2 questions

[tomazzi]

1st question:
Although I understand that some topics are deleted, because f.e. they are reported as a spam, or as a violation of the board rules - I don't really get why the last topic in the "programming" sub-forum has been deleted...
So the 1st question is: why someone have removed a topic of "how to write secure software"

Suggestion: topics which are obviously not a spam should be first locked, with an annotation that they will be deleted in (let's say) a week, for a given reason - otherwise it looks like a server fault/breach/malfunction - definitely not as an conscious action taken by mods.

2nd question:
I should have asked this at least 3 years ago, but I'm asking now:
What the hell is the BingBot doing here? - and what is the influence of the Microsoft Corporation on the decisions made by the forum admins/mods ?

This is the only Linux forum I know of, which is officially supporting Microsoft's search engine.

This question is related to question nr 1, as in the removed thread I've suggested that security companies are selling mostly some virtual/artificial, windows-based - and as such, redundant solutions - and the thread was almost immediately removed.

So perhaps, a 3rd question should be formed: Do You, admins/mods, are experiencing any pressures from external companies?

Regards.

[GarryRicketson]

Post by tomazzi » I don't really get why the last topic in the "programming" sub-forum has been deleted...
So the 1st question is: why someone have removed a topic of "how to write secure software"

Help: Secure software development courses
I don't know for sure if this is the topic you are referring to , if it is,
it did not get deleted, it got moved to the "offtopic" section.

by tomazzi » What the hell is the BingBot doing here? - and what is the influence of the Microsoft Corporation on the decisions made by the forum admins/mods ?
This is the only Linux forum I know of, which is officially supporting Microsoft's search engine.

I don't know about that, I have noticed the "BingBot" occasionally on many other sites, never had paid much attention to that, but it seem logical to me
to allow it, that does not mean anybody "supports" it, but if you think about
it, the logic is, (my logic anyway) , many people that are using Windows, and
Microsoft products, but have decided to do some searches, trying to find out
about Linux, and /or Debian, IE: where to get it, how to download and install,
etc,.... If the "BingBot" was blocked, of course they might still find the site via
other search engines, but I do not see any reason to not allow the "BingBot", just
because it is from Microsoft.

by tomazzi » So perhaps, a 3rd question should be formed: Do You, admins/mods, are experiencing any pressures from external companies?

Well, on that, I can not speak for any of the admins/mods, only myself, and
no, in fact I am very much against using any MS products, and often try to convince people to not even bother with trying to keep the windows malware
on their computers, just install Debian, or what ever linux distro, and be done with it. However most of them all ways have some excuse as to why they simply
must keep the mal ware on their system,..but I suppose that should be another
topic.
Back to the topic and your questions:
With that said, I honestly do not think any of the admins or mods are
influenced by any "external" companies,....but even if one was, I also do
not think they would admit it, sort of like asking somebody if they are
a spy, or something,...who knows ? but they are not going to say "Oh yes,
I am,..."

by tomazzi » in the removed thread I've suggested that security companies are selling mostly some virtual/artificial, windows-based - and as such, redundant solutions - and the thread was almost immediately removed.

Actually, and now I am pretty sure it is the topic/thread , that got moved,...
On that, No I don't think your post had anything to do with it, but only the
mod that moved it can really answer as to why they moved it,.....
I wanted to move it to spam, because it seemed to me like the OP started
the topic, planning to come back the next day and post the reply, where
they promote the site they posted a link to,

Postby rickman » 2016-10-21 04:27
--------http://edited, and link removed----
If found this course, Don't know whether this one will help me, What do you guys think about this?

But any way, by the time I had seen it, there were a couple of replies,
so I just made a "report", that I felt it was spam, but wanted to wait and see
what a mod or admin decided, and it got moved to "offtopic", .....
Usually the OP is notified and the reason is explained when we decide to move a topic,...........

by tomazzi » Suggestion: topics which are obviously not a spam should be first locked, with an annotation that they will be deleted in (let's say) a week, for a given reason - otherwise it looks like a server fault/breach/malfunction - definitely not as an conscious action taken by mods.

Actually on some occasions, the mods have done that, locked the topic, and
posted the "ultimate" reply, saying why,... ...
And usually a "shadow" is left when a topic gets moved, but I guess in this
case the mod did not do that,.. a "shadow", leaves the topic title where it
was for a period of time, but re-directs the viewer to the new location.
I guess for now that is about all I can say,...

