Miserable Users

[Paul M]

As of 24 Nov 2017 this modification has been withdrawn.

The ever popular "miserable users" hack for vb 3.8.

Basically a way to really annoy anyone you don't want visiting your forum. This version is based on the vb 3.7 version. Credit to Zzed for the original idea.

When classed as miserable, a member suffers ;

1. Slow response (time delay) on every page (20 to 60 seconds default).
2. A chance they will get the "server busy" message (50% by default).
3. A chance that no search facilities will be available (75% by default).
4. A chance they will get redirected to another preset page (25% & homepage by default).
5. A chance they will simply get a blank page (25% by default).
6. Post flood limit increased by a defined factor (10 times by default).
7. If they get past all this okay, then they will be served up their proper page.

Note: All the above options are set in the vBulletin Options.

To install this hack simply download the xml file to your pc and then import it into vbulletin as a product - then create your 'miserable users' usergroup and set the value of this group, and your preferred other settings, in the hacks settings area (vBulletin Oprions > Miserable Users). To make a member suffer just edit their profile to add them to the miserable users group (it will work as either the primary group or as a secondary group).


History:

v3.8.001 - Initial vB 3.8 release.

[rapidphim]

I love this hack on 3.7.x .... glad to see it again on 3.8.x

[IRANCITY]

tank u man

[Steeler Nation]

I have the 3.7 version on my 3.8 board and it works fine. How is this one better?

[Paul M]

Where does it say its better ?

[Wordplay]

sounds cold, why would you want to annoy your members like that?

[Paul M]

This is a support thread, not a discussion on why you may/may not want to use it, if you cant see a use for it then you dont need to install it.

[Steeler Nation]

Where does it say its better ?

Then why post it unless it's been improved somehow?

[R1lover]

Then why post it unless it's been improved somehow?

It's a new version for 3.8 silly....

[projectego]

/me clicks install

[beishe8]

sounds cold, why would you want to annoy your members like that?
Only some of your naughty members.

[CLUB AMPLE]

haha this is cruel... i love it!!

[kriscad]

Where does it say its better ?

haha


i may have to try this one

[badboyz]

a idea if you put it in option to do it by ips also it would b v cool b/c i have few ppl keep coming bk n i don't want ban their ips b/c they increase my members total lol so i will just bug them out lol v nice mod ty clicked installed

[Paul M]

It already has that option.

[GrendelKhan{TSU]

wooT! still one of the best mods out there. :) thanks!

[Blue91]

Just went from 3.03 (where I had this) to 3.8. Reinstalled and worked great. Thanks again.

[Phaedrus]

Paul, Did this change much since the last one? Will my previous version continue to operate as it has in the past or do I need to upgrade?

[Paul M]

Nothing has changed.

[terracore]

Paul, Did this change much since the last one? Will my previous version continue to operate as it has in the past or do I need to upgrade?

I recommend you upgrade. I had this mod installed. I had no usergroups assigned to be a "miserable user" and the plugin was disabled via the control panel. When I upgraded to 3.7.4 to 3.8.0 about 20% of my users started complaining about the pages not loading. It took almost a week of my time troubleshooting the problem. IT WAS THIS MOD (the previous version). There was no rhyme or reason to explain why 20% of the users were randomly being affected, or how a disabled mod could do this, or why upgrading to 3.8.0. caused this to happen.

If you are having this problem you might not even know it. Take a look at your stats and see if they suddenly dropped off after upgrading to 3.8.0.

[Paul M]

Its impossible for a disabled mod to have any effect. Vb does not even load the code.

[Phaedrus]

I recommend you upgrade. I had this mod installed. I had no usergroups assigned to be a "miserable user" and the plugin was disabled via the control panel. When I upgraded to 3.7.4 to 3.8.0 about 20% of my users started complaining about the pages not loading. It took almost a week of my time troubleshooting the problem. IT WAS THIS MOD (the previous version). There was no rhyme or reason to explain why 20% of the users were randomly being affected, or how a disabled mod could do this, or why upgrading to 3.8.0. caused this to happen.

If you are having this problem you might not even know it. Take a look at your stats and see if they suddenly dropped off after upgrading to 3.8.0.

Nah, I've actually had a rise in posts since the upgrade. But then I have use of the hack to begin with. There was this one poster, it was absolutely magical...

