help me out here January 17, 2006 3:54 PM Subscribe
help me out here - whatever happened to Pretty_Generic? was he banned for good?
I have the impression that he is still making his presence felt, nonetheless.
posted by Gator at 3:57 PM on January 17, 2006
posted by Gator at 3:57 PM on January 17, 2006
Okay, as a follow up - why? What did he do? Is there a link to the ending? Guy always seemed like such a huge part of the site to me, shame that he's gone.
posted by jonson at 4:02 PM on January 17, 2006
posted by jonson at 4:02 PM on January 17, 2006
It turns out that PG was running multiple accounts here for years jonson. I'm not sure about the details, but it was a pretty long-term and far-reaching fraud from what I have gleaned.
I also think that he hacked some other user's accounts.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 4:09 PM on January 17, 2006
I also think that he hacked some other user's accounts.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 4:09 PM on January 17, 2006
Let's see, he participated in the fake AskMe question, then he outed it in MetaTalk, then he got temp-banned on the PG account, then he signed up a new account that was almost all noise and soon banned, then he was given a new account that was actually an old account that was accessed via a dictionary attack on the site that PG may or may not have known was gotten through such means. Then THAT account was banned. More info here and here.
Most of this started over the US Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Then he signed up with another account, saying he'd be cool which he mostly has been. Now you have capcha for logins and can't edit your user pages.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 4:25 PM on January 17, 2006 [3 favorites]
Most of this started over the US Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Then he signed up with another account, saying he'd be cool which he mostly has been. Now you have capcha for logins and can't edit your user pages.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 4:25 PM on January 17, 2006 [3 favorites]
From the thread smackfu posted: Are accounts still locked after 5 failed login attempts? Seems like a pretty simple way of silencing other people's accounts.
posted by jsonic at 4:52 PM on January 17, 2006
posted by jsonic at 4:52 PM on January 17, 2006
Now you have capcha for logins and can't edit your user pages.
Thanks man. I think the fake AskMe question was the worst, though. People were sincerely trying to help out. Exploiting that honest, willingness-to-help of the community actually made me sick to my stomach. Good riddance to him.
posted by vacapinta at 5:03 PM on January 17, 2006
Thanks man. I think the fake AskMe question was the worst, though. People were sincerely trying to help out. Exploiting that honest, willingness-to-help of the community actually made me sick to my stomach. Good riddance to him.
posted by vacapinta at 5:03 PM on January 17, 2006
crazy. And to think I missed all that awesome drama just to watch the birth of my damn daughter. So what's his name now?? That crazy, crazy bastard.
posted by jonson at 5:07 PM on January 17, 2006
posted by jonson at 5:07 PM on January 17, 2006
Wow, these are the things that happen between visits to the MeFi.
How sad and lame of him.
posted by fenriq at 5:10 PM on January 17, 2006
How sad and lame of him.
posted by fenriq at 5:10 PM on January 17, 2006
*logs out, logs in as ParisParamus six times in a row*
posted by interrobang at 5:15 PM on January 17, 2006 [1 favorite]
posted by interrobang at 5:15 PM on January 17, 2006 [1 favorite]
"...whatever happened to Pretty_Generic? was he banned for good?"
I'm pretty sure he was banned for bad.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 5:34 PM on January 17, 2006
I'm pretty sure he was banned for bad.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 5:34 PM on January 17, 2006
And no love for the fantasy football-playing struggling lawyers, then? Ah, well.
Unfortunately, it's just not as much fun goofing off on MetaFilter when you're working for yourself.
Speaking of returning natives, though (hi, crash!) I could have sworn I had a chicobangs sighting fairly recently. (See, I do still read the damn site obsessively!)
posted by yhbc at 6:26 PM on January 17, 2006
Unfortunately, it's just not as much fun goofing off on MetaFilter when you're working for yourself.
