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List of what is currently wrong with the forum

Deleted User

I was wondering if most people who contribute here are fine with no current problems, so I thought a list might be useful.

I'm rather despairing at the moment of its brokenness and absence of communication from NAS about a timescale (or anything) for sorting these.

It's making me wonder whether to bother any longer.

1. I know that   has a message coming up in orange at the top saying his account may/will be deleted.

2. I keep being logged out (orange banner at the top with a seconds countdown).

Is anyone else getting anything still (or even unable to use their original account?).

Has anything been sorted?

Thanks.

  • in reply to TheCatWoman

    Basically vast data centres owned by companies like Amazon and Microsoft. They rent servers to other companies and include the basic management, repair etc for them.

  • in reply to Deleted User

    I don't know what a cloud is in this context, the only way I can visualise it is being somewhat similar to the collective unconcious, but for computers.

  • in reply to Deleted User

    I’m not really concerned about the fact that it’s cloud hosted, almost everything is these days (including the stuff I do at work).

    My only real worry bead is that cloud tends to be  more expensive than on-premise in the medium to long term and this might undercut any savings NAS expects from not having their own staff.

    The real problem here is two-fold:

    • Software with terrible automated spam and content filtering 
    • A lack of human moderation (which is understandable for charity)

  • With thanks to ISperg for reminding me of this

    Here is a link to the post where we were told that the forum is now cloud based:

     Thank You for Supporting Our Online Community and Moderation Team 

    I don't personally understand the repercussions of this but from evidence before us here it doesn't look like it's a good thing.

  • in reply to Lotus

    I have reported a couple of new accounts over Christmas who only came here to sneak external commercial links into fake posts. Even after reporting those posts remained though.

    Meanwhile we’re all getting effectively repeated temporary suspensions for doing nothing wrong.

    (I’ve still had no reply to any email to the community manager btw).

  • A post titled "My Sandford chart" with a link to an external site has got through!

  • in reply to Lotus
    Lotus said:
    The spam filter is an external feature. We do not have control over the spam filter and what posts are picked up. One option would be to remove the spam filter, but this would mean a huge increase in spam on the community which would not be pleasant for users.  

    Thank you P.

    Very interesting.

    I'm surprised that the company that provides the spam filter can't modify its effectiveness in some way, but that's an area I know little about.

    So, it's either awful like it is now, or removed, and then awful with spam.

    Oh dear.

    Unamused

  • in reply to Lotus

    And I'm now able to post again without going into moderation!

  • Yesterday evening I posted an update with an email I received from the community manager - the first time I tried to post it disappeared, the second time I got put into moderation again (that's the 4th time since the upgrade) so I emailed them again.

    I've just seen that the posts have now appeared.

  • in reply to Starscream84
    Starscream84 said:
    So far it seems I’ve had no issues with these posts. 

    I've yet to have any of the issues the others are reporting here (since the login to the new site was sorted) and I post quite a lot including quotes, pictures, hyperlinks etc.

    I don't do a lot of editing or use much language that is likely to bring the spambot hounds running so this may be a factor.

    Either that or the others forgot their ritual sacrefice of a goat to the IT gods to ensure trouble free posting, but everyone knows about that, dont they? Wink

  • I joined today and did an introduction post and replied to another person’s introduction post. So far it seems I’ve had no issues with these posts. 

  • in reply to Deleted User

    Just a thought - could this be because we’ve been sent a PM by someone who is in moderation jail?

  • I just posted an update to let you all know I received an email today from the community manager in reply to my email sent Tuesday about being put in moderation, but it disappeared, so apologies if this appears twice.
    I think that they are using a different spam filter than before the upgrade, but although I don't want to have the forum filled with spam I don't want established members to be constantly moderated either, and there doesn't seem to be any answer to how that can be resolved. Here's a copy of their email to me:
    "We would like to apologise that your posts went into the moderation queue. We had less moderation over the festive period which meant it may have taken a little longer for your posts to be approved by the moderation team. Thank you for your patience whislt the moderation team approved your post.  
    We are unsure why your posts were flagged by the spam filter. The spam filter is an external feature. We do not have control over the spam filter and what posts are picked up. One option would be to remove the spam filter, but this would mean a huge increase in spam on the community which would not be pleasant for users.  
    We know you are a regular and valuable member of the online community and hope this doesn't prevent you continuing to participate and provide valuable support to other users.   
    If we can help further, please do get in touch."

