[vko]

Hi all,

I'm a newbie and don't know if this has been discussed before. Are posting URLs moderated? I replied to a thread with a URL for reference and while submitting it IM tells me "A moderator will need to approve" or something similar. How often to Mods check these posts? I'm asking about this for two reasons:

1. I can't find this rule in the Help/FAQ section. May be its there and I did not notice (that happens very rarely). If its not there, it request the admins to add it ASAP.
2. My replies were a bit time sensitive (its about cancellation of an expedition) so would like to know how often do mods check for or approve/reject URL containing posts/replies.

Thanks!

[Nick-H]

Sometimes posts from new users are moderated, yes.

We do not spell out the whys and wherefores of what triggers this. It is far from difficult for a determined spammer to work it out, but the idea is that it makes their life just a little harder rather than just leaving the key in the door for them.

All the Indiamike moderators work on a purely voluntary basis and give whatever time they have available whenever they can. The team has members in different timezones. It is not usually more than a few hours before moderation posts get checked.

Without this system you would see a great deal of commercial spam cluttering up the site every time you visit. It's not perfect, but it is the best that can be done now.

Sorry for the inconvenience, but the only answer is that it happens when it happens but doesn't usually take long. Be patient.

[vko]

Aah ok, so its because I'm a new member? That makes sense because I know what a pain spammers can become. Thanks for clarifying it. Cheers!

[Nick-H]

You're welcome. Enjoy the site

[vko]

OK, someone approved my older replies and those have been posted now. But now its not just the ones containing URLs but ALL replies are being moderated. I again got the same message when I was replying to a thread - didn't have any URL in it. No idea how long I'll have to live with this stumbling block, just because I'm a new user! Got no choice, hope the forum's (silly) watchdog software starts trusting me, before I start getting bored!! Would be a pity because its a great site and I love traveling!!

[vko]

it somehow allows me to post stuff here... may be because I started this thread. Hell, someone make me a mod so that I can approve my own posts (just kidding, I ain't got the dedication so don't make me one, not yet)!

[Kingstonian]

Thanks for your patience, Vikas!

Mods have, of course, many many admirably qualities ( ), but this one isn't actually sure what "URL" is. Sorry

But the joy of IndiaMike is that someone will be along shortly who will have an excellent answer. Or two. Or fifteen.

[karuna]

It's kind of random vikas. I don't quite know myself how it works. I only ask people to PLEASE not try posting the same thing again and again when they get the "moderator approval" message. It doesn't help and just creates more work for us.

I'll check out your posts now.

[steven_ber]

Anti spam software also looks out for specific words that spammers may use, not just url's.

There is also a forum where all new posts (or is it new threads) have to be looked over by a moderator, and I think new polls also have to be approved.

But don't worry, next week you will find every one of your posts appears immediately and you'll enjoy the website.

Originally Posted by Kingstonian

isn't actually sure what "URL" is. Sorry

URL = web address, for example http://www.indiamike.com

[Nick-H]

URL = web address, for example http://www.indiamike.........

Thought it was next in line after a Duke!

[Kingstonian]

(okay, okay ... so I do actually know that a url is a web address. Just like I know what a telephone is and does. I just don't understand why, or how, or how to fix it if it doesn't work)


(and I think it's a marquee that's next in line after a duke, not an url)

[Nick-H]

Her Ladyship is, of course, right .

Thank you, Ma'am

Whoa! Get this!

And... IndiaMike Top Poster isn't even on the list!

URL --- Uniform Resource Locator. I had to look that up.

WWW --- nine syllables for a three-letter abbreviation, whereas the full form is only three. Dumb.

[steven_ber]

Originally Posted by Kingstonian

I just don't understand why, or how, or how to fix it if it doesn't work

The following is not meant to be patronising, I just explain it in a way that I would understand, after all, it wasn't too long ago that I didn't understand any of this either, and whenever anyone tried to explain, I didn't understand their explanations.


There can be many reasons why a link doesn't work.

But basically you need to understand the make up of a link to be able to see if it has been posted correctly.

A common problem (and one we asked Nadreg to fix when new software first created the problem) is the double http:// problem.

When we try to add a link we click on the 'insert link' button and a box appears.



With the old software, the http:// was highlighted, so when you right clicked and pasted your url, the original http:// would be replaced by your url, but when the software was changed, the http:// wasn't highlighted, so we had to highlight it ourselves, and naturally some people didn't realise they needed to do this, so the url was added to the end of the http://, and the link would no longer work (and if the member didn't understand, they would feel stupid and wouldn't try to insert a link again.

http://http://www.indiamike.com

instead of

http://www.indiamike.com


A second problem is one caused by Internet Explorer not allowing accurate highlighting for copy & paste.

This problem mostly affects quotes, but also links and urls.

To understand this, you have to first understand the basics of the 'function boxes' (a made up name, I've no idea what they're called, but the following will explain)

[IMG]...........[/IMG] .............................. ............(Insert Image)
[b]...........[/b] .............................. ...................(Bold letters)
[url]...........[/url] .............................. ................(Insert url link)
[email="bringbackabba@gmail.com "]...........[/email] ........(Email link)
[quote]...........[/quote] .............................. ........(insert quote)
[u]...........[/u] .............................. ...................(Underline)

You'll notice that all start off with [ ] and end with [/ ]

Often when people try to copy & paste, part of that code is replaced or added (when using IE), and then the function doesn't work, eg

[quote]Thank you for the music.QUOTE]

instead of

[quote]Thank you for the music.[/quote]

The 2nd one would appear as follows.

Thank you for the music.

So understanding the first 2 points can help you to see where a member may have gone wrong with their link or quote, and may help you fix it.

And when you can see that the code is all correct, then you can look at the url inside the code and see if there may be a mistake with the url, you can have a search for the website, and if you find it, replace the url part of the link and it should work.

For example

http:///www.indiamike.com

Should be

http://www.indiamike.com (there was 1 too many /)

I'll stop there as I don't know if I'm answering the questions you asked.

[Haylo]

Originally Posted by Kingstonian

I just don't understand why, or how, or how to fix it if it doesn't work.

Kingstonian, I know you know how to post a link, I'm mostly explaining this for the benefit of others.

To fix a link that doesn't work, if it's one you're posting yourself, the easiest way is to first open the web page you were trying to link to, sometimes the problem is with the page, not the link. If it's a link something someone else has posted, you might have to google it to find it and open the right page.

When on that page, copy the entire link from the top bar, it will probably start http://www or ttps://www. Then go back to the IndiaMike post and highlight the text you want linking and click on the "Insert Link" icon above. When the box appears, delete everything that's already in it. Then paste your link in. That will definitely work.

[karuna]

Steven,

Wow. What a post.

Am I the only one who thinks K wasn't actually asking how to fix a broken link, but just stretching the analogy with a phone? Like, I know what a car is, but I don't know how it works or how to fix it if it doesn't.
Sort of thing.
I don't know. Maybe she wasn't. But dang you guys are nerdy. I feel right at home.