Seriously good stuff.

[AMUforums]

Then why post it unless it's been improved somehow?

The better question might be, what changes have been made?

[terracore]

Its impossible for a disabled mod to have any effect. Vb does not even load the code.

Not according to the vbulletin developer who helped me find and fix this problem. This was actually their first suggestion but I too thought it was "impossible" and didn't listen to their advice and spent a week chasing ghosts in the machine that didn't exist.

[Paul M]

Then it wasnt disabled.

[GrendelKhan{TSU]

I love this add-on. one of my favorite in the history of vb. props paul!



______________

btw.... hope this is ok to ask here (paul feel free to edit if not with my apologizes)
I have particularily persistent troll. Does know a url of a site or page with a bad pop-up pornado or malware/virus? or both http://www.igoo.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif it might be worthwhile to have a miserable user troll redirect to that site on occasion. (PM me if not)
(right now we have it set to redirect to a random site everyonce in a while - I think I set it to 15% of the time and that just annoys him).

Point: aggressive extra deterent.

its one thing to get redirected to a random or shocking site, but someone would might be very fearful of getting redirected to site that gets them stuck in a pornado bomb and/or potentially damaging to there computer.

hell I know I would.

[Paul M]

Sorry but I would not ever condone using it to do such a thing.

[TheArve]

Thanks for this,, really appreciate ur time taken,

CHeers

thearve

[SloppyGoat]

I actually left this installed when I upgraded from 3.6.5 to 3.8.0, and it still seems to work fine.

[GrendelKhan{TSU]

Sorry but I would not ever condone using it to do such a thing.

fair enough. :)

apologizes for the post then. :( I fear my level of spite for trolls has led me down the dark side. luuuuke!! I am your father!!!!! :p

[VFKWorld09]

I have a few members on my site I would love to try this on. Hehe!

[terracore]

Then it wasnt disabled.

Well it was disabled in the control panel (and the font listing the mod changed to strikeout, showing vbulletin believes it is disabled) .... other than that I don't know how to disable a mod.

[Paul M]

Then it cannot have any effect - the simple fact is that if a plugin is disabled, its code is not even loaded into the plugin cache, so it cannot run.

If it was disabled and running then your plugin cache must have been broken/corrupted, and that is not a problem related to this (or any other) mod, its a fault on your board.

[WESH(UK)]

Hi Paul

I've upgrade from vb3.6.1 to v3.8.0 and left this mod installed and running, everything works fine as far as I'm aware with the old version installed.

Has this version been changed in any way to the old version, or is this the old version that has been declared safe for 3.8?

[Paul M]

There are no changes other than allowing it to install in 3.8, you can happily continue to use the older version.

[Merjawy]

I have been using this for so long.. they even created sites about how bad I am :) thanks Paul

to upgrade, will it overwrite the old one of do I need to remove old one?


Thanks

[Paul M]

If you install the update it should remove the older version.

[rickrichards82]

i would suggest putting in troll levels.

level 1 - they get screwed around 5% of the time.

level 3 - they get screwed around 50% of the time

level 5 - 90%

it wouldn't be that hard to do. instead of having a toll bit that is either 1 or 0 it can be a value that is from 0 to 5.

also it would be sweet if the script set a cookie so that if a miserable user tried to log out and make a new account the problems would still happen. it helps to create confusion as to if the user is being screwed with or the server is having problems. i wouldn't want them to know 100% that i was messing with them since that might only provoke them to cause more problems. i would rather them get frustrated with what they think is technical problems.

no matter what i am sure to install this great mod.

[Safari]

haha, its great, and a fun way to torture people >=]

[gmerin]

has to be my favorite and most used hack ;)

[ctimes]

Any way to make this available to moderators? I would prefer this over banning at times.

[gmerin]

Any way to make this available to moderators? I would prefer this over banning at times.

i won't ban anyone (at least not permanently): i think that the people who would otherwise be banned, actually get off on it as though they've been martyred. i find this is far more effective than banning in correcting their behaviors.

[derzok]

hahaha! This is the most brilliant hack ever! Thank you SO much!

*marks as installed*

[kronnos]

Hey, few question:

Would it be possible to give mods power to add IP's to the miserable list?

Would a guest with his IP being on the list, still be able to register? I added an IP for the user and he is still able to register with the same IP.

