ChatGPT / AI Content

[Ozzy]

Hi Folks,
The rules for UKBF have been amended to include that AI generated content is not allowed and not welcome on these forums, especially as there has been an influx of spammers from various countries creating post replies with this generic gibberish.
The mods and I are trying to pick them out as we come across them but if I may ask should anyone come across a post that looks suspicious please report it to bring it to our attention. We'll then promptly run the post through an AI checker and most likely delete it, warn the member or happily ban hammer them if we find they've just registered and done nothing more than post a load of AI/ChatGPT rubbish.

I want real advice and support on here for each other from real people with real experience to share, not what some AI bot has scrapped from the internet somewhere.

Many thank you's

 

[Mark T Jones]

Good call.

It could quickly get very dull!

 

[IanSuth]

Dear [Name], Oz

Thank you for taking action to prevent AI-generated content on UKBF. We I agree that forums are a place for genuine advice and support from real people with real experience. As an AI language model, we a human I understand the need to combat spam and maintain the integrity of online communities. If you ever have questions or concerns about our technology, we're I'm happy to engage in a dialogue to address them. We I look forward to seeing UKBF continue to thrive as a helpful and engaging forum for all.

Best regards, ChatGPT Ian

 

[Ozzy]

Oh @IanSuth, there's always one...always one ?

 

[Porky]

Bit concerning frankly
One i watched at google labs was having a full on convo and it was giving the impression that it thought it was superior whilst at the same time answering questions pretending it had empathy for certain situations, incredible

 

[Bob Morgan]

Bit concerning frankly
One i watched at google labs was having a full on convo and it was giving the impression that it thought it was superior whilst at the same time answering questions pretending it had empathy for certain situations, incredible

Sounds like a Daily Mail reader

 

[Clinton]

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I'd prefer ChatGPT content over some of the stuff newbies post (and I'm sure there are be some who'd prefer ChatGPT replying to their posts rather than me!)

 

[Nico Albrecht]

AI checker

Oh boy, looks like you guys are busting out another AI to try and sniff out the probability of some AI-written content. Seems kinda fishy to me! I mean, one post isn't gonna cut it - you need a whole bunch to really increase your chances of detection.

But hey, instead of going to war with the robots, why not just add a little option for users to indicate if their content was crafted with some AI assistance? No need to waste any human brainpower on false positives - the poster can just let everyone know upfront. Plus, think of all the sweet data you could collect over a year to build your very own AI-powered flagging tool.

Now, don't get me started on these newbie badges. I mean, what gives? Why should a fresh face get special treatment over a seasoned vet? This is a business forum, not a daycare center. Everyone should learn the hard knocks of the biz, regardless of how long they've been around. What's next, badges for native English speakers or for folks who identify as two-spirit penguins? Come on now, let's keep things on the level playing field.

But seriously, why not just let users own up to their AI usage instead of banning it altogether? Seems like a no-brainer to me.

 

[fisicx]

@Nico Albrecht - it’s not so much the use of AI, it’s the poor quality of the posts. They add no value and are mostly inaccurate. One recent AI generated post contained information about US law in response to a question about the UK legal system.

 

[Clinton]

Now, don't get me started on these newbie badges. I mean, what gives? Why should a fresh face get special treatment over a seasoned vet? This is a business forum, not a daycare center.

I wish I could give you TWO likes for this post.

I get the need for a forum to have new members, but if they post really dumb questions, or they didn't RTFM on business basics, then it's really an imposition on existing, long standing members to subject them to the newbie's questions.

And it's usually the case that you can't know it's an idiot with a stupid question till you've read the initial post (often after battling with their poor grammar, spelling mistakes and no punctuation not to mention their woe-is-me attitiude - especially from the women - despite everything probably being their own stupid fault)

 

[Mark T Jones]

I wish I could give you TWO likes for this post.

I get the need for a forum to have new members, but if they post really dumb questions, or they didn't RTFM on business basics, then it's really an imposition on existing, long standing members to subject them to the newbie's questions.

And it's usually the case that you can't know it's an idiot with a stupid question till you've read the initial post (often after battling with their poor grammar, spelling mistakes and no punctuation not to mention their woe-is-me attitiude - especially from the women - despite everything probably being their own stupid fault)

I wouldn't disagree with @Nico Albrecht's suggestion that it is flagged, but in reality I suspect the flagging term would be ignored.

