Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

I'm new on here and have just been scrolling down the member list

There seems to be hundreds of "made up" names who register and either never post or visit once the day after joining and never post or log in again.

Are these real people or are they just to big up the numbers ?

Its a serious question, I'm just curious.

It's my opinion for it's worth, that as soon as a Forum is designed and promoted, there are a number of people who immediately sign up, with no intention whatsoever of ever participating in anything. I've never really understood it myself but I also think that some people keep an eye on a Forum and if its not contentious enough they go elsewhere "spoiling for a fight" if you see what I mean.

I do know of some people who have joined as you can see everything once you are a member ie if someone attaches 'for sale' photo's you cannot view them unless you have joined.

After the way C44 went there are a few that I know of who simply do not want to be a part of anything similar again as they posted something or a question quite innocently for it to turn into and all out slanging match, it doesn't matter what I say to them, it is simply a case of 'once bitten .....'

Why join up then?

turtle,
Take a look at the member list of ALL forums and you will find exactly the same scenario.

I do not think it has anything to do with c44 as they had a huge "inactive" list, I believe it is just people who find the site and want to keep up with postings. On your regular haunt turtle there are hundreds of people who log on every day just to view but only a small number ever post anything.

An old saying springs to mind
The quiet ones sip the broth !!

Deniz1,

To repeat my message;

'some people who have joined as you can see everything once you are a member ie if someone attaches 'for sale' photo's you cannot view them unless you have joined.'

Hope this answers your question.

Looks like it was someone having a bit of fun there was a number over a couple of days soon after registration started, they appear to be from all around the world but all of them a similar age and interestingly a number with the same Occupation: ÿþA



Bahilyskr
Location: Russia
Age: 26
Occupation: Spray Painter
Interests: Locksmith



prorboypock
Location: Malawi
Age: 24
Occupation: Marketing
Interests: Business networking




JamesYP
Location: Togo
Age: 23
Occupation: Relations
Interests: Cycling



cradoErer
Location: Kiribati
Age: 24
Occupation: ÿþA
Interests: Bicycling



insiketible
Location: China
Age: 24
Occupation: ÿþA
Interests: Arts



Neireeerack
Location: Georgia
Age: 27
Occupation: ÿþA
Interests: Go Kart Racing Owning An Antique Car



EliasUW
Location: Switzerland
Age: 25
Occupation: Engineering, architecture
Interests: Walking, hiking


usaslegetaup
Location: United States
Age: 27
Occupation: skuteczne pozycjonowanie skuteczna reklama internetowa
Interests: reklama skuteczne pozycjonowanie



unrembedumeda
Location: Bulgaria
Age: 24
Occupation: ÿþA
Interests: Learning To Pilot A Plane



Tallobelalp
Location: Greece
Age: 26
Occupation: Construction, facilities poker
Interests: Fitness kasyno internetowe


Attaibemast
Location: Austria
Age: 24
Occupation: ÿþA
Interests: Four Wheeling



abrarkkaw
Location: United States
Age: 23
Occupation: Non-Profit, volunteer
Interests: Football



EdgegeBlearne
Location: Lithuania
Age: 24
Occupation: Sales
Interests: Business networking



apetuatteno
Location: USA
Age: 25
Occupation: cnn
Interests: cnn



sasyanaence
Location: Madagascar
Age: 26
Occupation: Construction, facilities
Interests: Shopping, antiques

you must be bored you need to get out more

Yes and No is the answer I think.

When I first set up the forum we were being bombarded by "bot" spammers, creating accounts to advertise and link back to other websites. As I started to have more control over the spamming there were still many spammers, but these were actually human, they sit at there computers with no value to their lives registering continuously to sites so that they can plant their links to their websites. Many of these accounts had been deleted and some are still being deleted whilst the process to registering to the forum has been tightened. Every new member now has to come through me before given any form of access. I have so far banned all gmail accounts as most of the spams had this type of email account, new members can still register but need to have their individual gmail accounts given access, this is done by contacting me directly.

