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OK. Over the last three months or so, we have had no new members. This seems to be a mark that the previous method of processing applications no longer works.
That system basically involved people who attempt to register to Barbelith being directed to email barbelith.apply@gmail.com with proofs of existence. I would then collate the email addresses and send them to Tom. Tom would do two things (this is the important bit):
1) Email the approved applicants with the method for creating their username and login.
2) Add the applicants' email address to a database that lists the email addresses that are allowed to have logins on Barbelith.
This second is an anti-duplication method, essentially, to stop people registering multiple identities with multiple email addresses.
However, recently (1) has not been happening. I don't know if (2) has been happening, but if the people don't have one login, it doesn't really matter.
Now, I don't know how often or indeed whether this second database is being updated. My suspicion is that if it is not an automated process, it is not going to happen in the nearish future. To get over the (1) hurdle, I am currently:
1) Inviting applicants to submit their desired usernames and passwords.
2) Creating their accounts myself, so they do not get to the duplication site themselves (and are thus able to use it to create duplicates).
3) Sending Tom a list of these approved email addresses, so that if the second database of approved emails is still running, it can be updated.
This is a test situation, and I can see a couple of possible issues, without a better understanding of the technology of which I think we'll struggle to answer. One of those is whether I am eventually going to get autobanned for using the registration option multiple times, which would sort of suck. Another is whether I will be banned if any of the identities I created are banned (doubtful, but I suppose possible). The third main one is whether the second database is updated or used to identify and kill fraudulent user IDs, and if so whether that killing is automated.
So, so far we've added about eight people using this - the first people to give me a username and password. Hopefully some of those will carry on posting for long enough to shhow that the deletion is not automatic, or for Tom to get back with further and better particulars. Personally, I doubt that it is, but better safe than sorry. If nothing happens, from the banning or the Tom perspective, I guess this might be the new way we let people in.
Thoughts, anyone? |
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