Update: Invitation requests remain disabled for the time being

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2017-10-30 22:44:17 UTC

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Last weekend, we had to disable new invitation requests to address an influx of accounts flooding the Archive with spam works. While our Abuse team has been banning these accounts and deleting thousands of spam works, the problem persists and would most likely get worse if we sent out invitations again.

We have decided to keep the invitation queue closed for the time being while we take steps to prevent spam from being posted in the first place. This means you will not be able to create an account unless you have previously received an invitation from either a friend or our automated queue. (If you requested an invitation before October 22 and have not received it, please check your spam folder and, if you use Gmail, your "Social" tab. If you are still unable to find your invitation, you can contact Support with your specific request.)

We very much regret denying invitations to legitimate users, but as the amount of spam being posted is affecting everyone's user experience, we currently see no other way to address the problem.

We will reopen invitation requests as soon as we can, although we do not have an estimated date at this time. When requests have been reenabled, the "Get Invited!" link will return to the homepage, and the Invitation Requests page will include a form to add yourself to waiting list. (The option to request invite codes for friends has been disabled since the last spam wave, and we have no plans to bring it back in the foreseeable future.)

Any updates will be provided on this post and our @AO3_Status Twitter account. For more information on the Archive's invitation system, refer to our Invitations FAQ.

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Ranee Peil (Guest) Sat 04 Nov 2017 07:22PM UTC

Please let me know when I can join this... I have been reading stories on here through a friend..

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1. Diamond_Raven Sun 05 Nov 2017 11:11PM UTC
  
  You don't need an account to read stories. You don't need to be logged in as your friend to read stories. You can even leave comments and kudos without being logged in.
  
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Snowgrouse Sat 04 Nov 2017 10:49PM UTC

I'm starting to wonder if the entire site wouldn't benefit from a note at the end of every work saying that even non-members can leave comments and kudos. While I'm sure there are already *several* outright trolls among the "i <3 drarry want read fictions let me in queu or your RUDE cmon!!! TT sry im bad nglish uwu" commenters (don't feed them, guys), a note like the one you now get at the end of a downloaded story might come in handy. (To those of you who have never used the download function: when you get to the end of the story, it now says "Please drop by the archive and comment to let the author know if you enjoyed their work!" and a link within that note that opens a comment box on the story's Ao3 page.) So that even the newbies will know that you can, in fact, do all kinds of things even without a membership. Might even get, oh, two and a half more people to comment these days if the stars are right and the gods smile upon us...

Last Edited Sat 04 Nov 2017 10:50PM UTC

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1. DragonDreads Sat 04 Nov 2017 11:22PM UTC
  
  A nice big notice on the front page that reads: While we are not accepting new members at this time due to an overwhelming amount of spam-bot accounts clogging our servers; feel free to read the thousands of works on offer by our authors. You don't need to be a member to read them unless the author locked the story to registered users only. We're working diligently to clear out the rubbish so we can once again begin sending out invites.
  
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2. 1. Snowgrouse Sun 05 Nov 2017 02:49AM UTC
    
