Published on 12, July, 2020
So, I'm slightly less grumpy than yesterday, as it's cooler.
Nevertheless, something else is bothering me, quite a lot.
Bots.
I know others of our Number are particularly concerned with this too.
Some bots are easy to spot as they leave links.
Others, make an innocuous post without a link but then later another post with a dubious link.
However ..... I've noticed another trend where a 'person' joins the forum to just post the once on a thread.
The post usually jars with me because although it sounds helpful, it doesn't sound to me like it comes from a real person and not an autistic person either.
The responses tend to me what I'd describe as 'glib'.
Question 1: Has anyone else noticed this?
It's happened on threads the last couple of days.
Do you think it could be bots too even though the response sounds relevant?
Also, I've occasionally wondered whether a 'person' is a bot even though they interact so I have another question.
Question 2: Is AI so well advanced now that bots can imitate humans in the way they respond on a thread and interact?
ie. they are not just posting in a vacuum but appear to be relating to you directly and your own responses.
TwoLegit said:A reply to one of your threads, Debbie, sounded straight out of the mouth of Chat GPT, but I didn’t want to say anything in case they are a genuine person.
Number said:Yes, this is a risk! I have got it wrong on a couple of occasions, and when I do, it makes me feel AWFUL!
I do share the concerns that you and others have voiced, Debbie. But it also really upsets me whenever I see any fellow user here challenging potential bots to pass some kind of communication / humanity test.
In my view, the risk of just ONE person being made to feel unwelcome and/or quitting this community due to being challenged in that way - when they are actually a fellow autistic human - is just too great to justify any of us requiring them to jump through any evidential hoops.
I lurked for a very long time before I even joined this community. I then continued to lurk, including - in part - because I felt afraid of being met with a challenge if and when I did summon the courage to actually post anything.
We know that some people come here in a very distressed state, after struggling for years without support of any kind. Advice or moral support from this community can make a really positive difference to their lives. And as TwoLegit says, people are also increasingly using AI to help with their communication needs. So, even when something looks suspicious, it may not be.
I just don't tend to reply to anything that looks like an AI-generated précis and that doesn't actually ask for advice or help. Instead, I often keep an eye, over time, on that new poster's activity. If any of their posts later gets edited to include a spam link, then I report it and wait (patiently) for the mods to do their thing, in their own time. The same if a spam link later appears in their profile. Generally, I feel that's the best approach.
Bunny, the opinion you express above was absolutely identical to mine.........until it wasn't !
The change in my "risk assessment" came from two instances, where I saw just how dangerous the "bot life" can be for some folk here.
I still agree with your words above, but would draw an experiential distinction in your risk assessment;
Bunny said: the risk of just ONE person being made to feel unwelcome and/or quitting this community due to being challenged in that way
Number says;
"the risk of just ONE person being made to commit suicide within this community due to the risk of NOT being challenged in that way."
Like you Bunny, I lurked long before I first posted.......and I've been around a while now. I have experienced, first hand, some really shocking hate towards our community that was delivered with subterfuge, care, attention and targeted hatefulness and/or careless abandon as to the consequence. I have also been aware of other instances that have been shared with me.
Rest assured, whether you and I agree on these matters or not, my "light-hearted" outward appearance to "bot hunting / spotting / special interest" belies a significantly more serious and considered approach to these matters.
Assuring you, and this community, of my very best intentions towards all of us.
Number.
Number said: due to the risk of NOT being challenged in that way.
We are users, not site admins or moderators.
In any cases where the reporting tool doesn't meet our needs, as the rules advise: "If you have .. a concern .. please contact the Community Manager communitymanager@nas.org.uk in the first instance".
Indeed so.
You are both so right! Which makes the issue so thorny!