Is the "What is the middle number?" Question too confusing?

[julian67]

That isn't the median it's the mean.

The question is what's the middle number. And 3 is the closest as I proved above.

The middle number is 7.5

[Raffles10]

That isn't the median it's the mean.

The question is what's the middle number. And 3 is the closest as I proved above.

Middle and median are the same thing. What you did was to work out the mean number, which is quite different.

[milomak]

where is the "what" option?

[Dynamo]

I voted "Yes" (the "middle number" question is too confusing).

Defeating the bot is one thing, confusing the human by the question AND the hint is another thing. Because this is the only site I see such a confusing antibot system. I am not convinced by the efficiency of this confusing mechanism as the answer seems to be a constant.

You can achieve the same effect by replacing by a question like "Give a number less than 64". Then on subsequent failure, the screen just gives an extra hint to guide the user to the right answer (like "The secret number is higher/lower"). Starting with 64, in 6 attempts max (2^6 = 64) the user should find the correct answer.

Admittedly, a bot specially designed will still beat that system. As it also beats the constant answer "3" of the aforementioned confusing question. The new mechanism will be also frustrating for the user, but, at least, the poor guy knows why and when his registration misery will end.

[Mez]

Starting with 64, in 6 attempts max (2^6 = 64) the user should find the correct answer.

Not too sure how you got 6 attempts here

> 100
< The number is lower
> 99
< The number is lower
> 98
< The number is lower
> 97
< The number is lower
> 96
< The number is lower
> 95
< The number is lower
> 94
< The number is lower

[Dynamo]

Starting with 64, in 6 attempts max (2^6 = 64) the user should find the correct answer.

Not too sure how you got 6 attempts here

You use the bubble sort algorithm.

Using your example:
- Machine: The number is lower (than 100)
- You: 50 (the middle between 100 and 1)
- Machine : the secret number is higher
- You: 75 (the middle between 50 and 100)
- Machine: the secret number is lower
- You: 62 (the middle between 50 and 75).
- Machine: the secret number is lower
etc.

As you see in only 3 answers, I already know that the secret number is between 51 and 61. And this is with a starting number of 100. For 100, you need 7 guesses max (2^7 = 128). Hope you see what I meant.

[edbarx]

You can use a monochromatic picture that doesn't depict text. By monochromatic I do not mean necessarily a black and white picture. Any colour can do, especially uncommon ones. Then, present the user with a multiple choice question.

[edbarx]

Suggestion 2:

Generate a picture by slightly modifying random noise. This should be more diffilcult for bots to read. Then ask the user what he/she sees.

[jheaton5]

Suggestion 2:

Generate a picture by slightly modifying random noise. This should be more diffilcult for bots to read. Then ask the user what he/she sees.

Given the individual differences among varous users, how would you generate a list of acceptable responses?

[Pick2]

Give them a 20 question timed IQ test
100 or more ---> Regular member
80 - 100 ----> Beginners thread only
less than 80 ---> send them to Microsoft forums where they'll be happy

[edbarx]

Given the individual differences among varous users, how would you generate a list of acceptable responses?

The basis of my suggestion is that humans are much more capable at image recognition compared to a bot. The noise I am referring to, is the "image" generated when there is no video signal. Modern TV sets tend to block that.

Obviously, one has to use simple images and users should be presented with a multiple choice question.

[jheaton5]

got it. I thought you were randomly generating pictures.

[edbarx]

Generating the images:

Noise pixel: (R, G, B)
Image pixel: (r, g, b)
Mixing factor: f where 0 <= f <= 1

Resultant red component = f*R + (1 - f)*r
green = f*G + (1 - f)*g
blue = f*B + (1 - f)*b

f can be varied until the image is barely distinguishable.

[ryanfaescotland]

Yup too confusing. It's pretty clear after getting it wrong but you shouldn't have to get a question wrong to get through. Even "what is the middle number rounded up?" would make it clearer. Man this is the sort of thing that will niggle away at me all day now, a little part of me wants to go re-register so I can get it right first time.

[dilberts_left_nut]

Maybe it should require typing in the contents of

Code: Select all

man man

[temcat]

As a newcomer and non-native English speaker, the question is too confusing. It is *the* most confusing anti-bot question I have encountered.
My first reaction to the term "middle" was to find the number that is physically in the middle of the list, but the list has an even number of items, so that was ruled out. You should have worded the question more precisely and used common mathematical terms. I bet you wouldn't get more bots because of that.

[barrow_matt]

It got me, after reading the question a few times I just tried 2 then got an error message basically telling me the answer is 3. At least I didn't have to re-enter any details.

I can see how it could be very confusing for someone whose first language isn't English.

0 is definitely a number!

[craigevil]

The entire point of the question is to confuse spambots. Unfortunately they seem to be able to find the answer better than most normal people.

[4D696B65]

The entire point of the question is to confuse spambots. Unfortunately they seem to be able to find the answer better than most normal people.

A person who programs spambots is able to figure it out in seconds then takes minutes to program the bot to register 45000 names since last summer.

[barrow_matt]

The entire point of the question is to confuse spambots. Unfortunately they seem to be able to find the answer better than most normal people.

A person who programs spambots is able to figure it out in seconds then takes minutes to program the bot to register 45000 names since last summer.

^ This. It's confusing to most people as it simply doesn't make sense so you have to have a guess but once you know the answer it is fixed so can easily be repeated.