Downvotters spamming downvotes in order to close accounts
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Hello, There seems to be a problem on the quick answers here that there are those that are down-votting new users or lower-rep users as spammers when clearly there is no spam or auto-bots involved in their subjects. Some legit questions and accounts are getting trashed because of the down-vote abuse by the others here. It also looks like downvotters are spamming downvotes not because a question or a post is spam, but because they don't like it, which also defeats the purpose of vote system. Hopefully, this will be looked into and fixed, with the users abusing the downvotes possibly sent a warning. Otherwise, users may start migrating to other platforms because of this loophole and its a certain way of turning away newcomers who are started out with low rep numbers.
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Hello, There seems to be a problem on the quick answers here that there are those that are down-votting new users or lower-rep users as spammers when clearly there is no spam or auto-bots involved in their subjects. Some legit questions and accounts are getting trashed because of the down-vote abuse by the others here. It also looks like downvotters are spamming downvotes not because a question or a post is spam, but because they don't like it, which also defeats the purpose of vote system. Hopefully, this will be looked into and fixed, with the users abusing the downvotes possibly sent a warning. Otherwise, users may start migrating to other platforms because of this loophole and its a certain way of turning away newcomers who are started out with low rep numbers.
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Yes, There was an account with a legit and clear programming question that received 10 downvoter spams. As result the question disappeared and the account is no longer active. Unfortunately for the user, there may be those who know how the site works have been abusing the down-vote in this way. I think what happens in these situations is that as soon as a downvote is made, its spammed with other downvotes until the message is gone or the account is closed. Usually it may be from users that don't like the topic or possibly, spam downvote to close it. Essentially, a form of trolling via votes.
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Yes, There was an account with a legit and clear programming question that received 10 downvoter spams. As result the question disappeared and the account is no longer active. Unfortunately for the user, there may be those who know how the site works have been abusing the down-vote in this way. I think what happens in these situations is that as soon as a downvote is made, its spammed with other downvotes until the message is gone or the account is closed. Usually it may be from users that don't like the topic or possibly, spam downvote to close it. Essentially, a form of trolling via votes.
Send me a link to the account or the question and I'll take a look.
cheers Chris Maunder
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Send me a link to the account or the question and I'll take a look.
cheers Chris Maunder
Hello, The account was JavaStudent1
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Hello, The account was JavaStudent1
Javastudent1 account appears to have been closed on October 28th because of site driving attempt. There must have been a link somewhere in the question pointing to an outside site. Could be an error of the moderators, or not. Could be that the OP was attempting to generate clicks for its website, or that he was just not aware that this could cause him to be fired from CP. Fact is, moderators flag this type of question, not to troll the forum, nor to prevent new users from gaining reputation, but to protect it from malicious spammers who try to circumvent forum's rules by embedding their spam attempts in otherwise apparently valid questions. And it's an every-day task, unfortunately.
"I'm neither for nor against, on the contrary." John Middle
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Javastudent1 account appears to have been closed on October 28th because of site driving attempt. There must have been a link somewhere in the question pointing to an outside site. Could be an error of the moderators, or not. Could be that the OP was attempting to generate clicks for its website, or that he was just not aware that this could cause him to be fired from CP. Fact is, moderators flag this type of question, not to troll the forum, nor to prevent new users from gaining reputation, but to protect it from malicious spammers who try to circumvent forum's rules by embedding their spam attempts in otherwise apparently valid questions. And it's an every-day task, unfortunately.
"I'm neither for nor against, on the contrary." John Middle
If you look at the reposted question How does javascript search for states using zipcodes for a website[^] there is a link but not click-bait. It appears the questioner's previous account may in fact have been erroneously closed.
Peter Wasser "The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell
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If you look at the reposted question How does javascript search for states using zipcodes for a website[^] there is a link but not click-bait. It appears the questioner's previous account may in fact have been erroneously closed.
