Suspicious user behavior September 21, 2005 4:36 PM Subscribe
Something dubious about this is nagging at me, and I can't stop till I've gotten it off my chest. I submit to you user #21799. He has posted twice to the blue, both times to sites with interesting content, but of questionable quality. Both domains posted (1,2) are on the same registrar, with the same basic whois info. The sum of his comments have been tepid one-liners, one to two words in length. Additionally, there is an identical post by someone with the same handle in Broadband Reports, and a complaint about similar TV-related spam in an Avengers newsgroup. Is this subtle link spam at work, or am I being paranoid?
Well, you've either got a good eye or too much time on your hands. Or both.
posted by yerfatma at 4:42 PM on September 21, 2005
posted by yerfatma at 4:42 PM on September 21, 2005
ROLL UP, ROLL UP "Football's live streams"
posted by fire&wings at 4:43 PM on September 21, 2005
posted by fire&wings at 4:43 PM on September 21, 2005
Absolutely.. self linking or spam. The latest site had 10 visitors yesterday and 309 today. Probably all from metafilter.
Prepare the hammer of bannation.
posted by seanyboy at 4:44 PM on September 21, 2005
Prepare the hammer of bannation.
posted by seanyboy at 4:44 PM on September 21, 2005
I thought my exwife was a paranoid obsessive but she pales in comparison.
posted by mischief at 4:44 PM on September 21, 2005
posted by mischief at 4:44 PM on September 21, 2005
I think you're right. Also, interesting that all of his comments seemed to be made just to get to the point where he could post a link. Once he had posting privs, he never made another comment again. I tip my hat to you, Inspector.
posted by iconomy at 4:45 PM on September 21, 2005
posted by iconomy at 4:45 PM on September 21, 2005
Self-policing indeed.
Good work, brownpau, you get to deliver the killing blow!
posted by fenriq at 4:46 PM on September 21, 2005
Good work, brownpau, you get to deliver the killing blow!
posted by fenriq at 4:46 PM on September 21, 2005
Yes, the comments are pedestrian at best. I think I smell a rat here, but we need more and better evidence.
posted by snsranch at 4:50 PM on September 21, 2005
posted by snsranch at 4:50 PM on September 21, 2005
Really, who bothers to sign up (and these days pay for) a MeFi account and then has so very, very little to say when posting? He's either guilty as charged or the most dull, minimalist MeFite ever.
posted by cortex at 4:53 PM on September 21, 2005
posted by cortex at 4:53 PM on September 21, 2005
I really, REALLY hope he uses the BANNED 4 LIFE tupac tattoo to do it.
posted by shmegegge at 4:55 PM on September 21, 2005
posted by shmegegge at 4:55 PM on September 21, 2005
>Brownpau, have you considered a career in skip tracing?
No, but if the FBI has openings for Comment Spam Agents, I'm sooo there.
posted by brownpau at 4:59 PM on September 21, 2005
No, but if the FBI has openings for Comment Spam Agents, I'm sooo there.
posted by brownpau at 4:59 PM on September 21, 2005
I really, REALLY hope he uses the BANNED 4 LIFE tupac tattoo to do it.
Hell yes. If there's a better coup de grâce in Matt's arsenal, I've never seen it.
Tattoo him!
posted by 27 at 5:01 PM on September 21, 2005
Hell yes. If there's a better coup de grâce in Matt's arsenal, I've never seen it.
Tattoo him!
posted by 27 at 5:01 PM on September 21, 2005
It has been brought to my attention that a number of you are stroking guns.
Seriously, though, aren't IPs logged? Matt should be able to tell once he sees this thread.
posted by Johnny Assay at 5:04 PM on September 21, 2005
Seriously, though, aren't IPs logged? Matt should be able to tell once he sees this thread.
posted by Johnny Assay at 5:04 PM on September 21, 2005
bp, good catch.
Where is that one dude who does that thing when we need him?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 5:10 PM on September 21, 2005
Where is that one dude who does that thing when we need him?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 5:10 PM on September 21, 2005
Where is the traitor, let this person speak and be judged!!!!
(I love a good angry mob!)
posted by snsranch at 5:12 PM on September 21, 2005
(I love a good angry mob!)
posted by snsranch at 5:12 PM on September 21, 2005
cool
posted by Optimus Chyme at 5:19 PM on September 21, 2005
posted by Optimus Chyme at 5:19 PM on September 21, 2005
Even if he isn't self posting, which I think he is, he should be given a bit of a time out just for being a "me too"er. seanyboy has the real proof, who could possibly 1 of 10 site visitor's who wasn't somehow associated with the site.
posted by Mitheral at 5:21 PM on September 21, 2005
posted by Mitheral at 5:21 PM on September 21, 2005
In all seriousness this is a pretty clear-cut case of self-linking for profit and he should be banned 4 life.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 5:25 PM on September 21, 2005
posted by Optimus Chyme at 5:25 PM on September 21, 2005
If he doesn't get the villager and torch action can we run Mr. "Look at me! I've got a blog!" out of town instead?
