I Love the DL and DLers. Happy Trails To All of You

Smooches!

Sorry to see you go, Della. In the last week I've been twice denied posting privileges, each time for 2-3 days. Not a troll. Never engage in ad hominem attacks. Very frustrating.

Della, I'm not sure what's happening, but I hope you'll reconsider. Maybe post anonymously? You're one of my favorite posters.

It's just the new algorithm, Della. Just say something to get a lot of WWs to offset the FFs and you're good.

It’s happening to me as well—it sucketh.

see ya later

Whenever I'm in time out I go through my previous posts and shamelessly give them multiple w&ws. Yes, voting for yourself counts, yes, they reset after a few minutes and you can vote again.

Lather, rinse, repeat and the ban usually lifts in a few hours. If it's the weekend it will last until Monday morning. I'm guessing there's some action Muriel needs to take to un-ban folks which is why it's delayed on the weekends.

[quote] Yes, voting for yourself counts

Did not know that. Not something I would otherwise do, but if gets me out from under a ban I might consider it.

r7 It's crazy that you have to go through all that WHILE paying a monthly fee to post. I think that's the part that gets to most people and why they eventually just stop posting altogether. The nastiest part is when you get a phone notification from your bank about your monthly DL payment while on a timeout.

Each time I get banned, I tell myself I'll unsub after a certain TV show ends (currently The Gilded Age). But then the next show I wish to discuss with DLers is always just around the corner....

Yeah I won't stoop to that troll tactic normally. But knowing that, seeing all the troll posts with dozens of w&ws make a lot more sense. They're voting for themselves.

Maybe you’re banned because you’re so thirsty and Muriel wants you to hydrate and get well. In any case, bye!!!!

r7 I don't think it helps, it's just that these 48-hour timeouts are sometimes manually lifted after a couple of hours, and so you got the impression you were responsible for that by WWing yourself.

I've only ever had one timeout, it was a while ago. I only post intermittently anyway so its possible I've had others and not noticed as I was otherwise engaged/ busy sucking cock etc.

I'll keep R7's suggestion in mind in case I need it, like R7 its not something I'd normally do

Maybe, R12. I've wondered that. Who knows. It's bullshit either way. As R9 says, why are we paying for a service that throws us out arbitrarily, without refunds?

I first heard of this on, of all places, the DataLounge reddit, which is full of trolls sharing their secrets. That's also how I learned of how they game the w&w voting.

Jesus, I just got released after a two day timeout. I have no idea what I did. I unsubscribed. It's too annoying and happens too often. If I get the hankering to post I may subscribe again.

[quote]the DataLounge reddit, which is full of trolls sharing their secrets

LOL! Harsh, but true.

Losing business is the one thing that might prompt change. Complaining sure has done nothing,

I can attest the WWs don't matter because around the time if my first timeout, I had one or two anonymous posts with a number of WWs.

Anyway, I was put on timeout twice in one week a couple of months ago.

When I was allowed to re-enter the DL orbit after the first time, I posted once - and only once - and then later that night, I discovered I was yet again put on another two day mandatory vow of silence.

Maybe w&ws don't get you out of time out, but multiple f&fs will send you there, right? Muriel's not monitoring every post in real time so it's clearly automated some way.

Voting is not actually recorded during time outs. False complacency.

R19 correct. A single troll can hate you into a time out quite easily.

Do you people FF a lot? Because I've noticed I got no timeouts for a while when I stopped FFing (rude) posters altogether. Maybe there's a connection? In that M. rewired the system, so it puts you in a timeout if you get too aggro with the red button?

Are we gonna get to the bottom of this in this very thread, or what? And be quick with your answers because "boards on boards" threads don't tend to last for very long.

[quote]so it puts you in a timeout if you get too aggro with the red button?

You don't get unlimited F/Fs, r22.

Aw Della, come back to the DL - your one of my fave signed posters

I think we get 3 f&fs every 24 hours. It's not really possible to abuse f&fs, unless you're proxy posting.

Which many do….

[quote] A single troll can hate you into a time out quite easily.