Thanks

[Paul M]

This will not stop registrations.

[kronnos]

I see, any chance you would be able to make this option for future release?

Also, does this mod use cookies? I mean, If the user with the added IP registers with a new IP, would there be cookies saved on the same computer telling it to make this user also miserable?

[BlackJacket]

I see, any chance you would be able to make this option for future release?

Also, does this mod use cookies? I mean, If the user with the added IP registers with a new IP, would there be cookies saved on the same computer telling it to make this user also miserable?

IP and username.

Great mod Paul. This is far more better than banning.

[biggeorge]

This should be mod of the century!

I've been using it for 3 years. IMO it is the best weapon in an owner's arsenal :cool:

On a side note... I've been using 2.0 and it was working with 3.8.1. I just upgraded to the current MU version. When the update completed I had lost all my IP's in the MU settings. I had to manual add all my IP's to the list. Not a big deal, but I thought others might want to know.

Keep up the great work!

[R1lover]

Hey, few question:

Would it be possible to give mods power to add IP's to the miserable list?

Would a guest with his IP being on the list, still be able to register? I added an IP for the user and he is still able to register with the same IP.

Thanks

This option is there already :)

[cdill35]

installed

[goxy63]

Iam on shared server, dont have that much users 10-20 online...until now no any issues with too many processes on server
After installation of this hack my site went down cause of too many processes...after killing them everything was just fine
I tested this hack only with one user, my test user

Any suggestions

[Paul M]

Nope, this doesnt create extra "processes".

[StarBuG]

Thank you very much.

We have a female user that really needs to be a little miserable :p

[Aneurysm]

This is gonna' be fun!

[CableSux]

I love this mod! I just installed it. I have a test user account that I added to the miserable group, when I logged in with this user I saw it in action.. GREAT! However... you say it's based on IP and username. Well, I went to log back into my admin account and all I got was "database error". I thought somehow my db got screwed up. I went into mysql and removed my test user account from the miserable group and whalla, I was able to log in again with my admin account. Looks to me that it only looks at IPs, not usernames. Is that possible?

I would love to be able to have a list of URLs to redirect to.. I've got a guy that's on the opposite political spectrum from me and I would love to send him to various (appears random) web sites of the opposite persuasion. :D Any tips on how this could be done instead of just one redirect URL?
.

[optrex]

tried it on my own account and it works like a dream - thanks

[stabmyback]

This is pretty much my all time favorite hack.

Thank you! :D

[thepowerofnow]

wow this is GODLY, thanks SO MUCH for creating this ! i have an annoying user on my buddhism site ! wow he can kiss goodbye

[cmmguy]

Then it cannot have any effect - the simple fact is that if a plugin is disabled, its code is not even loaded into the plugin cache, so it cannot run.

If it was disabled and running then your plugin cache must have been broken/corrupted, and that is not a problem related to this (or any other) mod, its a fault on your board.

I disabled the Product but something seemed like it was still active. I checked the plugins and the Miserable User plugin was still active. Shouldnt that become disabled if the Product is disabled?

[jkw]

this is the best computer related invention since ascii porn and BOFH.

[Zacaretas]

A unique mod indeed!

Installed (:

[jrap]

Installed! Tested this mod out on myself, and it's quite annoying..perfect :)

Thanks

[unicorn2433]

I have an older version installed. Should I upgrade to this or are they the same?

[Paul M]

No need to upgrade if the version you have is working fine for you.

[Spikeman]

Just brilliant, Thanks Paul

[ljd290]

Thanks for mod, installed

[unicorn2433]

No need to upgrade if the version you have is working fine for you.

TY:)

[dmark101]

very awesome. thanks for updating this to the latest vB. installed. :D

[TheeMadame]

Works real good, thanks. :)

[Dollarsign]

Very nice mod, is there any way that a user will know they are on such a miserable user list? Or can you just tell them that it must be their computer?

[Biker_GA]

If the user is somewhat savvy, you can't really blame it on the PC. However, you can shrug your shoulders and point out that nobody else has complained about connection issues. **snicker**

[Dollarsign]

^ lol that's true. However I have been receiving some MYSQL Database issues after I installed this, looks like the user is having some trouble accessing the forums :D

Is this normal?

