We have recently become aware of an individual submitting to challenges from three different user accounts. Two of these accounts have been canceled, and the third, which was already under a 45-day suspension for falsification of EXIF data, has been suspended until 2005.
In addition, the a total of 14 entries have been disqualified as listed below, and the results of the 7 affected challenges recalculated accordingly. An additional 2 entries were disqualified from the Advertisement Revisited challenge.
i suppose you have considered the fact this probably isn't the only one who does this. or that some folks maybe voting more than once, but only submitting once?
Well, I don't know about ya'll but I'm curious to know who the little bonehead is! WHAT was he/she thinking!
He was thinking three accounts are triple the fun? or maybe after the first account was suspended he said to himself, "I'll create two more accounts. They'll never catch on. I'm pure genius! Muahahahahah".
Ah, that makes sense now. I was wondering why there were two different entries in the advertising challenge which were the same photo from two different angles. I was going to question it, but it looks as though someone got to it first. Good work guys.
Edit: This is different to the recent challenge where two images were taken in the same place at similar times. It was definitely the same thing twice (which made me think "why?" - I didn't think the first one was worth it :P).
Well, I don't know about ya'll but I'm curious to know who the little bonehead is! WHAT was he/she thinking!
He was thinking three accounts are triple the fun? or maybe after the first account was suspended he said to himself, "I'll create two more accounts. They'll never catch on. I'm pure genius! Muahahahahah".
I recently helped my cousin set up an account here. We're discovering photography together (with a SLOW learning curve!!). We often use the same computer.. switching from one account to the other to see how either of our shots are doing. I also know that there are some husband and wives who each have an account, and I assume they use the same computer to submit, and also may have similar photos.
My question, then, is this: How can you distinguish between someone who has multiple accounts and people who simply share subjects and/or computers?
I recently helped my cousin set up an account here. We're discovering photography together (with a SLOW learning curve!!). We often use the same computer.. switching from one account to the other to see how either of our shots are doing. I also know that there are some husband and wives who each have an account, and I assume they use the same computer to submit, and also may have similar photos.
My question, then, is this: How can you distinguish between someone who has multiple accounts and people who simply share subjects and/or computers?
Not trying at all to be rude, but if we explained how we "did things" it would eliminate the usefulness of the technique, by providing potential cheaters on possible workarounds. :)
I see two shots from the Advertizing challenge that I thought were oddly similar are gone... I can only assume these are connected to this thread. I wasn't sure if I should flag them as they didn't look out of line each by itself. Just for my info, is suspicion that two shots were taken by the same person reason enough to request a DQ?
Any suspected violation of the rules or TOS is grounds for requesting a DQ. List list the reason for the request in the appropriate box. If we decide it's not a problem, then there's no harm to anyone. If it looks suspicious to us too, we will investigate further.
Just remember to always vote as if the photo is legal since the vote won't count if it's DQ'd, but should be the "right" score if the photo is legal.
Sure are some strange people out there. I mean why would you bother this is place to learn! Must have some self-esteem problem to cheat like that to gain a ribbon! I presume they were after a ribbon Maybe now we won't see I & 2 score on the best shots now.
My girlfriend and I use the same computer as well but we vote completely different. We take completely different pictures too. I give those in charge a lot of credit for trying to keep the jerks in check. There are a ton of people signed up here.
Permanent bans can be counterproductive and should be used very sparingly. If a user is banned permanently, he may feel he has nothing to lose by attempting to circumvent the ban and generally creating havoc and more work for us. In cases like that, we can file a complaint with the user's ISP, but ISP's provide varying levels of cooperation.
With a finite suspension, there is incentive to accept the penalty, since there is the hope of return at the end of the penalty period.
I also know that there are some husband and wives who each have an account, and I assume they use the same computer to submit, and also may have similar photos.
My wife and I share the same camera, computer and internet connection but have seperate accounts. I have only put 3 entries in one got 59% 2nd one 60% and my wife is beatin me by 0.4 in the current challenge grrr. And to think I encoraged her! lol
But this is a great way for both of us to learn about the camera and its settings and how to edit to get the best out of the shot.
We do take our photos seperately and I'll guide her through the editing side at this stage!
Bob
Edit: Congrats on gettin that person it must have been difficult to prove!
Not trying at all to be rude, but if we explained how we "did things" it would eliminate the usefulness of the technique, by providing potential cheaters on possible workarounds. :)
well, I imagine it is by the ip #... besides that there would be no other way to prove without doubt that someone was using more than one name. then you have the problem with non-static ip's and all sorts of proxies and whatnot, and the fact that alot of people have more than one person in the household on dpc. besides people who are grossly idiotic for posting nearly identical shots and expecting to get away with it i imagine it is difficult to ultimately decide that someone is, in fact cheating. login times would certainly be a good clue in telling.
why exactly someone would want to have 3 accounts, when they were clearly not welcome....and getting bad scores for that matter is beyond me. i would think that logic would drive most of the cheaters away. its not as if someone could drive their score up more than a few hundredths of a point....why would somone go to all that trouble for no obvious gain?
Permanent bans can be counterproductive and should be used very sparingly. If a user is banned permanently, he may feel he has nothing to lose by attempting to circumvent the ban and generally creating havoc and more work for us. In cases like that, we can file a complaint with the user's ISP, but ISP's provide varying levels of cooperation.
With a finite suspension, there is incentive to accept the penalty, since there is the hope of return at the end of the penalty period.
-Terry
I dont agree with that. He was a cheater...used several names in multiple contests. I dont think its DPC's job to "rehab" him. Once a cheater always a cheater.
Those are my thoughts, I certainly respect the yours and the councils views...but I would have tossed 'em for good.
I dont agree with that. He was a cheater...used several names in multiple contests. I dont think its DPC's job to "rehab" him. Once a cheater always a cheater.
Those are my thoughts, I certainly respect the yours and the councils views...but I would have tossed 'em for good.
It's not our job to rehab him... but it is our job to do our best to see that he does not try to wreak havoc on the site.
