Dear Escapist Magazine...

[martyrdrebel27]

I understand that in an effort to minimize spam, you've employed the services of captcha, but i'm fairly certain that i can speak for almost every single escapist when i say that the captcha thing is far more annoying and invasive than spam ever was. And to be honest, i've not encountered hardly any spam, and definitely not enough to warrant such annoying protections. We can easily choose to not read the spam, we cant not submit to captcha.

please, for the good of all of us (except the ones who are dead) GET RID OF THIS CAPTCHA NONSENSE.

love always,
The Martyrd Rebel #27

 

[Gahars]

I understand that in an effort to minimize spam, you've employed the services of captcha, but i'm fairly certain that i can speak for almost every single escapist when i say that the captcha thing is far more annoying and invasive than spam ever was. And to be honest, i've not encountered hardly any spam, and definitely not enough to warrant such annoying protections. We can easily choose to not read the spam, we cant not submit to captcha.

please, for the good of all of us (except the ones who are dead) GET RID OF THIS CAPTCHA NONSENSE.

love always,
The Martyrd Rebel #27

Quoted for truth. I guess this is going to be an informal petition, so I'll put my name to it.

 

[El Poncho]

I don't get the captcha's but I understand how annoying they are so I agree with what you're saying.

 

[The Boy in the Hat]

I have to agree. Captcha is useful in some contexts, but I don't think the Escapist is subject to enough spam to warrant its usage.

 

[Jedamethis]

Dear whoever put it in, I think it was Kuliani:
I understand if you need to keep captcha, but could you at least try and make it more readable?

I'd have no problem if I didn't always get it wrong...

 

[martyrdrebel27]

Quoted for truth. I guess this is going to be an informal petition, so I'll put my name to it.

yes, thats exactly what i want. guide all your friends this way to make a statement, let them see and hear our numbers. anyone who's already had enough of this, do you really want to deal with this for the rest of your tenure here at the escapist? we gotta stop it before its too late.

 

[Giest4life]

I haven't seen the captcha, yet. Is it only for new forum posts or what?

 

[DeadlyYellow]

How is it invasive?

It's annoying as all hell and usually requires multiple inputs, but I don't see how it is invasive.

 

[tomtom94]

So what's your alternative?

I'll admit it's semi-irritating if you have to do it repeatedly (which you don't), but an alternative would be nice cause beating the occasional spambots before they can even post here would be useful.

 

[martyrdrebel27]

From Dictionary.com

invasive: 2. invading, or tending to invade; intrusive.
intrusive: 1. tending or apt to intrude; coming without invitation or welcome:

if a=b and b=c, then a=c.

perhaps they shouldve done a poll, asking if the spam was enough of a problem for us, the users, to warrant the action. but instead, thinking they knew what was best for the users brought captcha without invitation or welcome.

EDIT so i don't double post:

my alternative is simple; deal with the occasional spam thread, don't read it, dont pay it any attention. i have a shirt that says "Freedom of Speech, if you don't like it, don't look."

 

[AwesomeFerret]

I cant, in the year or so I've been here (my join date is deceptive) ever seen an instance of spam in the forums. The only thing I can think of are people who post incredibly short, useless comments, and this is most likely to make them feel that its not worth the effort. While it may have this effect, it still becomes a hassle for regular posters.

 

[Boneasse]

I did the captcha once and I appear not have to do it again so I am just fine with it.

They will. I had a chat with the guy who had implemented them. It may not be every post, but they will appear. I've had them appear 3 times in a row now, after I posted 10 posts without getting any.

I support the statement, although, here's a reply from yesterday/2 days ago;

There were a couple of threads yesterday, started by a bot. I think it's fine this way, as long as the website registers the IP/Cookies of our browsers we only have to type in the Captcha once per day. So it's no biggie. Whatever keeps the site clean.

We get sporadic, but increasing bot activity. Right now we see a lot more of it in the registration section and the contact forms, so we're taking some preemptive action. The problem is that once a bot knows how to post on the forums, the controller can set it to do it whenever, and however much, they want. Like, for example, on a holiday or weekend when there's a lot fewer moderators and staff around.

Unfortunately, I can't just do it once per day, because a bot owner could do the captcha once manually and then let loose the bot right after. Most spammers wouldn't, but I can't discount the more malicious asshats out there (that may instead be posting shock porn, for example). So there are spot checks to limit how much damage an individual bot could do.

Technically, having a captcha on every post would be the "best" solution, but that's way too annoying. Hopefully what I've put in is a good balance between the two.

 

[No_Remainders]

I'd like it if they removed the captcha or else made it slightly more readable. It's really irritating that I have to do them 4-5 times because they're SO DAMN ILLEGIBLE

 

[DSEZ]

i agree with this 1000%

 

[Gxas]

snip

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.255588-Captcha-Really

Here is the thread I made about this when it first started. As you can see, Virgil and at least one Red Guard commented and explained why captcha is necessary.

Read it, and then continue complaining about it. I've gotten over it. Be thankful that you don't have to do it every single post.

 

[SomeLameStuff]

I haven't encountered it yet =/ How often does it pop up?

 

[BabyRaptor]

Doesn't bother me at all. I can see how it could be annoying, but the OP sounds a bit too overly dramatic to take seriously.

 

[Boneasse]

Wrong quote, sorry about that.

I haven't encountered it yet =/ How often does it pop up?

It seems completely random. You have probably been lucky thus far.

 

[DragonsAteMyMarbles]

Dear whoever put it in, I think it was Kuliani:
I understand if you need to keep captcha, but could you at least try and make it more readable?

I'd have no problem if I didn't always get it wrong...

You're a robot?! But... but you look so lifelike...
SWEET JUMPING BANANAS IT'S STARTED RUN AWAY RUN AWAY

*ahem*
I haven't been hit by a captcha yet, no idea why. Maybe PubClub gets you past them?

 

[tomtom94]

I haven't encountered it yet =/ How often does it pop up?

I don't think it does for Pub Club members cause I haven't had it either. Logical enough reason I suppose.