Database error in vBulletin 3.8.2:

Invalid SQL:

SELECT text, languageid, special
FROM phrase AS phrase
LEFT JOIN phrasetype USING (fieldname)
WHERE phrase.fieldname = 'error'
AND varname = 'toobusy' AND languageid IN (-1, 0, 1);

MySQL Error : MySQL server has gone away
Error Number : 2006
Request Date : Wednesday, May 20th 2009 @ 01:26:01 PM
Error Date : Wednesday, May 20th 2009 @ 01:27:01 PM
Script :
Referrer :
IP Address :
Username :
Classname : vB_Database
MySQL Version :

There are about 7 database errors all from the same user:

[Biker_GA]

I wouldn't worry about it. ;)

[Dollarsign]

Okay thanks :D I tried it out on myself and yes, it really does live up to its Miserable name. I was laughing my ass off :eek::D

[Paul M]

^ lol that's true. However I have been receiving some MYSQL Database issues after I installed this, looks like the user is having some trouble accessing the forums :D

Is this normal?
There are about 7 database errors all from the same user:

I would guess you have a very small mysql timeout (smaller than your max MU delay setting) so sometimes the users connection is timing out.

[W!cKeD]

* Thanks & Installed * :up:

I've many miserable User :( but this Add-On is perfect for these :)

[Frank Sinatra]

thanksss evil works perfect

[mdawg]

Why is the IP address
169.254.1.1
included in the default "Miserable IP addresses" section?

Also, why re-direct to index.php if my home page is index.html ?

Final question: is there a way to set up User Infractions so that Mods can simply move someone to the MU status, similar to laying an Instant Ban on a member? I was able to make it so that, say, at 50 points the person's permissions are made those of the MU category, but this does not kick in the MU delays and so on.
Maybe all that has to be done is modify a template so that under Add an Automatic Ban there is an option to move user to usergroup MU?

[Paul M]

1. Its an example ip address, one that no one can have in reality - why ?

2. Change it then, thats the point of an option.

3. You would need to use the Automatic Ban Infraction - to make the usergroup visible in the dropdown list it must be a "bannable group" (usergroup option). I believe (untested) that once youve added it, you can remove the usergroups bannable status.

[ubcforums]

This is Cool !! I Annoyed A member who was spamming lol...

[mdawg]

1. Its an example ip address, one that no one can have in reality - why ?

2. Change it then, thats the point of an option.

3. You would need to use the Automatic Ban Infraction - to make the usergroup visible in the dropdown list it must be a "bannable group" (usergroup option). I believe (untested) that once youve added it, you can remove the usergroups bannable status.

Thanks, got it.

FYI once "banned" via an infraction to MU status, reversing the infraction does not lift the MU status - must do so within Mod or Admin control panel.

[Paul M]

FYI once "banned" via an infraction to MU status, reversing the infraction does not lift the MU status - must do so within Mod or Admin control panel.
Yep, thats a feature missing from the vb infractions system, hopefully one that will be addressed in vb4.

[radmoose]

I would guess you have a very small mysql timeout (smaller than your max MU delay setting) so sometimes the users connection is timing out.

I am getting these database errors.

I have a 60 second mySQL timeout and a max MU response time of 60 as well.

So by reducing the MU response to something like 45 that should resolve these timeout errors?

One 'feature' I wish MU had was a log so I could tell easily when someone has been 'hit' by the MU as well as how they were hit. If it wasn't for the error message from vBulletin about the database timeout, I wouldn't easily see what was happening.

In any case, this mod rocks! Thanks! =)

[Paul M]

Yes, if you reduce the MU response time you should be ok.

An SQL timeout of 60 seems a bit low, I use 180.

I think a log would be a bit OTT really. :)

[Ronald0]

Very creative nice job. Using this.

[tjh4384]

Installed, and thanks

[radmoose]

Yes, if you reduce the MU response time you should be ok.
OK thanks =)

An SQL timeout of 60 seems a bit low, I use 180.
I am running multiple boards and sites on the server and until I ran MU I wasn't getting any errors except when the mySQL server was really offline.

I think a log would be a bit OTT really. :)
Well, I wanted to know if issues were being cased my MU or if there was another reason, so a log would have helped. Also I have a user that was banned, and it would give me an idea that I was properly targeting them. =)

I am using an app that I wrote to parse the HTTP log as well as another plug in to see when they are on. But it would have been nice to see something like the last 100 instances of MU.

