Why Captcha?

December 11, 2005 8:50 PM

I was subjected to the indignity of a CAPCHA during my latest login attempt. Why do we need this?
posted by punishinglemur to MetaFilter-Related at 8:50 PM (20 comments total)

Or should I say c^@pC_hA...
posted by punishinglemur at 8:52 PM on December 11, 2005

Half-assed script kiddies.
posted by loquacious at 8:57 PM on December 11, 2005

because of dhoyt/etc?
posted by amberglow at 8:59 PM on December 11, 2005

Here's the whole story. I'm still working on it.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 9:01 PM on December 11, 2005

Actually, I guess this is the real wrap-up.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 9:02 PM on December 11, 2005

That really is amazing. I've said it before and I'll say it again:

When I first started participating in group online discussions (on Usenet), almost everyone considered "sock puppet"-style accounts a dishonest way of participating. Here at Mefi, I've been surprised at the shrugging that goes on about what, to me, is a fundamentally dishonest approach to Mefi membership.

Fuck sock puppet accounts. You're pissing on Mefi by using them, ya bums.
posted by mediareport at 9:34 PM on December 11, 2005

You have no idea of the indignities you shall face. A capcha has nothing on a doctor with latex glove.

Welcome to adulthood.
posted by Mr T at 10:11 PM on December 11, 2005

mediareport sez Fuck sock puppet accounts.

Blazecock ready and your service!
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:15 PM on December 11, 2005

I dunno, mediareport. You sound all cocksure now, but the way that post was worded, sounds like you were on the fence at the time.
posted by scarabic at 10:20 PM on December 11, 2005

'Threat or menace' is on the fence? Someone tell J. Jonah Jameson!
posted by mediareport at 10:27 PM on December 11, 2005

Matt has a good reason to use capchas. But why use them on the initial login attempt?

After a failed login, sure. But why on the first?
posted by orthogonality at 11:34 PM on December 11, 2005

If you read the links, you'll see Matt agreed that a security confirmation on the first login attempt is probably unnecessary, and that he intended to change it. Since he hasn't said otherwise here, I assume he simply hasn't gotten around to it yet.

I haven't logged into MetaFilter in forever; but if I recall, you couldn't change your password. That's the one thing I would have liked changed on that front; but I suppose, if his first concern is accounts being hijacked, that would create more problems than it would solve.
posted by cribcage at 11:43 PM on December 11, 2005

CAPTCHA
posted by moift at 12:01 AM on December 12, 2005

YOU CAN NOT DEFEAT THE ANIMAL CAPTCHA!



I ♥ moift
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 1:08 AM on December 12, 2005

The problem with moift's idea is that a computer can't recognize a photo of an animal, but it can recognize a specific photo. I suggest using Google Images or flickr to pull images produced dynamically from a search generated from a big list of nouns, including proper nouns. Pull, say, three images selected at random and give the user three opportunities (to make it more likely that at least one of the three opportunities produces images that are obvious).
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 1:34 AM on December 12, 2005

I'm waiting for Joe Clark or someone to chime in and point out that for the blind, a type captcha is a huge accessibility problem. Given MeFi's reach and diversity, I think that adding an audio alternative should be a priority.
posted by Marquis at 1:49 AM on December 12, 2005

indignity

wtf?

incidentally (i just had to log in again because windows crashed - after 3 years with no bsog i get 4 in 3 days, yay!), are they legible if you're colour blind? they looked awfully like those tests you get with hidden numbers.
posted by andrew cooke at 4:38 AM on December 12, 2005

Marquis: I'm waiting for Joe Clark or someone to chime in and point out that for the blind, a type captcha is a huge accessibility problem. Given MeFi's reach and diversity, I think that adding an audio alternative should be a priority.

Seconded.
posted by bouncebounce at 8:14 AM on December 12, 2005

Based on the earlier thread, I believe when Matt says "I'm still working on it" he means he is working only showing the captcha after one or more failed attempts.
posted by If I Had An Anus at 8:18 AM on December 12, 2005

Metafilter : Now In Braille !
posted by sgt.serenity at 9:44 AM on December 12, 2005