(2017-09-13, 01:38 PM)DaveB Wrote: [ -> ]I know that logically any joker could have done the same thing, but for whatever reason the jokers seem to be put off by this requirement.
I'm a pretty big joker and I wasn't put off by it. I sometimes created 2-3 IDs at a time with brand new gmail and yahoo addresses. Wrote Alex a quick note and had my new IDs within a couple of hours depending on when he checked e-mail.
But I don't think it is needed for this forum. It is in the best interests of a lively discussion with maximum participants that joining be easy and nearly instant. The admins here are doing an admirable job of sussing out the bad eggs.
Thanks Chuck. Your check is in the mail.
(2017-09-11, 11:03 PM)Laird Wrote: [ -> ]Turns out our newly resident skeptic, Leuders, was merely an impersonator of the real Leuders: https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?tit...id=1869794
As well as perm-banning that account, we have deleted several other accounts created by the same individual who created the Leuders account:- Eveshi
- Victor Zammit
- Michael Prescott
- Michael E. Tymn
- Laird pseudoscience promoter
- Andrew B. Chun
The previously deleted accounts, Mac, JonDonnis, badpsychics.com (the last of which was never activated, and which we hadn't mentioned deleting until now) were also under the control of this same individual.
So, who is this individual? We think best evidence points to the individual(s) described by Rome Viharo on his page, Oliver Smith’s Dark Entanglement.
I showed Rome the postings to this forum by the Leuders impersonator and his reaction was: yes, that indeed is Oliver Smith, who has been known to impersonate Leuders before - and this was before getting confirmation from the real Leuders.
We have a choice now: do we leave this impersonating account's posts intact on the basis that deleting them would disrupt too many conversations (perhaps after changing its username to indicate that it is an impersonating account and editing each post to the same effect) or do we delete its posts on the basis that we don't want this disturbed individual's posts polluting our otherwise happy forum?
I wish I had as much free time as this guy apparently has...
(2017-09-13, 10:41 AM)Obiwan Wrote: [ -> ]Is that all they asked you for? I had to give my credit card details and pin code.
Ooh, but you're lucky, so lucky.....I had to give an arm and a leg!! *
four Yorkshiremen*
(2017-09-13, 01:30 PM)Doppelgänger Wrote: Do you think an admin should ask to see your Facebook in order to join a free Internet forum? Wrote: [ -> ]I checked that point with Alex, he explained that he already had his suspicions about the guy, so he upped the conditions. He doesn't do that routinely.
David
He had suspicions regarding my application to join Skeptiko, yes. Did I point him to my posts here, yes.
That was why he did not permit me to join. he doesn't share my POV.
Heck, all I wanted was to use the Ignore function to make SF more useful.
(2017-09-11, 11:03 PM)Laird Wrote: [ -> ]Turns out our newly resident skeptic, Leuders, was merely an impersonator of the real Leuders: https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?tit...id=1869794
As well as perm-banning that account, we have deleted several other accounts created by the same individual who created the Leuders account:- Eveshi
- Victor Zammit
- Michael Prescott
- Michael E. Tymn
- Laird pseudoscience promoter
- Andrew B. Chun
The previously deleted accounts, Mac, JonDonnis, badpsychics.com (the last of which was never activated, and which we hadn't mentioned deleting until now) were also under the control of this same individual.
So, who is this individual? We think best evidence points to the individual(s) described by Rome Viharo on his page, Oliver Smith’s Dark Entanglement.
I don't think there is a focal point for the forum attacks but this is the same guy/gal/team that has followed me around Usenet, now the Internet, for years. lol I understand that it is a moderation nightmare with no solid answers but it is damn funny...to me at least. I can't count the number of impersonations - and the results of them - that have occurred.
It hearts my feewings, yes it does.
(2017-09-13, 07:01 PM)Pssst Wrote: [ -> ]I don't think there is a focal point for the forum attacks but this is the same guy/gal/team that has followed me around Usenet, now the Internet, for years. lol I understand that it is a moderation nightmare with no solid answers but it is damn funny...to me at least. I can't count the number of impersonations - and the results of them - that have occurred.
It hearts my feewings, yes it does.
Oh. Dog is to bark as cat is to ... ?
(2017-09-13, 02:03 PM)chuck Wrote: [ -> ]I'm a pretty big joker and I wasn't put off by it. I sometimes created 2-3 IDs at a time with brand new gmail and yahoo addresses. Wrote Alex a quick note and had my new IDs within a couple of hours depending on when he checked e-mail.
But I don't think it is needed for this forum. It is in the best interests of a lively discussion with maximum participants that joining be easy and nearly instant. The admins here are doing an admirable job of sussing out the bad eggs.
I'm glad you feel proud of what you did.
David
(2017-09-13, 07:05 PM)DaveB Wrote: [ -> ]I'm glad you feel proud of what you did.
David
Amused. No pride involved. You have cleverly banned all my sock-pups long ago. No interest any longer in Skeptiko. I'm no match for your moderating prowess. Seriously. You run a clean tight ship.
Hopefully the folks here will reflect soberly on your actions and take them fully into account.