[META] I think it's time this sub goes private. Can we have a vote?

[-] vcdupper | 42 points | Dec 06 2016 19:54:36

It's not just as easy as flipping a switch guys, in order for this sub to go private, we the mods of which only 2 are active would have to make changes to 24,758 accounts. What just happened with all the accounts is bigger than /r/megalinks many links on other sites went also I think it was a way for mega to avoid a lawsuit so they did a huge wipe, but I am testing url shorteners to see if it helps the life of my links, I'll let you know how it goes & we may need to modify that rule.

[-] simplefilmreviews | 18 points | Dec 06 2016 20:23:54

In /u/vcdupper we trust!

[-] knoxtroll | 2 points | Dec 06 2016 21:57:42

I second the motion.

[-] singh25025 | 1 points | Dec 07 2016 21:47:41

I third the motion.

[-] Dude036 | 2 points | Dec 06 2016 20:19:50

There was a thread a while back asking for ideas on how to get around going private. One of the things that didn't get mentioned but might help now is avoiding having bots remove things is using fake captchas.

Another idea is Steganography (hiding links withing a .jpg image).

[-] element383 | 1 points | Dec 06 2016 23:34:52

Why would you think that bots are involved? Isn't it more likely that they are manually curating the links?

[-] Dude036 | 1 points | Dec 07 2016 00:46:40

Because most of the large companies would rather pay some basement dweller to write some code that'll run nearly indefinitely instead of a massive team to combat copyright infringement.

[-] MALON | 2 points | Dec 07 2016 05:13:54

I feel like there's a flaw in this reasoning, but I can't find it.

[-] yazanabueid | 1 points | Dec 07 2016 12:26:58

OK thanks keep us updated

[-] Kicuch | 19 points | Dec 06 2016 19:24:40

I think it's better to wait for a few days. It seems like it was a big clean and a lot of accounts and files were deleted outside this reddit. In this case simple protection like [xyz] in the links should be enough. Going private is too hard to conduct. How are you going to check who is a snitch or a bot, and who's not?

[-] JustAPrivateBuffalo | 7 points | Dec 06 2016 19:26:15

I agree with this, going private could be an option but I think we should explore our other options first.

[-] salahxorn | 5 points | Dec 06 2016 19:40:22

So until then can I call you u/JustAPublicBuffalo?

[-] JustAPrivateBuffalo | 1 points | Dec 06 2016 19:56:53

Yes thats a good idea Ill be both

[-] BradPhusion | 2 points | Dec 06 2016 22:39:48

I was thinking about this last night, but how about a 'Supply on Demand' type of system? Someone requests a file, and an uploader can provide it for them via PM or something similar.

This way, uploaders would only have to upload what is needed, which will reduce workload, while also helping weed out anyone trying to take down the links. If a link goes dark after being PM'd to only two people, it would have to be one of them.

That, or the uploaders could also upload whatever they want, and post it to the subreddit, but only provide the keys / links for those who request it.

Maybe it's a bit too much work to convert a subreddit in such a way, but I was just trying to think of the best case scenario for both the Watchers and the Uploaders, even though I know people can just create new / alt accounts to continue getting PM'd for takedowns. It might not be the best solution, but I think it's better than making this place private.

[-] JustAPrivateBuffalo | 2 points | Dec 07 2016 15:24:09

Way to much work I think. Because the uploaders aren't going to be able to PM every single person who wants the link which could potentially be thousands of people now.

[-] rdrite | 19 points | Dec 06 2016 20:38:40

It's not a democracy, dude. The mods and frequent uploaders will do as they please, which is really as it should be since they're the ones who have to do all the work.

[-] BloodHawkDarkWolf | 14 points | Dec 06 2016 20:56:10

Making the sub private is one of those things that feels good but does nothing to solve the actual problem. Making the sub private is making the assumption that the reason the accounts and files that were deleted from mega were deleted because of this subreddit, and I am 99.999% sure it is much bigger than that. If anyone looks or checks I'm sure there are LOTS of people who had files stores on mega who had nothing to do with this subreddit who lost files or accounts. i.e.: these deletions did not happen because of this subreddit, but because of larger efforts.

Some things people need to keep in mind:

you are part of the information/file-sharing cold war. One side develops tactics, the other side develops counter-tactics. Side A develops counter-counter-tactics. This will never change. This will stop right around the time viruses and antimalware stop fighting each other. It's the same thing.
if you store files in the cloud those aren't your files, and you should be prepared in case you lose them. I can hear people firing up their downvotes already, but this is the truth. The files are stored on megas computers, and they can do whatever they want whenever they want because that's what you agreed to when you made your account.
any time something works, be grateful for it and take advantage of it. When it doesn't work don't get angry. Adapt and evolve.

And lastly, about going forward. If we are to move to using 3rd party verification sites (captcha, etc.), we need to make sure that those sites are safe for people to use and don't give them malware and viruses. The mods and the community should work together to determine a short list or white list of sites that provide this function that are safe to use. I suggest 3 as a minimum, 5 seems like plenty, and 10 seems like more than enough.

Keep calm. Take a deep breath. DON'T PANIC. | Megalinks MegaDB DON'T PANIC. This isn't the last time something like this is going to happen. Add a plan C to your plan B. Keep on keeping on.

[-] Kicuch | 2 points | Dec 06 2016 21:07:30

Damn man, nothing more to say. You've just written everything that majority of us think.

[-] Pandektes | 2 points | Dec 06 2016 21:31:27

War. War never changes

[-] sitman | 3 points | Dec 06 2016 20:52:17

Suddenly going private would be a knee-jerk response. One should only act in haste when there is no other choice available, like when backed against a wall.

[-] Xamepon | 2 points | Dec 06 2016 20:44:06

If it were private who would be left with access?

[-] element383 | 1 points | Dec 06 2016 23:40:18

Exactly...and how do you verify users requesting access? Didn't this happen to BB-tracker back in the day?

[-] paoper | 2 points | Dec 06 2016 21:57:03

It is nonsensical to call for a vote without research as to all the options, peer review that research, and have an intellectual and objective debate on the findings.

Please don't jump to polls as a first resort, it is only obstructive in finding the best way to deal with a problem.