A heckler's veto. What a way to run a railroad.

Too much fun

[quote]Aw Della, come back to the DL - your one of my fave signed posters

Do please come back, Della, we have a GWTW thread that needs your input.

The constant complaints of being given time outs is for me a peek into the future of the Democratic Party as the next elections come and go.

You will be gjven a time out when you challenge the anti-trans trolls;

You will be given a time out when you dare to question the authority of that mother fucking know-it-all from Pittsburgh, DeFucktardo.

I’m a fighter. I’m on my 3rd life. I won’t be silenced in my willingness to be fabulous!

That’s not it— or there would be no one left.

Same here with the access denials.

It's tiresome not to be able to respond to tiresome posts with a tiresome but constructive "cunt" offered in fellowship.

So I , too, may just start going back to yelling out my window at passersby. Except it's so hot.

How can we miss you Della if you never leave?! Kidding, of course.

Come back to the Five and Dime, Della Reese, Della Reese.

Yea—it’s too damn hot to do anything but to sit and doom scroll here. Can you imagine the fun, for just a while, without Prime Time or time-outs?

I did F&F Muri-el once on a rare occasion she appeared as herself.

She deleted her thread.

Glug glug.

Has anyone but. perhaps, the most infrequent poster not experienced a time-out?

No Della! Don't leave. I love talking football with you and the season is just around the corner.

I have received a few time outs over the years. I get annoyed at first, especially since I say almost nothing controversial. But then I use it as a chance to go touch grass (as the kids say).

There is a tiresome troll that receives 4 w/ws in less than 5 minutes, enough time for him to cycle through his accounts and upvote himself, basically.

[quote] Can you imagine the fun, for just a while, without Prime Time

How is that still a thing? It was a thing when, for most of DL's history, posters didn't need to be paying members.

I've been banned twice in the past week.

They really should look at someone's overall WW vs FF ratio and how long they've been paying to be on this site before they ban so many times.

DL is turning off its veterans and biggest users in favor of these people who can't stand anyone saying anything they don't like.

There's ONE topic we all know about that is rife with activists FF'ing posts - and it does absolutely nothing to change anyone's minds. It just makes them look unhinged, aggressive and unable to take in ANY opinion that doesn't fully support them 100% Which is exactly why so many people are being turned off by them in the first place.

As I get banned again for just bringing it up. They have to fix this - otherwise DL is certainly going to die very soon. Seriously.

It went Prime Time all the time during some election cycle—can’t remember which one. Never to return?

It's not personal, Della. Many people have reported having been banned for no apparent reason. R43 may be correct.

Many of us can testify to being blocked capriciously. Please don't leave over this stupidity.

R11 nailed. Call out the anti-trans loons or cross the self proclaimed king of DL and you’re toast.

^nailed it.

Left out a word above.

[quote] cross the self proclaimed king of DL and you’re toast.

Who would that be?

Read R11

I am doing a bad Marlon Brando Streetcar Named Desire imitation in my living room: DELLA!!! (Don't go)

R11 doesn't address the issue. And Della hardly is a thirsty poster.

I hadn't posted for several days and I still found myself cut off when I returned.

And if it's a ratio of WWs to FFs doing it, that's a good reason for no one to stay here.

I once WW'd myself a hundred times just to see if the system could handle three digits.

But I'm off the amphetamines now.

Dellllllllllllaaaaaaaa!!!!

I'm just returning from a time-out. Please stay, Della.

We really need an alternative DL where we can congregate when we're in the penalty box.

Same here. Just allowed back today I better not speak of it-it’s a very different world.

R31 called it. They are also the ones who advise their friends how to work it on Redditt

I'll probably get a time out for this but if you post anything factual/critical of Israel or criticize the anti-trans trolls hateful garbage then you can expect a 24-72 hours time out via F&Fs which trigger a system generated time out depending on how many F&Fs a post gets. That's how they control the conversation and discourage all criticism because posters are too scared to say anything knowing they will receive a time out for it. Interestingly, they are often the same posters in those two topics using multiple accounts to F&F posters into submission. Always hard right-wingers.

