One bad apple...
From URBAN DICTIONARY ( http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.ph... )
Troll: One who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument
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Unfortunately, as the result of a single individual's downvoting madness yesterday ( http://www.galtsgulchonline.com/posts/51... ), we were left with no choice but to immediately implement "Producers Only" voting in the Gulch.
In an attempt to bury member comments, a rogue troll was creating new accounts with the sole purpose of downvoting everyone taking part in the discussion... accept of course for the trolling accounts (EdvardHovanesian, AbdulRahmanKarimi, MertonDabney, IlanRosenberger, LouGranger, CaitlinOClery, JackieEly, LorenMuttoone, PatHaden, DaleTipton, ShelbyGarner). Thankfully, a few members flagged the discussion and alerted us to the suspicious activity. Our reactive attempts to mitigate the damage however were proving to be an exercise in futility - we would suspend one account, they would create another.
Because we had very little in place to stop and/or prevent further activity, the simplest, quickest and most effective solution was to "turn on" Producers only voting. Several months ago, as the result of another Gulch conversation, we had actually gone through the exercise of writing code that would accomplish this so the code was already in place, just not active. Last night, it was simply a matter of turning that code on.
This move to Producer only voting should in no way be interpreted as punishment of guest members. Most guest member activity is honorable, and valued, and we may reinstate guest voting in the future. Until we have mechanisms in place to more effectively combat this type of intrusion however, Producers only voting will remain in effect.
Scott
EDIT: 03-03-2014: Unless the voting privilege was explicitly revoked from your account, if you have 100+ points, you can now vote. Thanks to blarman for the suggestion ( http://www.galtsgulchonline.com/posts/51... ) and of course jbaker for making it happen so quickly.
Troll: One who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument
- - -
Unfortunately, as the result of a single individual's downvoting madness yesterday ( http://www.galtsgulchonline.com/posts/51... ), we were left with no choice but to immediately implement "Producers Only" voting in the Gulch.
In an attempt to bury member comments, a rogue troll was creating new accounts with the sole purpose of downvoting everyone taking part in the discussion... accept of course for the trolling accounts (EdvardHovanesian, AbdulRahmanKarimi, MertonDabney, IlanRosenberger, LouGranger, CaitlinOClery, JackieEly, LorenMuttoone, PatHaden, DaleTipton, ShelbyGarner). Thankfully, a few members flagged the discussion and alerted us to the suspicious activity. Our reactive attempts to mitigate the damage however were proving to be an exercise in futility - we would suspend one account, they would create another.
Because we had very little in place to stop and/or prevent further activity, the simplest, quickest and most effective solution was to "turn on" Producers only voting. Several months ago, as the result of another Gulch conversation, we had actually gone through the exercise of writing code that would accomplish this so the code was already in place, just not active. Last night, it was simply a matter of turning that code on.
This move to Producer only voting should in no way be interpreted as punishment of guest members. Most guest member activity is honorable, and valued, and we may reinstate guest voting in the future. Until we have mechanisms in place to more effectively combat this type of intrusion however, Producers only voting will remain in effect.
Scott
EDIT: 03-03-2014: Unless the voting privilege was explicitly revoked from your account, if you have 100+ points, you can now vote. Thanks to blarman for the suggestion ( http://www.galtsgulchonline.com/posts/51... ) and of course jbaker for making it happen so quickly.
Regardless of how it "should" be interpreted, it has degraded the Gulch experience enough for me so that I think I'll be moving on. It just isn't enjoyable canceling the stupid popup over and over again because I am used to voting. Ciao.
I absolutely agree with people [both members and admins.] taking quick action, and I also agree with cp256. Remember "a person can't be argued out of something he wasn't argue into"? If you are a certain type of person, you can't help but feel a stab of hurt when something you did not do ends up penalizing you. All that you, the admins., can do is to say what you said, pay attention, and when a good patch is proposed, jump on it - all of which you did. Congratulations.
Now, curious human that I am, I want to know what went on - but not enough to push the invisibility button!
Policy only works by the voluntary self-enforcement of the users. When you have those that choose to abuse, it falls apart and more restrictive measures, as instituted by the moderators, are necessary.
btw, if you're an example of an Objectivist, I think I prefer communists. I expect deceit from them.
I'm really disappointed that this individual chose to do this, but also very disappointed in the heavy-handed response. I had been enjoying the Gulch for the free thought.
Just my 2 cents. Use if for what it's worth.
where I am proud to announce I got a personal insult, and had a good laugh.
The downside of the new rule is that should I want to show appreciation of a post, as a non-paying member, I cannot now do it by flicking the mouse button but I have to actually write something.
(Work is the curse of the drinking classes).
There is a lesson here-
it is tempting when faced with something written that goes against core ideas to become angry, abusive or sarcastic, then thump out a rejoinder. Ok, but do not press the send button until sure that is what you want sent.
"The moving finger writes,
and having writ, moves on,
nor all thy piety nor wit can wipe out a word of it".
The moving finger is your own.
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