I have what I call a "Honey Trap" set up, where bots manage to input their details but add website links in the "trap", which tells me they are "bot" spammers. Nearly nothing but genuine people wanting to join the forum will get past me now and all old spammers that managed to get through and register in the past, get deleted on a daily basis. This tight control has been in place for the last 6 months now. I still get spammers trying on a daily basis, but none get through, I am in hope that they eventually give up when they realise that they are wasting their time as well as mine.

Some of the members register but do not post, as some of our members have explained. However, there are a few that watch for months on end and eventually feel safe enough to start posting. I have wrongly deleted accounts thinking that these members may have been spammers and they had contacted me asking to be re-instated. Some members join and watch then return 6 months later. I used to post on C44 then post nothing for months on end, everyone uses forums as to how best it suits them.

I hope this gives you an insight as to how difficult it can be to have control over a forum's registration process.

Nothing to be concerned about - the moderators and I are on top of things....Have a nice Christmas.

Nice reply Soner.

Surely some of the non active members members may have perfectly innocent motives. A site such as this serves two purposes: discussion and information. Some may not be interested in, or not have time for,dicussion but may find the site useful to keep up to date with what is going on in the expat community,and only post if a subject is of particular interest or if they happen to have information about a question others have raised. Ohers may register only for a specific reason - to sell something or seek help witha lost or found animal for instance - and once their post has served its purpose have no reason to post again but either dont bother, or dont know how, to d-register.

I do not know what category ı would fit in but, I keep an eye on couple of forums - only to write in threads that really interest me and the contents of which compells me to express an opinion. There is no such rule that people should spend all day responding to forums' contents once they are members. Some of us do have other work to do

Furthermore, as much as I am searching for such topics, the North Cyprus "discussion" forums are no longer discussing anything that would provoke me to respond. I used to have long political arguments with our neighbours down South in a GC Cyprus forum that still exists. I remember forwarding as many posts as the total number I have done here, IN ONE DAY!

I feel you may think we fit into this category as we are interested in up to date news about what is happening in a country we are desperate to move to! Our house was packed up, our animals over rabied and our house dismantled, our flights booked and paid for including the animals and excess baggage only for the sale to fall through at the last minute. aaagh! all very expensive and exhausting. Forgive us if you think of us as 'stalkers' but as you can see different people have all sorts of reasons for enjoying this link. Happy Christmas everybody.

I probably fall into this category, I have an appartment on STR and like to hear what is going on over there. In the future we intend to spend more time over there but with 2 elderly cats we are having to bide our time.
Wow that is my 1st posting, I did occasionaly on 44.
I hope your weather is better than here, that is daft it has got to be.
Cath W

I hope I'm not about to be 'deleted'-as I have only posted a couple of times since joining.I am a real person,resident in the UK,who discovered TRNC in 1994 as a holiday destination for my wife and I.We holidayed every year,sometimes twice a year and loved the place.Stayed at some great hotels-Sempati and Palm Beach were our favourites and met some fabulous people both expats and Turkish Cyptiots. We were making plans to buy a home and relocate permanently when the border opened.

Within a very short time the place changed for us and we had second thoughts.Am I the only person who thinks the TRNC was better prior to the border being opened?

My interest in the forum is to keep informed about all things TRNC as we both wonder whether we made the right decision not to move and,who knows,we may yet do so.

PS.One of the developments we were introduced to was 'Amaranta Valley' shudder,shudder!!!something about'there but for the grace of God' springs to mind.

Ooooooo dear, hope I haven't stirred something up here !.