posted by eyeballkid at 5:26 PM on September 21, 2005
posted by eyeballkid at 5:26 PM on September 21, 2005
Metafilter: who could possibly 1 of 10 site visitor's who wasn't somehow associated with the site
posted by eddydamascene at 5:28 PM on September 21, 2005
posted by eddydamascene at 5:28 PM on September 21, 2005
eddydamascene: I shouldn't be laughing as hard at that as I currently am, because the poor guy obviously just posted a little too quickly, but I'm still laughing pretty hard right now.
and crash davis: shit, I'd forgotten about tamim. He was when I was just a lurker, but still... that creepy creepy guy is exactly who we need to tell us who this dude is, what his favorite ice cream flavor is and exactly how many times he's been kissed.
posted by shmegegge at 5:32 PM on September 21, 2005
and crash davis: shit, I'd forgotten about tamim. He was when I was just a lurker, but still... that creepy creepy guy is exactly who we need to tell us who this dude is, what his favorite ice cream flavor is and exactly how many times he's been kissed.
posted by shmegegge at 5:32 PM on September 21, 2005
2 posts and 4 comments? is that all? aren't new users supposed to post at least 10 comments before they can post on the front page?
posted by matteo at 5:32 PM on September 21, 2005
posted by matteo at 5:32 PM on September 21, 2005
wow, I sincerely hope that goodasyou doesn't intend to continue self-linking in every single thread he/she participates in. That's actually making me nauseous.
posted by shmegegge at 5:34 PM on September 21, 2005
posted by shmegegge at 5:34 PM on September 21, 2005
Lame profile too.
Can we get a ruling now? It's not like he has to speak in his own defense or try on gloves.
posted by snsranch at 5:50 PM on September 21, 2005
Can we get a ruling now? It's not like he has to speak in his own defense or try on gloves.
posted by snsranch at 5:50 PM on September 21, 2005
MetaFilter: subtle link spam at work
and Scooby Pau is too
posted by If I Had An Anus at 6:44 PM on September 21, 2005
and Scooby Pau is too
posted by If I Had An Anus at 6:44 PM on September 21, 2005
I tip my hat to you, Inspector.
Indeed. I can hardly believe folks are actually giving you shit for being sharp enough to catch this.
posted by scarabic at 6:52 PM on September 21, 2005
Indeed. I can hardly believe folks are actually giving you shit for being sharp enough to catch this.
posted by scarabic at 6:52 PM on September 21, 2005
Great! Now let's compose a list of all of MeFi's admitted illicit drug users!
posted by mischief at 7:07 PM on September 21, 2005
posted by mischief at 7:07 PM on September 21, 2005
shmegegge writes "because the poor guy obviously just posted a little too quickly, but I'm still laughing pretty hard right now."
Actually I'm posting with my sick daughter laying on one arm, but that was pretty funny.
What I meant to say was: who could possibly be 1 out of only 10 site visitors and not be associated with the site. IE: how would any non associated member ever stumble across the site if it has only had 10 visitors total.
posted by Mitheral at 7:18 PM on September 21, 2005
Actually I'm posting with my sick daughter laying on one arm, but that was pretty funny.
What I meant to say was: who could possibly be 1 out of only 10 site visitors and not be associated with the site. IE: how would any non associated member ever stumble across the site if it has only had 10 visitors total.
posted by Mitheral at 7:18 PM on September 21, 2005
Oh, and I agree on this and on the goodasyou.org guy. BURN the witches!
posted by yhbc at 7:19 PM on September 21, 2005
posted by yhbc at 7:19 PM on September 21, 2005
* grabs dg, turns him face front *
* stands next to him to make a hilarious impromptu American Gothic in Flames parody *
Maybe this is why we can't have good angry mobs.
posted by yhbc at 8:13 PM on September 21, 2005
* stands next to him to make a hilarious impromptu American Gothic in Flames parody *
Maybe this is why we can't have good angry mobs.
posted by yhbc at 8:13 PM on September 21, 2005
Seven words in 8 months - that is embarrassing for a MeFite. Before he is strung up/burned at the stake, make halo7879 talk! You know there are ways to make him talk.
posted by Cranberry at 8:44 PM on September 21, 2005
posted by Cranberry at 8:44 PM on September 21, 2005
"make halo7879 talk"
Seriously, what about asking him/her what's up, and deferring pushing for action till you hear back?
Gee. In one thread we had a 300-comment thread concerned mainly with Rothko's animus toward departed Dios, then here brownpau complains that somebody who joined up 8 months ago has made only 2 short posts and 4 short comments -- including (I will add) no death threats of any length. Golly.
Truly, something must be done. I think we need a "witchhunt" flag too.
posted by davy at 9:51 PM on September 21, 2005
Seriously, what about asking him/her what's up, and deferring pushing for action till you hear back?
