account is connected to my email address, Google doesn't give me an easy way to switch the payee because I entered my tax information. If I had known this, I wouldn't have entered my personal email address.

If I cannot resolve this problem, you guys can set up a new Adsense account and just paste a new code into the front page. That way, the code will be linked to the new Adsense account and no longer connected to my own personal email address.

I can transfer whatever the balance is to the site paypal account.

So, we'll need to think about how we get over this, but it shouldn't be too hard - the Adsense is certainly worth pursuing if you think how successful it has been thus far! :)

The ThunderCats Lair Twitter account is now signed over to me, I've already tweeted one update! :)

MannyF would like his ThunderCats Lair e-mail account deleted - I think this needs to be done via cPanel - Neil, can you deal with that? :)

I won't quote the rest of his e-mail as it was addressed personally to me, all I'll say is that it's perfectly civil and I understand where he's coming from with some of it, but at the same time I'm not impressed with all of it either. I think it's right for everyone (both Manny and us) if we go our separate ways and move forward. :)

Take care... :)

Its a very sad and unfortunate way how everything turned out but I must say that manny didnt seem to be happy with working on TCL for many years. Perhaps to him it was more of achore than anything else and he felt pressured to perform certain duties. Right now he has no one to follow or listen to but himself and he has no responsibilites to others. Truth of the matter is that there was just to much drama coming from his end and too much indecisiveness and while I think Manny is a great guy and if it wasnt for him there probably wouldnt be any TCL, its time for him to step away and work on his own project without having anyone to bother him or answering to anyone.

Chris here...

I see MannyF has now launched his own ThunderCatsNOW podcast - and guess who's co-hosting it with him?? :roll:

I think ThunderCats Lair is well shot of this waste of space - onwards and upwards to better things guys... :)

Take care... :)

"He-Fan, post: 43096" said:

I think ThunderCats Lair is well shot of this waste of space - onwards and upwards to better things guys... :)

Take care... :)

:o you don't mince words these days! To be honest I'm indifferent to MannyF, in the fact that I no longer care what he does. I actually haven't spoken to Celesta in a very long time either!

Anyway on a positive note, I'm hoping to work on some new pages for the site in the next couple of months hopefully :)