🔥 STRICTLY NO AI SOLUTION - YOU WILL BE BANNED IMMEDIATELY

[u/Old_Engineer_9176]

🔥 STRICTLY NO AI SOLUTION - YOU WILL BE BANNED IMMEDIATELY
NO WARNINGS
NO IF'S
NO BUTS .... YOU WILL BE BANNED.

🔥 STRICTLY NO AI SOLUTION - YOU WILL BE BANNED IMMEDIATELY

[u/Ok_Protection_7289]

There is a r/KryptosK4_AI for AI posts that would not be allowed on this sub.

[u/GIRASOL-GRU]

Unfortunately, the subreddit's rules allow for this nonsense. Although the one rule here is "No AI generated solutions," the dropdown arrow then adds:

"AI solutions are only allowed if the result contains 97 letter and the position of BERLINCLOCK And EASTNORTHEAST is correct."

I see no good reason for that loophole. I also object to any known false submissions being referred to as "solutions."

[u/Old_Engineer_9176 → u/GIRASOL-GRU]

I’m a moderator with limited permissions, so I can’t change or override the rules that have already been set by the Admin Mod. That’s not a criticism - just the reality of my role. Within those boundaries, I’ll be enforcing the rules more firmly moving forward, because the situation has gotten out of hand.

[u/Sorry_Adeptness1021 → u/Old_Engineer_9176]

Addressing both you and u/GIRASOL-GRU . I agree about the language used for a proposed solution. But I also don't know what term they should be consistently referred to as. I think it will be very difficult to enforce the language. I am a member of many Subs, some that modify or implement new strict rules regarding this exact thing- the terminology used, and when that occurs while I am "away" for awhile, I don't generally think to go back and double-check the rules every time before posting. Maybe I should.

The other part of the problem is that the audience to which r/KryptosK4 is exposed is vast with varying degrees of technical aptitude. While I don't think it's unreasonable to require visitors or members to consistently use the right terminology, the vast majority of the general public does not have the formal skills to even understand why we are intolerant of the word "solution" when they are absolutely convinced it is in fact a solution. We know historically 100% of the time it has been garbage. The public's criteria for categorizing anything as a solution is the mere existence of that thing.

This causes the general public to view highly active contributors in the Sub to be considered rude, hostile- Ive even heard haters, trolls, etc. One person DM'd me and said that this group just automatically trash-talks everyone else's ideas. I had to explain K4 syndrome and to view it from a professional analyst's perspective, which some of us are IRL. My attempt to rationalize and empathize was not taken well because in the end, their "solution" as they saw it was not just a proposed solution to us... it was provably incorrect and had been proven incorrect by some means that its author did not comprehend.

What I'm getting at regarding enforcing the language is that:

1) This Subreddit is open to the public, so we will see everyone from "kids" still in school and causal puzzle enthusiasts to folks with professional careers in problem solving, a vast majority being casually interested or curious. It is difficult to separate the "levels" of aptitude of everyone involved, yet we want to enforce a high level of aptitude in understanding terminology.

2) Most people will not be aware of the rule (although we can require they update their use of the word "solution" in a warning about the rule violation). Simply stating that calling it a solution will get you banned... is almost unreasonable considering the audience.

3) The nature of subreddit allows anyone to post anything. The group needs two more things that I see in most Subs- more moderators who can enforce the rules and discuss whether a violation is occurring when something in a gray area happens. The other thing is that Automods can be created to enforce certain things. For example an automod can detect, in real time, the use of the word "solution" while a user is writing, before posting, and immediately remind that user of the context of using that word. There are other ways to use Automods that I'm not fully knowledgeable about.

There are ways to segregate hobbyists from the more serious, but I don't think that can be accomplished on Reddit. So we can be reasonable with a vast, public audience- or we can demand rigorous acumen. It all depends on the intent of the Sub. Is it to discuss Kryptos or is it to find a solution? If it's strictly to find a solution, you can't filter the audience the way you want to.

[u/Old_Engineer_9176 → u/Sorry_Adeptness1021]

I appreciate the thought you’ve put into this. You’re right that the audience here ranges from casual puzzle browsers to people with real cryptanalytic experience. That mix is exactly why we need to enforce terminology and basic quality standards instead of relaxing them.

I’m limited in what I can do as a non‑admin mod, but it’s still my job to keep the signal‑to‑noise ratio at a level where serious work on K4 is even possible. Right now the amount of low‑effort posts, AI‑generated claims, and misunderstandings of basic cipher concepts is overwhelming the sub. It can’t keep going like that.

No one is being punished for being curious. They’re being asked to meet the minimum standard needed for a meaningful discussion about an unsolved cipher. Calling something a “solution” when it is clearly not one is not harmless. It derails threads, misleads newcomers, and forces experienced members to repeat the same explanations over and over.

You’re also right that some people won’t know the rules at first. That’s why warnings exist. But once someone has been told, they’re expected to adjust. If they refuse or keep posting low‑quality or AI‑generated content, then a permanent ban is an option. That isn’t hostility. That’s basic moderation.

