You are not authorized to define a signature?

[Ironica]

I am getting this error message when I try to save a signature line on my profile.

"You are not authorised to define a signature."

I read the FAQ and didn't see anything that referred to this?

[Chip]

Due to spammers, the signature feature is disabled for everyone.

[Ironica]

Oh. I didn't realize.

Thanks for letting me know.

[hop_goblin]

that sux

[Chip]

that sux

... true ... I just saw one Olympic skier made millions as a pro spammer.

[brian]

Skier or skater? I saw the skater who made a point of mentioning two clothing sponsors during a post-performance 30 second interview. Immediately turned to my wife and asked wow, how much do you think he just got paid for THAT? Wondering if you saw the same one, or did a skier do something similar?

[Chip]

Mogul skier, won silver last night maybe? But no, he is a pro spammer who made millions. I have to wonder if I have done battle with this guy? Well, not much of a battle. Click and ban ... but there are some very tenacious spammers, I can tell a particular spammer by their styles, techniques, strategies. Spammers invade sites such as TeaChat and post links to unrelated products, etc.

Athletes often or at least sometimes mention their sponsor. Not to mention being a walking billboard. It is what it is. But they are generally not invading space like spammers where they are not welcome and disrespect sites. But then again, that is what it is as well.

I just never really thought some one was making millions doing it, and figured they were holed up in some dark room with their computer out of public eye. This guy is out of the closet so to speak. I picture spammers as pretty sleezy invaders, leeches.

[bsteele]

But how am I suppose to let you all in on my wonderful, miraculous, amazing money making opportunity! You are missing out on millions!!!!!

[Ironica]

A thought might be to include that in the FAQ. If it's there I missed it.


I'm still unsure of why it's an issue... I belong to other boards where we are able to have signatures and we don't have spamming issues there, but perhaps it's because of the different nature of the special interest that brings us together.

[Chip]

It was a giant loophole for spammers, you would be amazed at the stuff they managed to insert into their sigs. Links to gain google points. It was turning into a commercial ad after almost every post, including the pron spammers who managed to include risque photos, well actually explicit. And it was not Tea Pron, nor were the "models" sipping tea.

I will have to look and see if the new format allows restrictions on content of sigs.

[Victoria]

Because people would be joining with the sole purpose to put a link in their signature line to their site. Prono or tea spam, it's still spam and creates work and clogs up the board. Spammers know the popularity of TeaChat and how many hits a day it's getting, we are a prime target. Another factor is the uniformity of the board posts. Adagio likes to keep it clean and uniform.

[Ironica]

Wow. That really is a problem.

For the record, I was going to post the following as my signature line:

"Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance. "

I'm not selling anything I promise!

[Victoria]

I just never really thought some one was making millions doing it, and figured they were holed up in some dark room with their computer out of public eye. This guy is out of the closet so to speak. I picture spammers as pretty sleezy invaders, leeches.

I too am surprised at this. Wow. First that someone would admit it, second that you can make that much money. I guess it's not porn, I doubt he would admit to that. Right?

Skier or skater? I saw the skater who made a point of mentioning two clothing sponsors during a post-performance 30 second interview. Immediately turned to my wife and asked wow, how much do you think he just got paid for THAT? Wondering if you saw the same one, or did a skier do something similar?

Yeah I saw that! Mentioned one, then quickly slipped in another, almost nervously.

[Chip]

Because people would be joining with the sole purpose to put a link in their signature line to their site. Prono or tea spam, it's still spam and creates work and clogs up the board. Spammers know the popularity of TeaChat and how many hits a day it's getting, we are a prime target. Another factor is the uniformity of the board posts. Adagio likes to keep it clean and uniform.

Actually, this was one of the very very very few things another mod and I could agree upon.

I too am surprised at this. Wow. First that someone would admit it, second that you can make that much money. I guess it's not pron, I doubt he would admit to that. Right?

The guy was super in the public eye, I am sure the media was on this like blood hounds wondering how he made his millions. Plus the Olympics probably have some guidelines and reporting processes in place.

This was his "business" that he operated. So, if "Ace Software" wanted to move up in the google order, they would hire this guy's company ... etc.

[Chip]

Wow. That really is a problem.

For the record, I was going to post the following as my signature line:

"Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance. "

I'm not selling anything I promise!

Thanks for understanding, this is a pretty mellow crowd and likes it a bit toned down perhaps.

It is odd that since the board settings are to not permit sigs at this time, that the FAQs would not automatically adjust since it is automatically set by the software/programming. phpbb is the largest forum programming supplier in the world (so they claim), really surprises me. Should have had an entry in FAQ, "why can't I set my signature?" and the answer would automatically state that the forum settings do not permit signatures at this time.

The FAQs are all set by phpbb based on forum settings.