New feature: AutoMod will create sticky comments on link posts that link to Archive.is archives of the link

https://www.reddit.com/r/conspiracy/comments/7dvxxb/new_feature_automod_will_create_sticky_comments/

created by CelineHagbard on 18/11/2017 at 21:36 UTC*

456 upvotes, 47 top-level comments (showing 25)

[**Edit**: The RES preview expando does not work, but if you follow the link, it does work as described below.]

The mod team has decided to use AutoMod to provide a new feature: all link posts will now have a sticky comment which contains a link to an archive.is archived copy of the linked page. We're providing this as a service because some of our users don't want to support certain domains with ad revenue or don't want to be tracked by these sites [*see edit*]. It will also help us make archives of content relevant to this sub so that it doesn't disappear down the Memory Hole.

A brief note on how this works. AutoMod is not actually creating the archived copy, it's just linking to where the archive would be if it exists. So, sometimes you might follow the link and get a landing page that says the archive does not exist yet. In that case, you can click "archive this url" link, then the "save this page" button on the next page, and it will create the archive. Subsequently, the AutoMod link will go directly to the archived page. So please help out your fellow r/conspiracy users and save the page if you happen to be the first person to use the link.

There are some sites such as YouTube which archive.is doesn't archive properly. It will save the page, but the video (the actually relevant content) will not be viewable. Please send us a modmail if there are any domains which don't archive well, and we'll exclude them. We hope that after a short time, AutoMod will only provide comments for sites that can actually be archived.

We want to state emphatically that this is not censoring any content; it is merely presenting an alternative way for our users to view content linked from this sub. Please send us any questions, concerns, or suggestions you may have.

The r/conspiracy mod team

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* **Potentially Important Update** **:

As brought to my attention by /u/hoeskioeh, apparently archive.is does forward your IP address[1] to the destination site ***if you archive the page, but not if you view an existing archive.*** While this is no more dangerous in terms of privacy than just visiting the site, it's worth knowing, even if you only use archive.is outside of this sub. But again, if you're merely viewing an archive that someone created, you IP will not be forwarded to the linked page. Clicking on the link in the AutoMod comment is still "safe," at least as far as you can trust Archive.is, your ISP, your government agencies, etc.

1: http://blog.archive.is/post/111779719291/do-you-preserve-archivers-privacy-eg-not

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Edit: If don't like seeing these and you use RES, you can easily hide it by going to RES Settings>Appearance>Stylesheet Loader and adding this snippet:

div[data-author="AutoModerator"].comment.stickied {display: none}

and restricting it to r/conspiracy. Remove `.stickied` and never see AutoMod anywhere on the sub. Or apply it everywhere and never see automod again. (Except in inboxes. You can hide that, too, but it still turns your message icon orange.)

Comments

Comment by AIsuicide at 18/11/2017 at 21:41 UTC

104 upvotes, 1 direct replies

I gotta say..this is a damn good idea.

Comment by hoeskioeh at 19/11/2017 at 07:29 UTC

15 upvotes, 1 direct replies

PSA:

Archive.is functions as transparent proxy.

That means, that the site you enter for archiving will be displayed as it would appear from **your** IP/location!

If you do that to any site with localization content, we all might see some of your meta data.

This is a good feature, but you need to be aware of it if you are paranoid.

PS: any rich guys in here who could throw some money their way? They don't accept PayPal or any one time donations...

Comment by agent570358201 at 18/11/2017 at 22:54 UTC

18 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Great feature mods, thanks.

IMO the red Archived tag is a bit distracting.

Comment by oxfouzer at 19/11/2017 at 03:14 UTC

10 upvotes, 2 direct replies

This feature is annoying and takes up space in comment threads. I don't like it, can it be made much less verbose? I hate it more than the constant pointless np replies 😑

Comment by ExtHD at 18/11/2017 at 22:04 UTC

3 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Why not https://archive.org/[1] instead?

1: https://archive.org/

Or both?

Comment by hobogoblin at 19/11/2017 at 03:39 UTC

4 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I like this idea a lot, not only does it help with pages that just up and finish or change, but I love the idea of not directly supporting these MSM sites anymore with additional traffic.

Comment by bukvich at 19/11/2017 at 03:48 UTC

4 upvotes, 0 direct replies

This also could be useful if the link is to the front page of a site and that story scrolls off their front page; then a few hours later somebody comes to r/conspiracy and they click to that site front page and it's a different story, different headline, and they are just left scratching their head and wondering what was that?

I have seen this a couple times.

Comment by BrowncoatsUnite at 18/11/2017 at 23:12 UTC

7 upvotes, 1 direct replies

It appears that the "Archived" flair is added whether or not it actually has been archived. I think the flair needs to be removed... or changed to "Archive it!"

Comment by [deleted] at 19/11/2017 at 13:47 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

aplause!

Comment by [deleted] at 22/11/2017 at 20:04 UTC

3 upvotes, 1 direct replies

[deleted]

Comment by PathofWraeclast at 17/01/2018 at 02:17 UTC

3 upvotes, 1 direct replies

This spam ass shit has never worked, why is it still in every post here?

Comment by d3rr at 18/11/2017 at 23:24 UTC

4 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Sounds like a winner.

Comment by ExtHD at 24/11/2017 at 06:16 UTC

4 upvotes, 0 direct replies

archive.is does forward your IP address to the destination site if you archive the page

This *absolutely* NEEDS to be included in the stickied automod comment for each post.

Comment by [deleted] at 18/11/2017 at 21:51 UTC

2 upvotes, 1 direct replies

[deleted]

Comment by [deleted] at 21/11/2017 at 19:00 UTC

2 upvotes, 1 direct replies

So since I cant report it for any real violation its worth noting the bot has been posting shit like this.

https://archive.fo/2020/scr.png

Its a screen cap of a 404 error but the link at the top of the thread goes to alive page.

Comment by Orangutan at 22/11/2017 at 16:45 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Why the fuck are we personally notified every time this auto bot makes a post? It's annoying and unnecessary. The bot is fine, but being made aware of it every time its put into use is overkill. It's like spam.

Comment by [deleted] at 02/12/2017 at 18:21 UTC

2 upvotes, 1 direct replies

This is awesome. Could you share the automod rule you're using to accomplish this?

Comment by MissType at 18/11/2017 at 21:56 UTC

5 upvotes, 0 direct replies

This is a great idea. Thanks mods!

Comment by Ducttapehamster at 19/11/2017 at 02:12 UTC

5 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Does this mean that we can just link to CNN or any other blacklisted website? Seeing as there's is an easy out for those who wish to not support the site?

Comment by [deleted] at 19/11/2017 at 00:30 UTC

5 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Great addition mod team and great idea /u/JU5TIN_HERGINA. Bravo!

Comment by HairlessApe at 18/11/2017 at 21:40 UTC

3 upvotes, 2 direct replies

How will it handle those stupid, stupid google urls leading to non-google pages?

Comment by Orangutan at 18/11/2017 at 22:47 UTC

1 upvotes, 1 direct replies

/r/politics has sticked comments on the top of every thread and it takes away from the organic and egalitarian style of conversation in my opinion.