Should we block AI bots from crawling Urban75?

[editor]

I asked Gemini about the most popular London forums, and it remembered that I'd already asked it a related question and gave quite a useful response:

It's tricky to definitively say which are THE most popular as it depends on what you're looking for! But here's a breakdown of some top contenders, with their strengths:

General London Forums:

• urban75: As we've discussed, it's long-standing, with a diverse, alternative slant. Strong on local stuff, politics, and subcultures. Can be opinionated!
  
  
• Reddit's r/london: Huge, with varied discussions. Good for quick info, finding events, or asking "newbie" questions. Can be less in-depth than dedicated forums.
• Talk London: Officially run by the Mayor's office.
  
  More focused on civic issues, consultations, and having your say on policy. Less about casual chat.

Given that AI is producing genuinely useful answers about the site, I'm not so inclined to ban the fucking fuckers.

 

[editor]

I looked up myself and it produced some quite terrifying detail (apart from the politics comment):

While "editor" on urban75 (*My real name was here FFS!) posts on varied topics, there are some common threads:

1. Local Focus:

• Often about Brixton: He lives there, so posts on local news, events, issues, etc. This can be anything from a new cafe opening to council decisions.
• South London slant: While urban75 is UK-wide, his posts often have a South London perspective, reflecting his own experience.

1. Site-Related:

• Announcements: New features, forum changes, technical updates, etc. He keeps users in the loop about urban75 itself.
• "Meta" discussions: Occasionally posts about the forum's culture, moderation, or online community stuff in general.
• Promoting good content: May highlight interesting threads, photos, or user contributions he thinks deserve attention.

1. Personal Interests:

• Photography: He's a keen photographer, so shares his own work, tips, or photography-related news.
• Music: Posts about gigs, bands, or music scenes, particularly alternative/indie stuff.
• Politics: Though less central now, he'll sometimes comment on political news, with a left-leaning viewpoint.

1. Tone:

• Informal and direct: Not overly formal, can be quite frank in his opinions.
• Humorous: Often throws in jokes, sarcasm, or witty observations.
• Engaging: Encourages discussion, responds to comments, keeps things lively.

Example Post (hypothetical):

Subject: New cafe on Ferndale Road - anyone been yet?

That new place opposite the Ritzy opened today, "Coffee and Chaos" or something. Looks alright from the outside, anyone braved it yet? Menu looked a bit pricey, but I'm a sucker for a decent flat white...

This shows the local focus, informal tone, and open-ended question to spark replies. It's NOT a burning political debate, nor a deep technical analysis, which are less his style these days.

It's worth noting that as the site founder, his role is a bit different from a typical "poster". He's got a stake in the community's success, so his posts often reflect that.

 

[editor]

No, we can’t be having bots posting on here that wouldn’t be right at all.


Somebody left me out and it’s started to rain

Oh no, my circuit board

You're Jay Park, aren't you?

 

[Levi Phát]

You're Jay Park, aren't you?

Yes

 

[Saul Goodman]

How about allowing access to one section, an AI section, where nothing but AI guff and outright lies are allowed. We could call it AI training. Or just point it to a section where this already happens.

 

[editor]

Yes

Then off you go.

 

[freshapple]

So I just asked ChatGPT if it could produce an example of a typical Urban 75 thread. It came up with this.


Thread Title: "Brixton Rents Are Out of Control—What’s Next?"

OP (Original Poster):





User 1:





User 2:





User 3:





User 4:





User 5:





User 6:





User 7:





Moderator:

This is fun.

 

[A380]

Good God can you imagine an AI trained on Uban75.

It would just sit there singing 'daisy daisy' very slowly

 

[editor]

MOD MODE

Oh and before someone pipes up, it is obviously OK to quote the output of AI in this particular forum.

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

I think this one might be even closer - it’s even taking the piss out of usernames:

Spoiler

Thread Title: Thinking About Going Vegan - AnyAdvice?

Posted by: HackneyHerbal

Been toying with the idea of going vegan for a while now, but not sure where to start. I already eat mostly veggie, but cheese is my weakness. Anyone got any decent tips on easy swaps, or am I doomed to a life of bland tofu and nutritional yeast?

