Thank you for congratulating me.
Well, in the latest trust list I have 1246 users added to my distrust list because I distrust them, I hope that answers your question.
Just to expand a little, I added some more today and they should show up at the weekend update.
Around 15% of those users on my distrust list went on to get banned for one reason or another and most of them were sock-puppets accounts.
Of the remaining 85% I distrust, I would estimate at least 80% are sock-puppets (either for hire via services or created specifically for pumping a particular thread).
The remaining approximate 5% I distrust are those I would cite purely on the basis of their post content as being either scammers, untrustworthy, foul-mouthed, condescending, disingenuous, trolls or maybe have shown other attributes or characteristics that make them in my opinion worthy of being added to my distrust list.
I question whether the internet really expands Dunbar's number or not? Sure Dunbar's number is an estimate of the number of people with who we can maintain real relations for the real world, and some societal dynamics on the interwebs are just different, so we get to know a lot more people in different ways. Of course if there are signs that they are a bot or disingenuine, then that might be apparent with little to no evidence. Surely, there are some users with whom it becomes obvious, right away, that they are kind of a phony or a scammer.... Many others, it remains a lot less clear regarding whether they are genuine and/or not a bot, especially on the interwebs.
Of course, if you meet a real person in a social circle, you are going to be using different criteria to determine whether they are someone that you trust, and so far in the real world, we can usually rule out the bot aspect without even giving the matter more than 2 seconds of thought...
For example, meeting someone in person (let's call him Fred), and talk for about a minute or so, and after about 30 seconds, you have both ruled that Fred is not a bot (after about 2 seconds) and after about an additional 28 seconds, you have ruled that Fred seems a bit retarded.. at least a first impression... You may go up to a trusted friend (let's call him Rob) and say, hey Rob, do you believe that Fred is a bit retarded? After Rob engages you on the topic, you provide some additional information for your first impression conclusions, and thereafter Rob might give you information that either confirms or contradicts your first impression, and your then tentative conclusion might be based upon more than just your own 30 seconds of interacting with Fred.....
You raise an interesting point about interactions and conclusions.
For me, if someone fits the criteria in the forum that in my opinion shows they are scammers, untrustworthy, foul-mouthed, condescending, disingenuous, trolls or maybe have shown other attributes or characteristics that make them in my opinion worthy of being added to my distrust list - then that is enough.
In the concept of Robin Dunbar and his Number, how would I react using this forum as a comparator? Away from the internet, (in
real-life) I have no idea about all the permutations, probabilities or possibilities but the general rule I would implement is almost the same because I would be inclined to distance or limit myself from those that I deem to be untrustworthy or worse.
Even that 150 number that is widely used as a measure would have to be analysed to understand what it entails. Even if there were a social circle of 150 people many of them would be grouped in to varying levels of trust and being trustworthy.
JollyGood is a very valuable member of this forum and you really deserve to be rewarded for what you have achieved.
Achieving the rank of Hero Member in 2020 is your highest increase and you are also one of the DT 1 members.
That ranking is very appropriate for you, because you are fighting the scam project by clearly analyzing the scam project and dismantling everything.
You are trusted by many other members in this forum, many of whom give positive trust in your work to fight scam projects.
Even the Signature that you use is the signature of several fraudulent projects that you successfully revealed, this is truly extraordinary. With Hero Hero ranking you should get a reward by joining the signature campaign that pays you, but you choose to use your own signature. Good job
Thank you for the kind words taufik123, they are far more than I deserve. Our forum has many wonderful users contributing in their own way. There are far more active, effective and articulate users here than me, having said that I appreciate your support.