Miserable Users

This modification is no longer available or supported.

Here is a 3.5 version of the ever popular "miserable users" hack. Basically a way to really annoy anyone you don't want visiting your forum. Based on the original idea & hack for vb2 by Zzed, and the vb3 port by KuraFire.

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:

v2.01 - Released as a product - all settings are in the vB options.
v2.02 - Added option for multiple usergroups to be defined as miserable.
v2.03 - Added option for IP addresses to be defined as miserable.
v2.04 - Updated multiple usergroups code.
v2.05 : Minor changes, no update necessary.

[DPBlessing]

ditto all of the kudos!
Glad I installed just in time as a few were getting waaaay out of control.


I wonder if 80% on all options and 1000 second minimum is 'too much'?


Thank You!

[captainandy]

Wow - that is so amazing.. what an idea.. Great Post...:banana:

[Edward S]

In the old dial-up BBS days...
Basically it amounts to that age old rule, "Absolute Power, etc... etc"
Kinda like pulling an April Fools joke on someone and not being there to see the results. (Except if you like the feeling of power over others when they PM you to complain about your site.. you get the chance then to goof around) Personally, I have too many other things to do... Its just easier, quicker, and less of a hassle to just, BAN... move on!

Did someone here really say they've Banned a user 50 times?.... unbelievable.. and they only let them back on long enough for others to get tired of "abusing" him?
Perfect example of the "Absolute Power, etc.. etc"

Nice example of how to code a modifcation though... (Not Installed)

[m52]

installed, and loving it!

[andor]

I never knew just how much I wanted to sizzle their little fly wings off in the hot daylight sun . . . until you placed this small, unassuming but powerful magnifying glass in my hands. But wait - it has a slow burn, fan-forced oven as well, with rotisserie!

Instead of being at the mercy of insects, I am now Back in Control. Thanks for turning my forum admin duties back from digital to analogue, and my clients also salute you!

And wasn't that a great idea about redirecting to a custom server overloaded page with the donation facility? . . . How twisted can this get?

[tamborinegal]

This is a dream hack. Thanks Paul.

Clancy

[Rick Grunwald]

Originally Posted by tamborinegal

This is a dream hack. Thanks Paul.

Clancy

:banana: Dream for sure. One of the more diabolical things is you can't log out (oh yes if yo know what you are doing you can clear cache, & cookies etc) but the clueless will find that every time they go back they are logged in. I don't know if it was planned that way. I tried a test acccount at work about a month ago and yesterday I was still logged into it - hilarious!:banana:


... and thanks!

[dakar]

Got a victim already lined up... thanks! *Clicks Install*

[YLP1]

This hack is just the best!!! I run a Community Forum and when the political hecklers get out of control....this is the best solution! I had one heckler (which I had banned for repeated Terms of User violations) send a letter to Vbulletin to complain that I banned them! LOL

I only wish that user ids could be used for this.

[dodgechargerfan]

I searched this thread for "server" "load" and "resource" and didn't come up with anything that would give me an idea of how much load is put on the server when someone is in the miserable users group and are feeling the effects.
I know I can tune things down with the settings, but I need to figure out the settings that will inflict the most frustration without exceeding my cpu quota on my hosted site.

Thanks for this great product, BTW.