Actual Thoughts I've Had, Verbatim...

[Mister Obvious]

I'd like to talk to you about it, but I'm not sure you're gonna understand. Do you have SSH access to your server? I remember you describing importing the MySQL database and it lead me to believe you don't. If this is prying, then just don't answer me and forget about it. I'm just saying... shit has changed and if you notice some fuckery you can't track down, maybe we will talk about it.

[Mister Obvious]

Is your site a MyBB? I haven't looked at it since you posted the Rules page.

[Guest]

I don't have shell access. I'm using FTP. I'll probably have to send the host a copy of my driver's license to get SSH access.

[Mister Obvious]

If so, make sure you turn on the SEO friendly link setting in admin panel. The other link format is ugly.

[Guest]

I put up MyBB until I finish my own code.

[Mister Obvious]

I don't have shell access. I'm using FTP. I'll probably have to send the host a copy of my driver's license to get SSH access.

Okay, no wonder the DB issue was such a bitch then...

I was gonna ask you if you would have done it via SSH if you really wanted to do it right...

[Mister Obvious]

MyBB is good, I'm not saying you should abandon your own code for it or anything though. Your software was cool looking and whatnot.

I have run many MyBB boards (and other forum software) and I can tell you that different sites get targeted by different bots, even if they are using the exact same software. No idea why, but it's true.

[Guest]

The German bot isn't sus. It's a legit search engine.

I'd use SSH if I had it, but I'm too lazy to jump through hoops to get it right now.

[Mister Obvious]

So since you ARE running MyBB...

You might indeed run into "the phenomenon."

I am curious to see if you do.

I recommend you get to posting...

A LOT.

Like a lot.

If you ever run into problems...

Come here and let me know and I will consider if it could be coming from the same source.

I don't wanna say anything otherwise though.

I know I'm making this sound sort of dramatic, but it's for good reason. The shit is creepy and it has to do with AI.

[Guest]

The only database issue I've had with this host is they won't let me drop a whole database, which is understandable. They wouldn't allow it even if I did use SSH.

[Guest]

I recommend you get to posting...

A LOT.

I've posted around 20 threads in the past week. Nothing strange except that Ukrainian bot. It's for a commercial SEO firm, not a search engine. I'm not gonna let them harvest content for their own gain if they're not providing a free service to the public.

[Mister Obvious]

There's nothing like a fresh message board. I get shit talked for posting constantly on mine, but this is from people who do nothing but waste their creative energy on FB, Twitter, etc. Just shamelessly "spam" your own board. It's good clean fun.

[Mister Obvious]

One thing I haven't done on my board is sock puppeting. I'm not saying YOU should. But you could if you wanted to. That's some 2003 shit right there!

Makes me wanna brew a pot of coffee, throw on Barney Miller in the background and pretend to be five different people!?

[Guest]

I'm doing what you've always done. Posting and replying to myself.

Remember what I said about your friends spending 15 minutes on your new site then ghosting on you? It's true.

[Mister Obvious]

2002-2003 I used to post as a bunch of different people on a well known forum, before I knew what IP addresses were.

When I found out the owner could see it was me talking to myself, I was definitely embarrassed.

I stuck to one account after that.

[Guest]

I knew you were Fung.

[Guest]

I've thought about making sock accounts. But then I'd need to have several different browsers open. I'm too lazy for that. lol

[Mister Obvious]

Remember what I said about your friends spending 15 minutes on your new site then ghosting on you? It's true.

Oh hell yeah man, that aspect of things sucks hard.

I didn't let anybody know about my board, but somehow people found out about it.

I was very surprised and still not sure how they actually found it.

[Mister Obvious]

I knew you were Fung.

Most hardcore insult ever, I will never recover from this blow to my ego.

[Guest]

I'm not even promoting this site. Just low key mentioning it on other boards. They can look in my profile if they want to know the URL. Unless they're Fungus. It was right in front of him for months, and he kept asking where it was. lmao