# Rate limiting conversations for new users
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/rate-limiting-conversations-for-new-users/33642
**Category:** UX
**Created:** [September 23, 2015, 2:44pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/rate-limiting-conversations-for-new-users/33642 "2015-09-23T14:44:37Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@fbender](https://meta.discourse.org/u/fbender)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2015, 2:44pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/rate-limiting-conversations-for-new-users/33642/1 "2015-09-23T14:44:37Z")
Continuing the discussion from [Can Discourse ship frequent Docker images that do not need to be bootstrapped?](https://meta.discourse.org/t/can-discourse-ship-frequent-docker-images-that-do-not-need-to-be-bootstrapped/33205/15):
> [@Can Discourse ship frequent Docker images that do not need to be bootstrapped?](https://meta.discourse.org/t/can-discourse-ship-frequent-docker-images-that-do-not-need-to-be-bootstrapped/33205/15):
>
> > [@Can Discourse ship frequent Docker images that do not need to be bootstrapped?](https://meta.discourse.org/t/can-discourse-ship-frequent-docker-images-that-do-not-need-to-be-bootstrapped/33205/14):
> >
> > Oh wow, hit some limit and had to wait 20 hours before I could answer. Is that the Discourse default or specific to this installation?
>
> Working as designed: you’re heavily ratelimited in the first 24 hours after you create your account.
Yeah I am aware of the rate limiting and it’s one of the reasons I chose Discourse. However it broke the flow of this coversation with its pretty hefty 24h “ban”. I need to think about my limits … and whether the rate limiting can be smarter (e.g. allow a higher number of replys in a conversation when you are not answering yourself). It’s a bit confusing that I could create new topics but could not answer to someone else. Also, the error message was very non-decriptive and confusing for the “average Joe” (I knew what was happening, but the folks in my install would not).
Any idea how this could be improved?
---
### Author:  [@Mittineague](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Mittineague)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2015, 4:52pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/rate-limiting-conversations-for-new-users/33642/2 "2015-09-23T16:52:04Z")
The purpose of Rate Limits is to help reduce the amount TL0 Flood SPAM
It may be that with Akismet rate limiting is now not as crucial as it was previously
And I guess a lot depends on how well a forum is covered by Moderators
Currently all the Rate Limit settings are “per day”, I think it would be ideal to have a “time period” setting so that the default 24 hours could be tweaked, but imagine that would require a lot of changes in the Core code if it’s even possible.
I believe the following (with the default values in brackets) are the ones you are referring to
> max topics in first day [3]
> The maximum number of topics a user is allowed to create in their first day on the site
> max replies in first day [10]
> The maximum number of replies a user is allowed to create in their first day on the site
> [@fbender](#):
>
> message was very non-decriptive and confusing
Do you mean this one?
“We have a daily limit on how many times that action can be taken. Please wait %{time\_left} before trying again.”
I do agree that it would be better if replies in your own topic to those helping were exempt from the max replies limit.
A bit edge case perhaps as it’s only in effect for the first day.
On the other hand, not the best thing to happen to a legit new member.
---
### Author:  [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2015, 1:39am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/rate-limiting-conversations-for-new-users/33642/3 "2015-09-24T01:39:33Z")
We should definitely improve the messaging here @eviltrout.
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### Author:  [@eviltrout](https://meta.discourse.org/u/eviltrout)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2015, 5:53pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/rate-limiting-conversations-for-new-users/33642/4 "2015-09-24T17:53:48Z")
We can now customize the messages for rate limits so that they don’t all say “You’ve done that action too many times.”
[https://github.com/discourse/discourse/commit/0b4cb5cf0d5f2304a8918384735f93aeca493bbe](https://github.com/discourse/discourse/commit/0b4cb5cf0d5f2304a8918384735f93aeca493bbe)
If a custom message for a rate limit is not found it just uses the generic one. I’ve populated all the big ones I found though.
---
### Author:  [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2015, 9:34am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/rate-limiting-conversations-for-new-users/33642/5 "2015-09-29T09:34:57Z")
OK in testing this on [try.discourse.org](http://try.discourse.org), I get
> You’re posting topics too quickly. Please wait 1 minute before trying again.
and
> You’ve reached the maximum number of topics a new user can post on their first day. Please wait 23 hours before trying again.
and
> You’re replying too quickly. Please wait 22 seconds before trying again.
and
> You’ve reached the maximum number of posts a new user can post on their first day. Please wait 23 hours before trying again.
Seems quite a bit clearer. 👍
---
### Author:  [@fbender](https://meta.discourse.org/u/fbender)
#### Post date: [October 27, 2015, 3:39pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/rate-limiting-conversations-for-new-users/33642/6 "2015-10-27T15:39:36Z")
Awesome, thanks for the quick action! Will this be in v1.5 or already a v1.4 bugfix?
One further idea: Have the ability to link to an article where the general concept is explained further (e.g. the “welcome” post, “self-moderation” section).
---
### Author:  [@fbender](https://meta.discourse.org/u/fbender)
#### Post date: [October 27, 2015, 3:51pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/rate-limiting-conversations-for-new-users/33642/7 "2015-10-27T15:51:22Z")
> [@Mittineague](#):
>
> On the other hand, not the best thing to happen to a legit new member.
Yeah, that’s what I thought. With the new messaging, this is much better now.
> [@Mittineague](#):
>
> Currently all the Rate Limit settings are “per day”, I think it would be ideal to have a “time period” setting so that the default 24 hours could be tweaked, but imagine that would require a lot of changes in the Core code if it’s even possible.
I like this idea, too. @eviltrout, any idea how complex that would be?
---
### Author:  [@Addonn](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Addonn)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2016, 1:44am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/rate-limiting-conversations-for-new-users/33642/8 "2016-03-24T01:44:45Z")
> [@codinghorror](#):
>
> You’re replying too quickly. Please wait 22 seconds before trying again.
So how do I change this limit?
---
### Author:  [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2016, 1:54am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/rate-limiting-conversations-for-new-users/33642/9 "2016-03-24T01:54:35Z")
Admin, Site Settings.
---
### Author:  [@Addonn](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Addonn)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2016, 1:58am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/rate-limiting-conversations-for-new-users/33642/10 "2016-03-24T01:58:39Z")
Thanks! Problem solved
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### Author:  [@Kevin\_Wildenradt](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Kevin_Wildenradt)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2017, 12:41am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/rate-limiting-conversations-for-new-users/33642/11 "2017-02-24T00:41:17Z")
I am posting as a user using master api key. Am getting this error message
{“errors”:[“You’re creating topics too quickly. Please wait 1 minute before trying again.”],“error\_type”:“rate\_limit”}
In an attempt to get rid of this error I have set these site settings like so:
rate\_limit\_create\_topic = 0
rate\_limit\_create\_post = 0
rate\_limit\_new\_user\_create\_topic = 0
rate\_limit\_new\_user\_create\_post = 0
Am still running into this error, even though rate limits are 0 seconds. Any ideas why?