From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

Question:

In the context of a Science Fiction discusion group:
Is the Usenet poster "oldernow" an AI or just a troll?
---------

Answer (by ChatGPT 5.5):

In the context of a science fiction Usenet group, "oldernow" fits a
pattern that longtime Usenet users would usually classify as a troll,
crank persona, or performance poster rather than a fully autonomous AI.

Reasons people may suspect AI in SF groups include:

rCo extremely high posting volume,
rCo repetitive argumentative loops,
rCo oddly context-free replies,
rCo encyclopedic but shallow references,
rCo emotional flatness,
rCo and persistence far beyond normal human patience.

But those characteristics also overlap heavily with classic Usenet
behavior from:

rCo obsessive hobbyists,
rCo attention-seeking contrarians,
rCo role-playing identities,
rCo or posters deliberately cultivating an
artificial-seeming persona.

In SF groups especially, some users intentionally blur the line between
human and machine as part of the performance. That has been happening
since at least the 1980s on networks predating modern AI chatbots.

Indicators that usually point more toward "human troll/persona" than AI:

rCo long-running grudges with specific users,
rCo adaptive retaliation,
rCo references to ancient group drama,
rCo stylistic quirks persisting for years,
rCo selective engagement when challenged,
rCo and emotionally targeted baiting.

Indicators that might suggest AI assistance:

rCo sudden increases in output rate,
rCo unusually polished syntax compared with earlier posts,
rCo generic summarization style,
rCo hallucinated citations,
rCo or round-the-clock activity patterns.

Most likely explanation today is often hybrid:
a human troll using AI tools to generate or pad replies.

Without header analysis, posting-time statistics, or direct evidence,
nobody can determine it confidently from prose alone. In Usenet culture,
being accused of "being a bot" is also itself part of the game.
--
Darth Wader -- formerly 'Wader of Doom'
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From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

On 2026-05-13, Darth Wader <snipeco.2@gmail.com> wrote:

Question:

In the context of a Science Fiction discusion

It is (haha) spelled 'discussion'. ;-)

group: Is the Usenet poster "oldernow" an AI
or just a troll?

Wow. The poster *still* doesn't grasp that what
might be called genuine "is"-ness has nothing
to do with descriptions of <ineffable> (aka
"is"-ness).

Dear reader, please take a good look at the
statement again:

Is the Usenet poster "oldernow" an AI or just
a troll?

Don't you see how nothing is (haha) happening
following the word 'is' but word/symbol
association? Absolutely *nothing* about
the essence of so-called 'oldernow' is
(haha) being address. The question
might be more rigorously stated as
follows:

"Is the phrase 'an AI' or the phrase 'just a
troll' a better symbol re-representation of
the phrase 'the Usenet poster "oldernow"'."

Do you still believe that associating
arrangements of words by the word
'is' is <infinite stream of haha>
bringing you any closer to the
essence re-presented by any of
the word arrangements?

If so, good luck in your suffering "reality"!

In the meantime, do try to get your obsession
with "oldernow" under control. You're missing
out on what the newsgroup is allegedly for -
not unlike how TDS sufferers miss out on a
lot of life in a tight for loop of hating
on one person....
--
v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v
| alt.troll.adam-h-kerman: proof that the |
| internet sometimes gets something right | ^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

On 2026-05-13, oldernow <oldernow@dev.null> wrote:

On 2026-05-13, Darth Wader <snipeco.2@gmail.com> wrote:

Question:

In the context of a Science Fiction discusion

It is (haha) spelled 'discussion'. ;-)

group: Is the Usenet poster "oldernow" an AI
or just a troll?

Wow. The poster *still* doesn't grasp that what
might be called genuine "is"-ness has nothing
to do with descriptions of <ineffable> (aka
"is"-ness).

Dear reader, please take a good look at the
statement again:

Is the Usenet poster "oldernow" an AI or just
a troll?

Don't you see how nothing is (haha) happening
following the word 'is' but word/symbol
association? Absolutely *nothing* about
the essence of so-called 'oldernow' is
(haha) being address. The question
might be more rigorously stated as
follows:

"Is the phrase 'an AI' or the phrase 'just a
troll' a better symbol re-representation of
the phrase 'the Usenet poster "oldernow"'."