I think this is very unfair.

OK. Let the time out begin I guess. Cunts.

You’ve got it assbackwards.

This might be a good time to spread so e "good karma" by WWs

Got what assbackwards R60?

I got a 48 hour ban as well, I suspect I was F/F'd because I had the temerity to call out a racist troll for saying something racist. It probably was one of the sock puppets of you-know-who.

Don't go Della, maybe just take a break for a while.

I question whether there is any rhyme or reason behind the incessant time-outs.

i was active n the threads about orange bombs, got bounced. I don't recall seeing the name della over there.

i was also bounced for participating in the conditroll thread.

Are people really getting banned for criticizing Israel? The pro-Israel propaganda in some threads is scary. Look at any thread on the NYC mayoral primary. The permissive attitude towards anti-trans trolling is already evident.

There is R64. It's very specific. They know what they're doing.

Is there a way to tell for sure what particular comments got you banned? If not, that makes no sense.

[quote]Are people really getting banned for criticizing Israel? The pro-Israel propaganda in some threads is scary. Look at any thread on the NYC mayoral primary. The permissive attitude towards anti-trans trolling is already evident.

Yes you can guarantee a time out for pushing back on the hardcore pro-Israeli propaganda R66.

I hate those relentless anti-trans threads here (because I loathe the hateful things they say about a whole group of people) and I think the "permissive attitude" you mention is because of the time outs given to posters who push back on their garbage. Posters have just given up over time because they know they will get a time out so now those anti-trans cunts run riot all over DL because they control the conversation by using the F&Fs.

No there isn't R68. I have done some testing over time and have pinpointed what gets you a time out - insulting the anti-trans trolls, criticising Israeli propaganda and yes sometimes if you make a particularly nasty comment about Trump R65. Those are the big three. I've tested it by making no posts for days and then making one banger of a post in an anti-trans thread or an Israel thread which I knew would attract their attention and sure enough - time out for 3 fucking days.

It's their way of shutting down dissent and critique and they've found a way to use the DL system to their advantage. Fucking cowards. It's not Muriel. If you get a Muriel time out or a ban then you'll know about it because it will be for an extended period or ban - final. I haven't seen any red tags recently. Not for a while actually.

One thing which I think we could all do better to negate this technique is to use W&W to support each other as a shield against these F&F abusers. i.e. you read a post in one of those threads which is critical to the anti-trans cunts or the Israel propogandists and you give it a courtesy W&W as a shield. Something to think about. I try to do that all the time now. There more of us who do it then the less time outs we will get because it balances out their F&F attacks.

Fucking ridiculous that discourse on DL has come down to this.

That doesn’t help you ^^

Harpo who dis lady?

^^ Your response don't help anyone R71 because you aren't saying anything with any detail for us to know what you're saying and why you don't think something doesn't help us...

Good post R69 /r59

As far as I can tell, the reason I don't get more time outs (I just had one last week) is because a lot of people have me blocked. Works for me!

Please don't leave, Della!! We need you here!

Even better post at r70

R75 Nah, people who don’t have signed monikers don’t really get timed out like that because you don’t develop haters with personality disorders who just can’t stand to see your posts. Albeit there are trolls that have been anonymous that posted endlessly and get timeouts but like I said, if you’re not a real troll, unsigned, nobody is really clocking you.

Thanks R74! That's very kind of you to say. Nobody ever says I post anything good on DL so that's absolutely made my day!

One thing I forgot to add is that this F&F warfare is particularly bad on Fridays and over the weekend or when there is a big news development in one of those topics.

R75 - why would anyone have you blocked? You are one of the most innocuous posters on DL! Unless I have missed something.

[quote] One thing I forgot to add is that this F&F warfare is particularly bad on Fridays and over the weekend or when there is a big news development in one of those topics.

For sure. And a wave of trolls ensues.

Is that damning with faint praise, R79?

R79 You’d be surprised. I once witnessed a poster get cussed out for asserting that white girls wear acrylic nails too.

I've witnessed a few blatant trolls going after Senior Lesbian.

