Weird forum behaviour

Now, some might claim that I simply have too much time on my hands, but I’ve noticed some really strange posts recently from a couple of new-ish members.

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/profile/merrionxiz
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/profile/maldwynyefe

I’m wondering if this is some form of pre-scamming activity; build up what looks like a long forum history before ripping someone off? Or maybe it’s just the school holidays?

looks to be quoting phrases from other posts, then enthusiastically saying “Thanks for sharing!”

very odd. Any normal STWer would have criticised peoples posts, not thanked them.

Definite spam.

Dave

Thanks for sharing! 🙂

Yup.. looks a bit odd…

😐

Posts say nothing, no email on profile, does seem odd…but this is probably libellous!

I’d thought the very same thing. Most odd.

Glad you asked. I’d been wondering about another poster,

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/profile/traindriver

They seem to be genuine, on-topic posts, but on months-old threads. Like, posting on a nine-months dormant discussion about wedding rings going “The best ring that comes in my mind while reading your thread is a diamond ring.” It’s like classic spamming behaviour apart from the actual spam (where it’d normally continue with “… and I buy them from http://www.reallygreatdiamondshonest.com”).

There’s a sleep discussion that says (paraphrasing), “I couldn’t sleep, so I started taking Vitamins, and now I sleep really well.” It feels like ‘Vitamins’ should be hotlinked as a URL but they’re not doing it correctly.

You guys have too much time on your hands.

Thanks for sharing 🙂

I think there’s some new spambots out there.
Another forum I use is experiencing exactly the same at the moment.

So, what, this is a test / proof of concept before the flood gates open? Figures.

TBF their input is as insightful as several other forum members 😉

Does this posting have any impact on what ads are displayed on the forum?

Linked, due to offensive language[/url], but I reckon this xkcd fella could be on to something.

Hmm, how bizarre!

Does not compute. What is love? ➡

that traindriver one had caught my eye too… he seemed initially to only be posting about trains, but now he’s branched into vegetarianism and vitamins 🙂

Very odd – next generation, conversational spambots!

I for one welcome our new conversational overlords.

Dave

Linked, due to offensive language, but I reckon this xkcd fella could be on to something.

Wonder how many people didn’t read the mouse over 🙂

Now I still have a hand stapled to my face that I need to remove from earlier in the week.

Wait a minute, how do I know you all aren’t robots then?

Wait a minute, how do I know you all aren’t robots then?

Run, Eliza, our cover is blown!

Those ones that druidh linked to are link spammers trying to steal page rank for SEO reasons.

I’ve reported a few in the past and the mods seem to remove the link but leave the post.

Thanks for the alerting me.

Yes, many postings in a very short period of time.

Ya, you are probably being groomed without realising …

I’ve reported a few in the past and the mods seem to remove the link but leave the post.

Aaah.

Would it not be preferable not to just delete the post and the associated account, I wonder?

Thanks for the alerting me.

Yes, many postings in a very short period of time.

Ya, you are probably being groomed without realising …

Hard to tell why it’s so difficult to spot them, isn’t it.

Yes, I wonder why they don’t spend say 100 hour in a week just to groom us … lazy buggers.

I mean starting a new thread and leave the threads alone … WTF! Then come back to say thank you? Do they intend to have a lazy day? Nahhh … need to put in more hours … 100 hours minimum per thread.

phil.w – Member
Those ones that druidh linked to are link spammers trying to steal page rank for SEO reasons.

I’ve reported a few in the past and the mods seem to remove the link but leave the post.Some of those have never had a link.

I thought the bot that operates Mark Datz had been refined

Some of those have never had a link.

a lot seem to gave a broken image link though

Yeah, I’ve reported one of them in the past couple of days.

The spambots are mustering for an attack…

Most of their threads tend to have some sort of “templates” / standard general response … lazy bot. 🙄

Wait a minute, how do I know you all aren’t robots then?

Good point, there’s a fair few posters on here wouldn’t pass a Turing Test.

They’d usually fail on meaningless repetition – naming no names!

Traindriver just seems like a very sweet foreign person

traindriver – Member
Children really love those amazing things because it is a small and moving. Aside from that, they can just rarely see a train in person.

traindriver – Member
It is nice having this kind of trains. It is customize for the bikers’ benefits. It would be very nice seeing it in UK

🙂

Traindriver just seems like a very sweet foreign person

That was what I thought at first, just seemed odd to be resurrecting such old threads.

merrionxiz likes Cabaret Voltaire, so is ok with me, robot or not.

Wait a minute, how do I know you all aren’t robots then?

Well, bot does not demand you to be converted into fertilizer and parts for sale whereas I do, but then I could be the master of all bots and a bot of mass destruction … I step on you maggots!

there’s a fair few posters on here wouldn’t pass a Turing Test.

I’ve said it more than once but I think hora is probably a ‘puter that has passed a Turing test.

Binners is just his minder to see if anyone rumbles.

i thought this was gonna pick up Solo on his

milk is bad mmmk

and

flashing lights is bad mmmmk

posts

thanks for sharing

I’ve got a poster who just says “something stupid” all the time. What’s that about?

Once again, xkcd to the rescue:

http://xkcd.com/632/

Traindriver’s last:
traindriver – Member
I don’t think if it can be pasted directly to any image editing software. Never tried it.

But Keeping a print screen of is a good idea. You can first zoom it in and then, print screen it and paste to Mspaint. Maybe you’ll solve your problem by that.

Bot?

Furrin?

I like that you’ve thanked him… are you trying to short circuit him to make him explode and give himself away?

Something like that! 🙂