Is there something like this for a quick report of stories that break the rules, whether content or teaser based? Or is it a matter of navigate away from the story, find a link to message Laz, and then type up the explanation?
Is there something like this for a quick report of stories that break the rules, whether content or teaser based? Or is it a matter of navigate away from the story, find a link to message Laz, and then type up the explanation?
Just open a new tab and send a note to Laz. That way you can also specifically tell him the text that's an issue.
That's speaking from experience. People just don't quite want to follow his rules regarding 14, and I'll leave it at that.
Or is it a matter of navigate away from the story, find a link to message Laz,
No need to search. There is a Contact link at top right of the site's home page.
There is a Contact link at top right of the site's home page.
Not just the home page. It's on the New stories list, It's on almost every SOL page other than the forums and story content pages.
Is there a case for 'feedback to moderator' alongside the 'feedback to author' facility, with the story title and chapter prefilled? It would make it easier for readers to report underage content as well as formatting issues.
AJ
Is there a case for 'feedback to moderator' alongside the 'feedback to author' facility, with the story title and chapter prefilled? It would make it easier for readers to report underage content as well as formatting issues.
It has been suggested before. Sic it hasn't been added I have wondered if the reason is to avoid those who would hit the 'report' button, but who do't feel strongly enough to actually hit 'contact' and write a report 'manually'.
Basically no lazy button means less time Lazeez spends on time wasters.
Basically no lazy button means less time Lazeez spends on time wasters.
I'm surprised you consider everyone who would use such a facility but not take the extra trouble to use the contact form to be time wasters.
AJ
I'm surprised you consider everyone who would use such a facility but not take the extra trouble to use the contact form to be time wasters.
I'm just as surprised that you would choose to insert the word "everyone".
I'm surprised you consider everyone who would use such a facility but not take the extra trouble to use the contact form to be time wasters.
over 200 reports asking to 'remove all contents' from the popular stories on the site.
Is it time to say, "I told you so." ??
Is it time to say, "I told you so." ??
Possibly, but I think we need evidence that it's not just one perpetrator before that becomes a definitely. Still, if it continues to waste management's time, they have a strong case for withdrawing the facility :-(
AJ
Still, if it continues to waste management's time, they have a strong case for withdrawing the facility :-(
Hopefully if that is deemed necessary it will be made a 'premier only' feature, rather than a complete withdrawal.
(I hate it when something good is pulled completely out too soon)
:)
I added a 'Report' link
I think it should say more than "Report". If someone hadn't read this thread they probably wouldn't even know it was going to you and the reason for it.
Maybe "Report Infraction"
May I suggest "Report Story"? Just Report could mean I'd get a report (of some sort of information) about the story, as well as make a report.
This allows other reports, like malformatting.
So when I submit a chapter to the Wizard for posting and the formatting isn't perfect because of something in the Word docx, would this be the best way to notify you and get the quickest fix?
would this be the best way to notify you and get the quickest fix?
It's the same mechanism for contact moderation; just a shortcut.
If it's something that needs a repost, then a repost is fastest, but if it's something that doesn't get fixed with a repost, like for example when a page break messes things up, then yes.
I added a 'Report' link to the bottom of stories to make it easier to report irregularities.
A follow up to this issue:
Well, the law of unintended consequences strikes again.
Thru that link so far, I've received one report of broken formatting and over 200 reports asking to 'remove all contents' from the popular stories on the site.
and over 200 reports asking to 'remove all contents' from the popular stories on the site.
Any of them give a reason? Just curious.
and over 200 reports asking to 'remove all contents' from the popular stories on the site.
Any of them give a reason? Just curious.
No. It's obvious attempt at sabotage.
Probably whoever is doing it is hoping that this mechanism is automated and it would cause the deletion of contents if enough reports are lodged.
Probably whoever is doing it
You don't have it set up to include the account that made the report?
You don't have it set up to include the account that made the report?
it requires logging in, but so far somebody is creating throwaway email addresses for this purpose.
I've already fixed the system to drop messages fitting a certain profile, but just goes to show that some would use any possible avenue to do damage.
it requires logging in, but so far somebody is creating throwaway email addresses for this purpose.
I've already fixed the system to drop messages fitting a certain profile, but just goes to show that some would use any possible avenue to do damage.
It might help a little to require that the registration is at least 3 or 6 months old with a minimum number of read stories > daily max. It would have to be a really sick person if he wants to prepare that just for trolling.
It would have to be a really sick person if he wants to prepare that just for trolling.
Please identify two Internet Trolls that aren't really sick people. I ask for two as anything can exist as a singularity.
It would have to be a really sick person if he wants to prepare that just for trolling.
You'd be surprised.
Back in 2014, somebody started spamming authors from accounts established in 2005 to 2007. There were 20 accounts exactly, each used just enough to avoid deletion over the years. The similarity in email addresses suggest a deliberate job by one entity, and not a bunch of hacked emails.
