Can new people not create new accounts anymore?

[Roadgeekteen]

I saw a comment on another thread that people can't create new accounts on this forum. Is this true? I saw that the last new account on this forum was created on September 16th 12 days ago, but that doesn't seem to be the longest gap. If they can't, why not?

[Max Rockatansky]

The problem was that it got far too easy for bots to register new accounts.

[Roadgeekteen]

The problem was that it got far too easy for bots to register new accounts.

Yeah bots are an issue, but people should be able to if they verify that they are a human, perhaps by answering a set of questions verifying their interest in the forum. I remember having to do that back in 2017 when I registered.

[Max Rockatansky]

To that end I have no idea what the current registration looks like.  I have no idea if security questions are even an option that can be incorporated on the forum host platform. 

[Roadgeekteen]

To that end I have no idea what the current registration looks like.  I have no idea if security questions are even an option that can be incorporated on the forum host platform. 

They were not security questions; they were questions like "Why do you want to join the forum"? But maybe things have changed since then with the new host.

[dlsterner]

Back when I joined, I seem to remember being asked to state a road-related piece of trivia - I think I used "I-97 is the shortest two digit Interstate" (which was true at that time).  Although I guess bots could be set up to get around that.

[Roadgeekteen]

Back when I joined, I seem to remember being asked to state a road-related piece of trivia - I think I used "I-97 is the shortest two digit Interstate" (which was true at that time).  Although I guess bots could be set up to get around that.

I remember a funny interaction with Alps about getting approved and stuff, as I was only 13 when I joined and had no clue how to interact on the internet. He was quite annoyed with me, justifiably so.

[Scott5114]

To that end I have no idea what the current registration looks like.  I have no idea if security questions are even an option that can be incorporated on the forum host platform. 

This sort of thing is possible with an extension/plugin, however, the one we were using was acting up, which is why registration was disabled.

[Roadgeekteen]

To that end I have no idea what the current registration looks like.  I have no idea if security questions are even an option that can be incorporated on the forum host platform. 

This sort of thing is possible with an extension/plugin, however, the one we were using was acting up, which is why registration was disabled.

Is there any timeline for when registration will be possible again? Obviously, I'm already a member of the forum but I would like new people who want to join to be able to join.

[Molandfreak]

Or if it is impossible to set up a traditional registration function, could there at least be a more detailed set of instructions about how to contact an admin to set up an account for you? If I were to attempt to register today, the first thing I would do is message the official Facebook or Instagram accounts requesting it. I'm not sure how often those messages are checked or if anyone other than Alex has access to those accounts.

[Scott5114]

I have no more information on this, unfortunately.

I've had a few people contact me through the wiki and request accounts, which I was able to do for them by creating them manually. So we do have a few new users that way. But I'm kinda reluctant to encourage people to do that, because unfortunately I don't have the time to vet new users as thoroughly as I would need to if that were commonplace (and I have never been very good at it, anyhow).

[Molandfreak]

I have enjoyed the images @Jhoan Seb has posted so far, so thank you for allowing them to create an account.

[Roadgeekteen]

I have no more information on this, unfortunately.

I've had a few people contact me through the wiki and request accounts, which I was able to do for them by creating them manually. So we do have a few new users that way. But I'm kinda reluctant to encourage people to do that, because unfortunately I don't have the time to vet new users as thoroughly as I would need to if that were commonplace (and I have never been very good at it, anyhow).

Don't we have several mods that could vet? It doesn't have to just be you.

[Scott5114]

Don't we have several mods that could vet? It doesn't have to just be you.

I'm the only one besides Alex with advanced permissions on both the forum and the wiki. (It has a totally different set of admins.)

[vdeane]

I presume that someone taking the time to write a coherent message requesting access to the Facebook page or similar is at least not a spambot posting links to Russian malware sites and the like (and if it's still a concern, then I wonder if there's a way things could be set up to require the first 5-10 posts to require moderator approval to filter them out).  Although they could be the next coming of MMM or similar.