And TEACAKE, you are naive.

No I'm saying I really like your posts and you seem like a very reasonable and nice person Senior Lesbian/R81. Have you moved yet? How's your lovely old doggy doing?

WWs don’t protect you from FFs and a time out. Now do you get it?

R77 is mistaken.

You never see the FnFs . Are they secret?

Good point r87. We see the WWs. Let's see the FFs.

This isn’t an airport; you don’t need to announce your departure. ✌️👋

R89 And this isn’t a dad joke forum. Though it did make my corny ass laugh.

I was banned 3 times last week. Block me and look at all my activity and you'll just see strong opinions- not freakish, flaming, obscene abuse.

The site should just get rid of FF and have self contained moderators. No matter what—every post is linked to a login and thus linked to a mafuckin email. Having unpopular or even wayward opinions is not trolling. The moderators will be able to see those posting mad nuff, trolling, just posting inflammatory shit.

I hate to agree with the easiest solution but you're probably right r92 / Tea.

Full moderation is too expensive.

Are we all willing to pay more?

[quote] this F&F warfare is particularly bad on Fridays and over the weekend

The DMV is closed on the weekend.

If you criticize the trans activists, you will get a timeout from the pro-trans folks. Those claiming that "anti-trans" folks are the ones doing the f&f stuff are full of it. It's overwhelmingly the other way.

^Bullshit

now I will be timed out again

ooops

I've posted on all the controversial topics and I've not been timed out.....yet. But I'm kind of boring, and use a lot of links to scientific studies and other evidence to support my views, so maybe that's why I've escaped so far.

As someone mentioned above, it’s been forever since Muriel red tagged a troll. How long is her ciggie break?!

You’re next!

TLDR

I'm still here in FL, R84 (sigh). I got my Pensionado visa about a month ago, but I got "the flu" (I think it was Covid, even though I came up negative) the day I left Panama and I was sick for almost an entire month. I'm just starting to get my strength back now.

Plus, my poor little dog was horribly sick the entire time she stayed with the woman who said she'd keep her (4 days), so now I know I can't leave her there and go back to Panama permanently. I think it had something to do with her cat's food dish, which she couldn't be bothered to pick up off the floor.

So now I'm back to either waiting for the dog to die (one way or another) or finding someone else to take her. As I've said, she's too old and frail to take with me (and not healthy enough to get a health certificate from a vet), and I couldn't put her through going to Panama anyway. Half the time here, she barely knows where she is, and now she pretty much follows me from room to room whenever she's awake. Too old to take, but too young to die (I got her at 7 months old in June, 2009).

So I'm back to waiting for something to happen, a day at a time. Rachel's last show (6/23/25) scared the living shit outta me, but I'm trying to be patient and calm (ha!). There are still plenty of things to do around my place to get it ready to leave, and I'm finally feeling well enough now to start tackling them.

Thanks for asking. I'll keep you DLers posted.

Well, let's see.

I loathe the slack-jawed turd munchers here who hate trans rights, support trans rights, support genocide in Gaza, are anti-Semitic, and either do or do not live the fascist horror of Trump.

I just gave you a FF —for fun.

Just had a 15 minute time out! So fucking weird. This came after mocking the chicken littles in the NYC Mayoral primary threads, the ones freaking-the-fuck out over.... a socialist muslim!

I do believe it is left wing/pro-trans/anti-racist posters getting targeted and brigaded by right wing trolls.

Maybe the DL resembles what I'm experiencing on the streets, at work, and in life:

EVERYONE HAS GONE FUCKING CRAZY.

^^^^You don't seem entirely sane yourself, hon.

^^^^I said "everyone," dear one. Count me in.

You too, babe.

Obviously, sweetie.

Aw, Della, I hope you reconsider.

Yes, being a paid member and not getting to post for two weeks is annoying and frustrating as fuck. It’s happened to me several times, and I generally avoid posting about trans people or Israel.

But once someone gets a hard on for you, they follow you from thread to thread making your life hell until they get you tossed in the DL gulag.