I still can't believe it myself. I mean how patient you'd have to be for something like that, and for what? how much financial gain could one get from spamming rayban glasses to a bunch of authors on a free story site?
Lazeez,
That sounds to me like someone set up a bunch of accounts to get around the daily story limitation then later got hit by a trojan virus that started sending out the spam.
That would have been a very specific and oddly narrow Trojan horse.
It was the first time we had that issue and the last.
It would be extremely unlikely for a general spam Trojan horse to be written to get the site's password from the person's keychain, log in to get the cookies and hold them, then scan the author listings to find the ones with email links and then submit a few hundred posts.
It would be extremely unlikely for a general spam Trojan horse to be written to get the site's password from the person's keychain, log in to get the cookies and hold them, then scan the author listings to find the ones with email links and then submit a few hundred posts.
Ah, seems I didn't think through the extent of the issue.
I might speculate that like Ernest Bywater mentioned that one person created those multiple accounts.
Instead of a Trojan horse, what may have happened is someone else physically got control of that person's computer and used it to troll.
Probably whoever is doing it is hoping that this mechanism is automated and it would cause the deletion of contents if enough reports are lodged.
Sounds like a version of 1-bombing when someone doesn't like the content of a story. Their message = "Only have stories that I like!" Requiring an email address could alleviate this.
"Report Story" may not provide enough information as to the purpose of the link.
Also, the "type" in the message defaults to "inappropriate content" but the drop-down allows it to be changed. However, the subject continues to reflect the "inappropriate content" even when the type is no longer inappropriate content.
over 200 reports asking to 'remove all contents' from the popular stories on the site.
Make access to it 'premier only' ?
I've just used the facility to report a possible bug. It's a shame the type of report and the title aren't synchronised.
AJ
It's a shame the type of report and the title aren't synchronised.
For that reason it's useless for reporting anything other than inappropriate content. The other choices shouldn't even be there.
For that reason it's useless for reporting anything other than inappropriate content.
It makes sense for reporting a bug/error in story processing (formatting/pagination) issues as well. I'll agree, the rest of it doesn't seem to make much sense. And the type list is different from the contact link on the home page.
It makes sense for reporting a bug/error in story processing (formatting/pagination) issues as well.
Agreed. It would be nice if the dreaded page break split-sentence error could be reported with a minimal amount of interaction.
AJ
Agreed. It would be nice if the dreaded page break split-sentence error could be reported with a minimal amount of interaction.
Well, that seems to be not going to be needed anymore.
I decided to revisit this design decision made in 2002, now that the site has almost unlimited bandwidth and browsers have evolved way beyond anything available at that time.
For the last week I've been running a test on the site, eliminating the paging of stories and story parts that are longer than 55,000 characters, and so far no negative impact on the site and servers and not even one report of any errors from users.
It looks like it's going to be a permanent change. So until next week, no paging. I'll make the final decision by the end of next week.
As for the subject line in the form, sure, done. When you change the message type, the subject will change with it.
For the last week I've been running a test on the site, eliminating the paging of stories and story parts that are longer than 55,000 characters, and so far no negative impact on the site and servers and not even one report of any errors from users.
I don't think AJ was talking about the paging breaks but about wrong breaks in the middle of a sentence. Sometimes a sentence has a p break where there should be none. Could be from the original formatting in which case you probably can't do anything about it.
I don't think AJ was talking about the paging breaks but about wrong breaks in the middle of a sentence. Sometimes a sentence has a p break where there should be none. Could be from the original formatting in which case you probably can't do anything about it.
I've had that happen to me. It didn't show the break in my word processor, but It did show when I opened the HTML file with a browser.
I don't think AJ was talking about the paging breaks
Actually I was. I've read a fair few SOL classics in the past year and plenty of them still have page breaks in the middle of paragraphs or, even worse, in the middle of sentences.
AJ
As for the subject line in the form, sure, done. When you change the message type, the subject will change with it.
Thank you. I hope that encourages more readers to report formatting errors and the like, thus diluting the effects of those who use it abusively.
AJ
Oh yay — I thought I saw something like that happening, but was focused on other things and didn't investigate.
What about downloaded ePubs? It looks like they are sectioned (in long unchaptered stories) by what had been the page breaks. Some e-readers still have problems with large, unbroken ePubs.
What about downloaded ePubs? It looks like they are sectioned (in long unchaptered stories) by what had been the page breaks. Some e-readers still have problems with large, unbroken ePubs.
EPUBs will remain as is due to the variety of apps/devices reading them and any change may have unintended consequences.
It makes sense for reporting a bug/error in story processing (formatting/pagination) issues as well.
That's how I thought I would use it. But the fixed subject will be misleading to the moderators.
But the fixed subject will be misleading to the moderators.
The subject is not fixed, you can edit it.