[bmckinley]

VB should include on 4.0!

[Saviour]

Absoluetly love this...Thanks!

[mdawg]

Adding on to the SQL database errors noted by others above, ones in which the punch line is "MySQL Error : MySQL server has gone away," I do believe that most of these have to do with the MU hack. But, isn't this what the MU modification is supposed to do? Delay response?

I have this one particular spammer I MU'ed who is particularly determined to get back on my forums. Or maybe he doesn't even realize he has been MU'ed and just thinks this is the way it is!

Anyway, the errors typically read like this:

Database error in vBulletin 3.8.4:

Invalid SQL:

SELECT forumid, moderatorid, permissions, permissions2
FROM moderator
WHERE userid = 313 AND forumid != -1;

MySQL Error : MySQL server has gone away
Error Number : 2006
Request Date : Tuesday, August 25th 2009 @ 05:38:44 PM
Error Date : Tuesday, August 25th 2009 @ 05:39:15 PM
Script : http://www.XXXYYYXXX.com/forums/
Referrer : http://www.XXXYYYXXX.com/index.php
IP Address : 95.XXX.X.XX
Username : _________
Classname : vB_Database
MySQL Version :

Where the username: ____________ is the user I MU'ed.

(By the way...just FYI, through these database errors I have noticed that the culprit logs on with different (but very similar) IP addresses. So, banning an IP address is not an effective means to keep away a determined spammer.)

But the odd thing is...I am also occasionally getting these database errors for unregistered users:

Invalid SQL:

INSERT INTO cronlog
(varname, dateline, description, type)
VALUES
('vbseo_sitemap_task',
1251271198,
'Google Sitemap Created',
0);

MySQL Error : MySQL server has gone away
Error Number : 2006
Request Date : Wednesday, August 26th 2009 @ 02:19:58 AM
Error Date : Wednesday, August 26th 2009 @ 02:22:24 AM
Script : http://www.XXXYYYXXX.com/forums/cron.php?rand=1251271196
Referrer : http://www.XXXYYYXXX.com/forums/XX-discussions/___________
IP Address : 97.XX.XXX.XX
Username : Unregistered
Classname : vB_Database
MySQL Version :

And wonder if these cron errors also have to do with this MU add on.

[Paul M]

You almost certainly have a very low mysql timeout value.

[Aclikyano]

this mod >>>
dont have it installed now, but i did before prob when was on 3.7
had me rofl when put it on some annoying members

[mdawg]

You almost certainly have a very low mysql timeout value.

I am on a shared server so I cannot change the value. I believe this server kills queries running longer than 15 seconds.

[bada_bing]

I would like to suggest a few options for this plugin to make it more interactive with the mods.

There should be an icon next to the ban user icon called Miserable Users and whoever has access to use it can dynamically add a user to this groups and show also have the ability to choose a start date/time and end date/time or permanent, that way you dont forget you placed someone in this group as you can torcher them for that time frame then get removed from that group when the time expires.

[princeedward]

this is perfect idea and created for a new vb version....it a bit friendly way to fight back those annoying members, spammers, don't want to follow rules, acting genious and dont want to be corrected always...all in all a BAD, BAD, BAD person...

instead of having a headache now and get angry arguing with them all the time....you will have fun lauging just to think what will gonna happen to this bad members......

surely they will love this as much as you love this mod....

million thanks to the original creator and likewise to Paul M for his time updating this to the latest stand...


http://epaloids.com/images/smilies/salute.gif

[Drache]

where can I edit the server busy message? I can just set unregistered group as miserable user groups and give them 25% chance to see server busy message and require to login to load faster?

[Paul M]

I believe the vb busy message is a phrase called "toobusy".

[krazyness]

Installed

[beatyourtruck]

I love this mod....a great way to get rid of pesky members :) Thanks Paul! 8)

[KellyT]

Thank you

[Super-six]

Where does this mod load into ACP [controls interface]?

adminCP > vB options > banning options?

[Biker_GA]

AdminCP->Usergroups->Usergroup Manager

[MyCTaK]

I just installed it and test it! Great! I decrease all percent and i hope people will not understand what disaster is upon them! Thanks!
I wanted to suggest option so user can't log out and register new one.
Best: MyCTaKaP

[BigDog56]

Love this one, it's my wife's favorite modification, lol. Upgraded from 3.6 to this one.