    Well, there are links to the latest news articles, so this announcement isn't that hard to find. It's right there on the right hand side column on my view at least. And there was a banner notification, wasn't there? But what's emerged from underneath this brouhaha worries me (and many other authors, I presume) because of the whole commenting/kudosing ability seems to be unknown to an alarming number of readers o_O As in, ruddy 'ell, has this erroneous belief meant that some people have actually *wanted* to comment, but thought they couldn't? (And very few would even dare ask the maintainers whether that was a thing--note how many people complain *here* about their issues rather than going directly to the actual real "Technical Support and Feedback" link at the bottom of the page. I really do wonder how on earth some people are even able to use the Internet if they live in such a permanent state of befuddlement--kudos to the volunteers for having the perseverance to deal with it all.)
    I think people not realising they can read and comment and kudos is probably due to so many websites now requiring registration for you to do *anything* on them (which is a huge pain in the arse and totally unnecessary half the time, IMHO), so I guess people expect Ao3 to be the same. Hence my suggestion to make that more obvious on the individual works' pages, the same way it's now pointed out on downloaded fics.
    I also wonder how many people even look at the front page when they arrive--that might also be an issue. I imagine many folks just bookmark their favourite tags/fandoms/authors and navigate that way. I hardly ever look at the front page myself, and usually access the site through my own works' pages and/or my own dashboard page. And even then, the only thing I usually see happening with my fics is that people have been reading them (I can't thank Ao3 enough for those hit counters, as that really is the only way in which authors can see their fics *are* being read in this day and age). So a friendly reminder like the one on the downloads might be a good idea, because people really don't seem to know WTF. I dread to think of how many comments authors have never got (and how many new friendships have never formed!) thanks to that apathy about being able to interact with a story at all. And add to that the fact that some readers are in awe of authors and think they're up on some pedestal or something, even if we're just passionate, crazy fangirls ourselves.
    Believe you me, readers, authors love hearing from their readers and answering questions about their works! Me, I'm in fandoms so small that I basically tend to drown visitors in roses and cocktails and just ended up having a really long, 50-comment conversation thread with a new reader because I was so happy talking with her about the story elements she was asking me about. The discussion went everywhere from Victorian novels to 1940s conceptions of sexuality and fandom culture to androgynous old-timey movie stars and Angela Carter. So it's always a breath of fresh air (not that this means one has to start up a highbrow conversation with an author for it to be valid, of course)! You could make someone's day by just saying "Really liked this one! Cheers"--and no account is needed for that, folks!
    
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  2. 1. floranocturna Sun 05 Nov 2017 06:35PM UTC
      
      Yes, yes, and yes again to all of this! Let me hug you for this!!!
      People do NOT need an account to leave kudos and comment! You can do all this without it. And I mean how hard can it be if one takes the time to read through a 7000 word chapter to leave let's say maybe 3 words at the end "I liked this". Authors live for comments and positive feedback. It's the best. When I read a story and I enjoy it I always like/kudos/vote or however you call it and I COMMENT. You don't know how important that is and how happy it can make the author. I recently got someone to pick up an old fic and continue writing it because I encouraged her with comments and now she is all excited because someone loves her story.
      Ok, sorry for the rant and the off-topic, but that needed to be said. With this spam situation it has only gotten worse, the only way I can see that my fics are actually read is indeed the hit counter, everything else seems dead.
      I really hope this gets sorted out soon! For authors as well as readers.
      
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    2. 1. Snowgrouse Sun 05 Nov 2017 08:06PM UTC
        
        No problem:) *Hugs back* I was actually just thinking of the concept of spontaneously hugging a stranger who was sad, and five minutes later, this shows up in my inbox:) And this is just fans making each other happy with a couple of words, as easy as that. So while you newbies wait for accounts, make the most of what you *can* do on the site already--support your hard-working authors who take the time to write down the ships, fantasies and AUs you share. It takes effort and guts to put those visions down (I struggled for 2 hours last night with a sentence that just described a guy entering a room) and comments are the only pay your authors will ever get. I know I'd write even in a vacuum because I'm outright possessed by my darlings, but it doesn't mean the hit-and-run reading isn't disheartening at times. I just saw a reader leave kudos on several fics of mine in a row and I was sitting there, flailing: "AAAH! Leave just one comment so I can thank you for your interest!"
        I'm literally the only one writing in Thief of Bagdad (1940 version with Conrad Veidt), even if the original Grand Vizier Jaffar/Princess is something people have shipped for *75 years* and Disney even made a blockbuster animated AU fanfic of it. People do read it, but most of my fics have thousands of hits with maybe 1-2 commenters if I'm lucky. So those of us in tiny fandoms really appreciate every fannish interaction. It's even more special when it's someone who's gone "oh wow, I saw this movie as a kid and wanted the Princess to pick Jaffar, but I had no idea there was fanfic where that happened--you just wrote something I've wanted to see for decades." So it's seriously magical when people with obscure interests meet even briefly, sharing something that finally sates their needs.
        And Ao3 offers people a means through which to do that, on a level that was impossible before (no need to have friends with fandom contacts, find obscure mailing lists/zines that cost money, or to live in the right countries, even, to access fanfic). And as I'm old enough to have experienced that, I still wake up and pinch myself sometimes about Ao3 even existing.
        (And I have to continue in another comment below. Fanfic writers can get verbose.)
        