The difference between AI and spammy or clueless newbie content is in the volume - bad posters generally get bored quickly and drift off - AI can pump it it by the minute & won't give up.

Us old lags are pretty good at discerning where we can interact and - hopefully - add value. In a sea of AI it will be lost.

 

[Clinton]

Nah, there won't be volume. ChatGPT is not going to open multiple accounts and post business questions simply because there is little advantage in doing so ...except perhaps in situations of state sponsored disinformation campaigns (like we had with Covid and washing hands and masks and vaccinations! ?)

In those cases, mulitple posts by apparently different newbies could perhaps slightly influence public opinion.

If AI is creating new accounts and posting away simply to gain the ability to link out, that could become a moderation headache, yes, but is there really a risk of that given links are nofollow (and AI is reasonably more intelligent about SEO than the average Indian SEO guru called Emily who posts here).

It is still PEOPLE copying and posting content from ChatGPT. And, let's face it, it's not impossible that ChatGPT comes up with a better answer to a particular question than members here do (or at least those bothering to reply to the thread). So it's still a people problem, not an AI problem. And the risk is higher with new members.

The far bigger problem is new members posting personal sh*t. They often go to great lengths to say how bad their partner was, how she changed after pregnancy or how she was flirting with my husband at the 2019 office party. The attempts to garner sympathy, get readers on-side emotionally, are nauseating. This stuff should be taken to Farcebook, not here. Actually, not even Farcebook should be bothered with this sh*t, they should be taking it to their therapist!

TLDR: New members are the big danger, not ChatGPT

 

[estwig]

I get the need for a forum to have new members, but if they post really dumb questions, or they didn't RTFM on business basics, then it's really an imposition on existing, long standing members to subject them to the newbie's questions.

And it's usually the case that you can't know it's an idiot with a stupid question till you've read the initial post (often after battling with their poor grammar, spelling mistakes and no punctuation not to mention their woe-is-me attitiude - especially from the women - despite everything probably being their own stupid fault)

Some of you guys constantly amaze me.....

I been kicking round these boards a long time, I been 30 years or more in business. I don't have any like the patience or inclination, to even read most of the dribble newbies post, never mind try and help.

I do take my hat off to some of you!

 

[Ozzy]

But hey, instead of going to war with the robots, why not just add a little option for users to indicate if their content was crafted with some AI assistance?

If AI is creating new accounts and posting away simply to gain the ability to link out, that could become a moderation headache, yes, but is there really a risk of that given links are nofollow (and AI is reasonably more intelligent about SEO than the average Indian SEO guru called Emily who posts here).

You guys are missing the issue, which is understandable as you don't see the issues behind the scenes. The AI generated content has no interest in providing helpful answers, it is purely for the purposes of creating links for this website to CBD oil sites and such others - it is just spammers getting smarter by using smarter tools. It is does not matter that the links are nofollow - they still want and still try to achieve getting links.
In the past 4 months this website had had 1.8million, yes one point eight million, links from reddit posts and other foreign websites directing people to this website to create posts and how to build a profile on their website to create link networks. Using AI generated content has been recommended as a means to combat their posts being deleted by the moderators on UKBF.

Now, don't get me started on these newbie badges. I mean, what gives? Why should a fresh face get special treatment over a seasoned vet? This is a business forum, not a daycare center.

I get the need for a forum to have new members, but if they post really dumb questions, or they didn't RTFM on business basics, then it's really an imposition on existing, long standing members to subject them to the newbie's questions.

Completely disagree with this, but then that is my privilege to do so. It is a daycare centre, somewhat, because people in their teens and their twenties are starting businesses because that is what they want to do, and good on them.
Running a business for the first time is a personal experience, what happens in your personal life can seem like it makes a difference, and only with years of experience behind you do you learn more times than not that it doesn't. I see posts on this site like these, and I'd suggest that it is often all to easy to forget that we were those young people without years of experience under our belts and not the seasons vets that we are now.
It costs nothing to be understanding, sympathetic, have some empathy, and be respectful.

There will also be the "dumb" questions because you don't know what you don't know, and it would be quite ignorant to assume someone who has had no education on running a business (because there is no education on running a business) to know everything someone like a "seasoned vet" who has been doing it for some 30 years will know. If were to suggest they should "google it" then that is not what I want them to do, I want people to feel comfortable to come here and asked their "dumb" questions ... or to read some of the editorial we've published on this site to get many of those answers (and we are working on the tagging system to help make that a lot easier).

