Fake posters

[JPbowhunter]

G'day guys,

Probably one for admins but figured I'd see if others agreed or not.

As some of you will have seen from my own threads I'm keen on hunting africa in a couple of years if i can find the hunt for me. Part of what i do in searching is read hunt reports and operator threads.

Initially i would read a thread and see a ton of recommendations for a particularly outfit and think it was looking pretty promising. Then i started listening to the more regular guys and doing my own snooping and started realising that many, and i do stress many, were clearly fake. Guys signing up, posting one comment singing the praises of this outfit or that one and never coming back.

I've seen on other forums ways to prevent scammers and trolls. Usually it takes the form of people having to write an introduction thread or having to posts x amount of times before being able to start threads.

I wonder if for this forum it would be worth setting it up that a new member can only comment on another persons report or safari planning post after they've made 5 posts or done an introduction thread or their own hunt report for example.

Just an idea to clean up the clearly fake users that clutter real and honest discussion on here.

What do folks think?

 

[Shootist43]

Examples please.

 

[rnovi]

nothing ever replaces a good old fashioned phone call.

Or, What's App.

Caveat Emptor. For me, I use references as my LAST effort to validate an outfitter. I operate under the simple belief: they are not real and decent until proven otherwise.

 

[Ryan]

Examples please.

There are a few 'one and done' in this thread.

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/south-africa-has-anyone-hunted-with-nb-safaris.43392/

SOUTH AFRICA: Has Anyone Hunted With NB Safaris?

 

[tarbe]

If I were to read a hunt report from someone I do not "know" and who has little history on the forum, I would immediately discount the report until it can be further corroborated.

But your thought is certainly worth considering. I know many forums do not let posters sell anything until they have a certain number of non-classified forum posts.

Seems reasonable.

 

[Royal27]

Fake and shill members are both easy to recognize:

1. Jumping into a thread, especially a thread questioning an outfitter, with one post only and on the day they joined saying how the outfitter walked on water
2. Similarly a one hit wonder who only posts in a single thread even if repeatedly
3. A really "good" shill might even post their own hunt report (rare) but still they are usually the "one hit wonder" in that they don't post anything other than the excellent exploits of their hero outfitter (they may even be an agent for the outfitter or have other personal connections)

Due to the ease of sniffing out the fake/shill member I don't see any reason to stop them from posting. Quite the opposite actually. To me it speaks volumes when an outfitter uses fake/shill members to sell their business and is a huge BUYER BEWARE sign.

Frankly, only a gullible and naive client will be influenced by the fakes. And that's on them. Spend any amount of time reading and researching and it wont be a concern.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Due to the ease of sniffing out the fake/shill member I don't see any reason to stop them from posting. Quite the opposite actually. To me it speaks volumes when an outfitter uses fake/shill members to sell their business and is a huge BUYER BEWARE sign.

Very much agree with that.

 

[Wheels]

You mean I can start my own thread???

I was under the impression that I had to make five serious posts, prior to attaining that privilege.

 

[Royal27]

You mean I can start my own thread???

I was under the impression that I had to make five serious posts, prior to attaining that privilege.

You do. Keep waiting. @PHOENIX PHIL and I will tell you when it's ok.