Someone mentally ill has been harrassing our staff and users for over a year now

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Costello

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As someone who has been running a relatively large video game site for the past two decades, I can say that it isn't unusual to have to deal with idiots who think they rule the world. We ban dozens of people every day: spambots mostly, but also people who post threats, who post atrocities, and whatnot.

But there's been one single guy that has been continuously harrassing us for over a year now. That guy is known on the internet as "Clancy" or "clancydaenlightened" on Twitter.

You may think I am exaggerating, because this sounds unbelievable, but truly there hasn't been a single day over the past year where this guy hasn't created dupe accounts, flooded our mailboxes, mass PMed our staff or members, posted threats on twitter, facebook and all that. He keeps creating dupe accounts here through Tor, proxies, VPNs, and our staff continues to block him every day. We have a team of 30+ staff members so it only takes us a second to wipe out his dupe accounts (whereas from our estimate it takes several minutes to create a dupe on our site) so we can literally do this all day.

We have had our lot of persistent assholes in the 20 years this site has existed, but none of them had been at it for more than a week or two. This guy has been at it EVERY DAY for over a year now.
Some of our moderators, having had enough with the guy, started investigating him personally to see what the deal was. Turns out this guy has got all his data out there in the open, he literally doxes himself everywhere and shows the drugs he's under, on social media. His real name, address, phone number, family members, are all easy to find or identify.

He seems to be a legitimately, severely mentally ill person, and I say this not just because of his year-long harrassment but also based on the things he posts on social media. He was recently banned from Twitter and subsequently posted this:

1653528875147.png


There is a hall of shame that exists in our collective memory at the GBAtemp mod team, and, through this thread, I wanted to share with you that we have a winner with this guy. None of us have ever had to deal with someone this deranged and bizarre.

He spends entire nights flooding our mailboxes with shit like this:

1653529642120.png


In light of what's happening in the USA lately with the mass shootings and killings, I am truly wondering if we should probably do something more practical about his behavior -- I'm talking about reporting him to the police, but certainly not doing ourselves justice. Inbetween the flood of insults there's also been threats of mass slaughter and crazy shit like that, that you wouldn't normally take seriously on the Internet. But the recent events make me wonder if not reporting him may put us, or someone else, at risk.

A member who was frequently harrassed by Clancy has told us that they reported him to the local police already, but it doesn't look like they did anything about it -- even though the police was given a name, an address, and a phone number. Now if you have any recommendations on how to handle this properly and avoid what could be another true, real life disaster, we're all ears.
 

rantex92

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Just thought: Do you guys can implement a Proxy/VPN/IP address check on every log-in?

Here's an idea, users using a Proxy, VPN or different IP address will not be able to log in.

In order to use the site as a member, the site will check if you're either using a Proxy, VPN or an IP address different from your last log-in.

The site registers the info with a first log-in... if the site can't match the Proxy/VPN/IP info with subsequent log-ins, you're automatically restrained from logging in.

Think about it like a reverse Two-Step verification.
that would be like shooting in your on foot on purpose there are plenty normal behaiving vpn users

plus there would be more problems with that some users will have different ips between their log ins not because of use of vpn its because of their isp like here in germany fo instance you will get a new ip every time your router was shut off for longer than 5 mins *as long as you dont have a static ip registered

and how about that scenario: you register an account while using a specific vpn server and then using always that one specific server to log in again this would make this "vpn block" useless
 
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Costello

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is there such a thing in the USA as some kind of security company who would send people to that guy's home and ask him very nicely and politely (no sarcasm here) to cut the crap or else we will take legal action against him? having a couple of security officers show up at his place would certainly have an effect on his behavior
 

godreborn

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I'd say try to tell his parents. He sounds like a kid if he has this kind of time as well as his lack of maturity. I know if he was my kid, I'd sell his computer, and take away his phone. That might be enough to do the trick.
 

The Catboy

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is there such a thing in the USA as some kind of security company who would send people to that guy's home and ask him very nicely and politely (no sarcasm here) to cut the crap or else we will take legal action against him? having a couple of security officers show up at his place would certainly have an effect on his behavior
The local police. You can also request a lawyer to send a C&D to him as well.
 
