An alternative to banning: Miserable Users

This hack is an alternative to banning a user. As the name suggests a user who
gets hit with this hack will become truly miserable while trying to access
your board.

So here is what really happens to a miserable user:

- There is a random 60-120 second delay each time they click on a link.
- 90% of times they have no search engine acccess.
- 75% of the times they get the server too busy error.

If they don't get the server too busy error:
- 50% of the times they may get a blank page
- 30% of the times they may get forwarded to the forum main page
- 20% of the time they may be able to see the page they asked for.

after doing all the math in actuality they have only a 5% chance of seeing the
page they clicked on. What kills them is the time they have to wait before
anything happens.

I actually once tracked a miserable user and watched him suffer for 2 whole
hours before he was able to make a simple post.

This hack is considered one of the most sadistic hacks on my board.

The hack allows you to make your user miserable via the admin CP. It also
allows you to search for all miserable users through the admin CP as well.

Also in showthread.php, it appends a red status that is only visibly to admins
and mods stating that a user is miserable.


Tables affected by this hack: user

Files affected by this hack: global.php, showthread.php, admin/user.php

[Zzed]

Today at 03:28 PM wolfman said this in Post #160
Well when I installed this my mods were like "Are you sure it works?" I setup a test account so they could try for themselves, though I did warn them that they might pull some of their hair out in the proccess.

The annoyance level of this hack I would have to put almost on the same level as those cardboard inserts in magazines. My first thought was that I wanted to choke you when I tested this hack for myself this one really does give the power back to the admin and mods of a forum as with a ban its to clear what has been done, this they do not know :dead:

LOL I almost fell out of my chair laughing about the choking comment.

Thank you again for your kind words.

P.S. check out my other hack about Starved users.

[Zachery]

i didnt look, too lazy, but are you planning on doing this for vb3

[Zzed]

Today at 05:43 PM Faranth said this in Post #162
i didnt look, too lazy, but are you planning on doing this for vb3

If I ever upgrade to vb3 I will definitely port this hack.

[JulianD]

I've been using this hack successfully on my community. Some members are "too intensive" and I like to make them miserable for one day or two... It's great to see how you can take away somebody without actually banning them

[EvilLS1]

Wicked hack Zed. :evilgrin:

/me kicks install

[Zachery]

07-23-03 at 08:56 PM Zzed said this in Post #163
If I ever upgrade to vb3 I will definitely port this hack.

why do you say ever? my vb3 runs great

[Zzed]

Today at 08:30 PM Faranth said this in Post #166
why do you say ever? my vb3 runs great

Blame it on my utter laziness to upgrade versions and port all my hacks.

[Zzed]

Today at 02:52 PM EvilLS1 said this in Post #165
Wicked hack Zed. :evilgrin:

* EvilLS1 kicks install

Thank you for your kind words.

[Zachery]

ah thats kinda sad :\

how many hacks do you have to port?

[WCW Fan]

Great Hack installs one of the best I've seen Great Job



Had to make a change though I have vbproarcade and I don't have this in showthread.php

PHP Code:

while ($post=$DB_site->fetch_array($posts) and $counter++<$perpage) {

  if ($postdone[$post[postid]]) {
    $counter--;
    continue;
  } else {
    $postdone[$post[postid]]=1;
  }
  $postbits .= getpostbit($post);
} 


so I did some pluging and playing and got this code to work

PHP Code:

while ($post=$DB_site->fetch_array($posts) and $counter++<$perpage) {

  if ($postdone[$post[postid]]) {
    $counter--;
    continue;
  } else {
    $postdone[$post[postid]]=1;
  }

  $onlinestat = "";
  if(($post[miserable] == 1) || ($post[stunned] & 4)){
    if(($bbuserinfo[usergroupid] == 5) or ($bbuserinfo[usergroupid] == 6) or ($bbuserinfo[usergroupid] == 7)) {
      $onlinestat = "$onlinestat<br><font color="red"><b>Miserable User</b></font>";
    }
  }
  $post[posts]="$post[posts]$onlinestat"; 


Just left out the end part

PHP Code:

$postbits .= getpostbit($post);
} 


Im not sure why it works this way but it does so Woot