Administrative and Maintenance Tools - Miserable Users

As of 23 Nov 2017 this modification has been withdrawn.

The ever popular "Miserable Users" modification.

Basically a way to really annoy anyone you don't want visiting your forum. 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 they will get redirected to another preset page (25% & homepage by default).
4. A chance they will simply get a blank page (25% by default).

If they get past all this okay, then they will be served up their proper page.

Note: All the above are set in vBulletin Options > Miserable Users.

To Install ;

Download the xml file to your pc and import it into vbulletin as a product.
Ceate your 'Miserable Users' usergroup and set the value of this group, and your preferred other settings, in the modifications settings (vBulletin Options > Miserable Users).


To make a member suffer just edit their profile - add them to the Miserable Users group (it will work as either the primary group or as a secondary group). There is also the option to set ip addresses.


History:

v4.0.1 : 24-Dec-2009 : Initial release for vb 4.0.0 Gold.
v4.0.2 : 20-Jan-2010 : Not released.
v4.0.3 : 26-Jan-2010 : Various updates.
v4.0.4 : 16-Feb-2010 : Fix server busy, phrase blank page message.
v4.0.5 : 18-Feb-2010 : Installer update.
v4.0.6 : 07-Mar-2010 : Changed the way the delay works.
v4.0.7 : 29-May-2010 : Fix error in upgrade section of install code.
v4.0.8 : 06-Nov-2010 : Install code updated.

v4.1.0 : 04-Dec-2010 : Updated for vBulletin 4.1.

v4.1.7.0 : 16-Oct-2011 : Updated for vBulletin 4.1.7.

v4.2.0.0 : 24-May-2012 : Updated for vBulletin 4.2.0.

[justinnethers]

Well, I'm only keeping him around the lulz now. It's really hard to describe just how ridiculous this guy is. I set him up with the perfect opportunity to prove his skillz and set miserable user to give him an error 100% of the time. I told him to post with his original account (he's made a new one this morning) but of course he says he's not going to post just to appease my ego.

Anyway, thanks for the mod. Great stuff.

[Videx]

Just an FYI concerning the fact that MU works best when the user doesn't know it's happening.

There's an additional tool now - User Punishment by BOP5 - which can be set to add x seconds page load delay, and these can be set to x*infraction points. I make it a point to tell people that their infraction point gives them a 4 second delay until expiration. It's not the random thing like MU, and there's no need to keep it secret like MU.

I still find MU useful for immediately cooling off hotheads. But that's just meant to give staff time to discuss an infraction.

[millerelex]

This is Troll-bane. Hah hah haaaaaa LOL

Nothing works better to get rid of those pesky PITA's. Just don't turn it on too strong to make it obvious.

I use the IP option as well.

[misericorde]

Thank you

Good Idea ;-)

Nice

[duvalm]

Just love it and installed it. Just trying it, i am annoyed.

One quick question. Is it ok to set the redirect to /index.php without setting a loop?

[Paul M]

No, never redirect back to the site, otherwise it *will* loop.

[shanef]

I have a user on my forum who likes to troll and report copyrighted content to whatever sites it came from, its hard too keep up on all the posts so it does happen. this guys is an A$$hole and i have banned him many times even by ip. i always end up figuring out who he is, maybe now i can make him not want to even bother with the forum. thanks for this mod i hope it makes it very unpleasant for his guy

[vb50kgpoo]

Isn't this addon an insult to professionalism? I mean, you either ban or warn users right? But to play such IMHO childish games surely only tempts retaliation? Wouldn't it be better to spend time on the content of your site and making more friends, less enemies? Is it OK to ask? Does my question break the forum / adminstrator's rules? I hope not, I think my questions are very valid. Also, does vB.org use this script. If it does, I think other forum software houses would love to know. Maybe it could be renamed to "miserable adminstrators"?

[Videx]

Although some here seem to express a childish glee at the prospect, I think most of us use it for far more serious reasons. We've used it maybe 3-4 times in as many years, for users that really just needed to calm down, and banning or infracting wouldn't have that effect. I think we may have had to eventually ban them anyway so I can't speak to the long term effectiveness of the process. But there was nothing childish about our use of it.

Now that we have the ability to simply add a page load delay, we may never use MU again, I don't know.

[Paul M]

Originally Posted by Antique-Swords

Isn't this addon an insult to professionalism?

No.

Originally Posted by Antique-Swords

Also, does vB.org use this script.

No.