Support for Indie Authors discussion

I posted a review to GR today and discovered that you now need to click through a reCAPTCHA before it can be saved.

So, will this extra hurdle hurt review numbers or help ensure authentic feedback?

I don't think it will keep readers from writing reviews. People are so familiar with captchas these days. I assume GR has started using them for a reason, sadly.

I hate hate hate captchas. It will put me off posting reviews if I have to do one every single time. If it's random and not all the time, I could live with that.

Xanxa wrote: "I hate hate hate captchas. It will put me off posting reviews if I have to do one every single time. If it's random and not all the time, I could live with that."

I can't stand them either.

I can't stand them ..."

I can't either. I always fail them the first time...lol

Gail wrote: "I can't stand them ..."

I can't either. I always fail them the first time...lol"

Same here! It's always the same thing - click squares with traffic lights in them. Well do the poles they are on count as traffic lights lol

Eldon wrote: "Gail wrote: "I can't stand them ..."

I can't either. I always fail them the first time...lol"

Same here! It's always the same thing - click squares with traffic lights in them. Well do the poles ..."

Haha. I think I've figured out the secret, Eldon. There are usually 3 squares that qualify

Gail wrote: "Eldon wrote: "Gail wrote: "I can't stand them ..."

I can't either. I always fail them the first time...lol"

Same here! It's always the same thing - click squares with traffic lights in them. Well..."

Awesome :D

They say it's to make sure you're not a robot
I don't know how you'd get past it if you were ha ha

Andrea wrote: "They say it's to make sure you're not a robot
I don't know how you'd get past it if you were ha ha"

Sometimes I wonder how to get past it when you aren't haha

I have a real issue with CAPTCHAs too. Apart from matters of interpretation (like do the squares with traffic light poles count), half the time the images are so small and blurred I literally can't make out what they depict half the time.

Then there's the way they are exclusively geared to US culture. For example fire hydrants in the UK look nothing like the ones in North America, and I remember one CAPTCHA asking you to identify pictures of ice cream. You could only get that right if you happened to know various American brand logos on the sides of the cartons.

Ian wrote: "I have a real issue with CAPTCHAs too. Apart from matters of interpretation (like do the squares with traffic light poles count), half the time the images are so small and blurred I literally can't..."

That's a great point about cultural differences, Ian!!

Maybe I'm weird but I usually get them the first time and if I don't it doesn't bother me. :)

Ian wrote: Then there's the way they are exclusively geared to US culture.

I have the same issue. Problem is, I still don't seem to get CAPTCHAs right first time, even when they're UK originated.
Must be me at fault.

I like the CAPTCHAs that say 'tick this box if you're not a robot'. Otherwise, when every minute in my day counts, they are a dratted waste of time.

However, if they successfully keep out the review farms (or whatever) then I'll grit my teeth...

Anna wrote: "I like the CAPTCHAs that say 'tick this box if you're not a robot'. Otherwise, when every minute in my day counts, they are a dratted waste of time.

However, if they successfully keep out the revi..."

We'll see if the farms find a way around them, Anna.

Xanxa wrote: "I hate hate hate captchas. It will put me off posting reviews if I have to do one every single time. If it's random and not all the time, I could live with that."

Phillip wrote: "Xanxa wrote: "I hate hate hate captchas. It will put me off posting reviews if I have to do one every single time. If it's random and not all the time, I could live with that."

"

Love it!!!

Phillip wrote: "Xanxa wrote: "I hate hate hate captchas. It will put me off posting reviews if I have to do one every single time. If it's random and not all the time, I could live with that."

"

That's so good! lol

Clicking the box that I'm not a robot is fine, but those picture things are rough. The pictures are so small even on a 15 in. screen that you can barely see what you are looking for. If I can't get it after a couple of tries, I'm gone.

B.A. wrote: "Clicking the box that I'm not a robot is fine, but those picture things are rough. The pictures are so small even on a 15 in. screen that you can barely see what you are looking for. If I can't get..."

Something I think a lot of potential reviewers will say :(

Eldon wrote: We'll see if the farms find a way around them, Anna.."

It's only a matter of time, I suspect!

It's always the same things they want you to look for - the traffic lights mentioned above being one of them

The comic stripe is so funny🤣😂🤣

I saw something that said, "It's unfortunate that the robots are now asking *the humans* to prove we are human."

I've just posted a review and I wasn't asked to do a captcha. That makes me wonder if it's a random thing - you might be lucky and get away without having to do one. Or maybe it's dependent on how many reviews you do or how frequently you review items?

Anyway, I count this as a win. No captcha! Hooray!

Lyvita wrote: "The comic stripe is so funny🤣😂🤣"

A question like that? I haven't a clue what the answer is

I have no idea what a captcha is. When I write a review that's all I do or need to do. I post my reviews on Goodreads.

A captcha is an image or series of distorted letters than you must correctly identify. (E.g. click all images of a firetruck)

I needed to do a captcha yesterday just to sign into Goodreads.