Why do I even bother…

For the most part of yesterday evening (yes, that’s a while ago). I’ve been trying to pinpoint some “suspicious” characters in the internet. I’m positive they’re reading this… so might as well give it out straight.

This site has it’s share of comments in my posts that usually try to “attack” me as a person. Or at least aren’t constructive at all. Which is perfectly fine. I mean what do I care if you don’t believe in the same things I do? To each his own.

I’m also willing to forego the useless posts in the Guestbook which do not contribute at all but instead try to troll on some issues.

Anyways, I already had an inkling since last year, but I never really concerned myself with it. Quite frankly, I’m still bewildered at why I’m actually acting on it (or have to act on it for that matter). Recently, some users at the other site I manage are reporting some rowdy “posts.”

When I say rowdy, I simply mean that their posts seem to be trolling – you can check here for its definition.

Anyways, since that site is supposed to be a decent site, and a site I’m supposed to be “managing,” I decided to have a look-see.

The Issue

Apparently most of the trolling seem to have come from the same bunch of people. So I decided to investigate – IP addresses are a wonderful thing. Limited of course, but useful nonetheless. What’s even more wonderful is the forum logs stored in the database.

I was surprised to see that even the trolling going on in my guestbook, had matching IPs in some of the posts of the other board.

In Fairness

I know IP addresses can change – and that it’s not impossible to see two [supposedly] different users (computers) having the same IPs. If you’re part of a LAN, wherein your machines share a common internet gateway… pretty similar to the topology here at home (also similar to most LANs like internet cafes, simple office networks, etc.) – despite you being given different internal IPs, the rest of the world sees you with the single IP your ISP had assigned to your gateway (in my case, the gateway would be the router).

You could also tunnel I guess, but why would you go through all that just to troll. You could also spoof your IP, but with the same argument… it’s just a waste of time, and people doing it are either wannabe’s trying to prove something to themselves (‘cuz they definitely aren’t proving anything to us).

There’s also the possibility that somehow the ISP just happens to assign you the same number it had assigned to the other machine – a few hours ago no less! Now this is short of a miracle already, but still possible… .0000000000001% is still not 0.

Getting Back to the Issue

IP alone can’t answer your problems because of these examples I’ve mentioned. Besides, the machines aren’t the problem… it was the person(s) posting that was the was the issue. For all I know they could’ve been different people, simply using the same PC, or in an office or internet cafe.

Anyways, that didn’t matter to me. Having some trolling or spam in my blog or my guestbook is something I have no problem of tolerating and handling.

However, it seems that they are disturbing the peace in what’s supposed to be a religious site. In which other people congregate to talk about productive things. I mean how LOW can one go? Resorting to such tactics in such an environment… is nothing sacred to them!?

I matched different posts, and took screenshots to compare names, dates, and IPs… but it was proving to be too tedious… so I just decided to query the database itself.

The Plot Thickens

I did a quick SQL query of the “suspects” and had the server list the message IDs, posting times, and IP addresses, etc. of the posters in questions. There was a disturbing revelation of some IPs assigned to different user accounts. It may have been any of the scearios above, but there was just something about them that was really fishy. The good thing though, is that it’s safe to assume that regardless of them being one or many – the connection was simply too close to be contested.

One thing led to another, then I found myself checking some logs in the site, blog entries of the supposed “culprits,” etc. It seems that some accounts are indeed managed by different individuals (although apparently from the same barkada)… but there are still some accounts that are left… er… unaccountable for.

I just want this issue to die down quietly, if there’s been a mistake in my part (and other members) in accusing, then by all means correct us by talking to me.

The Ultimatum

If you continue to do what you’re doing… I’m simply going to make a public announcement – regardless if we’re right or wrong. And since you never cared to explain yourselves – the boardmembers will be the ones to judge you. I’ll simply post the PDF copy of the logs with of my query (names, posting dates/times, and IPs in question). I’ll highlight those entires that are suspect… and leave everything to public opinion.

Either you cease and desist, or come clean at least with me, so we can settle this internally and you can still go about your ways of posting in the site without people having to judge you.

You notice I’ve lost nothing by doing this… oh let me correct myself. I did lose something… I wasted some sleeping time! I ask you: what the hell are you trying to prove anyway? All you’re proving now is how irritating you can become.

I swear… why do I even bother with you?

Addendum

In case it wasn’t clear. The issue right now isn’t the IPs being the same. The IPs simply say that you are connected. Wether you are one person, two, or fifty, it doesn’t matter – what matters is that you are connected.

That fact is extremely significant because the trolling in my site, as well as in the other site are being done by at least one of you… and you should set that “friend” of yours straight before things get messy. And if you’re all in this together… then may God have mercy on your souls.

Really now, couldn’t you just try to get along with people instead of trying to stir up trouble? It’s really pathetic.