Show HN: Using stylometry to find HN users with alternate accounts

Post by margalabargala » Sat, Nov 26, 2022, 10:14 PM UTC

tqi wrote: post #339

jsnell wrote: post #105

After a few tries on boring accounts, I thought to try the account of somebody who was notorious for an incident outside of HN, and had a (deservedly) bad time at HN for a couple of years before the account went dark. And yeah, there's a bunch of high confidence (.6-.8) hits for that account, and from a quick browse of the comments of the recently active ones, they look really likely to be alts. Like, all three that…

> quick browse of the comments of the recently active ones, they look really likely to be alts. Hmm isn't a spot check of comments somewhat tautological, since that is how the tool identifies alts (rather than something like IP address or time of day)? If this had been promoted as "find accounts with similar writing style to yours" would people immediately assume alts?

Post by ricardobayes » Sat, Nov 26, 2022, 10:17 PM UTC

thesz wrote: post #198

jsnell wrote: post #105

After a few tries on boring accounts, I thought to try the account of somebody who was notorious for an incident outside of HN, and had a (deservedly) bad time at HN for a couple of years before the account went dark. And yeah, there's a bunch of high confidence (.6-.8) hits for that account, and from a quick browse of the comments of the recently active ones, they look really likely to be alts. Like, all three that…

I keep no alternate accounts, but this tool reports best matches for me that appear to be Slavic or just Russian - and I am Russian. Best match score in my list is just above 0.5. There are some clearly alternate accounts on the list, their match scores with this tool are well above 0.7. It is probable that persons of same cultural origin will have similar writing style and vocabulary. It is also probable that person…

Post by wizzwizz4 » Sat, Nov 26, 2022, 10:17 PM UTC

sdwr wrote: post #277

birdyrooster wrote: post #172

Quoted post unavailable.

Quoted post unavailable.

Post by googlryas » Sat, Nov 26, 2022, 10:20 PM UTC

spaniard89277 wrote: post #364

I changed my nickname so my employer can't find me here. I'm not amused by this.

Post by TheOtherHobbes » Sat, Nov 26, 2022, 10:20 PM UTC

b112 wrote: post #334

vbezhenar wrote: post #219

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There're 19 other accounts this tool finds similar to me. Those are not my accounts. 0.46 - 0.56 are numbers.

You are fools, one and all! This tool's only purpose, is to tag people who use it! Now they know just who cares about which alternate accounts. They know ! They freaking know, man! You have all fallen for their ploy. Fools!