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      2. Snowgrouse Sun 05 Nov 2017 08:23PM UTC
        
        Ao3 is a gift, good people; and they're already giving you more than most websites, and care for you more than most websites (most wouldn't even bother announcing half this stuff or even reading, let alone replying to those people who are too lazy/dumb to actually read the posts)--and if you're just browsing it, you are not even using all the gifts it piles at your feet. An account, unless you're posting fics (and I expect that's maybe 10% of the invitation impatients), will really not allow you to do much more than what you can already do via your browser's bookmarks.
        And if your favourite author has locked her fic, how about you leave her a comment in an unlocked fic, or find contact details in her profile or the notes of her unlocked fics (my fics often have links to my LJ and Tumblr, for related illustrations/annotations/meta), saying "hey, I really like this story; I'm currently screwed over by the spam situation on Ao3 and can't get an account. I respect the fact you must've had reasons for locking your fic, but I'm not a troll, I promise. Is there any way I could still read the fic?" If I were the author, you bet I would try and find a way to get that fic to that kind reader (you've already gone up in the author's estimation because you are actually *contacting* her!) some way or another (either crossposting it elsewhere and linking to it, or sending it via email).
        Complaining to Ao3 (who already have their hands full with the spam situation) won't help--you could've left a comment on a fic or asked for an alternative means to read locked fics from the author instead in the time you typed out that bratty "waaah, I don't wanna waiiiit, it's been a week" whine. It's like some of these people are going up to a house that's flooded, and the occupants are bucketing out water as fast as they can, stressed and exhausted--and then a bunch of kids starts banging on the door and going "I heard there was a party here! Lemme in!" "Yeah, where's the party? We were PROMISED A PARTY!" and they've not noticed that they're up to their knees in water and that maybe the party *might* have been postponed to a further date.
        Like with life in general, always think what you can do to add something positive even to a frustrating situation. Think of what you *can* do instead of what you can't do (hey, that's the spirit of fanfic anyway--if you're not quite satisfied with canon, write your own!) You *can* do something on Ao3 right now--and it's something positive and something that can make people happy--and that's to actually interact with the authors whose fics have given you pleasure and the warm fuzzies. Now's a good time to mirror some of that love back. Even if it's just a one-line comment saying "Unf" or "Dayum!"
        Call it a happiness AU. Invitationqueverse: Everybody Lives (rated U, fluff). Canon Divergence--Waiting Time Spent Constructively (rated M for descriptions of reader consuming PWPs , friendship in later chapters). Alternative Universe--Author Gets Comments (hurt/comfort, angst with a happy ending). Superhero fandom: Ao3 Kicks Spammers' Arses (rated T for graphic descriptions of smiting in the changelog chapters).
        
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      3. linzeestyle Sun 05 Nov 2017 09:09PM UTC
        
        Ugh sorry to butt in here but I've been thinking about this so much.
        I stopped writing a while ago due to my own anxiety: I couldn't take posting anymore when I was seeing the hit count go up but getting maybe 1 comment for fics I worked months and months on, and an 8% kudos/hit rate at best. Now I do my best to comment on everything I read and kudo but I still feel like it's an uphill battle, trying to encourage everyone -- and worse with this spam issue. I hate seeing people who think when they're logged out they can't still kudo/comment, because just one comment can encourage so much: back when I wrote regularly, one comment could get me to write an entire 3k follow-up to a fic, just because I knew one person was still excited.
        It's just so important: for authors, for readers, for the whole community.
        
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      4. floranocturna Sun 05 Nov 2017 09:35PM UTC
        
        You are very welcome to butt in *scoots over*. I guess this is a good moment to maybe show some of the newbies that we writers (who are mostly also readers ;)) thrive on comments and feedback, it's hard if not entirely impossible to work in the void. I'm sorry to hear that you have stopped writing, maybe you should take it up again :)?
        
