Reddit, AI spam bots explore new ways to show ads in your feed
arstechnica.com
Reddit says its "communities are naturally commercial."

Reddit, AI spam bots explore new ways to show ads in your feed

#For sale: Ads that look like legit Reddit user posts

“We highly recommend only mentioning the brand name of your product since mentioning links in posts makes the post more likely to be reported as spam and hidden. We find that humans don’t usually type out full URLs in natural conversation and plus, most Internet users are happy to do a quick Google Search,” ReplyGuy’s website reads.

  • LvxferreEnglish
    23•23 days ago

    how thoughts are laid out

    Perhaps you’re noticing the lack of deixis?

    Without going too technical, deixis is to refer to something in relation to the current situation. For example, when you say “Kinda cool though, I feel like I’m becoming able to spot these.”, that “these” is discourse deixis - you’re referring to something else (bots) within your discourse based on its relative position to when you wrote that “these”.

    We humans do this all the bloody time. LLMs though almost never do it - and Ophelia_SK doesn’t, that’s why for example it repeats “debt” and “job” like a broken record.

    EDIT: there’s also the extremely linear argumentation structure. Human text is way messier.

      • LvxferreEnglish
        1•23 days ago

        Let’s try something. I’ve reworked Ophelia’s text to include some deixis, and omit a few contextually inferrable bits of info:

        reworked text

        It’s understandable that you’re feeling anxious and overwhelmed with this, just know that you aren’t alone facing it. Many people have experienced similar struggles and found ways to overcome them.

        Firstly, it’s important to address your debt situation. I recommend relief options that may help against some of the financial burden. One to consider is visiting the website [insert link], they offer an American debt relief program. It’s worth looking into, to see if you qualify.

        In terms of finding a job, it’s great that you’re considering part-time options that won’t negatively impact your mental health, as it’s important to prioritize your well-being. You may want to explore opportunities that align with your interests and skills, and consider reaching out to local resources like job centres or career counselling services for guidance and support.

        Remember, it’s okay to take things at your own pace and focus on your mental health. Seeking support form loved ones, therapists, or support groups can be also beneficial during this challenging time.

        If my hunch is correct, this should still sound a bit ChatGPT-y for you (as I didn’t mess with the “polite but distant, nominally supportive” tone, nor with the linear text structure), but less than the original.