Threads that lock themselves...

Note: There is a 1.1 version of this hack that also checks
the message body of the first post. Scroll down to download the
updated zip file or click here to go to the post containing the attachment.

************************************************** **

We have an off topic forum in our site and sometimes users post useless
topics to bump up their post count or to start a flame war. A lot of
these threads have specific keywords or phreases in them that makes
them stand out. A few examples of these threads are, free post, sig test,
avatar test, etc...

This hack works only with new threads whose title contains the above mentioned
phrases.

This hack works with a database table of known substrings that a forbidden
thread title may contain. And if any of the table contents are detected as
a substring within the thread title, that thread will automatically get
locked with a note in the bottom of the subject, and the thread title
will also be prefixed with the words "Auto Lock".

Interestingly enough, the "meningless" thread posting has been significantly
reduced on our site.


I have created an interface through the Admin CP to add/edit/delete
these phrases.

Affected templates: none
Affected tables: 1 new table is created
Affected source files: newthread.php admin/index.php
New files: topics.php admin/topics.php

First create the following table:

create table topic (topicid smallint(5) unsigned not null auto_increment,title varchar(100) not null, primary key (topicid));

In admin/index.php
Look for the following code:

PHP Code:

// ***
makenavoption("New Posts","../mod/moderate.php?action=posts","<br>");
makenavoption("New Attachments","../mod/moderate.php?action=attachments");
makenavselect("Moderation","<hr>"); 


Add the following directly below it:

PHP Code:

// ***
makenavoption("Add Forbidden Topics","topics.php?action=add","<br>");
makenavoption("Modify Forbidden Topics","topics.php?action=modify");
makenavselect("Automatic Moderation","<hr>"); 


In newthread.php
Look for the following code:

PHP Code:

    // check for subject and message
    if (trim($subject)=="" or trim($message)=="") {
      eval("standarderror(\"".gettemplate("error_nosubject")."\");");
      exit;
    }

    $username = $HTTP_POST_VARS['username'];
    $password = $HTTP_POST_VARS['password']; 


Add the following ddirectly below it:

PHP Code:

    $bad_topic = 0;
    require("./topics.php");
    if(isbadtopic($subject)) {
      $bad_topic = 1;
      $subject = "Auto Lock: $subject";
      $message = "$message\n\n[b]<<<<< This thread has been Auto Locked. >>>>>[/b]";
    } 


In newthread.php
Look for the following code:

PHP Code:

      if ($enableemail) {
        $moderators=$DB_site->query_first("SELECT CONCAT(newthreademail,' ',newpostemail) AS newthreademail FROM forum WHERE forumid='$forumid'");

        $modtable=$DB_site->query("SELECT DISTINCT user.email FROM moderator,user WHERE moderator.userid=user.userid AND forumid IN ($foruminfo[parentlist]) AND (newthreademail=1 OR newpostemail=1)");
        while($thismod=$DB_site->fetch_array($modtable)) {
          $moderators['newthreademail'].=" $thismod[email]";
        }

        if ($moderators['newthreademail']!="") {
          $mods=explode(" ",trim($moderators['newthreademail']));
          while (list($key,$val)=each($mods)) {

            if (trim($val)!="") {
              $toemail=$val;
              $forumtitle = $foruminfo['title'];
              $threadinfo['title'] = $subject;

              eval("\$emailmsg = \"".gettemplate("email_moderator",1,0)."\";");
              eval("\$emailsubject = \"".gettemplate("emailsubject_moderator",1,0)."\";");
              mail($toemail,$emailsubject,$emailmsg,"From: \"$bbtitle Mailer\" <$webmasteremail>");
            }
          }
        }
      } 


Add this directly below it:

PHP Code:

      if($bad_topic==1) {
    $DB_site->query("UPDATE thread SET open=0 where threadid=$threadid");
      } 


That's it.

[TECK]

very useful hack. i will test it later on.

[Velocd]

So...let me get this straight. If a member starts a thread called "Flame Everybody", automatically that thread will be locked? Or..is it just key words, or key sentences or what?
Sounds good

It would also be cool to have a hack that auto-locks specific members out of a thread if they swear too much or flaming somebody. That would be lengthy though..

Either way, both hacks make it easier for the moderators.

[Zzed]

Yes.

Let's say for example, you have the word poop in the topic table. Any thread title containing the word poop as a substring will automatically get locked.

poop
poop thread
let's have a pooper smilie

All the titles above will cause the new thread to be locked.

[hypedave]

installed easy but when I go to add a Forbidden Topic
all I get is a white screen

[Zzed]

Did you create the new table in your MySql database?

create table topic (topicid smallint(5) unsigned not null auto_increment,title varchar(100) not null, primary key (topicid));

[hypedave]

Originally posted by Zzed
Did you create the new table in your MySql database?

create table topic (topicid smallint(5) unsigned not null auto_increment,title varchar(100) not null, primary key (topicid));

yes I sure did

[Zzed]

Hmm

This is strange. I backed ou tof the hack and resintalled it. No problems.

Maybe if you can make me admin on your board for a brief moment, I'll be able to troubleshoot this. You can either PM me or Email me at edwink@seebeyond.com.

[GeorgeofCS]

Great hack. However just curious if there's a way to add certain things mentioned in the message, or replies. I say this because site's like mine could put words like xxx, hardcore action, etc. And it would immediately lock that thread.

[Zzed]

I have an extended version that also checks the message content of the first post.

If you make the auto lock work with the replies, your users will abuse it and can potentially get every thread in your forums locked.

If you are interested I will post the revised version to check the contents of the first post.