I noticed in the last few days, at least two very active posters got banned:

They are probably new people here trying out the fediverse because a friend recommended it to them, seeing that it’s lal not-so-active as they’re used from other sites, trying to populate it with content, and getting banned for it.

As far as i can see, they didn’t post highly-controversial stuff or sth. Just random and sometimes slightly-critical-of-society (but not very critical of society) comics, just as good comics should do IMO. I don’t see why they got banned?

This is not how the fediverse becomes popular among the population. This is how to convey an elitist look of “being sceptical towards new users”.

  • A_norny_mousse@feddit.org
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    34
    ·
    edit-2
    7 days ago

    I have noticed people complaining about this. Looks like a normal newbie who, after a few days of browsing, decided to post several comics in quick succession, then nothing again. Not necessarily bot behavior, since they post in the correct community and the comics are relatively funny and do not ptomote anything.

    But then I noticd that there’s several such accounts.

    It’s a mystery. One that might be solved by looking at the users’ IP addresses. I can’t, but mods or admins can. So I’m going to trust their judgement.

    Some transparency would be appreciated though.


    Edit: this community has only one mod. I looked at their posting history; they apparently made a web app to make the lives of mods easier. I also read them mention somewhere that they’d have preferred to just remove an offending comment, but the admins decided to ban that person completely. Maybe these are partial answers to the question OP asked.

  • nocturne@slrpnk.net
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    27
    ·
    8 days ago

    There has been a spate of new users rapid fire posting in here and then deleting their accounts.

    • CombatWombatEsq@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      10
      arrow-down
      3
      ·
      8 days ago

      We think it’s abuse by actors who want to cause excess load by rapidly posting, and then delete because otherwise it would lead to traffic? It’s to use resources without improving experience?

      • GrantUsEyes@lemmy.zip
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        4
        ·
        8 days ago

        I’ve been trying to make sense of their mo, and this could be it. I’ve resorted to not interact ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

        • CombatWombatEsq@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          5
          ·
          8 days ago

          But the posts are inaccessible after account deletion, yeah? Aren’t most ban evaders trying to get objectionable content displayed on Lemmy for as long as possible?

          • OpenStars@piefed.social
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            5 days ago

            PieFed now allows reading deleted posts, if you have the URL. Example

            Though its more for Q&As where if requested the Q would be deleted by the person who offered it while the As would remain visible by those who offered them.

            I also am absolutely in love with how it doesn’t show just a blank page if you try to access the URL, and instead says the very helpful and informative:

            The author of this post has been banned/deleted so they might not see your reply.

            Damn I love PieFed!

          • Catoblepas@piefed.blahaj.zone
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            7
            ·
            8 days ago

            If 90% of the interaction comes in the first day and they leave it up that long, then they’ve basically achieved whatever goal they have. Even if the only goal is evading a ban.

    • TheV2@programming.dev
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      8
      arrow-down
      3
      ·
      edit-2
      8 days ago

      In that case I have a few doubts:

      1. Why is the given ban reason for these accounts “bot”, when that doesn’t describe the actual issue here, and why isn’t there a clear transparent explanation how these accounts were identified as part of this self-destruction scheme?
      2. What exactly is the issue with self-destructing accounts other than losing the comments, discussions, etc. associated with the posts? Because if that’s the only thing, I don’t see the severity.
      • Iced Raktajino@startrek.website
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        14
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        edit-2
        8 days ago

        What exactly is the issue with self-destructing accounts other than losing the comments, discussions, etc. associated with the posts? Because if that’s the only thing, I don’t see the severity.

        It’s unfair to anyone and everyone who participates. It’s a PITA to save a post to have it just disappear later. Or remember a post and want to go back to it only to find it self-nuked. Yeah, some stuff may get modded but at least there’s a usually correct and valid reason attached. The people doing this and self-destructing are basically unmarked spambots. I fucking hate bots.

        The disposable troll account elsewhere in the comments here said “Content is king” which is the only thing in their statement I agree with. Well, when that content is ephemeral, then it’s not really “content”.

        • TheV2@programming.dev
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          4
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          8 days ago

          I can see the issue with spam-bots, regardless of the self-nuking, and how especially this community is targeted. But I wouldn’t consider the accounts marked in this post as spam-bots at all.

          If this community or instance considers a couple of posts a day, perhaps specifically from new users, spamming, then as a user I’d expect that rule to be written before actions are taken.

          In general, I’m not disputing the actions of the mods and I hate to be the guy who expects something from people who contribute to this platform in their free-time, but for these kind of bans based on suspicions and patterns, I just wish there would at least be more transparent communication.

        • Sergio@piefed.social
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          3
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          8 days ago

          when that content is ephemeral, then it’s not really “content”.

          I personally agree, but I can see how others might not. I never used 4chan, but wasn’t it like that? People used temporary names, and content was deleted after a short while?

  • GrantUsEyes@lemmy.zip
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    17
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    8 days ago

    They are not legit users. This weird behavior pattern has been going on for months, and I’m annoyed that all the discussion generated under their posts vanishes on a whim everytime these accounts self destruct.

    • OpenStars@piefed.social
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      5 days ago

      PieFed now both retains deleted posts (not the actual OP content but the discussions beneath it) for those who have the URL and also offers helpful labels rather than simply showing a blank page, like:

      The author of this post has been banned/deleted so they might not see your reply.

      Example: https://piefed.social/c/comicstrips/p/1660086/taco-tuesday

      Hot damn how I love my PieFed!! 😻🍰😋

    • gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.deOP
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      6
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      8 days ago

      This weird behavior pattern has been going on for months,

      ok i simply haven’t noticed it before, but if you say it, i’ll take your word for it :)

    • hzl@piefed.blahaj.zone
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      5
      arrow-down
      3
      ·
      8 days ago

      It’s probably just Stamets.

      Honestly, though, I don’t see what the fuss is. Laguriz seemed like a decent contributor who wasn’t spamming.

        • hzl@piefed.blahaj.zone
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          4 days ago

          Huh? No, he’s just mentioned that he has active alt accounts with different names. Honestly I imagine it’s pretty common, but I do sometimes wonder if other prolific posters are also him.

          • OpenStars@piefed.social
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            4 days ago

            Oh… that makes sense, thanks! I wondered why he was singled out specifically by name. I guess just more as an example of a common poster who is known to use alts. I myself have several, though I retained the name and icon to make it easier for people to follow.

  • cyrano@piefed.social
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    16
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    8 days ago

    4days old account spamming borderline comics smells karma farming except there is no karma and no farm. Sir this is a Wendy’s

    • mrmaplebar@fedia.io
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      8 days ago

      What?? I hope the reason people are being banned is a little bit less stupid than whatever this is…

    • Solumbran@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      15
      arrow-down
      3
      ·
      8 days ago

      Did you make an account just to say this?

      What, your bot has been banned and you’re salty about it?

  • Auster@thebrainbin.org
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    3
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    8 days ago

    Dunno what happened, but if it’s a case of abuse of power, the fediverse easily allows for making alternatives and finding them. Else, maybe try to find the modlog for them?