HYPERBOREA » AI Bots

Ghul · 1/06/2025 12:30 pm

I have been turning down all registrations lately, because they are all obvious bots. Boardhost, the company that we use for this forum, gives you two options for registration approvals:

1) Allow anyone to register any time.
2) Force the user to answer one to three questions. If they get them right, it is assumed they are human and want to join our little community.

We used #1 at first in the early years. Then came the bots and spammers, so we went to #2. Now, the bots have evolved, armed with AI tech, and they can answer any question I come up with. I have contacted Boardhost to see if they have any new options they are considering to deal with this. Can we defeat Skynet? Seems unlikely...

There are other options out there for forums, but I would hate to lose what we have here. Especially, too, the good people who have been running the PbP here. That would be a shame to lose all that. So...

Any thoughts are welcome!

Caveman · 1/07/2025 7:44 am

I not technically minded, the best thought is put a hex on them, but that might get exhausting.

The other Options: So, how would they affect PbP? Would it help stop the bots?

Ghul · 1/08/2025 3:23 pm

Caveman wrote:
I not technically minded, the best thought is put a hex on them, but that might get exhausting.

The other Options: So, how would they affect PbP? Would it help stop the bots?

The bots will just crush us with advertising if they got in. They wouldn't affect the PbP. What I mean is if we went to a better option than boardhost, all that would be lost, and I don't want to do that to those involved. But at the same time, boardhost hasn't done anything to improve in years. They don't answer customer support emails, either.

rhialto · 1/09/2025 6:50 am

Ghul wrote:
The bots will just crush us with advertising if they got in. They wouldn't affect the PbP. What I mean is if we went to a better option than boardhost, all that would be lost, and I don't want to do that to those involved. But at the same time, boardhost hasn't done anything to improve in years. They don't answer customer support emails, either.

Preface: easy for me to say, since I don't do PbP, but...
All campaigns end, eventually, right? With enough warning, maybe the folks engaged in it here can plan for the transition to a brand new campaign, replete with all the mystery and wonder that entails?

Ghul · 1/09/2025 4:36 pm

rhialto wrote:
Ghul wrote:
The bots will just crush us with advertising if they got in. They wouldn't affect the PbP. What I mean is if we went to a better option than boardhost, all that would be lost, and I don't want to do that to those involved. But at the same time, boardhost hasn't done anything to improve in years. They don't answer customer support emails, either.
Preface: easy for me to say, since I don't do PbP, but...
All campaigns end, eventually, right? With enough warning, maybe the folks engaged in it here can plan for the transition to a brand new campaign, replete with all the mystery and wonder that entails?

True, true. I set up another series of question for prospective new members yesterday, and about eight AI bots figured it out. Now I have set up more vague questions that would be harder to answer and would maybe more easily identify an actual person from a bot.

"Why do you want to join this forum?"
"Tell me about your favorite PC you've played."
"What is the longest campaign you've ever played in?"

We'll see what happens...

Iron Ranger · 1/10/2025 11:37 am

For my part, I have all the pages of my pbp backed up for reference -- but I've gained a fairly good handle on the details of things as the various groups have been walking in circles for the last 6 -7 years. LOL. Although I think they are finally on the edge of something big, 'natch! So it would be very easy to pick back up wherever you land. Would be sad to lose Jason's though.

Ghul · 1/10/2025 12:22 pm

So, I set up a series of questions for prospective new members that, at first blush, seems to confuse the AI bots.

Ghul · 1/10/2025 12:23 pm

Not sure if you all can magnify that image, but it seems to be effective against these first three today.

Caveman · 1/10/2025 5:22 pm

Ghul wrote:
Caveman wrote:
I not technically minded, the best thought is put a hex on them, but that might get exhausting.

The other Options: So, how would they affect PbP? Would it help stop the bots?
The bots will just crush us with advertising if they got in. They wouldn't affect the PbP. What I mean is if we went to a better option than boardhost, all that would be lost, and I don't want to do that to those involved. But at the same time, boardhost hasn't done anything to improve in years. They don't answer customer support emails, either.

Wow, does that mean other posts also? We cannot do that. Back to hexing the bastardos.

Last edited by Caveman (1/10/2025 5:38 pm)

Caveman · 1/10/2025 5:35 pm

Ghul wrote:
Not sure if you all can magnify that image, but it seems to be effective against these first three today.

Got my magnifying glass beside my laptop. it helps.

Yes, good work Jeff. hit them where it hurts.

lets see if it stops them...

Ghul · 1/10/2025 9:09 pm

So far, so good. Another was a similar failure. So, we should be in good shape for a little while until the AI advances again.

