Administrative and Maintenance Tools - Miserable users

This modification is no longer available or supported.

The ever popular "miserable users" hack for vb 3.6. Basically a way to really annoy anyone you don't want visiting your forum. This version is based on the vb 3.5 version. Credit to Zzed, and KuraFire for the pre 3.5 versions.

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:

v2.10 - First vb 3.6 version, minor changes to code.
v2.11 : Dependancies updated for 3.6.0 Gold.
v2.12 : Updated for Version Checking.

[Paul M]

Originally Posted by jw00dy

Mod o. t. Month for sure.

You have to be nominated for motm now.

[jw00dy]

Guess it's a good think I nominated this hack then Unless clicking the nominate button/link isn't all that's required.

BTW, we have been having a blast just applying the group this applies to (PITA) to some test user accounts. We've gotten quite a good laugh out of it. Can't wait for someone to actually deserve this...

[Paul M]

Originally Posted by jw00dy

Guess it's a good think I nominated this hack then Unless clicking the nominate button/link isn't all that's required.

That's all that is necessary, and thank you.

[adwade]

Thanxx so much for this! I used to run a BBS back in the 80's and we had a mollasses mode. It would make the link (via a modem) appear to run at a slower speed, or hang up on the user, or freeze up, etc. It was so great for troublesome users. And here I trip across THIS! S-w-e-e-t Nominated for Hack of the Month!

[jw00dy]

Originally Posted by Paul M

That's all that is necessary, and thank you.

No, thank you!

[curriertech]

I never really had the need for something like this until recently, and I'm soooo glad for it now.

*installed*

[rinkrat]

I like to torture people. I'm funny like dat.

[iatbm]

This looks promising - Installed

[The Finman]

Thanks for all the versions of Miserable Users you have done Paul!

This is by far my favorite vBulletin modification as well as my moderators.

I just upgraded to 3.6 and it was the first hack I re-installed.

However, I did run into a bit of a conundrum.

With the 3.6 infraction system I saw no need for the inferno warning mod, that I had modified to let you send them to either the "banned" group or the "Miserable Users" group (generally spammers go straight to banned, but trolls are kind of fun to torture in a sadistic sort of way. )

But there is no immediate way in the infraction system to choose which group to send them to, although a hack wouldn't be difficult.

Anyway, lack of sleep makes your mind think up strange things. :knockedout:

I was going to damned if I was going to give up my Miserable Users, but I also needed the infraction system to be able to move troublemakers to the banned group.

Anyway, with the infraction system I have it set to issue a permanent ban when a user reaches 100 infractions points.

Somehow I had to figure out a workaround for Miserable Users.

So I made sure that the "Reputation" system was on, and then in Usergroups I went to Registered Users and when I got to User Reputation Permissions I made it so they can't disable "User Reputations by switching the Can Hide Reputation from Others feature to No

on the "Reputation" feature on and then in the registered users usergroup I went to User Reputation Permissions area and set the for all registered members so they can't disable it.

Next I went to User Groups...there I used the drop menu on Registered Users and chose Edit Promotions.

In the Promotion: section I chose Reputation Comparison Type (see image below), and from there I chose the Less Than option from the drop menu.

Next on the Reputation Level I entered -99 ( as I want the person moved to Miserable Users upon reaching -100 reputation points).

On Days Registered and Posts I disabled them by setting them to 0.

Next on

Promotion Strategy set to Reputation

Promotion Type = Primary Users

Move User to Usergroup to Miserable Users

I also have a usergroup called Privileged Users that can give negative Reputations.

So, in a nutshell I use the Infraction system to start troublemakers on road to being banned, where as with the reputation system it sets them on the pathway to becoming a "Miserable User".

I'm sure someone else must have thought this up and implemented it...but I hadn't seen it.

The only thing that could make it better is to be able opt for the board to move them back into Registered Users after "X" amount of time.

Anyway, I have my Miserable Users in effect and privileged members can participate in the troll torturing fun.

Thanks again!

[upsetter]

I am sorry, but I am confused, I uploaded the file, and I created the 'miserable users' usergroup... and is it just that or how do I make it work with the xml file I uploaded it?...:cross-eyed: