in reply to Automatic downvote

"Is it possible for a user to write a script to monitor my activity and down vote everything I post automatically?"

As a programmer, yes this is achievable.

"As soon as I press the button to Submit post, there is a downvote."

I doubt that's true, what evidence do you have?

"Does PerlMonks allow members to set up an automatic thing?

It's against the rules, and the spirit of the place, which isn't to say someone can't do it, but there's no evidence of this. Historically our most down-voted users have claimed such things existed, and those with the powers to check such things proved otherwise.

"Secondly, how would I do that without being logged in?"

1. A user has to be logged into vote. 2. computer programming.

"Thirdly, if I wanted to write an automatic down voting script, it would have to download a page from PerlMonks every second to check the new posts by that user."

"eventually downloading the same page a billion times would raise the awareness of the admins (maybe?), and I think that user would be placed in a timeout. So, how can someone pull this off? I don't understand it.

See all of the above, basic computer programming... it's against the rules... we don't really have the kind of user... and nobody really cares about votes, just pertinent responses/critique.

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Re^2: Automatic downvote
by LanX (Saint) on Mar 26, 2023 at 02:37 UTC
    > > Secondly, how would I do that without being logged in?"

    > 1. A user has to be logged into vote. 2. computer programming

    I think the OP meant the list in "other users"

    1. One doesn't show up immediately when logging in
    2. One doesn't need to be listed, since PM has a stealth mode
    3. PM has various ticker/RSS feeds to monitor the site
    So no hacking needed.

    And it couldn't be hidden from the gods, if there were really downvotes instantly after publishing, before reading the post was even possible.

    Cheers Rolf
    (addicted to the 𐍀𐌴𐍂𐌻 Programming Language :)
    Wikisyntax for the Monastery

[reply]
Re^2: Automatic downvote
by harangzsolt33 (Deacon) on Mar 26, 2023 at 01:21 UTC
    I doubt that's true, what evidence do you have?

    I don't have evidence; it's just an observation.

    It's against the rules, and the spirit of the place, which isn't to say someone can't do it, but there's no evidence of this.

    Yes, but you know, it would not be very difficult to do it.

[reply]

      I do, but you literally asked if this was possible. It's unlikely that automation is the cause of your down votes.

[reply]
      > , but you know, it would not be very difficult to do it

      There had been discussions lately about ppl using automated voting for gaining XP, yes.

      But the gods are monitoring this and punishment would be drastic.

      For the record: they can see who is downvotig who!

      But honestly I think you are overrating yourself if you think someone would set up a bot just to punish you. Sorry!

      It's far more likely that your style has some non-fans.

      Cheers Rolf
      (addicted to the 𐍀𐌴𐍂𐌻 Programming Language :)
      Wikisyntax for the Monastery

[reply]

        It's not the style, it's the quality of the content. The terrible presentation's just making things even worse.

        The cake is a lie.
        The cake is a lie.
        The cake is a lie.

[reply]

In Section Perl Monks Discussion