Maybe you could identify who you are (piefed admin) and have a link to piefed social’s info page to prove it in the message. Them think about how you phrased it and consider how it looks to someone who has no idea what piefed is or why you would even ask about them being a bot.
Also keep in mind some people turn off or completely ignore their DMs.
Although in this case the recipient was fully aware of who I am and what PieFed is. Most recipients of it will be, because they’re high volume posters who are heavily invested in the threadiverse.
It’s just fundamentally awkward to ask because it insinuates that the poster is acting weirdly. That’s why I only do it very sparingly.
I think the biggest problem is messaging people outside of the Piefed instance to ask them. If you were messaging users just on piefed.social to mark them correctly it’d be one thing, since they agreed to how Piefed works, but a DM from a random account on a random instance (Many of us know you by name, but it’s likely many more do not) does seem spammy.
I’d agree with others that just replying back is better, not having to click a link. Don’t have a solution for the above though.
I think in this day and age it’s not awkward at all to ask a member at any point if they’re a bot or not. I’d suggest an option to issue an automated a “challenge” for new accounts off the hop.
I’d also suggest removing any mention of weird behaviour or something untoward seen or suspected.
I’m thinking a message along these lines:
Hello,
This is an automated challenge message from the instance.
If this is an account run by a bot, do nothing and this account will be flagged as a reposter / bot.
If you are a person, please reply to this message.
This way at least the member can discuss whether they make their posts by hand or whatever, and the situation can be cleared up.
I don’t like it either. It’s super awkward to have to ask people if they’re bots or not.
If anyone else has a better idea for how to go about this, please let me know.
Maybe you could identify who you are (piefed admin) and have a link to piefed social’s info page to prove it in the message. Them think about how you phrased it and consider how it looks to someone who has no idea what piefed is or why you would even ask about them being a bot.
Also keep in mind some people turn off or completely ignore their DMs.
Yes, I think that might help a little, thanks!
Although in this case the recipient was fully aware of who I am and what PieFed is. Most recipients of it will be, because they’re high volume posters who are heavily invested in the threadiverse.
It’s just fundamentally awkward to ask because it insinuates that the poster is acting weirdly. That’s why I only do it very sparingly.
I can send you my feet pics, hairy toes included.
I think the biggest problem is messaging people outside of the Piefed instance to ask them. If you were messaging users just on piefed.social to mark them correctly it’d be one thing, since they agreed to how Piefed works, but a DM from a random account on a random instance (Many of us know you by name, but it’s likely many more do not) does seem spammy.
I’d agree with others that just replying back is better, not having to click a link. Don’t have a solution for the above though.
I think in this day and age it’s not awkward at all to ask a member at any point if they’re a bot or not. I’d suggest an option to issue an automated a “challenge” for new accounts off the hop.
I’d also suggest removing any mention of weird behaviour or something untoward seen or suspected.
I’m thinking a message along these lines:
This way at least the member can discuss whether they make their posts by hand or whatever, and the situation can be cleared up.