Replies:

BrixtonBiker:

Just eat real food and don’t overthink it. Loads of cultures have naturally vegan dishes -Indian, Ethiopian, Mediterranean. You don’t have to eat processed plant-based burgers every night.

UrbanFox:

Been vegan for 10 years. Honestly, best thing I ever did. Your taste buds change after a while, so stuff like oat milk and vegan cheese become normal. Give yourself a bit of time to adjust.

MeatIsMurderButTasty:

I get the ethics, but some of the processed vegan stuff is just grim. Ever had a Greggs vegan sausage roll cold? Like biting into wet cardboard.

HackneyHerbal (OP):

Yeah, not really keen on the ultra-processed stuff, just looking for simple alternatives. What’s a good cheese substitute?

Spanglechops:

If you’re expecting an exact replica of dairy cheese, you’ll be disappointed. But some are decent eg. Violife for melting, Kinda Co. for spreading, or just make your own cashew cheese.

LordOfTheFries:

Its all well and good until you go to the pub and realise the only vegan option is chips.

SquatterX:

Depends where you go! Loads of places in London now do decent vegan pub grub. The George in Soho, Black Cat Café© in Hackney, it’s not 2005 anymore.

FedUpWithFads:

Another trend people will get bored of in a few years.

WombleOn:

Pretty sure people have been vegan for centuries mate

BarneyRubble:

Why is it always vegans trying to convert people? Live and let live. If I want to eat a steak, I should be able to do that without some tofu evangelist giving me grief.

UrbanFox:

You literally clicked on a thread asking for vegan advice just to complain about vegans.

DubVersion:

Here we go. Every time. A thread about veganism turns into BUT BACON THO.

CheeseOrDeath:

No one’s forcing you to be vegan. OP literally asked for tips, not for a carnist’s existential crisis.

RoughTradeCyclist:

Can we talk about how much of a nightmare it is finding decent vegan food when cycle touring? Every service station is just egg mayo sandwiches and dodgy veggie pasties.

LondonCriticalMass:

Mate, tell me about it. Did a ride from London to Brighton last month, and the only proper vegan option was at some overpriced hipster pop-up in Lewes.

FixieWarrior:

Just bring a bag of nuts and a banana. Why are you lot so bad at prep?

BarneyRubble:

Classic. Even on a vegan thread, cyclists find a way to make it about cycling.

DubVersion:

Inevitable crossover, really. Veganism. Cycling. Squats. It’s all part of the same ecosystem.

MeatIsMurderButTasty:

Don’t forget craft beer and complaining about landlords.

FedUpWithFads:

And refusing to wear a helmet because it’s actually more dangerous.

BrixtonBiker:

Helmets are a scam though.

WombleOn:

Can we get back to the topic or is this just another Urban75 thread eating itself?

NotAllGoats:

Bit disappointed that nobody has mentioned how this affects goat farmers. Everyone bangs on about cows, but what about the small-scale ethical goat farms? My uncle runs one, and his goats are part of the family. Do vegans ever think about the livelihoods they’re destroying?

UrbanFox:

Mate, the thread’sabout switching to veganism, not a conspiracy to take down your uncle’s sodding goat farm.

NotAllGoats:

Wow. Dismissing entire communities like that. Classic urban middle-class attitude. You don’t care about real farmers, just your oat milk lattes.

DubVersion:

I don’t think oat milk lattes are putting your uncle out of business, pal.

NotAllGoats:

This is exactly why I left London. No respect for rural communities. Enjoy your overpriced sourdough and moral superiority.

SquatterX:

This is an incredible overreaction and I’m here for it.

BarneyRubble:

Another example of why veganism is so toxic. It destroys livelihoods. People like OP think they’re making an ethical choice, but it’s just virtue signalling.

HackneyHerbal (OP):

I just wanted some cheese recommendations.

SomeoneCalledKev:

What’s everyone’s opinion on those new electric cargo bikes?

FixieWarrior:

Hate them. If you need a motor, just get a moped.