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        linzeestyle Sun 05 Nov 2017 10:00PM UTC
        
        Well thank you! *sits down* And it really, really is: I hate how some of even my favorite popular writers are starting to admit they won't write longer fic anymore due to the tepid response. But I know some of it can also be a fear of "bothering" writers, which I really hope newbies know isn't a thing: writers are readers too, and write because we want to talk about the show/book/manga/anime/movie/you name it. We just...write fic instead of commentary or whatever else.
        I mean, I really can't get across how often I've heard someone say a comment has made them pick back up an old fic, or write a sequel, or add another 3,000 words to something they were working on: just one comment! Or they've made friends with someone by commenting on their work (that's how I've made a good half my long-term fandom friends: some of them 10+ years). And none of those things require an account: if someone's fic is locked, you can email them; we're friendly!
        I've had some awfully nasty experiences in the last couple years so unfortunately I think I'm finished writing, but I'm still here as a cheerleader: I've been in fandom a heck of a long time and I really want to see the situation wrt fic and comments change for the better.
        
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        purpleygirl Mon 06 Nov 2017 12:52PM UTC
        
        Hi linzeestyle,
        I switched off seeing hit counts, through my settings page (it should be on the help pages how to do this), so they don't bother me any more.
        I know everyone will tell you this, but it's true: write for yourself. Write because you love it. If someone else loves reading it enough to give you a kudos, that's just the icing on the cake.
        (BTW, I've yet to receive a single comment on this archive. But I love the idea of kudoses, which is something that other archives don't offer!)
        
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3. Account Deleted Tue 07 Nov 2017 12:17PM UTC
  
  And it's not like you can't identify yourself - while I was waiting in the queue I was commenting by putting this username in the name field. That doesn't have the benefits of an account but it did mean once I got my account I could carry on those conversations. (OK, *maybe* someone could poach your intended name while you're waiting but that's pretty unlikely!)
  
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lacy grinnell (Guest) Sun 05 Nov 2017 01:00AM UTC

i am a current member who can not login what can i do some one please tell me because im missing alot of fic's that i want to get update's on

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1. bictionality Sun 05 Nov 2017 09:17AM UTC
  
  Have you tried submitting a thing about your login issue through the support page? I have no idea what could be causing a login issue but I think it'll be sorted out quicker through there than this post. :)
  
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2. 1. lacy grinnell (Guest) Sun 05 Nov 2017 01:09PM UTC
    
    yes i have done the reset optionseveral times and still cant login
    
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3. Diamond_Raven Sun 05 Nov 2017 11:13PM UTC
  
  You need to email Support and ask for help. You won't get assistance by posting your issue on this thread.
  
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4. 1. lacy grinnell (Guest) Mon 06 Nov 2017 03:14AM UTC
    
    i have all ready done so
    
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ZR (Guest) Sun 05 Nov 2017 01:55AM UTC

Any update? I was halfway through a fanfic when it kicked me off for not having an account and now I can't make one :*(

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Paula (Guest) Sun 05 Nov 2017 08:08AM UTC

Hi! A few months ago i requested an invitation, and i believe i never got one since i also checked on the spam folder and found nothing. I have no idea how long this takes so should i jusy keep waiting?
What do i do? Thank you!

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1. bictionality Sun 05 Nov 2017 09:31AM UTC
  
  Hi! If you requested an invitation a few months ago you definitely should've gotten one by now. I know someone who got an account a couple of months ago, and they had to wait for about a week after requesting an invitation to get the email with an invite code. I think AO3 usually sent out 500 invitations a day or something.
  Maybe the email for your request was entered incorrectly, or there was a glitch and it didn't submit, or didn't send, etc.; I don't really know what could've happened, sorry.
  Ordinarily I'd say request an invitation again but, of course, that's not happening 'for the time being' (hopefully not too long haha). Maybe send a message to support explaining what situation?
  
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BeckyH66 (Guest) Sun 05 Nov 2017 03:34PM UTC

I would like to set up an account once you've got this sorted out...thanks

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Ariadne_Enjolras (Guest) Sun 05 Nov 2017 04:32PM UTC

Hello!
I was quite excited because of such informative fanfiction resourse, so I'd like to become a member of your big Archieve's family. I want to try myself as a translator very much, so you're my only hope to make my dreams true :)
I hope, you'll see my request ^^
Sincerely yours,
A. Enjolras

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Alyssa (Guest) Sun 05 Nov 2017 06:07PM UTC

Aw :c I hope the problem gets solved soon. I just started writing fanfics and was hoping to post them! I love this site so much

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AnonEhouse Sun 05 Nov 2017 07:09PM UTC