[Classico]

Hi!!

Does this work in VB4.0? ;)

Thanks!

[thedwb]

I just did the install, it is active, I created a user group for them and it doesn't seem to work for me.

vBulletin 3.8.4 is what I have.

Any known issues with this?

[Paul M]

Any known issues with this?
Nope.

[isatice]

works like a charm

[isatice]

had tons of server load problem for all usergroups including admin , had to unistall it , and problem is gone now , pitty i loved it :(

[Paul M]

had tons of server load problem for all usergroups including adminThen you probably did something wrong.

[thedwb]

It was my fault. In the hack area I did not assign a user group ID number.

Works like a charm now. Thank you. Perhaps the greatest plug-in ever!

INSTALLED

[Nocturnal1]

How do I hide the actual MUG usergroup so that no one can view who is in the MUG user group besides admin/mods?

Installed.

[Paul M]

Turn off the display on forum leaders option in the usergroups settings.

[isatice]

Then you probably did something wrong.

ok i'll give it another try , i love this hack

[PossumX]

Any chance of this mod being updated for vB 4.0 when the time comes?

[cyclical]

Any chance of this mod being updated for vB 4.0 when the time comes?

I also would like to know this, I am upgrading to the beta version of 4 this afternoon. Would hate to not have this feature anymore.

[Paul M]

I will not be upgrading any mods before vb4 is gold, and almost certainly not until after the New Year, even if vb4 is released before then.

[PossumX]

I will not be upgrading any mods before vb4 is gold, and almost certainly not until after the New Year, even if vb4 is released before then.

I would expect nothing less, as we all need to wait for Gold release prior to doing anything live. Thanks, as always, Paul M, your mods are excellent.

[tribedude]

How do I upgrade the plugin from a previous version that I have installed (I think our previous installed version is from 3.4 or 3.7....

[Paul M]

You need to know what your previous version is.

If its the 3.6 or 3.7 version, then installing this will auto remove the previous version. If its older than the 3.6 version then you will need to manually uninstall it in the product manager.

[Alan_SP]

I tested it on myself (actually, my other account, regular user one) and I needed to change IP address. I couldn't even log to AdminCP. So, use this with caution. And, check time for denying server response, if it's too long, you may receive error, PHP scripts on my server have 30 sec to be executed...

[General Ray]

<font face="courier new">LOL!
This is a work of art. I love it.
Kind regards.</font>

[Alan_SP]

Will that be ported to vB4?

[RoxyTheImpreza]

amazing, thank you!

[tribedude]

I uninstalled the previous version (I did not know how old it was). I did not create a new Miserable users usergroup as one already existed..

I re-installed as per new instructions. I created a test registration and associated it with the Miserable users usergroup and it does not seem to be functioning (seems like there is no limitations or stalls).

Should I delete the "Miserable users" usergroup and create a new one from scratch? Would that help? Is the spelling of this group causing the problem ? (miserable users, Miserable Users)

[tribedude]

Never mind. I forget to set the hacks in vb options. works perfectly now.

[ManagerJosh]

4.0 Update anytime soon? :D

[Welshy2008]

4.0 Update anytime soon? :D



https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?threadid=231106

[TwistedC]

On redirect. Default is the index.php

If I wanted to redirect users to another site, how would I go about that?

When I tried to do so, then tested it, it came up as the site was not on the server. So is it possible to do?

Thanks and awesome hack:D

[Paul M]

What did you actually put (for another site I think you would need the full url).

[mgurain]

Fantastic Paul,
1. Why do they get a blank page with the word ( here ) only !
2. How do I let them see ( Database Error ) ?
3. How can we make it logical random, meaning one from lower limit, next from higher limit, may be difficult ! because now if we put it e.g 50% they will get it many times !

Thanks,,

[bigwater]

Paul, this is a great mod and I have been using it succesfully for a long time now, but I came across an anomoly that may or may not need to be addressed. It should probably at least be addressed in the documentation somewhere.

I had a man bot register on the site and one of the supermods immediately banned him after his first spam post. The bot refused to give up and kept hammering the site, which is typical of these types of bots... not much you can do except put a ban on their ip... but my co-administrator had the bright idea of putting miserable user as a secondary group to the banned user primary group to slow it down. This created a flood of database errors. Between 2a.m. this morning when he added miserables to the banned user and 2p.m. this afternoon, I received over 400 MySQL database error messages "database has gone away" in my email inbox.

