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I just came across this answer (10k only) on Ask Ubuntu (image link). A new, one-rep user just posted thirteen "abusive" answers over fifteen minutes.

Another case: a user managed to post a dozen answers suggesting to install malware and by the looks of the comments from question authors, they were successful.

Is there ever a legitimate reason for a user, especially a new one, to post so many answers like that, especially on one question? Shouldn't they be on a more restrictive rate-limit?

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  • I don't have the rep to see those 'answers' only your screen-shot but there is a user with a similar name that has a rep of 5 now from a couple of suggested edits. I wonder if that had something to do with it?
    – PeterJ
    Commented Jan 27, 2014 at 3:58
  • @PeterJ: He has no other activity.
    – Ullallulloo
    Commented Jan 27, 2014 at 3:59
  • And he's still going. None in the past few minutes, though.
    – hichris123
    Commented Jan 27, 2014 at 4:00
  • 9
    Take into account that all those users has different ID. But I agree, some rate limit should be in place for IP.
    – Braiam
    Commented Jan 27, 2014 at 4:03
  • 1
    @Braiam: ohh, didn't catch that. That still could work though, yeah.
    – Ullallulloo
    Commented Jan 27, 2014 at 4:06
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    @Braiam recently we had similar issue on Drupal Answers, and not only UIDs changed - each "answer" was from different IP.
    – Mołot
    Commented Jan 27, 2014 at 7:22
  • 1
    @Mołot We had another one yesterday as well, would you believe. This one made a point of saying he was using the Tor network to get around restrictions. It's a difficult battle to fight
    – Clive
    Commented Jan 27, 2014 at 10:11
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    @Clive TOR is detectable. Limiting posts per minute for TOR users would be a (partial) solution. Sorry I wasn't there to help with flagging yesterday, I spent all day grinding and sanding wood.
    – Mołot
    Commented Jan 27, 2014 at 10:13
  • 1
    Way not not refuce to let anyone on the TOR network post, unles the site mods decide that there is a good reason for users of the side to hide their ID from their goverment.
    – Ian Ringrose
    Commented Jan 27, 2014 at 10:40
  • This my question is - to some extent - related: How are spammers rate limited? (But the question is about posting from the same user account.)
    – Martin
    Commented Aug 26, 2022 at 8:28
  • Do not do IP bans because some users from China (like me) need open proxies to access SO with a decent bandwidth.
    – Lily White
    Commented Aug 28, 2022 at 11:15
  • I've reported that user and their repo to GitHub.
    – Lily White
    Commented Aug 28, 2022 at 11:15

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