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Kwyjor

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I hope this isn't what drove Turdpoocharger and QuantumCat to stop posting. I can imagine things like this have put an end to a lot of great projects over the years.

Phone numbers are ridiculously easy to come by with the existence of apps like Text Now, which gives you an actual valid phone number to text and call from. The app itself is ad supported and gives you unlimited texting and incoming calls free. The only thing you have to pay for on the ad supported version is minutes for outgoing calls, last I knew.
It changed a while ago such that if it detects something texting you for verification, it will prompt you to get the paid version. (And some services seem to know what numbers are associated with TextNow and don't let you use its numbers.)
 

Foxi4

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is there such a thing in the USA as some kind of security company who would send people to that guy's home and ask him very nicely and politely (no sarcasm here) to cut the crap or else we will take legal action against him? having a couple of security officers show up at his place would certainly have an effect on his behavior
If you think the individual is a danger to himself and others, you can get in contact with the local police and request a wellness check, but he doesn’t have to let the police in without a warrant. You have reason to believe that based on correspondence with ourselves, as well as our users, and the stalking behaviour he displays. There may be additional remedy in regards to cyberstalking depending on the state of residence. If there are minors involved, you can contact CPS which tends to be more severe. In terms of threats of legal action, there’s nothing you can do legally besides sending a solicitor.
The local police. You can also request a lawyer to send a C&D to him as well.
A C&D is toilet paper if no law is being broken, it only matters if you intend to sue (as evidence of a good will attempt to resolve the dispute). If there were any threats of violence involved, the correct course of action is to inform the police, repeatedly if needs be. They will determine if the threat is actionable or not. The problem with people like this is that their threats are annoying, but not actionable - they’re just crazy. You can report harassment, but that’s notoriously difficult to litigate. Our local Temp lawyer will know more detail than me.
 

Nikokaro

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...some kind of security company who would send people to that guy's home and ask him very nicely and politely (no sarcasm here) to cut the crap or else we will take legal action against him?
Thank goodness there is someone mature and sensible who does not necessarily want to resort to drastic and coercive measures.
This person believes that he has been wronged and is a victim: my opinion is that he seeks attention, consent and sympathy from other users (and staff). Then I can't stand all those who point fingers, go on witch hunts and want to stone them. Someone said "he who is without sin casts the first stone"; does anyone know him?
An attitude of closure, condemnation, rejection, ostracism, contempt will only aggravate his resentment and despair: and we all saw what happened in Texas.
I don't know all the details of the matter, but I don't think it is as serious and desperate a case as some people want to paint it: what do you call it? "Trolling" if I'm not mistaken.
Maybe by making an exception, you could give him one last chance (by giving him a warning) by seeing if he changes his attitude, possibly without someone attacking or provoking him. After all, he has only argued, bothered or offended someone, things I have seen several times here without anyone taking action.
This is my humble opinion which, of course, counts for nothing and will go unnoticed or laughed at by some, but for me, being old-fashioned, the sense of human solidarity and empathy is the primary thing, especially toward the most fragile. I have allowed myself to sing out of the choir (as we say over here), a dim and feeble voice destined to fade into silence....
Greetings to all.
 

CoolMe

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is there such a thing in the USA as some kind of security company who would send people to that guy's home and ask him very nicely and politely (no sarcasm here) to cut the crap or else we will take legal action against him? having a couple of security officers show up at his place would certainly have an effect on his behavior
Isn't what he did constitutes as cyberbullying? Harassment, bullying and stalking people over the internet, i would think there's laws about that, even if it's about bullying in general.
But if one wants to see results, he might want to form a case, with proper evidence of said behavior of his, or they probably won't take anything one says seriously.
It's worth a shot to inform the police about it before going down that route (preferably), and one might inform them there's drugs at play (again show some evidence, pics etc.), so it might be an incentive for them to accept or act on the matter. That doesn't mean anything will come of it, but it's worth a try.
Chances if they go snooping around his place, or just going to his place so they can speak with him casually, he could act erratically or he might do something stupid -if he's attitude in real life is the same as when he's online- considering his pompous and self-delusional view of himself, he might trip up and do just that.
 