Click on the Help link and email Muriel. I did when I was having account issues (I got a new phone and forgot my password). Muriel helped get it sorted out, so maybe they can help you? Worth a try.

Although I’ve asked this question in vain many times before, I’ll venture posing it once again. How does a poster “follow you from thread to thread” if you’re anonymous?

They use the block feature to find your other posts, R110.

That’s it^

Where is this help link?

On the IPhone the “page” never lets you scroll all the way down to “Account”

Muriel, there is a problem in your house. You need to address it. You need to deal with it. You need to not hide from it. You need to not ignore it. There is a problem here, and you need to fix it.

Gurl, Muriel does not give a fuck.

Thanks, R111, but I’m not well versed on this. Does that mean a poster can check your history before blocking you? What are the mechanics of that?

R110, they go to the blocked list to see their posts. It's the slash/circle icon up top. Click that and you see a list of their recent posts. You can find the offending post that prompted you to block them, along with other posts they've made recently, in that thread and possibly in others. It's very wonky and doesn't show every post, but you can figure out sometimes what they're posting in other threads and get a better sense of their posting style.

A typical DLer will post on a wide variety of threads on a wide variety of topics. They might post things you disagree with but they're just another DLer ranting online. It's when you go to the blocked list and see every post about the same narrow topic, usually injecting the topic into a thread that has nothing to do with that topic, over and over, across multiple unrelated threads, that you know you've got "a live one," aka a troll. Another troll tactic is to constantly start thread after thread on their pet topic and "hold court" in that thread replying to every post, bumping it every hour, and posting boiler plate replies when it dies down to keep it active, eventually accounting for 25-50%+ of the total posts on the thread, aka "astroturfing." These are the common tactics of most of our anti-trans loonies. When you block them and look at their posts it becomes clear as day.

Thanks!

Yea, but the point is that they use the same method to their own advantage, by picking out posts and FF them to death…which triggers the time-outs.

Could Muriel be a troll?

Did Sartre write this thread?

Grayed out OP even with asbestos eyeballs.

But they're abusing the F&F function somehow. We only get 3 a day or something so how can a small handful of trolls be brigading targeted posters? It must take much more than 3 F&Fs to ban someone, and multiple people are constantly getting banned left right and center.

Time for more research I guess. Maybe another look at that DL subreddit is in order.

Muriel might be unaware of the hacks.

It's probably one lunatic with 50 accounts.

Phantom of the Datalounge: Revenge of Chrissy Metz

Sorry, Della. Hate my phone ..

We should start another DL reddit to offset the troll infested conservative one. This thread is going to disappear soon so chop chop.

From now on I ww my own posts

Not only do they follow you around like little bitches they become little snitches and feel it’s their duty to round up others to also FF you.

As in look what R715 has posted before , kind of middle school weak shit. It makes the men of DL all look like weak ass overly sensitive boys.

And it’s hardly just trans or war issues it could be anything they don’t like don’t like.

If you renew your $1.99 you are part of the problem,, And if the OP does cave then this is just another really stupid threat without any balls behind it.

If I renew next month I will be a weak ass punk as well

I've been there, Della. Last time was about two weeks ago. I have no idea why I was suspended for two days. It is quite ridiculous. Until I find a DL equivalent, I'm here to stay. I've been spending way too much time on this site for over 20 years. I really enjoy it, but it is not what it once was. All the political threads are getting tedious. Getting suspended for expressing a contrarian view is Orwellian and demoralizing, which is really the intent. You get to the point where you think, let them have their echo chamber. They'll see one day when it is too late.

[quote]As in look what R715 has posted before , kind of middle school weak shit. It makes the men of DL all look like weak ass overly sensitive boys.

This is so hilariously stupid. "The men of DL?" Okay, buddy!

Lorraine Gary should have won an Oscar? She's fine, but not Oscar-worthy.

Della’s post is greyed out, even with 40 w/ws. She’s probably on a ban, and doesn’t even know it.

It could have been the last time she got the

Blue Chiron of Death

Oops, that was meant for the Jaws 2 thread.

^^^BAN HER!