Unusual Trolling

Stratadrake · Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:33 am Post subject: Unusual Trolling

I just prosecuted (i.e. banned) two troll accounts attempting to impersonate site staff members. The users who created these accounts copy-and-pasted information from our profile page and even took screenshots of our avatars, which includes the little "staff" icon. Fortunately they cannot come close to fooling [i]actual[/i] site staff members, not even for a second. We know who is staff and who isn't Wink

But for your benefit, here's how to tell when the "staff" icon next to a user's avatar is genuine:
- It's a completely separate image from the user's avatar. Right-click on the "staff" icon and select "Properties". The icon will be named [b]icon_site_helper.gif[/b] with dimensions of exactly [b]20x16[/b] pixels. Firefox will also report an 'alternate text' and 'title' of "[b]Site Helper[/b]".

By contrast, if a "staff" icon is merely part of their user avatar, right-clicking will reveal a numeric filename (e.g., "98426-1234850861.png") with an 'alternate text' reading as "user avatar". It may also show resizing or transparency artifacts, indicating that it's part of the avatar file and [i]not[/i] actually the "staff" designation.

We have a patch in the works so that user icons will be displayed next to the staff member's name (instead of their avatar), which can prevent this sort of spoofing in the future.

We have zero tolerance for trolls attempting to impersonate site staff members such as moderators and admins. As with any other troll, you can report them by PM addressed to 'Stratadrake' or 'Battou' (with an 'o').
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London · Moderator Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 6474

edit: nevermind~
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FJORDR · Rookie Joined: 10 Feb 2009 Posts: 32

Oh, hai Strata.

Your scales are looking really shiny today. Rolling Eyes

Horgh · Banned Joined: 30 Jan 2008 Posts: 973

Fail.
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Stratadrake · Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 7:58 pm Post subject:

Further investigation by battou of the two troll accounts banned reveals a strong implication that they were created by a single user in retaliation for a previous ban.
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Strata here: [url=http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/242293]Nanowrimo[/url] - [url=www.fanart-central.net/user-Stratadrake.php]FAC[/url] - [url=http://stratadrake.deviantart.com]dA[/url] - [url=www.furaffinity.net/user/Stratadrake/]FA[/url]
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FJORDR · Rookie Joined: 10 Feb 2009 Posts: 32

I claim credit for the terrorist attacks on the two World Trade Center buildings as well as the two fake admin accounts. Surprised

This reveals a conspiracy, reaching to the highest levels of government control!

Edward_Elric_1308 · Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 8:57 pm Post subject:

YOU JUST AN HERO'ed D:

FJORDR · Rookie Joined: 10 Feb 2009 Posts: 32

NAY THOU

Edward_Elric_1308 · Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 9:01 pm Post subject:

lolwat

WHAT IS ALL THIS TOMFOOLERY? Someone has to be so low to actually Photoshop Site Helper icons onto fake avatars. D:

FJORDR · Rookie Joined: 10 Feb 2009 Posts: 32

I love you, Edward_Elric_9001 and I want to do you doggy style Surprised

And I will touch your boob by accident.

Edward_Elric_1308 · Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 9:15 pm Post subject:

W[color=black]TF[/color]

Stratadrake · Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 9:37 pm Post subject:

Enough, guys. I need to get some sleep (nobody likes a cranky dragon).
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Strata here: [url=http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/242293]Nanowrimo[/url] - [url=www.fanart-central.net/user-Stratadrake.php]FAC[/url] - [url=http://stratadrake.deviantart.com]dA[/url] - [url=www.furaffinity.net/user/Stratadrake/]FA[/url]
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cstdenis · Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 10:10 pm Post subject:

[quote="FJORDR"]I claim credit for the terrorist attacks on the two World Trade Center[/quote]

Your IP has been sent to the NSA. Enjoy your stay in Gitmo.
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