Sunday- Nov 5, I kept having pages load as the 'basic text' so I figured the spammers must be overloading the site. I went searching, just going back a couple days. MY WORD... I reported SIXTY-FOUR spam posts using these 11 accounts. (I'm getting really efficient at it- could locate a spam post, report it, and get back to the list in under 30 seconds).
eidajeki kashemTV2 mamunhits guamarakam jamaibaba Preboda aikul
DanielChristopher Hospot ackerman1 nhasans
They're now starting to add fandoms, summaries, and archive warnings, and putting more text into the works, AND making up names that look like real people's names. If they are reading this Admin Post and using information from it to try to change up their posts-- IT WILL NOT WORK. WE SEE YOU. We are NOT BOTS. We are people and we RECOGNIZE you and REPORT YOU. There is NO PLACE you can HIDE.
RESISTANCE IS USELESS.
ATTICA ATTICA ATTICA!!

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1. floranocturna Sun 05 Nov 2017 09:37PM UTC
  
  Wow, this seems to be getting really nasty! Thank you for doing all this work to bring Ao3 back to its normal life! It's incredible how damaging those spam bots can be :(
  
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2. Shirazia Sun 05 Nov 2017 09:45PM UTC
  
  Exactly.
  There is more of us than there is of them. Together we can win these spammers. I did some spam hunting myself today and in less than 5 minutes I was able to find several spam works and report them (there was at least eleven of them).
  To anyone reading this:
  I encourage you to help the abuse team by locating and reporting spam works, if you have few extra minutes to spare. Even people without account can do this, I think.
  
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3. Diamond_Raven Sun 05 Nov 2017 11:20PM UTC
  
  How are you finding them?? I just searched for all fics posted within the last 2 days, and I checked the first 10 pages (200 fics) and only found legit stories. I'd love to help, but I seem to suck at it.
  
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4. 1. AnonEhouse Sun 05 Nov 2017 11:32PM UTC
    
    Well, I went back over the last 3 days at first, and checked about...80 pages -I read really fast. It's possible that the reason you didn't find any is because Abuse has quickly deleted all of the reported ones. It's good that you didn't find any!
    I did find ONE more spamming account a few minutes ago- NBASUNDAY.
    I kinda hesitate to mention what parameters I used to further refine the search, because a couple days ago I found a spam comment on a recent Admin POST! So I wonder if they're reading these posts for tips on how to outwit us and as soon as I say 'I looked for X' they'll change their posts so they don't get caught in the search.
    MMm, Oh! I looked at your profile! Do you mind if I email you and tell you what search parameters I used? I would NOT give an email here. *spam eyes*
    
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  2. 1. Diamond_Raven Sun 05 Nov 2017 11:48PM UTC
      
      Thanks for the quick reply! Yes, feel free to use my email.
      
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    2. 1. Shirazia Mon 06 Nov 2017 07:13PM UTC
        
        I can also send email to any legitimate user who wishes to hunt them, and explain how to do it =) I also happen to have a screenshot of spam works, if someone needs an example.
        
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      2. themayqueen Tue 07 Nov 2017 12:45PM UTC
        
        I'd like to know as well :) My main fandom is small enough that it hasn't been hit, but I'd like to be a little more proactive.
        
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5. LizzieLloyd Sun 05 Nov 2017 11:54PM UTC
  
  I have found 5 spam accounts today and many more since all this started and I have reported them all. dannispete, kashemTV, kokaTV, hilareeklinton and the most recent being NBASUNDAY. The puzzling thing to me is that all the spam accounts I found today said they joined today. And that has been true for all the other spam accounts I have found.
  To the abuse team I want to say thank you for all your hard work.
  
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6. 1. AnonEhouse Mon 06 Nov 2017 12:43AM UTC
    
    I'm guessing that they had stockpiled a large number of invite codes but only used a few at a time, and when most of their current spam accounts get deleted they use some of the remaining codes to make new spam accounts, changing things to try to sneak past us.
    The abuse team is working flat out! Today I reported 11 accounts (64 posts, I don't know if they need to know all the posts a spam account creates, so I erred on the side of excess & reported every spam post I found even if it was from an account I had already reported.)
    And they vanished really quickly.
    