[kphoger]

I presume that someone taking the time to write a coherent message requesting access to the Facebook page or similar is at least not a spambot posting links to Russian malware sites and the like (and if it's still a concern, then I wonder if there's a way things could be set up to require the first 5-10 posts to require moderator approval to filter them out).  Although they could be the next coming of MMM or similar.

They're not actually spam bots.  They're multiple iterations of MMM.  That's why there are millions of them.

[Roadgeekteen]

I presume that someone taking the time to write a coherent message requesting access to the Facebook page or similar is at least not a spambot posting links to Russian malware sites and the like (and if it's still a concern, then I wonder if there's a way things could be set up to require the first 5-10 posts to require moderator approval to filter them out).  Although they could be the next coming of MMM or similar.

They're not actually spam bots.  They're multiple iterations of MMM.  That's why there are millions of them.

Is P13 a version of MMM?

[kphoger]

Is P13 a version of MMM?

In the multiverse, yes.

[Roadgeekteen]

Well, we just got a new post in the welcome board, so I guess the answer is that they can now (unless an admin manually added him).

[rschen7754]

It should be easy to set up a Google form like the wiki did and handle accounts that way.

[bessertc]

Well, we just got a new post in the welcome board, so I guess the answer is that they can now (unless an admin manually added him).

Hey all... I'll freely admit I've been quite absent from the AA Roads Forum for a bit... although I've been putting in TONS of hours on updating and expanding the MichiganHighways.org website, so I've been ultimately still "contributing to the Greater Roadgeek Community" (inasmuch as I've never liked the term "roadgeek" since the very day it was coined over on m.t.r.... now THAT'S a blast from the past!), so I hope that counts.

Anyway, I was hoping to get access to the whole AA Road Wiki deal even though I was originally staying away from all that was happening with that situation for a variety of reasons. But now I'd like to at least minimally contribute to the effort in some way, but I see the new user registration is locked. After reading here what's been going on lately, I understand why. Do we have any pathway for at least some of us old, elderly, aged "roadgeeks" to get access in some way? I've been a forum member since... gasp!... 2012(!), so I'd hope that in and of itself would speak well for me. If anyone can point me in a direction that I'm not seeing to make that happen, please do! Thanks in advance...

—Chris

[rschen7754]

Well, we just got a new post in the welcome board, so I guess the answer is that they can now (unless an admin manually added him).

Hey all... I'll freely admit I've been quite absent from the AA Roads Forum for a bit... although I've been putting in TONS of hours on updating and expanding the MichiganHighways.org website, so I've been ultimately still "contributing to the Greater Roadgeek Community" (inasmuch as I've never liked the term "roadgeek" since the very day it was coined over on m.t.r.... now THAT'S a blast from the past!), so I hope that counts.

Anyway, I was hoping to get access to the whole AA Road Wiki deal even though I was originally staying away from all that was happening with that situation for a variety of reasons. But now I'd like to at least minimally contribute to the effort in some way, but I see the new user registration is locked. After reading here what's been going on lately, I understand why. Do we have any pathway for at least some of us old, elderly, aged "roadgeeks" to get access in some way? I've been a forum member since... gasp!... 2012(!), so I'd hope that in and of itself would speak well for me. If anyone can point me in a direction that I'm not seeing to make that happen, please do! Thanks in advance...

—Chris

There is a Google Form where you can request access, if you try to login.

[vdeane]

inasmuch as I've never liked the term "roadgeek" since the very day it was coined over on m.t.r....

How do you feel about "viatologist"?

[Max Rockatansky]

inasmuch as I've never liked the term "roadgeek" since the very day it was coined over on m.t.r....

How do you feel about "viatologist"?

Silly sounds about little green shrubs aside I've always preferred "road enthusiast."  I don't know, when I was younger the term "geek" had some pretty negative connotations.  It feels clunky when it has been something I've read in some of the CAroutebyroute podcast scripts.   

[kphoger]

I've always preferred "road enthusiast."  I don't know, when I was younger the term "geek" had some pretty negative connotations.

I like the term roadgeek because it forces us to accept the truth about ourselves.