 

[Mark T Jones]

There will also be the "dumb" questions because you don't know what you don't know, and it would be quite ignorant to assume someone who has had no education on running a business (because there is no education on running a business) to know everything someone like a "seasoned vet" who has been doing it for some 30 years will know. If were to suggest they should "google it" then that is not what I want them to do, I want people to feel comfortable to come here and asked their "dumb" questions ... or to read some of the editorial we've published on this site to get many of those answers (and we are working on the tagging system to help make that a lot easier).

I will agree on this in particular - clueless is, by definition where we all start out.

The revealing part is on the follow-on; whether said clueless poster chooses to:

Digest and learn.
Single post and never, ever return.
Have a hissy fit when they don't get the answer they want to hear.

 

[Ozzy]

The revealing part is on the follow-on; whether said clueless poster chooses to:

Digest and learn.
Single post and never, ever return.
Have a hissy fit when they don't get the answer they want to hear.

This, absolutely, and you cannot help everyone. If someone chooses the latter, ignore and move on. Don't argue with a fool because they'll drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.
The second item we are working on within UKBF with nurturing communications and follow-up actions, aiming to push them up to your first item.

 

[japancool]

I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that.

 

[Bob Morgan]

I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that.

Thank you Hal!

 

[Clinton]

It is a daycare centre,

??????
It's your forum. But...
??????

Running a business for the first time is a personal experience, what happens in your personal life can seem like it makes a difference, and only with years of experience behind you do you learn more times than not that it doesn't.

With the greatest of respect, that's utter tosh. You're making excuses for some of the nonsense we get from newbies!

Whether it does or doesn't "make a difference" is irrelevant, they should just spare us the sordid details from the emotional baggage they're carrying around.

Sure, some kids may not know some bits about business, but it doesn't take a genius to work out that deeply personal issues have no bearing on the business. You need to understand the real issue. Some of these people you talk about are used to posting on Twitter / Facebook for the emojis. The motivation behind their posts is a deep seated desire for "friends" to click like or to post a crying face emoji to show they sympathise with the situation or whatever.

They bring that mindset here posting the same content, and in the same tone, that they'd use to get those emojis in Facebook!

I ignore most of this stuff now but then I've started ignoring even what may be decent posts from newbies because, well, they're a newbie so it's probably junk! It would appear other experienced forum users are doing the same. Eventually, maybe, it'll become a case that everyone who is capable of posting a sensible answer doesn't even bother reading the OP because it was made by a newbie.

You'll then have to feed the OP through ChatGPT to get them an answer ? or leave it to the SEOs to copy/paste something from Google.

I want people to...to read some of the editorial we've published on this site to get many of those answers (and we are working on the tagging system to help make that a lot easier).

Yes, that would be a better way to go. Create the guides and manuals and then tell them to RTFM. (But please don't post RTFM, the sensitive darlings may get offended. We need to find another abbreviation.)

 

[IanSuth]

Yes, that would be a better way to go. Create the guides and manuals and then tell them to RTFM. (But please don't post RTFM, the sensitive darlings may get offended. We need to find another abbreviation.)

Maybe we could use this template

Before I answer I think you will find the UKBF tutorial webinars "starting a business for dummies" and "a business relationship is not like meeting a mate down the pub" for starters

 

[IanSuth]

Actually a list of common mistakes might not be a bad thing

Stuff like
"Don't sign a lease without legal advice"
"Don't enter a partnership without legal advice"
"Don't go into business with a mate if you want to remain friends"

and

A B2B contract differs from B2C in these ways...

 

[Ozzy]

With the greatest of respect, that's utter tosh. You're making excuses for some of the nonsense we get from newbies!

I disagree. I seem to recall the most important part of my post was;

It costs nothing to be understanding, sympathetic, have some empathy, and be respectful.

Which when considering the "emotional baggage" you refer to I have seen many posts on here from different seasoned veterans all saying the same thing where we can all agree personal issues are indeed not relevant. Some of have been delivered in a way I describe above and others not so.
Which is why I also disagree the green new member notice and the toxicity monitoring going on is overkill as implied by @Nico Albrecht . I am a firm believer particularly in the latter two that a little bit of empathy and respect goes a long way.

But at the end of the day, as you say...

It's your forum.

 

[Clinton]

I disagree. I seem to recall the most important part of my post was;

"It costs nothing to be understanding, sympathetic, have some empathy, and be respectful. "

ChatGPT is all of that. You two should become friends!