Speaking of returning natives, though (hi, crash!) I could have sworn I had a chicobangs sighting fairly recently. (See, I do still read the damn site obsessively!)
posted by yhbc at 6:26 PM on January 17, 2006
I miss evaniser too. Sir_Walsingham as well - I think they would have got along together well if I had got around to introducing them.
posted by dg at 6:41 PM on January 17, 2006
posted by dg at 6:41 PM on January 17, 2006
I had a few nights out with evanizer. I miss that crazy bastard.
posted by jonmc at 7:16 PM on January 17, 2006
posted by jonmc at 7:16 PM on January 17, 2006
*wakes up in the middle of the night*
DHOOOYT!!!!
*collapses directly into stage 4 sleep*
posted by Krrrlson at 8:42 PM on January 17, 2006
DHOOOYT!!!!
*collapses directly into stage 4 sleep*
posted by Krrrlson at 8:42 PM on January 17, 2006
"It turns out that PG was running multiple accounts here for years jonson. I'm not sure about the details, but it was a pretty long-term and far-reaching fraud from what I have gleaned."
No, you're confusing dhoyt with pretty_generic.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 8:48 PM on January 17, 2006
No, you're confusing dhoyt with pretty_generic.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 8:48 PM on January 17, 2006
Then he signed up with another account, saying he'd be cool which he mostly has been. Now you have capcha for logins and can't edit your user pages.
W... wh... what is it I'm not getting here? Why is someone who has repeatedly, fantastically, and cavalierly abused other users and the site itself - to such an extent that now each and every one of us has more work to do to log in - waved back through the door with a brand new username to run off and play some more? "Balls wiped," indeed.
posted by soyjoy at 10:08 PM on January 17, 2006
W... wh... what is it I'm not getting here? Why is someone who has repeatedly, fantastically, and cavalierly abused other users and the site itself - to such an extent that now each and every one of us has more work to do to log in - waved back through the door with a brand new username to run off and play some more? "Balls wiped," indeed.
posted by soyjoy at 10:08 PM on January 17, 2006
Every good story needs an antagonist, soyjoy. If PG didn't exist, we would have had to invent him.
posted by cortex at 10:11 PM on January 17, 2006
posted by cortex at 10:11 PM on January 17, 2006
That's a damn good question, soyjoy.
I never spent enough time on the blue to understand what happened with quonsar. But I know he was banned; I know there was a MeTa thread where Matt commented that quonsar had never contributed anything but noise and that he saw no reason to reactivate the account; and I know that, about three days later, quonsar was reinstated.
I suppose it's difficult to ban someone from a website (as Wikipedia admins will attest). Matt probably figures the $5 bar will discourage most trolls from repeatedly going off the deep end. He's probably right.
posted by cribcage at 10:29 PM on January 17, 2006
I never spent enough time on the blue to understand what happened with quonsar. But I know he was banned; I know there was a MeTa thread where Matt commented that quonsar had never contributed anything but noise and that he saw no reason to reactivate the account; and I know that, about three days later, quonsar was reinstated.
I suppose it's difficult to ban someone from a website (as Wikipedia admins will attest). Matt probably figures the $5 bar will discourage most trolls from repeatedly going off the deep end. He's probably right.
posted by cribcage at 10:29 PM on January 17, 2006
soyjoy: probably because ultimately it's more effective to just chastise people and then let them back in, than drive yourself crazy trying to keep them 100% out. This is the Internet, there are proxies, and it's possible to create new accounts - you are never going to keep anybody completely off the site if they insist on getting in. Banning them until they appear to have gotten the message and then reinstating them is probably more effective on the whole.
