it will be Downvoted within about 30 seconds of its posting

I've independently noted a similar trend -- smaller sample set, of course, because I could only notice such a thing on the posts where I've quickly come to the conclusion that you're actually saying something I'd upvote. I, too, have wondered if there was a bot at work.

I remember reading some time back that bots are not sanctioned here. At one point their use was, apparently, discovered for the purpose of mass up- or down-voting nodes by author, and this was pronounced by a Monk of fair placement (a la vroom, tye, etc.) as bad form.

I seem to recall the Monk in question had indicated they'd coded up watchdog routines which would catch anyone using bots for this purpose, and warned the users to cease and desist or face consequences (banning or whatever, I can't recall). I can't seem to find the reference in Super Search.

I have no idea if those watchdog routines are still in use, or if they still work, but I do suspect much of the remaining old-timer Monks are good enough to find ways around detection code written potentially ten years ago and unlikely to have been maintained much. (Not an accusation; a compliment, if anything, on perceived skill sets relative to the proposed theory.)

I would also note, sundialsvc4, that not all who are logged in show in the "Other Users" nodelet; I suspect it has something to do with cookie expiration as seen by the browser vs. the site, but that's just a WAG (Wild Donkey Guess).

However, let's face it -- the difference between a bot targeting you and a live human action targeting you is fairly unimportant -- you are a target.

What you do with that knowledge is really up to you. As always, you have three options: Fight, Retreat, or Surrender.

I think focusing on the weapon (interesting though it might be) isn't the wisest area to have garnering your attention. But that's just me.

In reply to Re: Just curious: is there a BOT that downvotes "me?" by marinersk
in thread Just curious: is there a BOT that downvotes "me?" by locked_user sundialsvc4

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