Gee. In one thread we had a 300-comment thread concerned mainly with Rothko's animus toward departed Dios, then here brownpau complains that somebody who joined up 8 months ago has made only 2 short posts and 4 short comments -- including (I will add) no death threats of any length. Golly.
Truly, something must be done. I think we need a "witchhunt" flag too.
posted by davy at 9:51 PM on September 21, 2005
Actually I'm posting with my sick daughter laying on one arm, but that was pretty funny.
Hope she feels better.
Seriously, what about asking him/her what's up, and deferring pushing for action till you hear back?
Because he's a witch, and witches must be burned.
posted by eddydamascene at 10:04 PM on September 21, 2005
Hope she feels better.
Seriously, what about asking him/her what's up, and deferring pushing for action till you hear back?
Because he's a witch, and witches must be burned.
posted by eddydamascene at 10:04 PM on September 21, 2005
In one thread we had a 300-comment thread concerned mainly with Rothko's animus toward departed Dios
More like 300+ comments of animus towards Rothko for saying one negative comment about this site's right-wing poster boy in someone else's complaint.
posted by Rothko at 10:33 PM on September 21, 2005
More like 300+ comments of animus towards Rothko for saying one negative comment about this site's right-wing poster boy in someone else's complaint.
posted by Rothko at 10:33 PM on September 21, 2005
Seriously, what about asking him/her what's up, and deferring pushing for action till you hear back?
How do you suggest we get a hold of him? No email in profile, and I'll be fucked if I'm going to visit his wack-ass sites. If every member here posted shitty self-links this place would be worse than livingwithstyle.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 10:40 PM on September 21, 2005
How do you suggest we get a hold of him? No email in profile, and I'll be fucked if I'm going to visit his wack-ass sites. If every member here posted shitty self-links this place would be worse than livingwithstyle.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 10:40 PM on September 21, 2005
Rothko, davy: you're right! You didn't really complete that conversation in the 300-post thread. I say you resume bickering here! Who's with me?
[ventriloquist voice: I say we let it go!]
posted by squirrel at 11:25 PM on September 21, 2005
[ventriloquist voice: I say we let it go!]
posted by squirrel at 11:25 PM on September 21, 2005
squirrel wins
squirrel wins again for an amazing pee-wee's big adventure reference.
posted by shmegegge at 12:06 AM on September 22, 2005
squirrel wins again for an amazing pee-wee's big adventure reference.
posted by shmegegge at 12:06 AM on September 22, 2005
Seriously, what about asking him/her what's up, and deferring pushing for action till you hear back?
What, exactly, are the chances that a user with a seven-word commenting history and two very questionable posts two his/her name is going to be keeping an eye on MeTa for a chance to discuss the situation?
I mean, that is very fair-minded of you, davy, and I appreciate that, but this situation reeks.
posted by cortex at 12:04 PM on September 22, 2005
What, exactly, are the chances that a user with a seven-word commenting history and two very questionable posts two his/her name is going to be keeping an eye on MeTa for a chance to discuss the situation?
I mean, that is very fair-minded of you, davy, and I appreciate that, but this situation reeks.
posted by cortex at 12:04 PM on September 22, 2005
dg: You are to blame for soda coming out my nose.
posted by null terminated at 1:35 PM on September 22, 2005
posted by null terminated at 1:35 PM on September 22, 2005
Budweiser is not illicit!
While dozens of much more worthwhile substances are. (And the spell checker wants to replace Budweiser with undeserved.)
posted by Kirth Gerson at 5:27 PM on September 22, 2005
While dozens of much more worthwhile substances are. (And the spell checker wants to replace Budweiser with undeserved.)
posted by Kirth Gerson at 5:27 PM on September 22, 2005
Who is number 1?
posted by cortex at 4:48 PM PST on September 21 [!]
cortex, you are number 6!
posted by wheat at 5:51 PM on September 22, 2005
posted by cortex at 4:48 PM PST on September 21 [!]
cortex, you are number 6!
posted by wheat at 5:51 PM on September 22, 2005
squirrel and shmegegge, when y'all turn 18 I might let yall pay me to take turns sucking my toe till I sneeze. If one twit can take turns with himself, I mean; if this is at all difficult I suggest you soon begin developing an Alternate Personality for that day in 2112 when you're finally "legal".
posted by davy at 9:26 PM on September 22, 2005
posted by davy at 9:26 PM on September 22, 2005
Matt says wait till he posts one more time to establish the pattern. Okay.
posted by brownpau at 9:36 PM on September 22, 2005
posted by brownpau at 9:36 PM on September 22, 2005
On a similar note, user #19770 seems affliated or infatuated with Poolitics.
posted by Gyan at 2:35 AM on September 25, 2005
posted by Gyan at 2:35 AM on September 25, 2005
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posted by blue_beetle at 4:41 PM on September 21, 2005