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  2. 1. Sam of Support (AO3_Support) (Official) Mon 06 Nov 2017 03:44PM UTC
      
      Hi, AnonEhouse!
      Our Abuse team says it's not necessary to report every work -- just reporting the account or one spam work the account has posted is enough.
      Thanks for your reports!
      CJ
      
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    2. 1. AnonEhouse Mon 06 Nov 2017 03:49PM UTC
        
        Ok, great! Thanks! I'll just note the account name the first time I report it then.
        Abuse has been working really hard, I appreciate how quickly the reported spam vanishes.
        
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7. Alien Tourist (Guest) Mon 06 Nov 2017 03:56AM UTC
  
  Wow! This is starting to look like a personal attack, by personal I mean that their intent is to sabotage A03 rather then just make a quick buck.
  
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memoryrebel Sun 05 Nov 2017 07:36PM UTC

What are spam works? Like what are they posting instead of fanfics?

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1. AnonEhouse Sun 05 Nov 2017 07:44PM UTC
  
  All I've seen have been marketing attempts for live streaming sporting events, but AO3 said some of them were for illegal movie downloads.
  If you see one, you'll recognize it, it doesn't look ANYTHING like any kind of creative work. Mostly they repeat the same few sentences.
  
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2. 1. memoryrebel Mon 06 Nov 2017 08:54AM UTC
    
    Wow! I can't believe people are actually trying stuff like that. Or maybe computers. I don't even know. That's crazy.
    
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Malu (Guest) Sun 05 Nov 2017 09:40PM UTC

I am writing for several years now, since the age of 14 I started writing, I'm now 23 and exploring options for making the fanbase of my stories bigger. Since this is one of the largest writing websites I would love to be a part of it. Writing has been a passion and a hobby that I've kept private for family and friends, but readers are my most important motivation to write and actually finish a story. Please let me know as soon as possible, if it's possible.
Thank you!

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FabulousFandoms (Guest) Sun 05 Nov 2017 10:03PM UTC

I had an account last year but someone messed with my password and I can't access it anymore. I hadn't gone on it in a while and so yeah. I can't believe people would spam this place! It's so amazing and it's a place to be creative and to be yourself.
There are always people who ruin it for others, so thank you for taking action.

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Sarah (Guest) Sun 05 Nov 2017 11:26PM UTC

Omgg?? We in another month now. Wtf??

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Rose SilverB (Guest) Mon 06 Nov 2017 12:26AM UTC

I would like to create an account with you.
Please see if it is possible. I appreciate your effort
Many thanks
Rose SilverB

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Raberba girl (Raberba_girl) Mon 06 Nov 2017 03:50AM UTC

FFN makes users pass a CAPTCHA test (or something similar) every time they upload a new fic, I assume to combat this same problem; would that be feasible on AO3?

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1. Fluffyboots (Guest) Mon 06 Nov 2017 05:09AM UTC
  
  This is a good idea. But I think they are trying to find a way to stop spam accounts from actually being made, not just preventing them from posting.
  The spam accounts would still make accounts, and take invitations that would otherwise go to a legitimate user :/
  Maybe they will use some sort of CAPTCHA for when people request invitations. But whatever it is; I hope they do it soon!
  
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2. sarken (AO3_ADT) (Official) Fri 10 Nov 2017 08:38AM UTC
  
  Hi, Raberba girl!
  Thank you for the suggestion! However, as Fluffyboots noted, our main goal is to prevent the spammers from creating accounts in the first place. While we are considering a captcha for invitation requests, we need to carefully consider how any measures we take to stop spammers will affect legitimate users who speak a number of languages and have a wide range of privacy and accessibility needs.
  Sarken
  Archive development team
  
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Sad snail (Guest) Mon 06 Nov 2017 04:22AM UTC

I can't wait until the invitations are opened again. I was going to make an account the day I saw that the invitation requests were disabled. ;-; I wish people wouldn't ruin things like this but there will always be rude people out there :/

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1. Andropedia (Guest) Mon 06 Nov 2017 11:44AM UTC
  
  The day before they closed the invites I though to myself: could always make account when done writing... Now I'm sitting here with a 2 page browser favorite tab and a *few" lines of text of my own. :D
  
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