In the next month or so, we're planning on doing a small forum upgrade (the one I talked about a few blogs ago). One of the new toys we're going to install is eAccelerator, which is something that really doesn't affect you other than it makes the server go faster - kind of like how you can boil water faster in the microwave than you can over a low burner on the stovetop.
Or at least, that's how the theory goes!
From roughly June 14-June 30, beneathglass contacted in excess of 100 members, offering to swap and/or sale.
By July 3, we had received so many reports about slow swap/non communication that we restricted her access to the swaps forum.
Around July 7, she was restricted from the private areas of the forum.
On July 8, she created Lia and loviatorthertip to get around that restriction and was informed that another duplicate account would result in her getting banned.
On August 5, she created herokitty and was banned.
We recently updated the forum software. As these things tend to go, there were a few unexpected bumps.
When we updated, BBCode, the Gallery, Feedback, and Unresolved Swaps were not functional. They now are, hooray!
Now to tell y'all about the updates!
Forums had actually a really boring update - it just fixed bugs and was setting things up for the big update that's scheduled to come out in Q1 2011. I know, all that fuss and nothing changed as far as what we see! There will be a new skin, but that's independent of this update.
Blogs update is actually pretty big. Many of the changes were back end related, but here are some of the things you might notice!
New "Like" system on Blogs and Blog Entries.
Notification support for new blog entries, and new comments, so you can watch a member's blog or an entry.
Uses a new comments system.
New "Manage Blogs" area.
Facebook Like and Twitter Tweet buttons on blog entries.
Cleaned up design.
Single column layout on individual blogs.
Gallery has returned to us!
Feedback / Unresolved Swaps / Price Caps / Cookbook all had backend updates that will let me start working on some cool things, but you won't see it for a few months yet!
SugarCookie created several duplicate accounts on 14 June 2010 after receiving less than stellar feedback.
On 24 June 2010, we instigated an investigation into the duplicate accounts due to the sheer amount found by the analyzer (three mostly unused secondary accounts: shadowdoll, Cygnet, fairydoll; two primary accounts: SugarCookie, sakuratart) and gave them all restricted access.
Between 24 June and 10 July, we had PMed both accounts and found many inconsistencies, and abnormal similarities in IP addresses (including finding that a cell phone had been used to go between the accounts a few times).
On 13 July 2010, we received credible documentation from a member who had sold to SugarCookie and had reviewed their paypal account to see that sakuratart's email address was now listed. The secondary accounts were indefinitely suspended and the primary account (SugarCookie) was given a 30 day suspension.
On 15 July 2010, SugarCookie created another duplicate account, playingwithaloadedgun, and all accounts were subsequently banned.
Moral of the story: when on suspension for duplicate accounts, it is most unwise to create another one.
After some drama blazed about her e-tail business, Atropa's Cottage, ebonykawaii created a sock puppet account, httpoo (on 17 May 2006). We were aware of its existence, but didn't do anything about it because initially, it was not being used.
On 11 Sept 2009, httpoo was used to troll in a topic about the Black Butterfly Moon (August 2009) update. At this point in time, httpoo was put on the restricted duplicate account group and ebonykawaii suspended and warned that if another duplicate account was linked to her, she would be banned.
On 22 Sept 2009, ebonykawaii created the raineygirl account, and was promptly banned.
When we say we do not tolerate duplicate accounts, especially for sock puppet and trolling purposes, we mean it!
---
In 2008, shelldoo and two other forum members collected money and goods for Beth and Ted's wedding present from the forum. Shelldoo insisted on collecting the money for the charitable donation and was supposed to donate over $1,500 of the collection to the ACLU in Beth and Ted's name. The donation was never made. While we didn't ban her for the massive swaplift that she also did around this time (spanning from approximately October 2008 - April 2009), when this problem was brought to our attention, we felt that this sort of abuse of our members' trust is intolerable and she was banned.
Our chat room has had a small upgrade. Nothing really changed from a usability standpoint, but some minor back end changes were made.
An option to automatically kick inactive users has been added
An option to disable the "user has left/entered room" messages has been added
An option not to show the recent chats when a user enters the room has been added
An option to launch the chat in a minimalized popup has been added
31
1
1