Why I deleted a Thread

[old man emu]

I deleted the thread created by the new member ASYMEO. Before I did so, I asked members if I should, and several regulars agreed that I do it.

 

My reasoning was that I was very suspicious of it. Although we have a wide range of topics that we discuss, that thread was way off the beaten track. Alo, it is not usual for a new member to immediately create a thread immediately. Newcomers usually join into already created threads with their first posts, then as they become confident with their place in the group, they begin to create threads.

 

Finally, I took a look at the construction of the content. It did not strike me as being natural. I must admit I forgot to check the spelling of words that might indicate the use of USA English. As a result, I formed the opinion that the content had been created by Artificial Intelligence.

 

If my opinion is wrong, then I am happy to apologise for being wrong and invite ASYMEO to continue to participate here.

[onetrack]

The initial post just didn't have the Colgate Ring of Confidence about it, my intuition says nothing about it was genuine. Lots of internet users out there just out to phish, scam and garner information they can use elsewhere.

The volume of utter crap "articles" or "infotainment" on the 'net is overwhelming, and shows just how desperate many sites and users are, to garner "clicks". You did the right thing, we need regular "de-cluttering" of the forum.

[Bruce Tuncks]

what was the post about? Was it possible russian?   I really would like to know more.

[old man emu]

1 hour ago, Bruce Tuncks said:

what was the post about? Was it possible russian?   I really would like to know more.

No, Bruce. Vladimir hasn't become a member. It wasn't one of those nasty ones. It was urging people to comment about poor health services. Sort of testing the waters to see if it was safe to swim.

 

The topic was much ado about nothing really. It was just that the writing style was "wrong". It is hard to put into words what it was that made me suspicious. We often get spam entries here, which the moderators jump on pretty quickly. I saw the thread as an evolution of spam through the use of AI.

 

As Onetrack said, 

2 hours ago, onetrack said:

The initial post just didn't have the Colgate Ring of Confidence about it

 

[willedoo]

I agree. The first thing I thought about the wording was AI. My guess is someone in China testing their attempt at a version of ChatGPT.

[willedoo]

You could see how it was going. First up, post a series of posts then wait for responses. Then they could test it's replying ability.

[pmccarthy]

Asymeo, I would like to know more. Tell us a bit about yourself and your interests. You have an unusual way of expressing yourself, is that a deliberate choice?

[old man emu]

1 hour ago, Asymeo said:

From my English you know that it is my second language

Asymeo, Moderators here make every effort to ensure that the site does not come under attack from nasty people. On many occasions spammers have dumped their garbage on the site, which is an annoyance easily dealt with. The growth in the use of AI causes suspicion in the minds of Moderators when the first posts of a new member seem to be an attempt to provoke responses from a certain direction. That is why the style of expression, the spelling and idioms used are examined to see if what has been posted comes from a human and not a software package.

 

As to your 

1 hour ago, Asymeo said:

I do not know what means "an unusual way of expressing yourself"

that relates to your style of expression. You say that you have been an Australian citizen for four decades. However your style of expression does not show interaction with Australian society. 

 

Would you tell us what is your first language?

[pmccarthy]

4 hours ago, Asymeo said:

pmccathy thank you for your replay, it means for you I am not a Russian or Chinese Dracula or AI, UFO

Thank you!

About me I like to live in the caves or on the top branch of trees! I am joking,

From my English you know that it is my second language, about 40 years Australian citizen. I do not know what means "an unusual way of expressing yourself" but I suppose we can not and should not put human expression in molds,

Sure I am fully responsible for what I write, with plenty proofs in my hands that can stand in the court. yes it is a deliberate choice,  if it means mature responsible choice.

Don't worry, several of us here are unusual! Welcome.

[facthunter]

There's even some who are interested in Aeroplanes.  There's also some atheists. Those who have no "invisible" means of support. Nev

[old man emu]

Go and read his post in The Greek Tragedy that is Trump. It doesn't sound like the way a person living 40 years' in Australia would express themselves. There are spelling mistakes that don't ring true. 

 

I know that some of my posts have a very formal style, but you also know that I also post in a loose style. Take my use of "doesn't" here. I bet anything generated by AI would use that contraction. 

 

I asked him to say what his first language is. No response.

 

Can you see why I am suspicious of him/her/it?

[onetrack]

Quite possibly a Russian troll gradually trying to impose the Russian interpretation of facts, and influence opinions in favour of Russia.

[Marty_d]

I think either a Russian troll or AI would have good spelling. I think it's just someone trying to join the conversation.

[facthunter]

Well the Moderator has the problem. It's his job.. We would all like to do the right thing, but there's a lot of off putting things turn up in my inbox. I think any NEW entrant would realise we  are entitled to be a bit careful..  Nev

[old man emu]

42 minutes ago, facthunter said:

Well the Moderator has the problem. It's his job.

A wise man is wise because he seeks the advice of others.

 

As loath as I am to be heavy-handed and ban this member, I think that any move I make should be in accordance with the will of the members.

 

MartyD is welcoming, saying,  I think it's just someone trying to join the conversation.

 

PMC is investigating:

On 16/08/2024 at 11:57 AM, pmccarthy said:

You have an unusual way of expressing yourself, is that a deliberate choice?

I've asked him to tell us his first language.

 

These questions have not been answered. In my experience, an honest person will yap their head off if innocent.

