The Black Dahlia Message Boards

[Pamela]

If I could have thought of a better subject, I would have used it.

I do realize how angry everyone has gotten. I realize that you'd rather move to another board. I know this not because the mods have been keeping me abreast of complaints, but also because of the multitude of nasty emails I've received.

Here's where all stands.

1. I have struggled, tried, even put up money to have someone who's an expert at phpbb hacks to install specific mods to the interface to rule out all this spam. Every single person I've hired has done nothing, and gave no further response.

2. It was never my intention to walk away and leave Impy and Briar holding the shambles of this board. Unfortunately I've had a great deal of demands lately in my life and I had to step away for a bit. While many took time to complain to me left and right about this, I hope there's comfort in knowing that while I couldn't be here, I still footed the bill.

3. The domain registration issue was a non-notification issue. It ACTUALLY expired days before it was supposed to anyway. I actually received a notification from Network Solutions some 12 days after I paid the bill, after they actually changed their DNS. They actually did this to three other sites I own, and ironically? They were all registered months apart from each other.

4. Please refrain from any more "you let us down" comments because:

A. This site is free.

B. There's nothing you can say/do to make me feel any worse than I already do.


5. I am willing to go to Guru.com and find someone to do the hacks this board needs, but I DO need to know if it's going to be worth my time and money. Please tell me, if the spam issues are cut down significantly (there's no way to stop them 100%), do you still plan to visit these forums? I'll base my decisions on the poll, because I really don't want throw money out the window.

Please vote asap, as I'll make my decision by the end of the week. I know many of you see this site as a type of home, and I'd love to keep it that way - am willing to do what it takes, but only if something beneficial comes out of it.
_________________
Best,

Pamela
The Black Dahlia Web site

[Briar]

It is was frightening feeling when I realized I couldn't keep up and rather than feeling you let us down I just felt a bit frantic and helpless. (especially as limited as we are in our powers.)I will be on this site because I love it here and I love the people. We ARE fortunate to have this place to come for free, but I WOULD like to point out that the time Impy and I spend here is free as well.
If it comes to a major decision on whether or not keep the site, would it be possible for one of us to buy the domain and info?? The 2 books I took to Mexico specifically mentioned THIS SITE. This is the first place people go after reading the books. Our research here is pretty priceless as well and I think everyone would agree.

I don't want you to think you are anything other than a busy woman and we all know what it's like to have demands on our time so we feel stretched way too thin. One other thing I'd like to thank you for, Pamela, is that 8 or 9 of us are going to be brought together for a weekend of cementing friendships made here. How can we ever thank you enough for THAT!!!
_________________
We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change we seek. ~Barack Obama

[Roger Moore Hair]

Dear Pamela,

Thank you for creating this site and this forum. Any attempt to rid this forum of SPAM and pornography is noble.

It is always a downer when I come here and have to shift through the filth. The filth has not deterred me from coming but it has impacted my abilities and energies to comb through all of the different sections as I once did.

Any efforts, restrictions, new-registrations, etc that might be implemented to make this a SPAM free, porn-free environment are to be applauded.

Beth's memory deserves such efforts.

Thank you, Pamela.

Please also note that if there were a PAYPAL account associated with this site, I would make a contribution. I am sure a few other posters would too.

[Enigmatic]

RMH echoed my exact feelings pretty much spot-onand since I can't say what RMH said more eloquently, simply let this serve as my "ditto".
_________________
"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary." H.L. Mencken

[Cam]

[Pamela]

Thanks for all your comments.

I felt horrible for having left Briar and Impy in such a situation. So I'm quite upset with myself over that.

As for contributions, somewhere it's listed - the PayPal address is pamela@bethshort.com - a shameless plug, I know, but please know that while I haven't been present lately, the bills continue to get paid and I'm certain all your jaws would drop at what they run.

I did locate a new tool last night that allowed me to delete quite a few accounts and mark their messages DELETED - Briar and I (and perhaps Impy, not sure) cleaned most of those up today. Over the next few days I'm going to purge thousands of accounts that are not active and have no posts (that will cut down the db size, thus cutting down member listings, etc.) - anything to save bandwidth. I'd say only about 1/4 of the current listing count of members is accurate.
_________________
Best,

Pamela
The Black Dahlia Web site

[Pamela]

And here's how fast those bots move...

9:45 p.m. I approve a signup - looked totally legit with all the email address, domain, etc.

9:46 p.m. - 11 spam messages, hit one after another.
_________________
Best,

Pamela
The Black Dahlia Web site

[Briar]

LOL that's nothing. Gauge the amount of SPAM posted in the night or the weekends. It's always worse when they change up the celebrities names too.
_________________
We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change we seek. ~Barack Obama

[Enigmatic]

Yeah, I still wake up screaming over that Bea Arthur spam.....



_________________
"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary." H.L. Mencken

[Briar]

OMG you made me snort outloud.


Oh BTW...

[mamaknows]

I'm new here so what the h#!! do I know anyway, but I like this place - it's the best on the 'net. I appreciate all Pamela, Briar and Impy do to keep it up and running. The porn stuff is awful (and sometimes hilarious - Bea Arthur! LOL), but can be handled.

I get a little tired of people being so quick to scream at an all volunteer situation... same thing just happened at our village swimming pool, but I digress....instead of taking our ball(s) and going home, what can we all do to help??

[Autumn]

I haven't posted here for some time but I still have a following...the spammers send the porn into my inbox. I get notified I have a new message and then it's porn, there is no escaping. Pamela I hope you will keep the board, I still think this the best site on the net about the Dahlia case along with being a tribute to Beth.

Good luck, all the best ... Autumn