Brad Wardell's views about technology, politics, religion, world affairs, and all sorts of politically incorrect topics.
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Published on August 5, 2005 By Draginol In Blogging

In about 10 days we are going to do a points audit on the site.  Every time someone makes a comment, post, etc. they receive points for it. It's recorded in a log.

I know, from casual inspection, that some people have far more points than their available # of comments and articles could possibly warrant. 

Now I have a confession to make, I've been very competitive in my life and I've played the system my share of times. I haven't done so here since I'm the #1 user because I know the easiest way to get lots of points -- get other sites to link to what I write which brings lots of readers.  I have many articles with over 50,000 points for instance that have only a couple of comments.  All because people came here to read them.

But many others have taken other routes that we're aware of to get their points up.  That's going to come to an end soon as all scores will be recalculated based on what is actually present on JU.


Comments (Page 4)
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on Aug 06, 2005
He left a message about it earlier. I think it is a test for the whole revamp thing. I would have sworn the first time I looked in the post name was T-Man. If so, he's IT there.
on Aug 06, 2005
But many others have taken other routes that we're aware of to get their points up. That's going to come to an end soon as all scores will be recalculated based on what is actually present on JU.


Sweet. Spot #170 is as good as mine.

Wait a minute: Can points be... pointless?


Some believe they are vibrating one dimensional strings and not points at all.

Kidding aside, I wish the points would just go away, but I fear that some of our better writers might not be motivated without the ego sauce, and so we'd lose out on good material without the competitive edge. Damn shame. On the other hand, I haven't read a single original thought in quite some time, and I haven't had one either. I've read some very CLEAR WELL WRITTEN thoughts...don't get me wrong...but original? Not even close. Maybe something to just shake this whole place silly would be good for us all.
on Aug 06, 2005
And whats up with an article by 'justjohn' that magically genereated 1126+ comments in a single day? (all his own, btw)Seems like someone created the bot I said would be so easy to make.


Check your test blog I gave you a good enough explanation of what I did, but I used no bots. I also proved the concept that any motivated person with 25 minutes could exploit the current point system. I hope Brad has received my email requesting the bogus points be removed in his scan and throwing myself at his mercy by telling him exactly how it was done. I also have a suggestion how to protect the same exploit from being done by two users or a single user with two identities.

My goal was to prove LW's theory fully. I was trying to not get caught and I was moderately successful. Two people spotted me and called me out ... of sorts ... but left me to do my bidding.

The reason for the articles explosion is that I made it private to start to be covert. Once I had requested amnesty I took it off of private and it instantly rose to the top. I also jumped to #4 in the blog sites because I added 15k+ points to my blog site in under 24 hours. Sound like anything else that has happened recently?

I hope every one (mostly Brad) knows that my intent was not malicious. It was to prove a concept. I'm sorry and I hang my head in shame for my actions. I wanted to prove that the problem with the points is easily exploitable without using hacks, cracks, malicious code or anything that is not already on the site.

Again, I say I am sorry for my actions.

I will be happy to email you directly Brad with all the details if I was wrong in my guess of your email address.
on Aug 06, 2005
I feel a rating should make u first say why u rate good or bad in a short explanation. Then admins see WHOM u thought u were rating and WHAT. Makes it harder on automated repeat ratings after deleting cookies. Even if u junk up the explanation box artificicially, that is transparent then. They could sort of rate or premonitor that rating at least in random checks. This also shows em fast who could best help em do some ratings for them, which they could also check up on randomly, punishment for misuse selfunderstood
on Aug 06, 2005

And whats up with an article by 'justjohn' that magically genereated 1126+ comments in a single day? (all his own, btw)

No one was mine.  And if you read the comments, it was a tease at you as the 317th one asked if you were going to be the first to catch him.

on Aug 06, 2005
I feel a rating should make u first say why u rate good or bad in a short explanation. Then admins see WHOM u thought u were rating and WHAT. Makes it harder on automated repeat ratings after deleting cookies. Even if u junk up the explanation box artificicially, that is transparent then. They could sort of rate or premonitor that rating at least in random checks. This also shows em fast who could best help em do some ratings for them, which they could also check up on randomly, punishment for misuse selfunderstood


Good god man, is that even ENGLISH????
on Aug 06, 2005
is that even ENGLISH???? See, theres a good rater. Love that pic of yours saying this is a trap. I dont need points right now. Correct lingo makes comments long, someone whines then too. It would be fun if we could even loose our sites for bad spelling. WOW! Then poor peoples CPUs are out, but that sure calls for reading quality.

My system will make less users rate cause they are lazy. Leave normal rating in but give more impact to explained ratings, or sompen
on Aug 06, 2005

And some people tell ME i devote too much time and attention to JU.

No, I just scrolled thru the first 20 or so, saw what was being done, and surfed on.

I did not have to scroll through any.  I saw it, clicked on it, went to the last comment and noted it.  You said he had 1000+. Apparently we found it at different times as it was only 317 when I saw it.

I did not go through 20 to figure out what was going on.  Sorry.

on Aug 06, 2005

Good god man, is that even ENGLISH????

Not bad for a ESL guy.  I understood it, why cant you?

on Aug 06, 2005

is that even ENGLISH???? See, theres a good rater. Love that pic of yours saying this is a trap. I dont need points right now. Correct lingo makes comments long, someone whines then too. It would be fun if we could even loose our sites for bad spelling. WOW! Then poor peoples CPUs are out, but that sure calls for reading quality.

My system will make less users rate cause they are lazy. Leave normal rating in but give more impact to explained ratings, or sompen

Toby, your English is a hell of a lot better than my German!

Ihr Englisch ist eine Hölle von viel besserem als mein Deutscher!

on Aug 06, 2005
Toby, your English is a hell of a lot better than my German!


and your beer is a hell of a lot better than Israeli beer.
on Aug 06, 2005

and your beer is a hell of a lot better than Israeli beer.

And American too!

Can you send me some Henniger??????

on Aug 06, 2005
Forgive me Father, for I have sinned...

Several months ago I wrote a single blog (well, two actually, I think...one one-liner "welcome" blog and one real blog) under a different screen name. I had things I wanted to say and solicit comments about, but I did not want someone who regularly read my blog to see it. I didn't attempt to change my writing style or anything, haha, and at least one of the people who commented on it immediately knew it was me (which was notta problem, cause I was only hiding it from one reader).

This didn't affect my points (I don't think?), but there's my confession nonetheless.

on Aug 06, 2005
BTW, the point system has been adjusted so that it is smarter about people responding on their own blogs and such.
on Aug 06, 2005
Eh, yeah, I've deleted a body of work about 4 times now, and i regularly delete articles that annoy me or don't get much response...it really wouldn't bother me if those points disappeared, I don't blog for points (unlike others who have to complain if other children are getting more chocolate chips in THEIR cookies). Points are meaningless, blogging is just mental masturbation. Fun, but doesn't mean much.

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