CoolMe

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Though i don't think i've seen him around here or in the Meme Box since before this thread was created. So did he see this and it made him realize something? Is he finally over it? or is he just busy tripping his ass off and he'll come back soon enough with even more shenanigans (wouldn't surprise me)..
 

IC_

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I remember this so-called "enlightened" person (self-defined as such). For a while he continued to post videos on his profile, or on that of others, and he only answered some of my questions by posting other videos. Yes, I remember some of his mention of drug use. Then it disappeared from circulation. At first it seemed harmless, but maybe I was wrong. Has anyone ever managed to communicate with him? Has he ever given answers that were consistent, relevant to the topic? Maybe here he was only looking for the attention of others and a form of friendship and help .... I hope that he will not be abandoned to his destiny, and that someone will help him, poor thing ....😑
He seemed like pretty much a normal forum user 2-3 years ago, he had a different username back then, he normally engaged in conversations and I had a few normal conversations with him as well.
Then, from what I can remember, it turned into all those profile posts about drug use, posting videos in random places (which I almost always saw as empty posts, because I have youtube embeds disabled), and at some point I just stopped seeing that and found out that he got banned, I didn't even understand what was going on at the time, thought it was just because of the video spamming and those things.
I can only guess that the strong drug use completely ruined his way of thinking, no idea what else could have happened to him that would cause one to go from seemingly being a normal forum member, to continuously engaging in behavior as bad as this for over a year.
 
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Why would he be reported to the police? It's just basic trolling and doxxing, nothing uncommon. Honestly, for the members affected, just block him, and if he makes an alt still block him. Also to the mods, why look into his other profiles like come on, we don't need to dig that deep. Just take it easy alright, especially considering he's ill.
 
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duwen

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Though i don't think i've seen him around here or in the Meme Box since before this thread was created. So did he see this and it made him realize something? Is he finally over it? or is he just busy tripping his ass off and he'll come back soon enough with even more shenanigans (wouldn't surprise me)..
He's been back - even replied in this thread using several different accounts (all of which were rapidly removed).
 

Nikokaro

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He seemed like pretty much a normal forum user 2-3 years ago, he had a different username back then, he normally engaged in conversations and I had a few normal conversations with him as well.
Then, from what I can remember, it turned into all those profile posts about drug use, posting videos in random places (which I almost always saw as empty posts, because I have youtube embeds disabled), and at some point I just stopped seeing that and found out that he got banned, I didn't even understand what was going on at the time, thought it was just because of the video spamming and those things.
I can only guess that the strong drug use completely ruined his way of thinking, no idea what else could have happened to him that would cause one to go from seemingly being a normal forum member, to continuously engaging in behavior as bad as this for over a year.
Okay. I see. Maybe you do not know that he also wrote in this thread, and he complimented me for defending him. He managed to send me a PM before he was banned again. He said he suffered injustice from the staff, posts deleted for no reason, then when he asked for an explanation they banned him the first time. Then other times. He seemed reasonable and absolutely harmless. I take that from how and what he wrote to me via PM and in this thread.
 
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Hanafuda

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Ain't gonna lie. I've never even noticed the guy. But "gbatemp Facebook Twitter Youtube google and discord?" We're in some pretty lofty company there lol.
 
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djpannda

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Okay. I see. Maybe you do not know that he also wrote in this thread, and he complimented me for defending him. He managed to send me a PM before he was banned again. He said he suffered injustice from the staff, posts deleted for no reason, then when he asked for an explanation they banned him the first time. Then other times. He seemed reasonable and absolutely harmless. I take that from how and what he wrote to me via PM and in this thread.
…yup “reasonable”
7F61F08E-EDA6-43C6-8FDB-52FC999A4D1A.jpeg
 

Elodain

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He seemed reasonable and absolutely harmless.
As do most psychopaths.

Look at Gacy, pillar of his community and over all seemingly upstanding man. Turns out he was a serial killer.

You cant really judge a person based on how they present themselves when they KNOW eyes are on them and they WANT to appear innocent.
 
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