error message

[alexa]

Hi Brian,

Did you change something in the set-up ? I had a funny message error when I tried to reply in Atlantis thread :

The following errors occurred when this message was submitted:

1. Sorry! The administrator has specified that users can only post one message every 60 seconds.

That was the the problem you were talking about on SF ?

[I, Brian]

Sorry about that Alexa - it's what's known as "flood control".

It used to be the case that if someone wanted to attack a messageboard, they would simply start a new thread every couple of seconds, usually containing a pasted message of hate or advertising. I've seen it in action more than once on forums in the MSN network, which had no controls for stopping such attacks - just one contributory reason why I left MSN communities and set up in the wider internet.

Anyway, the 60 second delay is a flood control - it means if anyone wishes to attack the board that way then they would have to be very patient, and almost certainly a moderator would be able to correct what should only be limited damage in such an attack.

It used to be 30 seconds, but we had a neo-Nazi try attacking the forums via flooding a few months ago, so I put up the timer to 60 seconds.

Hopefully enough time to read a thread, think upon a response, and then make a post (remember to copy it!).

If the time limit seems too long, though, then please do inform me and I'll look into reducing it.

[alexa]

It's O.K. Brian. If these "flood control" can keep us safe from neo-nazi or other attacks, it's good to have them.

btw I learned something new. I didn't know anything about them. Thanks.