... to be tired of OPs who only post once and never come back to their thread?

Here is an answer to this question posted on Reddit;

https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/s/YqbAhQ4yxh

Bot accounts. How do they work and how can people tell bot comments from human comments?

Somewhat recently, there has been a large influx of automated accounts that use ChatGPT to make comments. There are even quite a few in this subreddit.

They scan post titles and use it as the prompt, then reply "accordingly." You can easily tell bots apart from humans based on what they focus on in their comment, their grammar, word usage, and punctuation. ChatGPT accounts frequently respond like the post is a direct conversation with them, use more energetic wording, and overall feel more sanitized. Check out an obvious bot account, sometimes they'll comment on media posts with vague titles and respond pretty terribly. For example, a common bot comment in r/Starterpacks is "Ah, the [title]!"

Here is ChatGPT's response to your post title:

> Sure! Bot accounts are automated programs designed to perform tasks on the internet, like posting comments or sending messages, without human intervention. They work by following pre-defined instructions or algorithms.

> To tell if a comment is from a bot or a human, here are some clues:

>1. Repetitiveness: Bots often post similar or identical comments repeatedly because they follow a set script.

>2. Timing: Bots can post at odd times or with unnatural frequency, unlike humans who usually comment throughout the day.

>3. Content: Bot comments may lack depth or relevance to the discussion, often being generic or off-topic.

>4. Language: Bots might use strange syntax or grammar errors, though some are programmed to mimic human speech more accurately.

>5. Profile Information: Check the account's profile—if it's incomplete, lacks personal details, or uses a generic username, it could be a bot.

> Platforms use algorithms to detect and remove bot-generated content, but it's still possible to encounter them. Being aware of these signs can help you identify bot comments online!

Note that the AI mostly failed to respond properly, and missed the context of your post. Only a couple of the tips are relevant for modern bot accounts. You can also see that the structure is very list-esque. This is extremely common in question subreddits.

Is one of them the ironing board thread?

Another one here who checks to see if the OP has returned. Fair enough if it's a very short and recently created thread but anything that has run for days and has lots of answers but nothing from the OP is a waste of time.

It's hard not to be cynical these days about such threads.

Yes
There's a lot of of them around, and some of them look like they're creating a project of some kind? So they're doing something with the responses, I suppose. Creepy. Could be AI related.

It would help if notifications included ‘someone has replied to your thread’.

At the moment they don’t seem to.

I also think there’s a lot of requests on S&B that aren’t genuine. If you find an item they say they’re looking for you get no reply and no thanks for trying to help.

The bot answered itself last week

Those “what’s your favourite ice cream flavour” type threads are just to make the place look busier than it is.

Me neither. Those threads usually end up as lots of people all giving the same advice.

Same. I never bother reading past the first page of the OP hasn’t come back.

I agree with you op, it’s rude not to return to a thread you’ve started. It basically says you are only interested in what you have to say or think and not anyone else.

Plus, in many cases, it’s people who want to post something goady or inflammatory and then bugger off.

I think it’s a good idea to check the number of op’s posts before answering.

Do the bot and AI accounts ever engage with the threads? (I’m aware this might be a very stupid question!)

I don’t think it matters really, even if it’s not a genuine post cos it often generates a good debate about an interesting topic and people end up discussing issues around it between themselves

So you’ve solved your problem. And there’s no need for this pointless thread.

Honestly some people on here have an extraordinary sense of entitlement from people who start threads. OPs are real people with real lives and real feelings and real problems. They don’t owe posters anything. We surely all know this if we choose to reply?

it’s like people who actually get arsey when a poster doesn’t immediately follow their advice. The mentality of some people on here 🙄

😂

I have stopped posting on threads where the OP only posts once - many of them I think are from the Creative Writing Competition to see who can get the most responses.

It appears not being as you started this thread.

They are AI and Bot accounts to drive up traffic because traffic makes money.

This made me laugh! It’s far more likely there are just a lot of people who don’t really like all the dogs there are now! I really don’t think MN needs to manufacture threads on this 😂

Oh for goodness sake, this is ridiculous. No one here owes you anything at all. MN should not be harassing people who don’t post more than once. That’s absurd. Stop being so invested OP.

There are lots of reasons someone may not return. MN can be really harsh. It’s very easy to see why someone does not return if they get abuse or people give them a perspective they find upsetting. I can think of a dozen other reasons too.

It’s really not a big deal. No one has an obligation to entertain you or give you a pleasing narrative or engage with you.

Threads often take a life of their own anyway, regardless of Op comes back.

If it bothers you just don’t post on threads where there is only the OP.

I don’t think for a minute it’s MNHQ. I do think some of them are creative writing prompts, or journalists. But I wonder also whether some of them are just people who have become very used to typing their problems into an AI chatbot, and at some level they’re so desocialised that they haven’t clocked that the normal thing to do is say ‘yes’, ‘no’, ‘thank you’, ‘I disagree’ and so on…

I hate the habit

but in defense of three word names my username was the first MN algorithm suggested and I thought it was lovely! We’re not all bots, promise!!

I’m usually quite surprised when an OP comes back to reply.

There’s been so many threads over the years that I still remember and wonder what happened.