Time to start block IP's, the forums is also due for another update (now on version 5):
http://www.aspplayground.net/community/top-upgrade-reasons I would also suggests obtaining a moderator that lives in a different timezone so these issues can be resolved quickly.
AS BELOW
------------>
In addition to fixing usability problems , here are some of the biggest features in v5:
- Instant Blog Creation:
Specify the forums and 'thread labels' you want to extract posts from, and vNext will populate your blog with existing forum content instantly.
You don't have to manage separate software, or manually copy content somewhere else that creates maintenance headache. - Mobile Web App, powered by jQuery Mobile:
We have a brand new mobile web app that automatically detects mobile devices. Based on the trusted jQuery Mobile framework, it's compatible with a very wide range of phones available today.
This app isn't just a skin, but a standalone app that provides touchable feel and superior performance (it's optimized for fast loading). It's feature rich, too, as we've packed almost every feature into this mobile web app. - Social Media Sign-in:
This feature makes joining your forum easy for your visitors, using their existing Facebook, Twitter or Google+ accounts. People don't like creating separate accounts anymore, and this feature simplifies the entire sign-up process for them. - Revamped WYSIWYG Editor:
The new WYSIWYG editor is compatible with all major browsers, providing a consistent user experience for everyone. And you can attach multiple files using the new HTML5 drag'n drop functionality and visually embed attachments in your post.
The editor also resizes itself to fit the content in it, and saves draft periodically for your users to prevent data loss (much like GMail).
Other enhancements: easy-to-use Youtube videos embedding, Slideshare embedding, and instant previewbelow the editor. - PM Conversation-style UI:
Private messages are organized in "conversations" (like GMail) so users will see related messages grouped chronologically on one page. This makes it easy to refer to the previous messages in the same conversation.
In V2, each message is standalone and it can become difficult to locate the entire correspondence in the future. - Streamlined Top Navigation Menu:
Users can access all the important info, like latest posts, forums, photos and private messages, right from the top navigation menu with a single mouse click.
In the AdminCP, you can customize the menu (adding links to your site pages, e.g.) using the menu editor, without touching the code. - Content Slider For Highlighting Community Content:
In this new version, you can highlight important posts for your members on the home page, using the built-in content slider. This feature lets you grab visitors' attention by adding visually attractive images and headlines on the slider.
In contrast, the traditional big forum list UI keeps important threads several mouse clicks away. - Easy Page Creation (simple CMS capability):
Your forum may need additional pages like About us, Contact Us, a thank you page, or a page that explains the benefits to join (instead of just a dull sign up form).
With APG vNext, you can create these pages with keyword optimized URL outside the forum and blog system, right from the AdminCP. You can also add these pages to the top nav menu to make them easily accessible.
You no longer need additional tools to create adhoc pages for your community. - 3 Different Presentation Styles to Choose for Your Home Page:
You can choose among the traditional forum listings, the News page (what I use), or the Blog to be your community home page. This gives you flexibility to pick the best style that suits your audience. - Rebuilt-from-Scratch Search Features:
APG vNext now returns search results below the master search box instantly. Users no longer have to leave the current page to see results.
And users have more control over the returned results, too. The full search page lets users apply various filters (forum, date, content) to the search results, making it easy to locate the exact post they look for from a sea of results. - Built-in Integration with a Wide Range of 3rd Party Tools
In version 5, we provide no-code integration with many 3rd party tools. They include: Google Analytics,Google+ Authorship, CrazyEgg (or any other analytics service), Addthis social sharing buttons, Gravatar, FontAwesome icons, and Google's reCaptcha.
Also, you can share membership data with your newsletter service provider (like Mailchimp) via the built-in web service / REST API calling feature.