No actual captcha checking going on (submit button in own form doing a GET, Flash does no external network calls verified via MITMProxy), as many have noted it seems to be a joke.
However, this would be one of the easier captchas from a bot standpoint. You have the source image and only need to create the equivalent in another format (Flash)? Assuming no fancy bot checks in Flash, the process of duplication is trivial. The bot doesn't have to guess what it is, just duplicate and machines are great at that. In fact, this is more like an anti-captcha (hard for humans, easy for bots).
I can't quite get it. Is it a joke? The writer[1] seems incredibly paranoid that the CIA are poisoning him and keeps overhearing agent's talking about killing him. The Captcha is a joke, but it seems out of place with the rest of the content.
http://www.geee.net/blog082.htm This is a list of the recent posts. There's no way he could be this dedicated to a "joke" website. The recent events mentioned suggest that it's not just changing the times dynamically, so the posts are actually recent.
That's just scary. I wonder what kind of life he lives with the extreme paranoia of MI5 messing with him constantly. He needs medication, and a hobby to keep him away from these thoughts.
But, if he's not a harm to anyone or himself, then it should be 100% his choice to have medication or not.
> I wonder what kind of life he lives with the extreme paranoia of MI5 messing with him constantly.
The lives of those that suffer from paranoid schizophrenia are well 'documented' in popular culture. One such item you may be interested in is the film 'A Beautiful Mind'. It is based on the life of John Nash, but keep in mind it is a dramatisation rather than a documentary.
There are also a number of 'simulations' on Youtube that may exemplify the horrendous nature of the condition, if you are so inclined to experience them. One such video is this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vvU-Ajwbok .
I hope I have not taken your portrayed interest too literally!
I will also say that it's impossible to over-state the breath and depth of the varieties of experiences that stem from what is called schizophrenia. There are certainly groups of people who share somewhat similar symptoms, but even that is tenuous. Words simply can't adequately describe it.
I have an interest in the brain and psychosis but do not want to "dip my toes in" without allocating sufficient time to research and study this. It's just such a complex issue and there seems to be such a large spectrum of psychosis, with schizophrenia being on the slightly more extreme end.
Then there is the drug induced psychosis/schizophrenia that can be turned on and off, which is equally fascinating.
Meh, the brain is too complex for me to think about right now. We could study it for years and would only know a small fraction of what's going on.
"Unless, of course, MI5 actually have an obscene number of people on their books - perhaps as many as fifty thousand agents, which, if that is the case, means our 'democracy' is completely fucked."
I am not sure what law or internet forum rule it is that says any sufficiently developed parody of being a kook is indistinguishable from being a real, honest to goodness kook... but browsing around this site I am quickly reminded of that adage.
He will undoubtedly be receiving many empty forms if they are being sent successfully. I'm wondering what this will do to his paranoia and if he will post about it.
There's no reason to assume it's fake or a parody in my opinion.
Psychosis/Schizophrenia is very real and affects many people, who can function very normally but think slightly weird thoughts and have the urge to express them and tell people.
The way your post started, I thought you were going to tell me "it's not paranoia if they really are out to get you." I almost included that in my first note.
It's possible and probably worth it to mention, that he also may actually be extremely well medicated.
Someone posted it on Twitter and I submitted it here before looking at the rest of the site. I feel a little bad now at sending so much traffic his way. Poor guy.
It looks similar to: http://www.bandycituska.pl/
this guy claims to be undergoing tortures inspired by Polish prime minister, thousands of people round the world involved.
He even has a botnet and sends tons of spam mail linking to his website. Some kind of a syndrome?
I'm not sure how it can't be construed as a joke given the poor accuracy of the CAPTCHA "paint" app and the fact that if you fail the first ridiculously complicated image, you are greeted with this image as the second CAPTCHA to replicate:
http://www.geee.net/acids/cntpaint.gif
Granted, maybe they just have humor on the Contact Form (they also say "Your message has been sent to the Prime Minister who will be making some more cuts shortly." when you fail both CAPTCHAs), I haven't read the writings you're referencing.
The other captcha seems easier. Good thing it's difficult, considering their contact page is on hn top page :D
Later edit: as someone mentioned, the second one is easier and offensive. My guess is the request goes through anyway. Personally, I would have fun seeing (and publishing) what people draw :P
At this point I think the only captchas that would be reliable are ones that trade on the inherently illogical nature of human decision-making. Ask people questions or give them things to solve that they will initially answer illogically due to their human biases. A computer, even if it could answer correctly, would have to learn about how humans make decisions, or how perception causes us to view certain things differently. You'd have to create an AI smart enough to make bad decisions like a human in order to beat it.
Back in my college days, I made this captcha as a class project.
This is based on the popular snake game. You catch the bug with snake, you pass.
If anyone interested, folk and make its web version.
When you submit there is a solid image that shows profanity: http://www.geee.net/acids/cntpaint.gif. Pretty offensive and not appropriate for HackerNews.
