This is 1 way to stop seeing Indian SPAM!

Hey, I hope this helps some people, as when I'm browsing the forums -- I can't stand all the spam that has erupted lately and desists in being dealt with. 

So, I can't code or anything, but I thought how about installing an extension that replaces certain words: (baba, ji, tantra, etc) to something (anything!) else.

So I spent a while looking around the Chrome store, and found two extensions which would serve the purpose: 

1) Scrape Me (which replaces the offending words + numbers with ''shutup'').

2) Watchman (which replaces the offending words --but not numbers, i'm afraid-- with a blue rectangle).

Now I know this isn't a beautiful cure. But it is, in my mind, easier to pinpoint those unanswered forum posts and cuts out all the offending rubbish advertizing from overseas. 

If anyone comes up with a better solution, that'd be wonderful. In the meantime, I hope this makes your forum experience more enjoyable.

-Boog

The only reasonable solution I've heard is that new users get their posts screened. People who have at least 10 points(you get 1 point for each post or response) will have their posts immediately approved.

Now, they have required posts to have 4 responses before being shown in the New Messages widget. This is too bad. Already, I saw one user complaining taht Chess.com users were not helpful because nobody was responding to his posts. WHich were getting burried under all the spam that is actually STILL in the forums, but not in the new messages widget.

Maybe it's a win-win.  At the expense of the forum (which may be seen as a very minor feature) they get more new accounts each day to help reach that 10 million mark

By the way, great effort by Boogalicious.

The forums, a minor feature? It seems to me it is a pretty important feature. 

I know some of us are more active, and it can sometimes seem like there aren't many active users. But if you take a look at ALL the forums, you will see there are hundreds of active users. 

Thanks ************ (Cool nickname btw! How do you pronounce that? )

It's kinda funny (and appropriate!) seeing all those 'Shutup!''s now when I cruise the forums lol.

Nice, Lee! Post-screening sounds like a smart step forward (with the old hands taking care of new queries and such). At least they're on to it.

But I guess they're not going to buy my idea for a couple hundred thous then ..

I think it's a big feature.  However from chess.com's actions (or rather their lack thereof) I tend to think they don't agree.

Right. I get you. And, I agree with you.

It's a good idea.

One that could be extended to the posts by an individual that posts more than 15 times per day.

Or a minimum number of games before ability to post.

The main problem with this is that there are many good contributors to the forums who, for what ever strange reason, don't actually play chess at Chess.com.

And of course, new users who might have questions.

This may be a strange question but why doesn't chess.com allow one to create a board and invite whomever he wishes?  That is the only reason I don't play at this site.  The few times I tried to play a game here someone popped up as an opponent giving me no choice in the matter.  If that option were available I would probably become a premium in a heartbeat. 

If I am wrong about that option please inform me. 

You can challenge friends to live games if you are both online at the same time.

Every time I try to play a live game there is no option of inviting anyone.  An opponent simply pops up and the game begins. 

Banning all IPs assigned to India would help too.

My understanding is that some people don't play on this website but elsewhere, such as FICS, ICC, FIDE online arena, Sparkchess ect. but come here to discuss as chess.com has without a doubt, the most active chess forum on the web.

In the lower right-hand part of the live games interface, there is a tab called 'Friends'. Click that and you will see all your friends that are online. There will be a link to watch them, if they are involved in a game, or challenge them if they are not playing.

No idea why you can't just challenge people.

No. The option is not avaialable. You just get a player that matches your rating range.