  • Update -

    Today I received a reply to my email sent to the community manager on Tuesday regarding my posts going into moderation that day - here is a copy of their email to me:

    "We would like to apologise that your posts went into the moderation queue. We had less moderation over the festive period which meant it may have taken a little longer for your posts to be approved by the moderation team. Thank you for your patience whislt the moderation team approved your post.  
    We are unsure why your posts were flagged by the spam filter. The spam filter is an external feature. We do not have control over the spam filter and what posts are picked up. One option would be to remove the spam filter, but this would mean a huge increase in spam on the community which would not be pleasant for users.  
    We know you are a regular and valuable member of the online community and hope this doesn't prevent you continuing to participate and provide valuable support to other users.   
    If we can help further, please do get in touch.   
    Apologies again for any inconvenience caused."
    .
    .
     it seems to me that they are using a different spam filter than before the upgrade, but I don't understand what in my posts has prompted it to randomly put them into moderation 3 times since the upgrade?
    I don't want the forum to be full of spam, but I also don't want to have long standing users constantly going into moderation / being unable to post. I don't know what the answer is. Anyone have any ideas?
  • in reply to Lotus

    It's still the new year holiday. I don't think things get in the swing till next week, that is Jan 7.

  • in reply to Deleted User

    I see. Well of it's run by bots..... 

  • in reply to I Sperg
    I Sperg said:
    It's bloody annoying! 

    It is indeed.

    I'm presently only really posting on a couple of threads because I will be chucked out if I post too much.

    I don't know whether to write to the address I posted above because of my experience with the Shutterstock forum.

    There was a person moderating there and I don't think they used a spam filter or if they did it was the opposite of ours ie under efficient.

    We started to get masses of spam from China and in the end they just shut the forum down.

    Is a broken forum better than none?

    That is the question ...

    Anyway, Happy New Year.

    I hope it's a good one for you and yours.

  • in reply to Taki London

    Hi Taki.  I am sorry to learn of your health issues at the moment......and irrespective of them....it is good for us individuals to share and explain a bit about why this type of stuff/"tech-guff" can be so destructive to our relationships and well being.

    A few of us have/do/could use this place to communicate with each other in REALLY IMPORTANT ways.  We all find it all a bit weird here at the best of times.....and right now.....we are in what feels like the worst of times.

    I reiterate my long standing feeling that, irrespective of tech problems, there can be no real excuse for such poor communications with us, the users, at this time - whether individually or in terms of "blanket banner" communication and "automated" isolations.

    This isn't "naughty step" funny, or excusable "its a charity, cut them some slack" at this point, or "all forums are like this" - honestly?!  

    If NAS need help with their forum - in terms of funds, or technical help.........what can't they just ASK?  We are not potatoes.....we are a community?!  [Not an advice service...NAS has other parts for that vitally important service....this is a community of people like me and Taki ?!]

    I remain a very unhappy Number, and I thank Taki for poking me to shout again.

    It is SO frustrating !!

  • in reply to Arise

    I think there are a handful of people who would be very good at the tech logistics. Then it would be a question on deciding how it should be run. 

    I would loathe the thought that the posters here really might be thought of as children.

    But it's not just the NAS forum. Other social media sites, especially if the main company begins with an m, are just as bad if you end up with problems. Everything automated, bots should 'off with your head' and letting bad actors get away with it as after all, they aren't violating community standards, automated systems that basically don't work and have you running around in circles. All very fair, absolutely dandy.