[emariz]

1. Are you talking about this thread?
Help: Secure software development courses

That is only one which I found relevant within the administrative logs. It is on the Off-Topic section now.
I assume that no link pointing to the new location was left in the original section because the point of moving it was, well, to correct its location.


2. Actually, there are more bots chasing you. Pinky is coming.

[tomazzi]

(...)
2. Actually, there are more bots chasing you. Pinky is coming.

I'm sure that You do understand my question, but - take it easy - I was just curious who will respond and foremost ... what would be the response...

Regards.

[dilberts_left_nut]

It was me that moved the "announcement of new crap software" threads that you responded to (into the non-visible spam subforum for review/processing/deletion by admins).

Normally if there is traffic in a thread I wouldn't just 'disappear' it, but it was pretty clearly just spam and your responses didn't make much sense without the OP's as context so I decided to just shift the whole thread(s).

Apologies for any inconvenience

[debiman]

bots? aren't those search engine bots? fairly common practice, and desirable in a way (of course that, too, is subject to discussion...)

i do actually agree with this:

Suggestion: topics which are obviously not a spam should be first locked, with an annotation that they will be deleted in (let's say) a week, for a given reason - otherwise it looks like a server fault/breach/malfunction - definitely not as an conscious action taken by mods.

a practice i've seen on other boards and always found very sensible.

apart from that... yet another conspiracy theorist...

[tomazzi]

Convert a spam into a useful piece of data.
This results in 2 benefits: the spammer is banned not by deleting his post - he is banned by by showing him as a clueless, but this doesn't remove the topic which can have some valuable aspects.

@dilberts: I think that it is worth consideration... (at least).

@debiman: I don't know how to correctly translate this to English (to reflect the sense): "udeż w stół, a nożyce się odezwą" - yeah, my native language is terrible... - I think that the closest translation would be, f.e.: "drop a penny - and look who's watching" ...

Regards.

[dilberts_left_nut]

Convert a spam into a useful piece of data.
This results in 2 benefits: the spammer is banned not by deleting his post - he is banned by by showing him as a clueless, but this doesn't remove the topic which can have some valuable aspects.

@dilberts: I think that it is worth consideration... (at least).

Indeed - consideration goes into each mod action I take - in hindsight, some could have been better ...

[GarryRicketson]

tomazzi wrote:
Suggestion: topics which are obviously not a spam should be first locked, with an annotation that they will be deleted in (let's say) a week, for a given reason - otherwise it looks like a server fault/breach/malfunction - definitely not as an conscious action taken by mods.

Usually when a topic gets locked, or "closed" it does not get removed,
But even when a entire topic, or even just a post does get removed from the public board, they do not get deleted immediately, even the obvious spam,
they go to a area that is not viewable by the public, where depending on
the "consideration" of the admins, eventually they either get deleted, or
in some cases even moved back onto the board.
This does give a opportunity for any members and the OP to ask
"What happened to my post ? " Or "where did this topic go ?"
Like wise if any one really needed to or wanted to get copies of
certain posts or even the entire thread they could request or ask ,
the point is, nothing gets deleted immediately, even if it appears that
way on the public board.
On a few rare occasions, angry members have gone through the topics
they posted in, or started and edit their posts, removing all of the text,
kind of a "childish" thing, but any way, that is another topic,......

by dilberts_left_nut »
Indeed - consideration goes into each mod action I take - in hindsight, some could have been better ...

I am not a moderator (perhaps fortunately), but the same , with any spam,
and often if I am not sure , instead of moving it off the board I just report it
to the moderators and admins, but even if and when I do make a mistake, and
think something was "obvious spam", it does not get deleted , it gets moved
off the public board, and in a few cases, later after a admin reviewed it, they
have decided it was not spam and moved it back, or in some cases just
edited it, removing the link that seemed "spammy", and then putting it
back,...
but any way, in hind sight, there are some times my "consideration" could have been better,......
I do look at the links, and visit the sites they link to, before I decide to
move something to the "spam bin", they do not get moved with out some
consideration, and investigation, the same with any topics that get closed
by a mod, or admin, their is a lot of consideration involved.
It is not any "fun" for any of us if and when there are unhappy or angry
forum members, without the members there would not be a forum.
But on the other hand , it is impossible to "please everybody, all of the
time.",
any way, I guess that is all I have to say on that,...