(cache) Is reddit secretly changing their spam filter to target the_donald posters?

Is reddit secretly changing their spam filter to target the_donald posters? (v/MeanwhileOnReddit)

submitted 2.4 hours ago by EugeneNicks

Backstory: I was reading /r/the_donald's new section and a poster mentioned having interesting information. Intrigued, I contacted them and took the conversation off-site. They had an old modmail screenshot apparently from months ago, wondering why their the_donald account would have its posts autoremoved from /r/me_irl while his alts that didn't post in the_donald were fine.

https://i.sli.mg/6gtrdw.png

Interestingly, I never heard of a new spam filter and it was never announced, unlike the delayed improved modmail. I looked for an announcement on /r/blog, /r/changelog, and /r/announcements and didn't see it mentioned anywhere. Strange, but there could be legitimate reasons for that, perhaps to keep spammers off their trail.

However, this morning reddit banned me, ~~basically admitted to reading our PM's~~ (Might have gotten that from a post anyways, though I wouldn't doubt it, however the screen shot at the bottom the user incorrectly believes I am one), and redtaboo's claim that I had "inside knowledge" is something I never stated, I simply have a better idea on the workings of reddit than most users.

http://archive.is/U7EqI

Redtaboo's response doesn't really clarify anything, just obfuscates further on what's going on here. How can there be confusion on the mod's end when the moderator explicitly states they're in talk with the devs? I initially suspected this was an automoderator shadowban (as per the chat log), and while that is still possible, the admin refused to clarify and the initial screenshat makes one wonder. Also, reddit's response to banning me without knowing what was discussed.

If it's not a bug, what is it?

The chat conversation: http://pastebin.com/tX85yRtv

As you can see, I wasn't sure if this was anything or not, until this morning when I saw redtaboo's sketchy response. What came out of investigating this was deemed inconclusive by me but reddit deemed me banneable for it anyways (in addition to posting a blog entry that discussed reddit censoring the_donald, subreddits before it, but leaving truly grotesque stuff like /r/pedofriends up.)

Initial contact:

https://i.sli.mg/ZfGiFT.png

Backstory: I was reading /r/the_donald's new section and a poster mentioned having interesting information. Intrigued, I contacted them and took the conversation off-site. They had an old modmail screenshot apparently from months ago, wondering why their the_donald account would have its posts autoremoved from /r/me_irl while his alts that didn't post in the_donald were fine.

https://i.sli.mg/6gtrdw.png

Interestingly, I never heard of a new spam filter and it was never announced, unlike the delayed improved modmail. I looked for an announcement on /r/blog, /r/changelog, and /r/announcements and didn't see it mentioned anywhere. Strange, but there could be legitimate reasons for that, perhaps to keep spammers off their trail.

However, this morning reddit banned me,<s> basically admitted to reading our PM's</s> (Might have gotten that from a post anyways, though I wouldn't doubt it, however the screen shot at the bottom the user incorrectly believes I am one), and redtaboo's claim that I had "inside knowledge" is something I never stated, I simply have a better idea on the workings of reddit than most users.

http://archive.is/U7EqI

Redtaboo's response doesn't really clarify anything, just obfuscates further on what's going on here. How can there be confusion on the mod's end when the moderator explicitly states they're in talk with the devs? I initially suspected this was an automoderator shadowban (as per the chat log), and while that is still possible, the admin refused to clarify and the initial screenshat makes one wonder. Also, reddit's response to banning me without knowing what was discussed.

If it's not a bug, what is it? 

The chat conversation: http://pastebin.com/tX85yRtv

As you can see, I wasn't sure if this was anything or not, until this morning when I saw redtaboo's sketchy response. What came out of investigating this was deemed inconclusive by me but reddit deemed me banneable for it anyways (in addition to posting a blog entry that discussed reddit censoring the_donald, subreddits before it, but leaving truly grotesque stuff like /r/pedofriends up.)

