(update 10/11/10) Sockpuppet Ad bump accounts.

[ZeroRing]

Agreed. I just checked on one person I suspected Trism is referencing, and is now baned. Over 120 transactions within the last 12 months. That opportunity is now lost by that individual, and thats a big loss that the extra bumps certainly weren't worth. I think most people make the bump mistake once, as they/me really don't read every bit of the classified rules, but once scolded/notified , don't do it again. 99.9% aren't looking for a way around the system imo.

What is amazing is that these small numbers of "gamers" who like to skirt the rules all seem to get extremely offended when called on it. They seem to think that the rules are for the little people and somehow don't apply to them.

When they are able to make as many transactions here as they do, is it REALLY that hard to do it within the rules???

It's unfortunate that we have to resort to temp/perma banning them but if we don't have SOME form of consequences to their not following the rules then the rules are not fairly enforced and THAT is simply not acceptable here.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

No one likes to be caught with a hand in the cookie jar

 

[LCspeedsteel]

come on people, use your friends computer to bump whatever youre peddling... like the rest of us have to

 

[CanCanCase]

Your IP address for one. vBulletin is great for that. You can try to fake it.. but it don't work. Two accounts, from same IP, one bumping anothers account. Yup, it's obvious on the back end.

vB tracks IP addresses all right. Ever used a public WiFi service to access a vB powered forum? Depending how the NAT on the WiFi router is set up, your user ID will log the same IP as anyone else connected to the same WiFi service. I've been in neighborhoods, condos, resorts, etc. that all share the same WiFi access... as long as nobody has a common interest, it's one user to a forum. But... as soon as, say, a bunch of folks on a cruise all visit CruiseCritic during their cruise, they all log the same IP. Now let's say a few of those cruising forum members show the great discussion site to a few friends who decide to register and post themselves... presto! Instant "legitimate user who appears to be a sock puppet"...

Also, while open anonymous proxy servers are becoming harder to find, they still exist. vB doesn't pick those up so hot.

Moderation really does require the human element at times... and yes, I've modded several vB boards, and "been around the block" a few hundred times...

-Case

 

[Trlsmn]

vB tracks IP addresses all right. Ever used a public WiFi service to access a vB powered forum? Depending how the NAT on the WiFi router is set up, your user ID will log the same IP as anyone else connected to the same WiFi service. I've been in neighborhoods, condos, resorts, etc. that all share the same WiFi access... as long as nobody has a common interest, it's one user to a forum. But... as soon as, say, a bunch of folks on a cruise all visit CruiseCritic during their cruise, they all log the same IP. Now let's say a few of those cruising forum members show the great discussion site to a few friends who decide to register and post themselves... presto! Instant "legitimate user who appears to be a sock puppet"...

Also, while open anonymous proxy servers are becoming harder to find, they still exist. vB doesn't pick those up so hot.

Moderation really does require the human element at times... and yes, I've modded several vB boards, and "been around the block" a few hundred times...

-Case

IP's are not the only tool in my Box. Proxies in themselves can be a big clue to a sock puppet account.

 

[CanCanCase]

IP's are not the only tool in my Box. Proxies in themselves can be a big clue to a sock puppet account.

Are you saying you have a big box, or that you're a tool? Oh... errr... nevermind!

Ironically enough, I originally learned of the concept of a sock puppet in a marketing seminar... the presenter was pitching their new vB forum site and soliciting paid advertisers... depending on the level of "sponsorship", a business would be allowed a given number of puppet "customer" accounts to write glowing testimonials. The mods there had a hard time with me when they discovered that, 1) I wasn't a paid sponsor and, 2) my glowing testimonials were from real, verified users not puppets, and 3) I was getting more business honestly than the paid puppeteers I was competing with...

Anyway, back on point... don't be a puppet-head... it's not worth the ban (and it just makes you look silly!)

-Case

 

[Nightshade]

I for one never had even heard about a sockpuppet untill this came up in this forum.
guess that shows my age.doing something like this is lame..

 

[fingolfen]

I keep telling my cat not to get on the computer... dang thing hacks passwords faster than it hacks up hairballs...

 

[shockercustoms]

Why don't you make the for sale section to where no one can reply to an ad? Then there would be no reason for a sock puppet to exist. I have seen it done on other forums because of this very reason.

 

[Trlsmn]

I keep telling my cat not to get on the computer... dang thing hacks passwords faster than it hacks up hairballs...

I'll bet it surfs "Kitty" pron when you're not around!

 

[Nightshade]

I keep telling my cat not to get on the computer... dang thing hacks passwords faster than it hacks up hairballs...

wow that sounds like cat hack fever,Now that i have heard of..

 

[Logical1]

Hmmm I always thought a sock puppet was the high school favorite sweat sock you kept under the bed when you just couldnt get to sleep at night or day or morning......

 

[Blitzkrieg]

I keep telling my cat not to get on the computer... dang thing hacks passwords faster than it hacks up hairballs...

We underestimate our furry friends, they are in fact in a world wide conspiracy to take over, and they are using the internet!

 

[Beagle]

i'm a little off the subject but what about combinig adds so the person with 7 rifles doesn't bump half a page when he does each rifle as a sepperate add i'm new and don't want to step on anyones toes it's just a observasion.

 

[Trlsmn]

OK guys this is starting to be a regular problem again so please read the original post below. Chances are if someone tries to be sneaky they are going to get caught.

Believe it or not we don't like to hand out these 7 day bans so please be courteous and observe the 7 day bump rules.

Everyone here observes the same bump rules including Joey Link, the Mods and the Supporting Vendors so it is fair to everyone.

The sockpuppets Ad bump accounts are out of control. I've given seven members 7 day vacations this week for creating second (fake) accounts to bump their Ads early. This is selfish and unfair to the overwhelming majority of the members that chose to play fair.

Just to refresh sock puppet bump accounts will be permanently banned and the Puppeteer will be banned for 7 days on the first offense and permanently on the second offense.

As a side note I would also Ad that 99% of the people caught use the same 2 lame excuses.
Sock puppet Wiki:

Sockpuppet (Internet) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[accurateone]

Hey Trism,
Keep it up!
I appreciate the quality of this forum immensly.
A1

 

[MarkSBG]

Everyone here observes the same bump rules including Joey Link, the Mods and the Supporting Vendors so it is fair to everyone.

Thanks Trlsmn. There are no exceptions in the classified sections, but the supporting vendors can bump their stuff all they like in their own "Supporting Vendors" section.

 

[Trlsmn]

Thanks Trlsmn. There are no exceptions in the classified sections, but the supporting vendors can bump their stuff all they like in their own "Supporting Vendors" section.

Yes as you said SV's can bump their own section in the Supporting vendor section as they aren't competing for page one of their own section, this just applies to the general classified section where all are equal.

 

[spengo]

What were the excuses?


Mine would be that my uncle came in from out of town and wanted to use my computer to check out the forum and bump my ads for no reason.

2nding. You never told us what the excuses were! You can't just give half of a fun fact, that isn't fair.

 

[Trlsmn]

2nding. You never told us what the excuses were! You can't just give half of a fun fact, that isn't fair.

If I told then people would have to invent new excuses... ......but Zack's post wasn't far off the mark.