Indeed. Thanks for this handy analysis, Stephen.
I’d just add that, checking my files, I find that my failed experiment with the blocker-text to which I referred above dates from before Alex redesigned the site. That is to say, it did not seem to work – reliably, at least – even then. There were, as you say, “backdoor vulnerabilities”, though I never use (have never used) the Print Thread and Quote facilities.
As to posting my own stuff – that is, stuff I feel reasonably confident about – well, I post little anyway and send out less; but the vulnerability of the site to robots is certainly one factor that weighs with me somewhat. If Alex could institute some overall remedy, either along the lines you suggest or following Rose’s hint – or in some other way, I do think that would be advantageous.
Though there are apparently hundreds of members on the books, the number of active participants is relatively small. In my experience this has always been the case. Running the site as if it were a kind of reality-TV show open to the passing eyes of the world, may not be such a good idea.
Clive
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