Initial contact:

https://i.sli.mg/ZfGiFT.png

7 comments

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[–] HandsomeLemon 0 points 3 points 3 points (+3|-0) 2 hours ago

spez did mention in the leaked logs that he was working on something to deal with The_Donald becuase deleting it would be messy, this guy is on to something.

spez did mention in the leaked logs that he was working on something to deal with The_Donald becuase deleting it would be messy, this guy is on to something.

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[–] EugeneNicks [S] 0 points 1 points 1 points (+1|-0) 2 hours ago

Yup, exactly. Though we don't know if that's the same thing or not, but reddit's response here is strange. Especially since they were blind to the conversation.

Yup, exactly. Though we don't know if that's the same thing or not, but reddit's response here is strange. Especially since they were blind to the conversation.

[–] UnimatrixZeroOne 0 points 0 points 0 points (+0|-0) 37 minutes ago

I hope it's just a bug, but I doubt it. I'm guessing it's the mods shadowbanning (with automoderator) certain users. It could be the admins doing so, but I think it's far more likely to be the former option as subreddits commonly use automoderator to shadowban users.

I hope it's just a bug, but I doubt it. I'm guessing it's the mods shadowbanning (with automoderator) certain users. It could be the admins doing so, but I think it's far more likely to be the former option as subreddits commonly use automoderator to shadowban users.

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[–] EugeneNicks [S] 0 points 0 points 0 points (+0|-0) 32 minutes ago (edited 7 minutes ago)

My initial guess there as well, but two things:

1) The initial modmail screenshot where the mods specifically mention a spam filter, and admit to being in talks with the devs/admins

2) ~~The fact redtaboo clearly read our PM's~~ (may have gotten that from a post actually, but also from the private message), was blind to most of the conversation (I never claimed to be a mod, the user assumed that at first until they got into discord and corrected them, nor did I say I had inside knowledge), and didn't state what was going on here, leaving it nebulous other than to say it wasn't a bug.

It's possible the mod lied to him, but at the same time, if it is automoderator why not just state it?

At the very least they may be hiding the fact that a large subreddit filters out the_donald posters on some level, and the admins don't want to admit to that.

My initial guess there as well, but two things:

1) The initial modmail screenshot where the mods specifically mention a spam filter, and admit to being in talks with the devs/admins

2) <s>The fact redtaboo clearly read our PM's</s> (may have gotten that from a post actually, but also from the private message), was blind to most of the conversation (I never claimed to be a mod, the user assumed that at first until they got into discord and corrected them, nor did I say I had inside knowledge), and didn't state what was going on here, leaving it nebulous other than to say it wasn't a bug.

It's possible the mod lied to him, but at the same time, if it is automoderator why not just state it?

At the very least they may be hiding the fact that a large subreddit filters out the_donald posters on some level, and the admins don't want to admit to that.

[–] fphwouldntdothat 0 points 0 points 0 points (+0|-0) 50 minutes ago

Why are you still using that cesspool?

Why are you still using that cesspool?

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[–] EugeneNicks [S] 0 points 0 points 0 points (+0|-0) 47 minutes ago

Because the_donald is there, only reason. Also, I care about free expression on the internet and silicon valley likes doing underhanded shit to promote their viewpoint, rather than foment discussion (.e.g censor /r/politics, hide hashtags, facebook censor conservative news, etc).

Because the_donald is there, only reason. Also, I care about free expression on the internet and silicon valley likes doing underhanded shit to promote their viewpoint, rather than foment discussion (.e.g censor /r/politics, hide hashtags, facebook censor conservative news, etc).

[–] Lonecrowe 0 points 0 points 0 points (+0|-0) 2.2 hours ago

I can tell you something but it would spoil the fun. So I won't get into specifics. I get all the funniest pics memes etc from The Donald and it is free from their algorithm. There are phone apps that don't adhere to that it strictly goes by the amount of upvotes so many many mobile devices and apps are delivering its content to people.

I can tell you something but it would spoil the fun.  So I won't get into specifics.  I get all the funniest pics memes etc from The Donald and it is free from their algorithm.  There are phone apps that don't adhere to that  it strictly goes by the amount of upvotes so many many mobile devices and apps are delivering its content to people.

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