Administrative and Maintenance Tools - Miserable Users.

This modification is no longer available or supported.

The ever popular "miserable users" hack for vb 3.7. Basically a way to really annoy anyone you don't want visiting your forum. This version is based on the vb 3.6 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).

Upgrade from 3.6
If you upgraded your forum with the 3.6 version installed then it will continue to work, no need to upgrade - otherwise install this in the normal manner.


History:

v3.7.001 - Initial vB 3.7 version.
v3.7.002 : Installation Code Updated.

[sidewinder1]

Thanks for the reply.

Then I'm curious how he would get back in? From what I understand, the board won't recognize him untill he logs in and recognizes him in that usergroup, or, it'll recognize the ip, and keep him out from the start. A new ip would enable him to bypass that function, but then how would he bypass the usergroup? I have the settings set pretty high. If it was just once or twice he found his way back in, then I would'nt be concerned, but he's back most everyday ( for the last few, anyway ). In the "Whosonline" it shows him on the board, but it shows "Viewing Thread", with no thread listed. When you hover on the blue question mark beside that box, it does show a thread however? There are no "No permission" icons appearing either. Is this possible? Does the fact that no thread is shown mean that he's not viewing anything?

This guys a pain, and I'd really like to keep him off the board if possible.

Thanks again.

[Videx]

Originally Posted by sidewinder1

Just curious what I need to do or change to keep him out.

I think you've confused this mod with the Multiple account login detector (AE Detector) or something. This mod makes no effort to try to keep anyone out, it simply makes things difficult for a specific user that you specify.

I've only used it 3-4 times in two years. The first thing a user will do is run to their wife/co-worker/siblings computer and try it from there. If you haven't also put them in MU, they'll see something's up and simply re-register.

How to prevent people from doing that is a topic for a different product.

[Mdx76]

Originally Posted by Videx

I think you've confused this mod with the Multiple account login detector (AE Detector) or something. This mod makes no effort to try to keep anyone out, it simply makes things difficult for a specific user that you specify.

I've only used it 3-4 times in two years. The first thing a user will do is run to their wife/co-worker/siblings computer and try it from there. If you haven't also put them in MU, they'll see something's up and simply re-register.

How to prevent people from doing that is a topic for a different product.

That's right. I've been working to integrate ae detector with miserable users.

[sidewinder1]

No, I'm referring to this mod.

it simply makes things difficult for a specific user that you specify.

That's exactly what I want to do, but I'm curious if it is dependant on ip's alone, or if the nickname is the key, or both.

This mod has been a great asset in keeping him off the board, until he started using a different ip. It seems like he's using a proxie program, or learned how to set up his own proxie recently, because he's used a couple of different ip's other than his own, from various countries, so I don't think it's a matter of using his wifes pc, or the one at work. Banning him is'nt doing the trick either.

I don't use the mod often, but when I use, it always works great, I'm just having a problem with this one determined guy.

Normally, the board would show error icons with his nick in the "Whosonline", ( which is exactly what I'd like to see ), but that is'nt happening, so I'm just curious if he's still able to view the board. He has'nt posted, but does'nt post much anyway, so I can't really tell anything by that.

Thanks for your reply, and if you know of a different product that will help, I'd appreciate it.

[TheLoveBandit]

Loved earlier versions for years, and trust me - we needed it. Recently upgraded the site to 3.7.4, so upgraded this as well. Haven't tried it out too much, but seems to have gone in and works well from first glance.

Much thanks to the coder. Please keep up the good work.

- TLB, v3.7.4

[oldengine]

Is there a way that I can have two levels of miserableness with this mod? I need the full treatment for some and a mild "get lost" for some others. This would be handled on two different user groups, but what about the hack's admin settings?

[Paul M]

Sorry, there is no dual level feature.

[iBardia]

Is there a way to make Admin Permissions for this?

[Paul M]

I dont know what you mean.

[harlita]

Originally Posted by iBardia

Is there a way to make Admin Permissions for this?

Yeah, that'd be great. Right now, we're just keeping the existence of the mod a sort of secret between the admins, but it'd be nice to know that only admins can put people in it.
There's always that concern that a smod will get into an argument with a member and pull a powerplay by putting the member in the group.
God I wish I was a coder - but yes, toss my hat in there as well for "do want admin permissions or set usegroup access" request.

Other than that, this is one of my favorite hacks.