Caveman · 1/11/2025 4:12 am

Good stuff, well done Ghul.

rhialto · 1/11/2025 7:26 am

Yes, the Protection from Evil appears to be working!

Caveman · 1/12/2025 4:06 am

lol

Ghul · 1/12/2025 11:05 am

It's working. Here are the 15 registrations I got overnight, not one of them an actual gamer. In many cases they answer the question by repeating the question.

UsernameE-mailRegisteredAction

CosmoGeardsortgeard@domen-vsem.shopToday  Why do you want to join this forum?to have a place to call homeTell us about your favorite PC you've played.https://cosmotrah.comWhat is the longest campaign you've ever played in?https://cosmotrah.comDetected Location: Russian Federation

KiaCason9ertha@thunderecho.storeToday  Why do you want to join this forum?Why do you want to join this forum?Tell us about your favorite PC you've played.Tell us about your favorite PC you've played.What is the longest campaign you've ever played in?A 5-year campaign.Detected Location: United States

LuannWalpomacie@thunderecho.storeToday  Why do you want to join this forum?The forum creator has also specified the following questions, which will be provided directly to them. Why do you want to join this forum?Tell us about your favorite PC you've played.Tell us about your favorite PC you've played.What is the longest campaign you've ever played in?A 3-year campaign.Detected Location: United States

KurtSchawlyla@skywardhub.onlineToday  Why do you want to join this forum?Why do you want to join this forum?Tell us about your favorite PC you've played.Tell us about your favorite PC you've played.What is the longest campaign you've ever played in?A 3-year campaign.Detected Location: United States

RaphaelDanjeane@gsaser.worldToday  Why do you want to join this forum?Why do you want to join this forum?Tell us about your favorite PC you've played.The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.What is the longest campaign you've ever played in?A 3-year campaign.Detected Location: United States

JaclynKwonreena@seo-neo.netToday  Why do you want to join this forum?Why do you want to join this forum?Tell us about your favorite PC you've played.Tell us about your favorite PC you've played.What is the longest campaign you've ever played in?A 3-year-long campaign.Detected Location: United Kingdom

StephanieOleena@seoneo.appToday  Why do you want to join this forum?Why do you want to join this forum?Tell us about your favorite PC you've played.Tell us about your favorite PC you've played.What is the longest campaign you've ever played in?A 3-year campaign.Detected Location: United States

EmilThibodtrude@a.itchydog.onlineToday  Why do you want to join this forum?Why do you want to join this forum?Tell us about your favorite PC you've played.The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.What is the longest campaign you've ever played in?A 5-year campaign.Detected Location: South Africa

RhondaA14milagros@c.razore100.fansYesterday  Why do you want to join this forum?Why do you want to join this forum?Tell us about your favorite PC you've played.The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.What is the longest campaign you've ever played in?A 3-year campaign.Detected Location: United States

AdolfoFulcshari@dontstress.onlineYesterday  Why do you want to join this forum?Why do you want to join this forum?Tell us about your favorite PC you've played.Tell us about your favorite PC you've played.What is the longest campaign you've ever played in?A 3-year-long campaign.Detected Location: United States

MaximoThaymaximo_thayer@2pk.disciplinethecity.sgYesterday  Why do you want to join this forum?Why do you want to join this forum?Tell us about your favorite PC you've played.The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.What is the longest campaign you've ever played in?A 3-year-long campaign.Detected Location: United States

ChadwickCokassie@indexing.storeYesterday  Why do you want to join this forum?Why do you want to join this forum?Tell us about your favorite PC you've played.Tell us about your favorite PC you've played.What is the longest campaign you've ever played in?A 3-year-long campaign.Detected Location: United Kingdom

RondaMardefiann@cosmicbridge.siteYesterday  Why do you want to join this forum?Why do you want to join this forum?Tell us about your favorite PC you've played.The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.What is the longest campaign you've ever played in?A 3-year campaign.Detected Location: United States

ColeFlandecole-flanders8814@2ul.disciplinethecity.sgYesterday  Why do you want to join this forum?Why do you want to join this forum?Tell us about your favorite PC you've played.Tell us about your favorite PC you've played.What is the longest campaign you've ever played in?A 3-year campaign.Detected Location: United States

Dina34A757dina.kitamura@2ty.disciplinethecity.sgYesterday  Why do you want to join this forum?Why do you want to join this forum?Tell us about your favorite PC you've played.The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.What is the longest campaign you've ever played in?A 3-year campaign.Detected Location: United States

rhialto · 1/13/2025 5:51 am

Excellent news! Hopefully these 0-level nobodies never rise to the level of a classed PC.