Peter Wasser "The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell
Yes, I have seen the new question. I did not flagged the former question, had not seen it. Would I have seen it, then I do not think I would have flagged it for a fiddler link. It may be that the account has actually been erroneously closed, and Chris seems to be investigating on that already. My point was, manual moderation has been set up to protect CP from spammers and other malicious users, and, as with manual (human) systems in general, it is fallible from time to time. But I don't adhere the idea that moderators, or at least the most serious of them, are specifically acting to prevent new users from gaining their reputation. I could be wrong on that - I'm not in everyone's mind - but I tend to think that this community is rather open.
"I'm neither for nor against, on the contrary." John Middle
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Hello, There seems to be a problem on the quick answers here that there are those that are down-votting new users or lower-rep users as spammers when clearly there is no spam or auto-bots involved in their subjects. Some legit questions and accounts are getting trashed because of the down-vote abuse by the others here. It also looks like downvotters are spamming downvotes not because a question or a post is spam, but because they don't like it, which also defeats the purpose of vote system. Hopefully, this will be looked into and fixed, with the users abusing the downvotes possibly sent a warning. Otherwise, users may start migrating to other platforms because of this loophole and its a certain way of turning away newcomers who are started out with low rep numbers.
If it gets posted in this forum it will get closed quickly. From what I can tell, not many people verify that the poster in this forum is correct in what they post.
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data. There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
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Yes, I have seen the new question. I did not flagged the former question, had not seen it. Would I have seen it, then I do not think I would have flagged it for a fiddler link. It may be that the account has actually been erroneously closed, and Chris seems to be investigating on that already. My point was, manual moderation has been set up to protect CP from spammers and other malicious users, and, as with manual (human) systems in general, it is fallible from time to time. But I don't adhere the idea that moderators, or at least the most serious of them, are specifically acting to prevent new users from gaining their reputation. I could be wrong on that - I'm not in everyone's mind - but I tend to think that this community is rather open.
"I'm neither for nor against, on the contrary." John Middle
phil.o wrote:
My point was, manual moderation has been set up to protect CP from spammers and other malicious users, and, as with manual (human) systems in general, it is fallible from time to time.
You are right, I have been there a couple of times. When I realize I was wrong I delete the links of my post and ask the admins to wipe the reports / reinstaurate account if already went that far.
phil.o wrote:
But I don't adhere the idea that moderators, or at least the most serious of them, are specifically acting to prevent new users from gaining their reputation.
I can only speak for me, but I would like to think every other moderator thinks similar... we don't have anything against new users, when in border cases, we try to give comments and educate them to avoid this situations. One thing many forget... we have little more power than other regular users. To close an account can be done by normal users, moderator status is not needed at all for that.
phil.o wrote:
I'm not in everyone's mind - but I tend to think that this community is rather open.
As long as you don't start with globalwarming, politics and so... I agree ;) ;P :laugh: :laugh:
M.D.V. ;) If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about? Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.
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phil.o wrote:
My point was, manual moderation has been set up to protect CP from spammers and other malicious users, and, as with manual (human) systems in general, it is fallible from time to time.
You are right, I have been there a couple of times. When I realize I was wrong I delete the links of my post and ask the admins to wipe the reports / reinstaurate account if already went that far.
phil.o wrote:
But I don't adhere the idea that moderators, or at least the most serious of them, are specifically acting to prevent new users from gaining their reputation.
I can only speak for me, but I would like to think every other moderator thinks similar... we don't have anything against new users, when in border cases, we try to give comments and educate them to avoid this situations. One thing many forget... we have little more power than other regular users. To close an account can be done by normal users, moderator status is not needed at all for that.
phil.o wrote:
I'm not in everyone's mind - but I tend to think that this community is rather open.
As long as you don't start with globalwarming, politics and so... I agree ;) ;P :laugh: :laugh:
M.D.V. ;) If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about? Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.
Nelek wrote:
As long as you don't start with globalwarming, politics and so... I agree ;) ;-P :laugh: :laugh:
I can only agree on that. I tend to think that trying to argue with trolls, or with one of their subclasses like lobbyists, is like wanking with a cheese grinder: so much pain, for so few results...
"I'm neither for nor against, on the contrary." John Middle