Hi - this is a followup to an issue that another user is trying to bring
to the attention of RetroGuy

https://www.novabbs.com/arts/article-flat.php?id=251245&group=alt.arts.poetry.comments#251245

https://www.novabbs.com/arts/article-flat.php?id=252460&group=alt.arts.poetry.comments#252460

If you take a look at the USENET message
<2vmdna1GF_tD4WH7nZ2dnZfqn_adnZ2d@giganews.com>

using any NNTP client, you will see there is a post continuity link at
the bottom. These links for either message replies or message
attachements appear on messages originating at that gateway. Before
they appeared on NovaBBS but there was an error with transcribing the ?
mark in the link query string which resulted in a broken link. Now all
these links are trucated from the posts.

The links are not spam any directly point to either where the post
attachement can be seen (if the user posted an attachement to their
message to the USENET Group) or a link to the post that the user is
replying to for such cases where the NNTP provider might no longer have
the original message available

--

On Wed, 9 Oct 2024 21:31:30 +0000, MThorn wrote:

> Hi - this is a followup to an issue that another user is trying to bring
> to the attention of RetroGuy
>
> https://www.novabbs.com/arts/article-flat.php?id=251245&group=alt.arts.poetry.comments#251245
>
> https://www.novabbs.com/arts/article-flat.php?id=252460&group=alt.arts.poetry.comments#252460
>
> If you take a look at the USENET message
> <2vmdna1GF_tD4WH7nZ2dnZfqn_adnZ2d@giganews.com>
>
> using any NNTP client, you will see there is a post continuity link at
> the bottom. These links for either message replies or message
> attachements appear on messages originating at that gateway. Before
> they appeared on NovaBBS but there was an error with transcribing the ?
> mark in the link query string which resulted in a broken link. Now all
> these links are trucated from the posts.
>
> The links are not spam any directly point to either where the post
> attachement can be seen (if the user posted an attachement to their
> message to the USENET Group) or a link to the post that the user is
> replying to for such cases where the NNTP provider might no longer have
> the original message available

novaBBS generally filters obvious Usenet provider injected advertising
from posts. I actually only see it from jlaforum currently. When and if
I find others, I filter it, but I don't see it happening. Something
like, "Posted on Joe's site" is fine, but 3-6 lines that include links
is too much. Often it is longer than the user's reply. User's signatures
are posted by the user, so do not fall into this category. Injecting
into a user's signature would.

When I first saw it I tried to visit the forum and was met with a
captcha that would require me to agree with a specific political opinion
to enter, so I just left. I don't know much about the forum other than
the References header can be messed up (missing references), and quoting
is quite messy resulting in badly formatted messages (lines wrapped
without maintaining the quote level). I'm guessing you're using forum
software not specifically made for Usenet articles.

If a user wants to find a particular article in the References, the
features are available on novaBBS to find that information. Once they
have the Message-ID, they can find the message somewhere such as
http://al.howardknight.net/ or just check a newsserver.

Having many years old articles on a web forum, novaBBS included, only
encourages necroposting, as web users of Usenet don't tend to check
things like the date of an article before replying. Google Groups proved
this point well.

If your injected message was a simple single line like, "Posted on
jlaforum.com' I wouldn't bother filtering it.

--
Retro Guy

Hi Retro Guy,

There are only two cases where links injected during the posting
process.

Case 1: When a person posts a new topic and they attach a photo or
other attachment to the post that is relevent to the post - then a
single link is injected that links to the the attachment so the reader
can view the attachment. If the user posts a new post without an
attachment - then no link is injected.

Case 2: When a person replies to a topic then a single link is injected
to the actual post that the user is replying to. This is helpful for
readers on NNTP servers that might not have longer retention periods and
a user chooses to reply to an older topic. If the user (with their
reply) also chooses to attach a photo or other attachment to their post
reply that is relevant to either their reply or the original post, then
Case 1 also applies and a second link is posted to where the attachment
is posted.

All outgoing posts are filtered and moderated before being passed on to
USENET

No other links are injected.

--

On Thu, 10 Oct 2024 1:03:43 +0000, MThorn wrote:

> Hi Retro Guy,
>
> There are only two cases where links injected during the posting
> process.
>
> Case 1: When a person posts a new topic and they attach a photo or
> other attachment to the post that is relevent to the post - then a
> single link is injected that links to the the attachment so the reader
> can view the attachment. If the user posts a new post without an
> attachment - then no link is injected.
>
> Case 2: When a person replies to a topic then a single link is injected
> to the actual post that the user is replying to. This is helpful for
> readers on NNTP servers that might not have longer retention periods and
> a user chooses to reply to an older topic. If the user (with their
> reply) also chooses to attach a photo or other attachment to their post
> reply that is relevant to either their reply or the original post, then
> Case 1 also applies and a second link is posted to where the attachment
> is posted.
>
> All outgoing posts are filtered and moderated before being passed on to
> USENET
>
> No other links are injected.

It's not a critically important issue. I stand corrected that it is 2
lines per link, not 3 lines per link, as I previously calculated. I was
working from memory and it's been a while.

When I first started novaBBS type sites, I added "Posted on novaBBS" at
the end of posts, but eventually decided that it was a bit presumptuous
of me to do that, so I stopped. I don't believe any readers of the
articles really cared where it was posted, and it was just an intrusive
comment in the article. I focus now on trying to be as Usenet compliant
with posts as possible for a website.

In any case, I have removed the filter on novaBBS.

Also, thank you for changing the captcha. I have no issue typing Michael
Jackson.

--
Retro Guy

RetroGuy,

Thank You...

--

Did this also apply to posts on https://rocksolidbbs.com as well or are
they separate site there that you are not affliated with? I ask because
one user that posts at both locations and JLA (Nova and Rocksolid) said
that they are now back on NovaBBS but not RocksolidBBS

Thank You

--