Pretty Generic is now back under a new nick, quonsar has been banned something like six times now(?), and AlexReynolds was allowed to continue posting as Rothko. There are probably others I'm forgetting. I could be talking out my ass but it's hard not to notice a pattern here.
posted by Ryvar at 11:24 PM on January 17, 2006
Pretty Generic is now back under a new nick, quonsar has been banned something like six times now(?), and AlexReynolds was allowed to continue posting as Rothko. There are probably others I'm forgetting. I could be talking out my ass but it's hard not to notice a pattern here.
posted by Ryvar at 11:24 PM on January 17, 2006
There is a relatively new user around who is clearly posting in PG's style (well, minus some of the bannable stuff). It's not hard to figure out who it is, but for some reason it has not been explicitly stated. If you're paying attention, you shouldn't have much trouble discovering it.
posted by grouse at 2:37 AM on January 18, 2006
posted by grouse at 2:37 AM on January 18, 2006
Why is someone who has repeatedly, fantastically, and cavalierly abused other users and the site itself - to such an extent that now each and every one of us has more work to do to log in - waved back through the door with a brand new username to run off and play some more?
Because he's very entertaining. Ditto quonsar. That's all the justification needed for a website whose most successful purpose—at least on the blue, and frequently on the gray—is entertainment.
Doesn't explain why Rothko is back, but Rothko has been behaving himself recently. I wouldn't have predicted it, but there you go.
posted by Slithy_Tove at 3:10 AM on January 18, 2006
Because he's very entertaining. Ditto quonsar. That's all the justification needed for a website whose most successful purpose—at least on the blue, and frequently on the gray—is entertainment.
Doesn't explain why Rothko is back, but Rothko has been behaving himself recently. I wouldn't have predicted it, but there you go.
posted by Slithy_Tove at 3:10 AM on January 18, 2006
It is I!
It turns out that PG was running multiple accounts here for years.
Nope. Well, I had one other account, but it had "THIS IS A PRETTY_GENERIC SOCKPUPPET HELLO" in the profile. Not much of a fraud.
then he signed up a new account that was almost all noise and soon banned
Do you mean Mephistopheles? I don't think that's noise. I assumed it was banned because it was me, and that if I bought any further accounts, they would also be banned. Therefore, when I was offered the password to the old ab'd al'Hazred account, I used it, since I assumed it would be my only opportunity to participate further in the site. However, mathowie later made it clear that he would tolerate my use of a new account (this one).
posted by Protocols of the Elders of Awesome at 3:26 AM on January 18, 2006
It turns out that PG was running multiple accounts here for years.
Nope. Well, I had one other account, but it had "THIS IS A PRETTY_GENERIC SOCKPUPPET HELLO" in the profile. Not much of a fraud.
then he signed up a new account that was almost all noise and soon banned
Do you mean Mephistopheles? I don't think that's noise. I assumed it was banned because it was me, and that if I bought any further accounts, they would also be banned. Therefore, when I was offered the password to the old ab'd al'Hazred account, I used it, since I assumed it would be my only opportunity to participate further in the site. However, mathowie later made it clear that he would tolerate my use of a new account (this one).
posted by Protocols of the Elders of Awesome at 3:26 AM on January 18, 2006
Doesn't explain why Rothko is back, but Rothko has been behaving himself recently. I wouldn't have predicted it, but there you go.
Well, I haven't tried to jimmy the locks on any websites lately *cough*, if that's what you mean.
posted by Rothko at 3:56 AM on January 18, 2006
Well, I haven't tried to jimmy the locks on any websites lately *cough*, if that's what you mean.
posted by Rothko at 3:56 AM on January 18, 2006
Your new account has the second best name on the site, mere fractions behind "weretable and the undead chairs".
There's a payment plan if you want any more praise than that, son.
posted by NinjaPirate at 4:38 AM on January 18, 2006
There's a payment plan if you want any more praise than that, son.
posted by NinjaPirate at 4:38 AM on January 18, 2006
He does have a knack for usernames. Maybe we should get him banned again and see what he comes up with next time.
I'm glad you're still around. Your shirt has gotten raves.
posted by eriko at 5:37 AM on January 18, 2006
I'm glad you're still around. Your shirt has gotten raves.
posted by eriko at 5:37 AM on January 18, 2006
PG's hooker thread, with denouement, was one of the most entertaining I ever read.
But wait, then he got busted with fake questions?
Aw. Aw crap.
posted by CunningLinguist at 6:09 AM on January 18, 2006
But wait, then he got busted with fake questions?
