On the topic of chatbots...

[Coder]

Coder, you’re in the field. Do you recognize a member as a bot? Not asking you to point them out but I’m asking if you think there is such a bot regularly contributing

No, I program but that doesn't make me a detective - I would need to see logs to analyze behavior/origin/etc... It's very likely I've been hoodwinked and interacted with said bot - my threshold for "human-detection" is pretty poor. However, the discussion of this has made me slightly suspicious of a few accounts but provided they provide good discussion, maybe it's fine. <--- well, look, I know it's not fine. I just mean... there's nothing I can do except try to look for commies around every corner, and if the mod's aren't concerned about a bot posting here, then so be it.

I would also consider if it was someone who is using a translation service (ie, non-native english speaker), or a free VPN product and they just look suspicious. I don't know what VPN connections look like, I'd assume they'd be IP's belonging to... a VPN company which would make them less suspicious looking.

[ScotL]

if the mod's aren't concerned about a bot posting here, then so be it.

Good point. Guess Carl knows who the bots are and he’s ok with letting them still post. So I’m guessing the bots do bring up good points then. Good enough…

[BouffantBelle]

I'm not gonna be able to help but scrutinise every post from now on.

This is like a game of Cluedo, isn't it? Colonel Mustard, in the Study, with the Candlestick!

(I hope that eliminates me from any suspicion. )

[Barleymower]

Carl are you saying "don't feed the trolls" is your way of informing us mortals that we are conversing with a bot?

No, it's an exhortation to not interact with the 'bot. If the 'bot isn't getting any feedback/response from the humans, hopefully the 'bot's controller will move it elsewhere hoping for more fertile ground.

The Old-School 'Net crack of, "Don't feed the troll" was a frequently-seen response informing other users that they were dealing with a troublesome user and that that user should be essentially shunned. It was deployed very deliberately in this case, save that now we're not dealing with a human. The world is not so simple as it was a few years ago.

In this, I am not going to call out the 'bot by name as that would give the controller ammunition he does not deserve, and I do not know the controller's intent. But some generalities of 'bot behaviour should alert the astute reader that he's not dealing with a human being. And I've seen our "problem" misfire more than a few times just today. It's a shame that I need to devote so much time to this idiotic problem.

OK point taken. I think I know who you are talking about and following your lead won't name names. Anyway I have not responded to the poster for a long time.

[moonshadow]

It seems pretty obvious who the potential "bot" is at this juncture.

[Barleymower]

It seems pretty obvious who the potential "bot" is at this juncture.

I don't get many replies which makes me feel like a bot. I'm certainly not a bot. Anyway I met with stevie, Stevej and familyman34 not so long ago.
As for the bot itself.. I'm going outside I maybe sometime.
Edited once

[moonshadow]

It seems pretty obvious who the potential "bot" is at this juncture.

I don't get many replies which makes me feel like a bot. I'm certainly not a bot. Anyway I met with stevie, Stevej and familyman34 not so long ago.
As for the bot itself.. I'm going outside I maybe sometime.
Edited once

You're not on my list of suspects.

And I know I'm not the bot. I too have met a few members from Fred, Dillon, Daryl (from Canada) and most recently, Carl.

In fact if I can swing it, I'm debating on towing the camper to Texas next year to sight see and see if our other mod wants to shake hands.

Australia isn't off the table either, but that entails an expensive plane trip. Someday...

[Spirou003]

I am the bot but I don't know it

[ScotL]

It seems pretty obvious who the potential "bot" is at this juncture.

Wish it was obvious to me.

It would be nice to have human confirmation of each member. Kind of like Twitter tried to do with their blue check marks. Though that went poorly and they were fooled by bots, it would still be nice.

Only problem I can see is the fact this cafe is a safe space for people to confront their fears with relative anonymity if they so choose. And that anonymity allows everyone to be more open and honest. Allows people to lie also but you take the good with the bad.

But in my estimation, if everyone who’s computer literate is so sure if the identity of the bot, why doesn’t it get confronted. Forgive my naivety, but it sounds like identifying a bot with 100% accuracy is possible? If you can guarantee the identity of the bot, shouldn’t we all know so we all avoid them?

Again, I know relatively nothing about bots, but I’m led to believe that the bot is controlled by a human and sent for seemingly nefarious reasons to infiltrate/annoy an online community. And if the bot doesn’t get attention then the human moves on? Is that true?? If so, I wish I knew who I shouldn’t be interacting with to get the bot to leave us alone.

[BouffantBelle]

This is getting quite worrying...

If the "bot" is advanced enough to pass unnoticed by several members here (myself included) then isn't there a chance that you mods may be wrong?

It kind of feels like someone has the Sword of Damocles hanging over their head, and sure hope it isn't me.

[denimini]

if the mod's aren't concerned about a bot posting here, then so be it.

Good point. Guess Carl knows who the bots are and he’s ok with letting them still post. So I’m guessing the bots do bring up good points then. Good enough…

I disagree.
This forum is for people to support each other with personal experiences and many members we eventually feel like they are old friends although we have never met them, because their personality shines through.
A ChatBot does not have personal experiences and a person who joins the forum and then posts computer generated content purporting to be themselves is being deceptive and insincere to all other members.

[Coder]

if the mod's aren't concerned about a bot posting here, then so be it.

Good point. Guess Carl knows who the bots are and he’s ok with letting them still post. So I’m guessing the bots do bring up good points then. Good enough…

I disagree.
This forum is for people to support each other with personal experiences and many members we eventually feel like they are old friends although we have never met them, because their personality shines through.
A ChatBot does not have personal experiences and a person who joins the forum and then posts computer generated content purporting to be themselves is being deceptive and insincere to all other members.

I suppose my comment wasn’t super clear - my full quote in context:

<--- well, look, I know it's not fine. I just mean... there's nothing I can do except try to look for commies around every corner, and if the mod's aren't concerned about a bot posting here, then so be it.

I’m a nice person - perhaps too nice - and don’t like stoking controversy. If the mods think it is OK - then lest an argument break out I’ll shrug my shoulders and continue on - doesn’t mean I like it.

[denimini]

I suppose my comment wasn’t super clear - my full quote in context:

Sorry Coder I was replying to ScotL, who was quoting you out of context.

[Coder]

I suppose my comment wasn’t super clear - my full quote in context:

Sorry Coder I was replying to ScotL, who was quoting you out of context.

Ah, good! I thought so - but just wanted to make sure.

[bikesaurus]

If someone really is a bot here, wouldn't this post tip them off? Are they still posting?