[facthunter]

Depends on how reliable and  knowledgeable those you seek knowledge from, are.  You won't see many Captains seeking advice  from the passengers but one could be  a doctor or a pilot perhaps.. You're de MAN. What does Ian think?

[willedoo]

Who knows, it might be just some dude with not so good English writing skills. Personally I wouldn't put money on it, but that's just going by my experience of regularly seeing the same writing style and similar content across different social media platforms. It's not advertising spam as there's no links to webpages in the posts or mention of products. If it's a troll, he's achieved his goal of gaslighting a bunch of old farts on a forum and getting them talking about him. Often that style of post first up on a forum is a troll with a purpose. If he's genuine, he might come back and tell us something about himself, or he might not. This is my last comment on the subject as I highly suspect trolling and I try to stick to the basic rule #1 of the internet.

[old man emu]

6 minutes ago, facthunter said:

Depends on how reliable and  knowledgeable those you seek knowledge from, are.

I mean you blokes.

[facthunter]

We didn't hire a dog to bark ourselves.  Nev

[Jerry_Atrick]

Steady on, @Asymeo. I understand where you're coming from. But,  firstly. @old man emu did not ask you your nationality - he asked your first language - and many countries, as their first language, speak other country's langages - albeit a dialect. Many South American countries speak their dialect of Portugese or Spanish, but ccollectively their first languages are said to be Portugese, or Spanish, not, say Brazilian or Mexican. Secondly, this is not a site that bans people because or otheir origins or any other characteristic that is usually used to discriminate against. The mods, who have a thankless and difficult task (it is voluntary based) are reviewiong all sorts of stuff that is posted here and try and strike a balance between the rights of individual posters (whether they are new or have been around for ages) and the rights and protections of all others on the forum.

 

That is not to say you won't see racially or otherwise discriminatory content on here. There is (IMNSHO), and it is often met with a fierce rebuke. Mods do step in. However, in this case, the mods are trying to determine if you'r a bona fide member or a shit stirrer.

 

My father was an immigrant to Australia after WWII, and lived for around 60 years in Aus. Although his conversational English was fine, his written English was poor, so I have been personally giving you the benefit of the doubt - and I would say while you aren't banned, the deleted thread should probably be reinstated if it hasn't been already.

 

However, you last post does make me wonder. Poorly constructed sentences interspersed with fairly articulate words - I can't think  of the last time I heard or read anyone use the word orthography (but, I think you mean orthographic)... With that, to me, it smacks of a remedial LLM AI model or you are using translation software as English isn't your first language - either is OK by me if it helps you participate as a bona fide member, because we want to see all sorts of bona fide contributions from all walks of life, even if they are Chinese, Russian (well some may not), or Mynamar and even if they don't concur with everyone on here (if that were the case, I would have been booted out long ago).

 

For me, at the moment, as the subject matter doesn't seem to have been manipulative, but more thought provoking (I am an eternal optimist), I am happy withg your membership. But please bear with our scepticism and criticism if we can't understand or misinterrpret either the content or intent of your posts.

Edited August 17 by Jerry_Atrick

[old man emu]

2 hours ago, Asymeo said:

do you try to exclude them from social forums, to violate their freedom of expression just  of cause their orthography or syntax mistakes?

No. If Moderators did, the member known as Spacesailor would have been chucked off long ago. The thing that is causing concern is that, since you say that you have lived here for forty years, your STYLE does not reflect those years of contact with the Australians. The syntax and, to use the term you have used, orthography of what you post is not erroneous. By the way, I too had to check the meaning of "orthography".

 

To put it another way, if a person at a backyard bar-b-que spoke in the manner in which you write , the listeners would be casting quizzical looks at the person. So, it is not what you write, but how it sounds that raises suspicions that it  it AI generated. You would be more readily given a place on the conversation circle if you stopped sounding like an Doctor of English Literature and sounded more like the bloke next-door. 

[onetrack]

There is a YouTube musician who goes by the name of "asymeo" - Alexandros Symeonides. Obviously, he's Greek. But his writing is in good English, not the stilted and odd English, as the poster above uses.

The interesting giveaway is the odd gaps in the typing. It appears like the sentences have been cut and pasted, and the poster forgot to take out the gaps.

 

https://www.youtube.com/@asymeo?app=desktop

 

Edited August 17 by onetrack

[willedoo]

There's a tech company called Symeo that makes a lot of wireless radio sensor gear. They do a lot of collision avoidance stuff for mining sites and other industries.

[old man emu]

That bloke went too far. Showed his hand as pro-Russian, but that's not the reason I  have banned him. He simply wasn't entering into the spirit of this forum.

 

When I describe my participation here to people, I ask them to imagine that corner of their local pub or club where a group of blokes gather to solve the problems of the world, or just talk about anything that catches the interest at that moment. Its a regular group, with each person having "their" seat. New people are welcome to join in the current discussion, or to hover and listen, coming and going at their will. However, should some newcomer disrupt the status quo by talking crap, then the group will invite them to partake of a sex tour. 

 

So, that bloke broke the customs by not being forthcoming with some identifying details. Basically, I formed the opinion that he was a liar, and people can do all sorts of unacceptable things, but lie to me and you're a goner. So he's gone.

[Litespeed]

On stage right....

 

 

A Bear comes round trying to cause trouble...

 

And gets swifty kicked in the nuts by a Emu.

 

The Bear runs away screaming 

 

Well modded