Aw. Aw crap.
posted by CunningLinguist at 6:09 AM on January 18, 2006
then he signed up a new account that was almost all noise and soon banned
Do you mean Mephistopheles?
No, I meant spinoza.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:15 AM on January 18, 2006
Do you mean Mephistopheles?
No, I meant spinoza.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:15 AM on January 18, 2006
Oh yeah, I forgot about spinoza. That was mostly not me.
All the AskMe questions I have posted are genuine.
posted by Protocols of the Elders of Awesome at 8:52 AM on January 18, 2006
All the AskMe questions I have posted are genuine.
posted by Protocols of the Elders of Awesome at 8:52 AM on January 18, 2006
I know how you feel, Protocols; I am frequently mostly not me, too.
If you're mostly not spinoza, then who is spinoza mostly?
posted by leftcoastbob at 9:00 AM on January 18, 2006
If you're mostly not spinoza, then who is spinoza mostly?
posted by leftcoastbob at 9:00 AM on January 18, 2006
I'm all for banning and then letting people back in for $5. If enough people do that we could easily fund the site, and get all the ponies we want.
posted by blue_beetle at 9:05 AM on January 18, 2006
posted by blue_beetle at 9:05 AM on January 18, 2006
As I recall, spinoza was mostly thirteenkiller and a man named Alex. But I may be mistaken.
posted by Protocols of the Elders of Awesome at 9:07 AM on January 18, 2006
posted by Protocols of the Elders of Awesome at 9:07 AM on January 18, 2006
I'm all for banning and then letting people back in for $5.
Frankly, that sounds like something awful.
posted by Protocols of the Elders of Awesome at 9:07 AM on January 18, 2006
Frankly, that sounds like something awful.
posted by Protocols of the Elders of Awesome at 9:07 AM on January 18, 2006
put your money where your troll is buy stuff buy stuff support the peeg
thank you
posted by Protocols of the Elders of Awesome at 9:13 AM on January 18, 2006
thank you
posted by Protocols of the Elders of Awesome at 9:13 AM on January 18, 2006
STOP ABUSE
posted by thirteenkiller at 10:11 AM on January 18, 2006
posted by thirteenkiller at 10:11 AM on January 18, 2006
I for one didn't know that PG was PotEoA. However, I like Protocols so far, and say we keep him. He'll have to feed and wash himself, though, and if he fucks with the Metafilter once again I say he should die without chance of parole.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 11:14 AM on January 18, 2006
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 11:14 AM on January 18, 2006
Now we need PotEoA to post a bunch of inline images to prove its him...
posted by mystyk at 5:47 PM on January 18, 2006
posted by mystyk at 5:47 PM on January 18, 2006
Well Protocol (like THAT's your real name) it seems that I had you confused with some other complete idiot, D Hoyt. EB kindly corrected me.
I should have kept my mouth shut. I had no idea that there possibly could be two dorks that immature in one place. You were both running around acting like grade-schoolers with a load in their pants.
Others might find your antics amusing. I find it pathetic and sad.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 7:16 PM on January 18, 2006
I should have kept my mouth shut. I had no idea that there possibly could be two dorks that immature in one place. You were both running around acting like grade-schoolers with a load in their pants.
Others might find your antics amusing. I find it pathetic and sad.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 7:16 PM on January 18, 2006
" You were both running around acting like grade-schoolers with a load in their pants."
Ah, but a load of what? Different loads could produce different results.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 7:48 PM on January 18, 2006
Ah, but a load of what? Different loads could produce different results.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 7:48 PM on January 18, 2006
Fish. Red sea bream.
posted by Protocols of the Elders of Awesome at 12:09 AM on January 19, 2006
posted by Protocols of the Elders of Awesome at 12:09 AM on January 19, 2006
Let's see if he still drinks pink beer when he's got a new username.
posted by keijo at 12:38 AM on January 19, 2006
posted by keijo at 12:38 AM on January 19, 2006
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
posted by xmutex at 3:55 PM on January 17, 2006