No big deal, I took miserables off of him, banned the IP and deleted all but one of the emails for reference. All of the problems ceased immediately. Just thought you might like to know about this weird interaction between banned/miserables groupings for future head scratching.

Edit: latest version of miserables running on vB 3.8.4 PL2

[Paul M]

Fantastic Paul,
1. Why do they get a blank page with the word ( here ) only !
2. How do I let them see ( Database Error ) ?
3. How can we make it logical random, meaning one from lower limit, next from higher limit, may be difficult ! because now if we put it e.g 50% they will get it many times !

Thanks,,

1. No idea, there is no code to output the word "here" ...

2. Create a fake database error page and re-direct them to it.

3. Sorry, I dont understand what your saying.

[ChopSuey]

You actually have a database error page already
includes/database_error_page.html
------- :D

[TwistedC]

What did you actually put (for another site I think you would need the full url).

I just put in the www.theothersite.com

I did not put in the http:// with that also and just put it into the re-direct destination area. I will try it again but with the full url.


Edit* - It works, now that I added the full addy. Thanks Paul

[KHALIK]

Does this work for vb 4.0? can anyone confirm, please.

I love all of Paul M, products and this is a must for my vb4 forum.

[Paul M]

Nope, but the vb4 version does ;)

[walt59]

Installed and been having fun makes spammers and problem users miserable!!!!

[final kaoss]

hah is this the one that punishes members and keeps track of it with a cookie? If so, there should be a %25 of login failure.

[Dragon Company]

Very funny, thanks :)

[LEGS]

Will this work for VB3.8.4?

[Paul M]

Yes.

[Fok you]

I love this hack thanks man.

[fortforum]

Got this error on install:

A conflict was detected in the bitfields. You cannot continue with the installation of this product until this has been fixed. The conflicts found were:

* Bitfield Collision: credits_cantearn = prefixrequired

Any ideas?

[Paul M]

Yes, its nothing to do with this. You have two mods installed that are clashing.

Whenever you install a mod vb runs a bitfield check, and its failing.

[l_amhed]

Hi !

Thanks for this hack, which is very usefull, I love the idea.
This morning I ran a test and it appears that each time I put someone in the "miserable" usergroup the display of the username (postbit legacy) is broken. It's written :
vbmenu_register("postmenu_XXXXX", true); instead of the nickname.

Maybe it's a problem with another hack I'm testing, but the fact is I don't know where to search. I tried to add an
AND $userinfo['userid'] == XXX with the ID of a member in the miserable group or even put AND $userinfo['usergroupid'] == XXX with the good usergroup ID, in the condition of the postbit legacy but it fails.

(my version 3.8.0)

[Paul M]

Im afraid I dont really understand your issue or what you are trying to do.

[Maverick92]

This thing is the bomb. <3

[adwade]

This is pretty much my all time favorite hack.

Thank you! :D

Ditto! Of ALL the MODs I've ever used, I've never had a single problem with any of PaulM's modifications and this particular one just warms my heart to the core. ;)

Having run a TeleGard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telegard) BBS back in the pre-internet communication era with similar features to this MOD, I was SO PLEASED when I tripped across it. :D

Kudos PaulM on all your jobs, which are VERY well done! :up:

[onealien]

mwuahahahahaha...love it...*evil grin*

installed and activateddddd....lol

[BirdOPrey5]

As someone who's had this used against them I can say it's no fun...

It also results in thousands of "F5" clicks. ;)

[soundbarrierpro]

I've used this several times and it's far more useful than banning or tachy. ESPECIALLY when you set a preset re-direct page. You can really shock the annoying member/s.

[iadmirevb]

best mod ever!

[Prisoner]

I love this. I have one guy who makes the most insane accusations against people. He thinks he is anonymous, he doesn't think that I know who he is, so I redirect him to his own Facebook page.

He still doesn't get it.

[BirdOPrey5]

I love this. I have one guy who makes the most insane accusations against people. He thinks he is anonymous, he doesn't think that I know who he is, so I redirect him to his own Facebook page.

He still doesn't get it.

Wait... :confused: That happens to me all the time... are you the admin of http://www.centextalk.com ?