LondonCriticalMass:

Absolute nonsense. E-cargo bikes make cycling more accessible. Not everyone wants to turn up to work drenched in sweat.

FedUpWithFads:

You lot are just scared of walking.

RoughTradeCyclist:

Walking is a scam. Get a Brompton.

MeatIsMurderButTasty:

Are we still talking about veganism or has this thread gone full Urban75?

DubVersion:

It went full Urban75 about 20 posts ago.

HackneyHerbal (OP):

I regret everything.

Good to see dub still posting trapped in an ai simulation

 

[Elpenor]

Yes

This one always make a fatal mistake, undone by Editor doing a “Columbo” this time

 

[Skinny Ethel]

Be fucked if am asking AI about my posts on here.

 

[A380]

But if we exclude them now, won't they remember after 'Singularity Day' and then come and hunt us all down with kill drones out of revenge?

 

[8ball]

Good to see dub still posting trapped in an ai simulation

He’s certainly mellowed. Not sure if it’s age or his conversion to silicon format.

 

[8ball]

Be fucked if am asking AI about my posts on here.

ChatGPT says it has no idea who you are.

 

[Skinny Ethel]

Good.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

MOD MODE

No bots - AI or search engines - can access the community forums.

I did spot one apparently reading a thread in there a few weeks or months back when I was looking at what the bots were up to. At least, it displayed that it was reading a thread in the health forum - don't know if it actually could access it or not.

I thought I'd taken a screenshot at the time but can't find it now.

 

[Skinny Ethel]

Proves my point that its really Pickman all along.

 

[maomao]

I was gonna give a firm YES, block the fuckers...and then asked them what they thought of me...tbh, I think they're pretty OK now...yeah leave the little bots alone...they seem like all round good eggs, tbh

Jesus, I asked about me and that is fucking creepy. Not happy about 'long-winded' but it's something to reflect on I suppose. Seriously, get the fuckers out of here.

 

[xenon]

OH god, this is the new game. I just asked Chat GPT to give an idea of typical xenon posts.

Apparently I have strong opinions. E.g.

Against CV plagerism in a 2013 thread. Insisting that originality and honesty were paramount. I mean, I guess, yeah, sure if I had to think about it. It doesn't ring a bell.


In a 2014 thread about the ocupation of Sussex university, I revealed I had been involved, was a former student and was jailed for part in the protest. (You know, the 2014 Sussex Uni protest that proper kicked off... Yeah?) O... K... Sure.

 

[maomao]

Then off you go.

I know he's banned but I've put him on ignore anyway. I think that's eight now.

 

[brogdale]

Good.

I'm afraid 8ball is pulling your leg; the bloody thing knows about your posting style on here already

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I couldn't locate specific information about a user named "littlebabyjesus" on the Urban75 forums. It's possible that the user has a low profile, uses a different username, or their activity isn't publicly accessible. If you can provide more details or context about this user, I'd be happy to assist further.

 

[8ball]

I know he's band but I've put him on ignore anyway. I think that's eight now.

How big is this band?

 

[cupid_stunt]

I'm afraid 8ball is pulling your leg; the bloody thing knows about your posting style on here already

I spotted that, but was too polite to mention it.

 

[8ball]

I think a certain critical mass of posts must be necessary. It knows about Pickman’s Model (and disagrees with his stance on AI)

It also knows Spymaster (and, while it describes his posts as “mixing humour and insight”, it disagrees with his thesis about how time and dates work).

Teuchter’s posts “often display a practical and inquisitive approach.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

See normally it hates not knowing something so will just tell you any old crap. EG:

On the Urban75 forums, the user known as 'cunty si' is Simon Chapman, who posts under the username 'siarc'. He is a long-standing member of the community, recognized for his candid and often provocative contributions. His posts frequently spark lively discussions, reflecting his distinctive and forthright style.

 

[xenon]

siarc

 

[8ball]

See normally it hates not knowing something so will just tell you any old crap. EG:

Did you try putting it right? Pushing back on bad information often makes it more accurate in further responses, I find

 

[littlebabyjesus]

siarc

Flounce thread and everything.

New feature : you sure you want to resurrect this old thread? The anti-pogofish warning.