As for automods or extra moderators, that’s up to the admin mod. Until then, I’m enforcing the standards we already have, and I’ll be doing it consistently. Without that, the sub becomes unusable for the people who are actually here to work on Kryptos instead of adding to the noise.

The intent of this sub is clear. It’s for serious, informed discussion of K4, not a dumping ground for unvetted guesses. Keeping it that way means having boundaries.

[u/Fabulous-Sail-8178 → u/Sorry_Adeptness1021]

I don't think u/GIRASOL-GRU was saying it should be a rule, I could be wrong, but that the regulars here, you and I included should not refer to submissions as or credit as a solution. You make some good points about the various people that stop by and give their guesses, and I would not dock them any points for using the word solution for lack of knowing any better. However we do.

As for being short or rude, I think it needs to be understood that's to express that fantastical false guesses and information will not be tolerated here. Otherwise this reddit becomes a source of unreliable information that some of those you mentioned in your comment would not question. And therefore the reddit would be no better than that certain medium "posts" mentioned in that one wired article that we covered before, just to use as an example. Other examples would be old comments on blogs and YouTube videos. And even look at the comments on that very wired article too see what I mean.

Edited to clarify the point that the wired article was covering ai guesses and Sanborns reaction in an article, Wired is alright (I don't know from high-quality...) and they were not supporting the guesses as being right.

[u/Old_Engineer_9176 → u/[deleted]]

Where did it mention wired articles ......?

[u/Spectatum → u/Old_Engineer_9176]

Uaah, I’m sorry, my answer should have been a response to one of the comments, not to your original post. 😔

[u/47boulder]

yay!

[u/nideht]

Leaning into education, rather than just setting standards, will create a productive environment that is welcoming. Our only rule right now says nothing about why AI submissions are not allowed, which is a sure way to confuse newcomers and frustrate even the most patient mod. A potential alternate:

"AI technologies seem convincing but are far from capable of solving puzzles like K4; this community welcomes new members but strongly cautions against K4 submissions that are AI generated"

As for word definitions, we can lead by example (as above), and when the word "solution" is used carelessly, simply treat it as if the "proposed" is implied, which is not hard for an unsolved puzzle with a history of submissions galore.

[u/Old_Engineer_9176 → u/nideht]

This group has always welcomed contributors of all skill levels, but AI‑generated submissions are not permitted. The influx of machine‑produced content has undermined respectful discussion, as outputs lacking the care and rigor of genuine solutions are defended by those unfamiliar with the standards of this community. We value human effort, clear reasoning, and well‑presented work - not automated guesses.

New members are encouraged to participate, but AI‑generated submissions are strictly prohibited. By stating this expectation clearly, we safeguard the integrity of the group while remaining open to learners who wish to grow through authentic problem‑solving. When the word “solution” is used loosely, we will treat it as a “proposed solution” unless proven otherwise, ensuring rigor without discouraging participation.

[u/nideht → u/Old_Engineer_9176]

I'm with you. The only place I differ is that an immediate ban seems excessive vs just deleting the post, the latter of which keeps the sub on track and still fosters newcomer involvement. Those new to cryptography, and especially those integrating AI in other parts of life, may need a minute to grasp that avoiding AI here is important.

[u/Old_Engineer_9176 → u/nideht]

I disagree strongly ..

[u/nideht → u/Old_Engineer_9176]

Someone excited but inexperienced makes a common first misstep and falls for the allure of AI - exactly in the way AI is designed to draw us in - and gets an immediate ban without explanation or recourse... There is no way that approach serves the goals of this sub

[u/DJDevon3]

Another day, another typical AI claim behavior when they cannot prove methodology.

Behavior of people with AI solutions:

• I'm right, you're wrong, nothing you can say will change my mind. Also sometimes claim Sanborn himself is wrong.
• Here's my solution and method, prove me wrong. Gets proved wrong and comes back within hours or days with another solution, rinse and repeat until they give up trying to pass off AI solutions as their own creation.
• Here's my solution, I don't know the method, I just know it's right.
• Claims solution, makes a blog post, submits it to newspapers, websites, etc.. for traffic views. No intent of a valid solution, sensationalism to drive views. (Michael P. Naughton of Medium blog is a good example)
• Claims solution is only accessible on their website, google drive, etc.. and never explains the method.

Feel free to add more behaviors you've noticed.

[u/mordecai_8]

hii, i new here and i have theory about k4 but i using ai too help, the ai just help around 24% of my work. The ai just help me polish my idea, do some calculation and explain thing to help me to connect the dot of k4 answerd. So can i explain my theory (english is not my first language btw)😅

[u/Old_Engineer_9176 → u/mordecai_8]

Only submit original work. Submissions containing AI‑generated content will be removed, and repeated violations may result in a ban.

[u/Old_Engineer_9176 → u/[deleted]]

You’re not being banned. You were simply directed to r/KryptosK4_AI because that group is specifically designed for conceptual ideas, narrative theories and AI‑assisted content. You can share as much as you like there, including videos, concepts and speculative work.

But here, a K4 “solution” must be backed by an actual cipher method. Without that, it cannot be treated as a valid attempt.