Published on 12, July, 2020
This is mainly for the moderators to consider.
Could we have a 'Moderator alert'. Perhaps as a 'Sticky', perhaps as an easy to find 'button' or something else.
This should be a means of alerting moderators to threats, safety, spamming, or other 'serious' issues. It would need some thought as to how it would work, but it should also include a facility to private message the moderator with words of explanation as to what the problem is.
The present 'Report as abusive' is not really fit for purpose as it does not really seem to do anything or if it does it takes days to work at times. I envisage the 'Alert' facility to get a moderator to deal with the situation within two hours if possible, and also to provide information.
There should also be a sticky to explain what is acceptable and what is not. Yes we have some rules, but these appear to be subject to interpretation and are flouted. It should perhaps explain unacceptable behaviour such as trolling, spamming, and threats and the consequences. This might also help prevent public spats on the forums.
...Greetings, anyone reading; given the discussions and comments so far I have not much to add which I have not added elsewhere. A main thing I could say, is that when what were nicknamed "Maintenance Threads" were started, they, as said here, would be started by someone with a specific problem... which some others may have had... but not enough persons to keep the Thread 'afloat'/near-to-top. But then what happened recently affected a lot of people, and so this Thread is started and currently afloat...
I can suggest certain things about the Search function, though. It never used to be hidden (top right, three lines, magnifying glass) until the Logo update. If anyone has a particular Thread in mind, then try to recall an exact phrase from that Thread, and use/enter that phrase as a search.
Meantime, here are some links to consider. WebPM is the person to know, here, and there were/are many Users who know about programming... but, well, We are Users and They are the Forum, and so we could only do so much...
https://community.autism.org.uk/f/adults-on-the-autistic-spectrum/11521/mods-please-make-the-spam-stop/60581#60581
https://community.autism.org.uk/f/miscellaneous-and-chat/9444/online-community---comments-improvements-and-feedback/
https://community.autism.org.uk/f/miscellaneous-and-chat/11770/problems-with-this-nas-forum---february-2018/62713#62713
https://community.autism.org.uk/f/miscellaneous-and-chat/14616/anyone-else-having-issues-with-the-website/
...This last Link was the last main Thread about it all. (The second link is NAS' own Thread. Long and Very old, now.)
(...A new reply to this thread appears as I type this, so I shall stop now, or else this Post shall disappear. Seriously.)