The members I were referring to were the ones with name like "werthyfrezzvs123" they seem to register and never log back on, I appreciate some do register and don't post thats fine but the ones that look a bit strange (100's of em) just make me curious as to why they would bother to register as they can freely read the forum without joining.
I first thought it may be to try and bring the forum down as what happened to C44 and others when hundreds of people attack a forum ?
You can normally tell the genuine ones as they have a name that you can recoginise like cally above, chances are freddie, billy, or jimmy are bonafide members who may or may not post but
mczxdfrecnlk,. I would guess have some kind of agenda for joining .

Thanks for your explanation Soner that did make sense but I still feel there may be some other reason why all these dormant registrations are there.

Hope this makes sense.

Andrew is there any need to be so rude to a poster, it is Christmas and there are a lot of members that do seem similar, I think an apology is needed, don't you. You are supposed to set an example as a moderator.

No Badger: You are not the only one.

I came to live here in l996 - mainly because I like it the way it was! After two years renting and learning the ropes, I bought an old village house, without frills like swimming pools, and embarked on a five year plan of renovtion which is still running. I brought only a few treasured possessions for sentimental reasons, and bought (often second hand) furniture when I could afford it, and a small, unagressive car, also second hand.

Things could be difficult and a challenge, but I loved it. Beaurocracy was a pain, and rubbish and poison a problem, but not nearly so bad as now . The countryside was unspoilt by concrete excrescances. beaches accessible to the public, and entry fees, if any, small. We boasted of the best unspoilt coastlline in the Med. and swimmers and marine life were safe from noisy mechanical toys. Pets (particularly rescured strays) were looked on kindly and neither they, nor cars, nor houses were treated as status symbols nor used aggressively to intimidate or impose on others.. The roads were quiet and traffic light, a normal car driver was safe from blinding by headlights, and people alone safe from crime. Pedestrians, with or without children and dogs, could walk safely in village streets, even after dark. The elderly and infirm, and those with babies or toddlers to cope with, could park near their destination, and usually in the shade of trees that have been now cut down to provide parking for larger vehicles. Most restaurants served reasonably priced local fare.Shops, admittedly, were very restricted, and "food parcels" from home welcomed (!) but we prided outselves on managing without the nearest "Asda" brand, or whatever, and it was much pleasanter having a helpful family member serving, rather than the bored checkout girls that are increasingly appearing, and an endless display of unecessary gadgets. Much cheaper too!

But most of all the British community was liked and welcomed and our support appreciateand there was a lot of mutual help and support within the expat community itself.

As this time of year, I am reminded, there was a polite acknowledgement of Christmas, (a Mayor's party and some pretty fairy llights in the streets) but NO commercial exploitation, and I used to love walking the dogs on Christmas morning in places I can no longer get to because of houses and traffic.

Since 2004 everything has gone downhill, and sadly quality of life has seriously decreasedfor those of us who are commited to this country as it should be and not a seaside resort with sun in the UK.

Badger I dont know whether or not you were wise not to come - maybe it was a lucky escape - but there are still beauties here, and still nice people . just rather harder to find. A lot depends on your attitude and what you are looking for , I dont think you will find what we used to have on this Board.

andrew is well capable of answering for himself but belle I think it is you that needs to get out more, don't you know what the smiley face means?

thanks cyprusishome at least someone understands what a smiley face is

Well done Turtle you got some of the newbies to talk on here
Welcome to you all

turtle, there were some that I had deleted who were genuine people watching the forum as they had contacted me to be re-instated. The remaining odd looking usernames with birthdays get deleted when their birthdays approach, as it is indicated on the index page at the bottom. I check this everyday and delete them as and when they pop up. So in theory, there should not be any left by June/July 2013. That's the plan anyway.

Ofcourse, we do get some trouble now and again but this is handled by the moderators, who are doing a great job in keeping this site peaceful.

BigOz, we are not stopping anybody from having a good discussing, debates, political argument etc.. etc.., this can be done without personal attacks. If you can not find one here that provokes you into responding, why not start a topic up that is of interest to you and see how it goes.

Welcome to the newbies.

Merry Christmas to all.