Do you still believe that associating
arrangements of words by the word
'is' is <infinite stream of haha>
bringing you any closer to the
essence re-presented by any of
the word arrangements?

If so, good luck in your suffering "reality"!

In the meantime, do try to get your obsession
with "oldernow" under control. You're missing
out on what the newsgroup is allegedly for -
not unlike how TDS sufferers miss out on a
lot of life in a tight for loop of hating
on one person....

After additional reflection, "oldernow" is
once again astounded that USENET has
become so difficult for some people.

"oldernow" simply reads, replies to what he
wishes *as* he wishes, and occasionally
begins a new thread.

If/when "oldernow" encounters text content
counter to his beliefs, or that isn't written as
well as "oldernow" thinks he could have written
it, or that doesn't align with "oldernow"'s view
of best possible post style (there are more
points of potential disparity, but hopefully
the reader gets the gist by now), "oldernow"
either ignores the post and moves on, or replies
to it in ways pleasing to "oldernow".

"oldernow" doesn't feel the need to label such
a writer a "troll" any more than he feels the
need to label someone disagreeing with him
politically a "fascist" - or any of a large
number of political labels that modern day
liberals quickly spew upon encountering views
not in accord with their own. He might point
out someone being seemingly afflicted with
a mental/emotional disorder like Trump
Derangement Syndrome.. but, of course
that's just calling a spade a spade.

Furthermore, "oldernow" feels no need to organize
what might be called a "killfile crusade",
where other participants are seemingly awarded
participation prizes (that tend to consist of
tacitly being more accepted by other crusaders,
a demented sort of "badge of honor") for publicly
declaring something akin to "DUH, ME TOO! ME
PUT DAT GOSH-DANGED TROLL WHERE HE/SHE BELONGS,
GOSH DANG IT! BAD TROLL! BAD!!!!"

So, anyway... I mean... what's the difficulty,
here? As "oldernow" has explained several times,
"oldernow" even keeps his handle the same to
facilitate people avoiding what they know in
advance they can't handle. In fact, "oldernow"
doesn't futz with any post headers, attempt to
trick a potential replier into inadvertently
having their followup going to some "null"
newsgroup, etc. No games. Just "post and let
post".

But apparently there are troubled minds/souls
out there who just can't share, can't abide
participation methodologies too different
from their own. They seem to be a breed
of "USENET fundamentalists" of sorts.
Their way or the not-USENET way....
--
v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v
| alt.troll.adam-h-kerman: proof that the |
| internet sometimes gets something right | ^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

oldernow <oldernow@dev.null> wrote:

On 2026-05-13, oldernow <oldernow@dev.null> wrote:

TL;DR
--
Darth Wader -- formerly 'Wader of Doom'
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

On 2026-05-13, Darth Wader <snipeco.2@gmail.com> wrote:

oldernow <oldernow@dev.null> wrote:

On 2026-05-13, oldernow <oldernow@dev.null> wrote:

TL;DR

Whatever.

Reminds me of the fool who somehow wound up with
his name in the troll-themed newsgroup below. Did
read. Until he did again. And again. And again.

Thanks for the typing practice!
--
v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v
| alt.troll.adam-h-kerman: proof that the |
| internet sometimes gets something right | ^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

*plonk*
--
Steve Coltrin spcoltri@omcl.org
"A group known as the League of Human Dignity helped arrange for Deuel
to be driven to a local livestock scale, where he could be weighed."
- Associated Press
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

On 2026-05-14, Steve Coltrin <spcoltri@omcl.org> wrote:

*plonk*

Are others supposed to be impressed that you're
going to ignore something? Or is there some
other ridiculous ego need to announce one's
intentions to ignore something?

How about just... quietly ignore what you
don't like?

Oh, no! No potential for adoration of others
in *that*!

Hilariously pathetic....
--
v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v
| alt.troll.adam-h-kerman: proof that the |
| internet sometimes gets something right | ^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

On 5/14/2026 10:07 AM, oldernow wrote:

On 2026-05-14, Steve Coltrin <spcoltri@omcl.org> wrote:

*plonk*

Are others supposed to be impressed that you're
going to ignore something? Or is there some
other ridiculous ego need to announce one's
intentions to ignore something?

How about just... quietly ignore what you
don't like?

Oh, no! No potential for adoration of others
in *that*!

Hilariously pathetic....

+1

Lynn

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