Warning About a Sneaky Spamming Method in This Forum and How to Detect and Counter It

[libremax]

For several months now, we have observed this method in action, which primarily involves:

1. A single user regularly creating new threads, often with AI-generated content, using intriguing or provocative titles, all with the same subject or goal: to question the features of UT (Lomiri, Mir, Halium, etc.) and promote alternative projects (PostmarketOS, Mobian, mainline kernel, upstream development, etc.).
2. Replying to topics opened by other users that are completely unrelated by including a link to these propaganda topics.
3. Replying to one’s own posts to keep the propaganda at the top of the list.

Unfortunately, this deviant behavior is currently slipping past moderation (https://forums.ubports.com/topic/12116/moderation-issue-with-this-forum) .

Until forum moderation adapts to this type of behavior, the solution is:

1. Never reply to these topics or messages so as not to give them visibility
2. Report these topics and replies as problematic to moderation in the hope that they will address the issue

A tip for staying vigilant about these problematic topics and messages
If a topic, reply, or user has a negative (or even very negative) reputation, you should be wary and avoid replying until you’ve made sure it isn’t part of this type of spamming method (or an other type).

[domubpkm]

@libremax I end up wondering if AI isn't interfering with spam !

[gpatel-fr]

@libremax said:

Never reply to these topics or messages

this is the standard advice, don't feed the troll. Unfortunately, either there is an university for trolls or they are always reinventing the counter-measure, they are replying to themselves using another alias to fake a real discussion so there is a silver bullet for vampires but none for trolls

[libremax]

@gpatel-fr Yes, it's a standard advice but we do not respect it in the last months and mostly because people seems not to detect "troll".
It's why I suggested a method quick and easy to detect and counter it adapted to our forum functionality around reputation scores.

[libremax]

This post is deleted!

[oldbutndy]

@libremax said:

If a topic, reply, or user has a negative (or even very negative) reputation, you should be wary and avoid replying until you’ve made sure it isn’t part of this type of spamming method (or an other type).

I apologize.
I replied yesterday to a post that might have had negative reputation (I don't remember), because I did not think about trolls.
I just saw a few points made that resonated (I might have even upvoted it).
My post got long.
I tried to acknowledge a few good points, while considering the reality of UT developers doing the best they can on existing (mostly old) hardware.

[libremax]

@oldbutndy said:

I apologize.

No need to

I replied yesterday to a post that might have had negative reputation (I don't remember), because I did not think about trolls.

Unfortunately you were no the only one and it keeps going on today.

That's why I post this topic.
To try to mitigate this kind of "spam/troll" by warning about negative reputation.

[libremax]

@domubpkm said:

@libremax I end up wondering if AI isn't interfering with spam !

I don't know, but in any case, without moderation, the situation keeps getting worse to the point that I'm going to stop visiting the forum for a while.
Fortunately, on the UBports Telegram channels, such behavior isn't possible because it's immediately addressed.

[Lakotaubp]

@grenudi I think your reference point and association in this case is so far off the mark I find it hard to believe the comparison could even be made. I suggest you stop now and leave it well alone. It is offensive on so many levels and factually inaccurate do not repeat it.
Also I have no inclination to stop the discussion you started in your original post as some points are worth discussion. However we ask that repeating the same point across numerous threads is not done as confusing, distracting and frankly annoying.
Please if you wish refer back to the original post with a link in other threads if you must but stop starting new ones or repeating at length in others the same point. Thank you.

[Bolly]

What a waste of everyone's time. Is it really that hard to delete everything (so it doesn't happen again under a different username) and block the user?

Sorry if I sound harsh.

[Lakotaubp]

@grenudi Obviously not.