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RATIO.DOC
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1999-12-13
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To Ratio or not to Ratio
by Scott Adams
One of the most abused options of most BBS systems are the message,
time and file ratios.
* What are the ratios?
The ratios you can define limit users to various aspects of the
bbs be it time online, files to download or posts per call forced.
Telegard can have ratios setup to handle all of these aspects.
* Where are the ratio configurations?
From the waiting for caller screen (WFC) hit S and then you will
see a bunch of the options on the right hand of the screen.
* Who should use them? Who should receive them?
Any sysop that wishes to enforce posting or to quell abuse of
file leeching should use them. Those users who abuse your bbs should
be peanlized for such activity.
* When should I sue them, from the start?
When you notice that a majority of users are leeching megs of
files but you do not get any uploads in response use a file ratio. When
you see every user ignore the message bases to go play a door and you
like to have some message base activity use a post/call ratio. It is a
personal judgement up to the sysop.
* Why use them at all?
Personally I do not like ratios unless its absolutely needed. A
good share of ratios might be your best bet. Decide for yourself what
you want on your system. Do you want message base activity? If no then
no post/call ratio. Do you want all your files leeched and to rarely
get uploads? If not then don't use any file ratios. Personally I
use a reward system here. In the case of files I do allow uploads but
from certain users I trust or know for my security. I have the majority
of my file bases as <no-ratio> (free downloads) areas. So they can leech
all they want from the bbs. However, I have what my bbs specializes in
(programming, rpg files) as non-free. I do use filepoints and a mild
ratio for those areas. I use a basic file point system here in that
files costs file points to download. Each validation level and increase
(reward) for posting or such gets more file points. In terms of a post
call ratio I don't enforce one. I do a reward system as well there.
For those users who post often and alot I reward them with a new user
level increase which gives them more time or other benefits. For those
who abuse the system (leech megs of files, play nothing but games
for a full year then I might give them individually a post/call ratio.
But the P/C ratio (PCR) is very rare punishment. I've learned in my
decade plus years as a sysop that ratios actually do more harm than good.
A system that FORCES you to post will get very awful posters. You will
get the teen kid who posts "hi" and that's it in a post just to go
play a game. As to files a ratio there will force you to get files that
no one really wants. So its really a no-win scenerio on both ends.
I've seen too many systems to badly with repuations of ratios. So I
believe a benefit/reward system works far better. But if you are
convinced a ratio might work for you or you have a subscription/pay
bbs then read on and I'll show some examples of ratios.
* How do I use the ratio system in Telegard?
1) Message base/posting ratios:
A. Post/Call ratio: This ratio system can be configured from
option 3 of the System Configuration screen. A screen shot of what
I use here (but not always enforce for personal reasons) is below:
Editing: Post/Call Ratios (1 post for every # calls)
0 :5 16 :5 32 :15 48 :25 64 :75 80 :125 96 :150 112:250
1 :5 17 :5 33 :15 49 :25 65 :75 81 :125 97 :150 113:250
2 :5 18 :5 34 :15 50 :50 66 :75 82 :125 98 :150 114:250
3 :5 19 :5 35 :15 51 :50 67 :75 83 :125 99 :150 115:255
4 :5 20 :10 36 :15 52 :50 68 :75 84 :125 100:200 116:255
5 :5 21 :10 37 :15 53 :50 69 :75 85 :125 101:200 117:255
6 :5 22 :10 38 :15 54 :50 70 :100 86 :125 102:200 118:255
7 :5 23 :10 39 :15 55 :50 71 :100 87 :125 103:200 119:255
8 :5 24 :10 40 :25 56 :50 72 :102 88 :125 104:200 120:255
9 :5 25 :10 41 :25 57 :50 73 :105 89 :125 105:200 121:255
10 :5 26 :10 42 :25 58 :50 74 :107 90 :150 106:200 122:255
11 :5 27 :10 43 :25 59 :50 75 :110 91 :150 107:200 123:255
12 :5 28 :10 44 :25 60 :75 76 :110 92 :150 108:200 124:255
13 :5 29 :10 45 :25 61 :75 77 :110 93 :150 109:200 125:255
14 :5 30 :15 46 :25 62 :75 78 :110 94 :150 110:250 126:255
15 :5 31 :15 47 :25 63 :75 79 :110 95 :150 111:250 127:255
A new user (SL10) would have to make 1 post for every 5 calls.
A validated user (SL50) would have to make 1 post every 50 calls.
How you set the numbers is up to you. But some use a base range
of 10 for all ranges, meaning that for every 10 calls you are forced
to make 1 post. But you should increase the value to lessen the required
task as your SL increases as a reward. Thus SL100 would only be forced
to make 1 post for every 200 calls. Using this screen is fairly easy
to understand so I will not explain the details here.
Incidently I use 2 ansi files here to display to users via the
personal menu their post/call ratio check. I use the VP ACS to tell
the results. If they pass (VP command) then the pass.msg is showed
which shows their current stats. If they fail (!VP) then the fail.msg
is shown with suggestions on what to do. You might want to use a style
like this as well.
B. Post/Time Ratio: This can be configured via T from the menu.
This is an even more harsh ratio than the above. It forces you to make
1 post per X minutes online. If you set say 50:10 that would mean
if you have an hour online the user would be forced to make 1 post
every 10 minutes (or 6 for that call). I personally don't even have
this ratio system setup (all Zero) here because it is harsh but you
might use it. It uses the same procedure as the post/call ratio setup.
2) File Ratios:
A. UL/DL Ratios (files): This forces the user to upload 1
file for every # that are downloaded. A common good rule of thumb
is to allow 10 downloads for 1 Upload. The setup of this ratio is
setup just like the post ratios.
B. UL/DL Ratios (KB): This ratio controls the size of the
files that are leeched. It sets the number of kilobytes you can download
per 1k of upload the user sends. A good rule of thumb is 100KB (or in
today's world of high speed modems maybe 1000KB for 1k of upload).
Again as with the post/call ratios you should benefit the higher
level of users who have higher access than the normal user. If you do
use file ratios you should check the file system configuration screen
to configure some options in there. Specifically the following items:
o UL Time refund
o Kilobytes:point
o File: points
o Downlaod type
o FP for unlisted
The docs go into details of the above items and the documentation
should be consulted if unsure of their purpose.
In conclusion to use ratios is a personal judgement for every sysop.
To use one might do more harm than good in the long run. While this
article is just one for your information it is by no means the suggested
path. If you do use them then you will have to make personal judgements
on their particular values.
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website: http://users.cybermax.net/~longshot
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I welcome any comments or questions ohe articles. If enough
feedback is given I can do article follow-ups. I suggest you also
send feedback to the the other article authors of this newsletter
for without feedback the desire to continue is difficult.
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