That's a lot of maybes, SpyPlane.I don't think we've met, we probably never will, but you've made a lot of assumptions about me that are flat out wrong, not to mention a bit insulting.
Look, whatever other counter-measures could be put in place, the banned words list would still have to be left in and the result would be the same, just extra steps involved for the same result.
Hitting the back button on your browser is a simple and quick solution to the problem, even for those who are time poor.
I suppose I've been lucky, I've never been pulled up for more than one banned word in the odd posting. And I can understand that it can be annoying, but after a while, you get a feeling for things. Such as the sorts of words not to use because there is a list of words that are banned, even if you don't know specifically what they are.
Yet another solution to the problem, is to compile your own list. If you see an oddly hyphenated word such as fo-r-um or cas-ino or pic-kles, or whatever, it'd be a fair bet to say that it's a banned word that the poster wanted to use.
To most people, that would indicate that this is a word not to use because it is banned. The really smart ones would figure out for themselves the sorts of words that are risky and not use those words at all or find a different word with the same meaning to use, I do it all the time, and only get caught because I've been careless. After a while this becomes so routine that you don't even think about it.
Perhaps a link to a "please read before you post" page, saying that there are are certain words that are banned because they're use by spammers, no we won't tell you what they are because then it would tip the spammers off, would prevent people complaining that they were unable to post because of a banned word.
Thus forewarned, the person can then hit the back button and compose a message, avoiding words that the may suspect could be risky, or having to use odd hyphenations that the spammers have a chance of picking up on. It's called common sense. Oh wait, I recall seeing a death notice for common sense, pity, the world needs him.
The reality is, the solutions suggested so far, aren't. All they do is complicate things. I know the other posters mean well, and may even be speaking from experience, but it has been proven that these things don't work, and if instigated, only serves to create more work, and compounds the problem.
The open door policy that exists at the moment is the best one, it may not be a perfect solution, but, a way to track down spammers and beat the snot out of them hasn't been found either.
Nick
