I was checking if Relay still works for me (it does), and happened to see this post at the top of my feed calling out bots on programming: https://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/14trtla/the_ai_bots_have_arrived_at_rprogramming/

First off, I was surprised that programming was allowing posts again; last I checked it was restricted. Judging by timestamps, it looks like it opened up 2 days ago.

The weird thing is that most posts since reopening have negative scores and no comments. Screenshot example with several 0 karma posts.

Is this a continuing protest by r/programming users? Are they calling out bots and astroturfing with a scorched earth approach? I haven’t checked the 0 karma posts closely to see if they are all bots, but that would make sense since not all posts are zeroed.

Have been avoiding reddit in general so I’m out of the loop.

  • Yeah2206@infosec.pub
    11·
    1 year ago

    I looked. I’d guess the ones with 0 votes are posts done by bots, possibly powered by AI. The one I looked closely posted and commented to get karma points to get past the filters to post promotions/scams in other subs. The mods, including spez himself, are not doing any filtering. I am not sure if any is done for protest, but I only looked closely at one.

    edited: grammar

    • Paradox@lemdro.idEnglish
      31·
      1 year ago

      Tbh the “mods” of programming haven’t ever done much of anything. Check the sub for even 3 minutes and you’d run into tons of gitconnected spam

  • dzaffaires@sh.itjust.works
    91·
    1 year ago

    Seems like the community with the best chance of a digital protest is winning. Those posts seem to drown out any good content and rendering the sub useless for new content.

  • Candelestine@lemmy.world
    502·
    1 year ago

    Probably get better results if you ask over there instead of here, it feels like most of us don’t check back. Personally I do, but I think I’m in the minority.

    I guess you might get a lot of bot interaction over there though.

    • _WC@lemmy.worldOP
      321·
      1 year ago

      You’re probably right, I’m just avoiding it for good now. And guessing the mods would remove any questioning posts from r/programming. R/outoftheloop would likely help, but again, I’m done giving them traffic or content.

    • SoPunny@lemmy.world
      2·
      1 year ago

      There are a few others I’ve seen but I’m just watching, don’t want to interfere. One place posted to admins a few days ago, there are still people pissed there and I imagine it’ll ge5 worse as the bots flood in.

  • mintiefresh@lemmy.world
    22·
    1 year ago

    Wow this is jarring to see. A bit sad tbh … Kind of like watching an ex struggle or something.

    Oh well.