[Prisoner]

LOL if it were you, you wouldn't be so nice about it. That guy hates me...hahaha

[dutchbb]

It already has that option.

Hi Paul

Thanks for this mod.

Is it possible to add a userid option? I prefer that instead of using a usergroup. Thanks.

(If not, can you explain how to code it in?)

[Paul M]

A userid option would simply be duplication, since you just add individual users to the usergroup, so I wont be adding it. I cant really explain in detail how to do it as that would basically be coding it - very loosly, it would be similar to the ip option, but for the members userid, not ip address. Special care would be needed not to affect guests.

[BirdOPrey5]

They don't need to be the primary usergroup so really there's no reason not to setup an extra usergroup called "miserable users" or whatever and just add the 1 user to it.

[ETDC]

Is it essential to create a new User Group for this? Is 'annoying by IP address' sufficient (leaving user group ID as '0')?

[Paul M]

Untested, but yes, I believe that should work.

[ETDC]

Thanks. Is there a way to test it, just using an IP? Wouldn't want to annoy myself! :D

[Paul M]

Test it on someone else - or test it on yourself, but make sure you have an ACP screen open so you can remove your IP again.

[Max Taxable]

Installed... Works great.

Thanks!

[Chase]

Sounds like a great add on! Tagged for future use!

[mholtum]

I am getting SQL errors after putting someone in the miserable users group, thus activating the mod.


Database error in vBulletin 3.8.7:

Invalid SQL:

SELECT moderator.*, user.username,
IF(user.displaygroupid = 0, user.usergroupid, user.displaygroupid) AS displaygroupid, infractiongroupid
FROM vb_moderator AS moderator
INNER JOIN vb_user AS user USING(userid);

MySQL Error : MySQL server has gone away
Error Number : 2006
Request Date : Saturday, April 28th 2012 @ 09:47:33 PM
Error Date : Saturday, April 28th 2012 @ 09:48:15 PM
Script : http://www.
Referrer :
IP Address : xXXXXXXXXXXX
Username : Chinabound
Classname : vB_Database
MySQL Version :
-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2411/4965 - Release Date: 04/28/12

[Paul M]

They happen if you have a very low MySQL timeout setting (lower than the MU timeout).

[mholtum]

Which setting is it that I need to increase?

[Draffi]

Can somebody confirm that this Mod work with 4.2 ???

Thank you in Advance

D.

[Paul M]

Check the version (and the forum name you are in) :)

vB Version: 3.8.x

[kronnos]

What is the process of upgrading to 4.2 if this mod is installed?

1) Should I first upgrade, uninstall it and install the 4.x version of this mod (4.2.0.0) ?

2) Uninstall it before upgrading to 4.x then install the 4.x version of this mod after upgrade of forum is complete?

Also, would uninstalling remove the the tables originally created by this mod? What are those tables?

Thanks!

[Paul M]

This uses no tables, so thats not an issue.

You need to upgrade first, then install the latest version (it will remove any older version itself).

[kronnos]

This uses no tables, so thats not an issue.

You need to upgrade first, then install the latest version (it will remove any older version itself).

Thanks!

[mdawg]

I am assuming that if I allow forum runner mobile access to my vb 3.8.7 PL3 forum, that miserable users put into MU status in the web based forum, will now have normal access in the forum runner?

Does forum runner support many of the mods available for vb 3?

[Paul M]

Given this runs off the global_start hook I would think it would affect forumrunner as well. However, I cannot say for sure as I dont know how FR works on vB3.

[mdawg]

What happens to a vb5 forum when it is updated from vb3 and this mod had been installed? because under the admin control panel for Users in my new vb5 forum, the category of Miserable Users is still there?

[Paul M]

I presume you mean the usergroup is still there.
Upgrading to vB5 wont remove usergroups, for fairly obvious reasons.

The modification itself will be gone, and there is no vB5 version.

[mdawg]

How about making this for vb 5 - vb5 is the wave of the future!

I was stuck in vb3 for years but now that I've upgraded to vb5 over all I am glad I made the move.

[Paul M]

Sorry, I have no plans to make any modifications for vB5.

[ka99]

Hi

can I use 'userid" instead if a group ?

any help?

TIA.

[Paul M]

No, nor do you need to.

You only add the users you want to affect to the group.