Spam thread titles remaining

kingfisherblue

There have been a lot of spam posts recently - the last two or three days especially. Although threads are removed, their titles are remaining on the board index. Can the titles be removed at the same time as the threads please?

Thank you.

and.why.not

I've also noticed this. I assume it is because of the way the forum software works - probably because the index page is cached on the server but this cache is only updated immediately when a new post appears but not when it is removed - so the offending title remains visible for a considerable time after the post itself has gone.

and.why.not

Right! :idea: I've been doing some experiments...

There is one "phantom" post title still showing in Martin's Blogs & Appearances Discussion. If you look here you will see a post entitled "Fresh UK , CA , German ,..." by greatgimpo.

I will now see if I can make it vanish!
(I'll be back in a minute...)


...it worked!!!

In case you are wondering, it involves temporarily bumping one of the other threads and then deleting the post immediately afterwards. This seems to update the cache (or something!) - of course it only needs to be done on the less active boards.

Perhaps some technical wizard at MSE can come up with some sort of program to do this automatically?

NeverInDebt

I done that many times posted then deleted but we get so much spam on here now that I just dont want to waste rest of my life doing it I do odd one especially if its been there a few days

Rainbowgirl84

The issue has not been properly addressed since the inception of MSE.

Mandelbrot

As Rainbowgirl84 implies, this has been discussed many times before (usually in threads on this board).

IIRC, the standard MSE response has generally been that the problem is with the browser software, and nothing can be done.

But there are often ways around most software 'problems'.
This is clearly explained by and.why.not, using the commonsense, inquisitiveness, and sheer determination of many a member on here to sort out a problem that should be a doddle for an MSE techie to automate.
No doubt it was added to the legendary list of 'things to do' at some point. It just hasn't reached the top of the list yet ...