[BigV]

Thanks for the confirmation, UT. It's been a while and I had forgotten.

I have a couple of ideas to refine your original proposals.

1 -- Permit these new users to create threads, but only in a section of the cellar named "Spam" or "Sewage" or anything, which the rest of the community may ignore with impunity, or read and mock. The thread, I mean section, could even be hidden. Continue the five post probation threshold. Having a honeypot of sorts like this further eliminates the chance that the spammers will tip to the fact that they're not reaching their intended audience. I also think this will have the beneficial effect of providing a "safe" place to put the spam so that it doesn't spill into the existing threads.

We all have a certain amount of waste in our living spaces, but it makes more sense to put it in the proper place than it does to try and "hold it" for ever. Better the poo should go in the toilet where it belongs than on the couch or the table.

2 -- hmmm.. drawing a blank. maybe later.