So you want to create public GAs, but you don't want bots and auto-join scripts to enter? Good. Just post a comment in this thread with a link to an invite-only giveaway. The idea is very simple and is really not different from many (most?) of the other threads in the forum, except that you don't need to invest much time or thought into it. Just post the link in a comment, and you're done :-)

A few additional guidelines:

  • Feel free to obfuscate the link to make it more difficult for bots/scripts to enter. This is completely optional and may not make much of a difference, because the forums are probably not as infested with bots and auto-join scripts as public giveaways (see example).
  • You may use itstoohard.com, sgtools.info or other sites as filters to the link, but do try to keep things easy (for humans) to enter.
  • Don't feel obligated to write anything to accompany the giveaway link. If you have stuff to share beyond just the link, you probably should create a dedicated thread for it. Needless to say, you can also write it here, but it's not required.
  • Cross-posting giveaways your posted in other threads is fine, as long as they are your giveaways.
  • If you want to add a dynamic signature showing the game name, giveaway end date and current number of entries, but without revealing the URL to bots, you can use this tool created by Reforced. It takes the signature created by SG and provides you with a new URL that hides the original giveaway address. Just add it to your comment using the regular format for posting images: ![](URL)
  • Just like public GAs typically have a lot of entries, there's no need to maintain a low number of entries in GAs posted here. If you want to give especially good odds to people who enter and still get CV, you may want to instead consider posting the link here (and then remove it when you have your 5 entries). This is not needed here in this thread. The more (humans) the merrier :-)
  • The best way to bump this thread is by posting a link to your own invite-only giveaway. With that said, if the thread drops from the first page a regular "Bump" would also be appreciated.

I'm trying to find how serious the issue with bots really is. So far the results don't really prove things one way or another. Here are some stats from my latest experiment:

Game: Space Trader: Merchant Marine
Number of giveaways: 5
Period: 3 days

Giveaway # Level Type Number of entries Winner's Sent:Won Reroll needed?
1 Level 0+ Public 891 0:82 No
2 Level 0+ Invite only, direct link 55 4:47 No
3 Level 0+ Invite only, SGTools (no restrictions) 48 6:71 No
4 Level 0+ Invite only, shortened URL, captcha-free 50 1:205 No
5 Level 0+ Invite only, shortened URL with "I'm not a robot" captcha 54 162:86 No

Yet some more stats:

Giveaway game Period Level Type Number of entries Winner's Sent:Won Reroll needed?
Tales from the Void 5 days Level 0+ Public 755 0:37 No
Tales from the Void 5 days Level 0+ Invite only, obfuscated link 183 42:514 No
Hyper Box 4 days Level 0+ Public 554 0:32 No
Hyper Box 4 days Level 0+ Invite only, obfuscated link 193 178:188 No
Ace Combat Assault Horizon 3 days Level 0+ Public 1596 0:28 Yes
Ace Combat Assault Horizon 3 days Level 0+ Invite only, obfuscated link 234 88:107 No
7 years ago*

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A bump for the bump. Missed these latest links, thanks!

4 months ago
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Vertical Kingdom

Upper->Lower or vice versa, zero to ? Try swapping the obvious

4 months ago
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Well i'm thoroughly confused, as what is the answer, as replacing 0 with any other number doesnt work.

But either way, not LEVEL 3, so this is not for me.

Thx for sharing with the community! o/

4 months ago
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replacing 0 with any other number doesnt work

It's not a number. ^^

4 months ago
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Hmm... Maybe, but it sure looks like one. Also the description suggests it is.

4 months ago
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I meant you're not supposed to replace it with a number.

4 months ago
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4 months ago
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4 months ago
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Nice, thank you!

4 months ago
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Cool, so battery not music.

4 months ago
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I get the humor 😎

4 months ago
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Bump!

4 months ago
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AC/DC)

4 months ago
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Hey! Here are some of my leftovers from the NSPCC bundle:
<Right here>
Bot protection - a b c ? * f g h
Level 1+
24hrs

4 months ago
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bump and thank you!

4 months ago
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14 minutes bump! Thanks!

4 months ago
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Bump! (or something)

4 months ago
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Bump :)

4 months ago
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Bump!

4 months ago
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Bump

4 months ago
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Bump

4 months ago
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b_#p!

4 months ago
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Your wish is my command. Bump!

4 months ago
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Bump

4 months ago
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Bump or something, idk...

4 months ago
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something i don't know!

4 months ago
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bump

4 months ago
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Bump!

4 months ago
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bump!

4 months ago
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Thank you! :)

4 months ago
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bumpo!

4 months ago
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Something!

4 months ago
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Thanks and bump!

4 months ago
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Bump

4 months ago
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huh so this is my second BL lol

4 months ago
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Bump!

4 months ago
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Bump!

4 months ago
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Thank you, bump! :)

4 months ago
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bump :)

4 months ago
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Bump

4 months ago
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Bump

4 months ago
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Bump, 10 hours left

4 months ago
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Something I don't know (:

4 months ago
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Bump!

4 months ago
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Bump :)🎉

4 months ago
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Something like "have a nice day" :")

4 months ago
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Deleted

This comment was deleted 4 months ago.

4 months ago
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bump

4 months ago
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bump and thank you for the blacklist...

4 months ago
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4 months ago
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bump

4 months ago
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Bump

4 months ago
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https://www.steamgifts.com/giveaway/f1??t/symphony-of-war-the-nephilim-saga

My OC is twice as cool as 2b is your hint. Hint may be needed for both missing ?? characters. ;)

4 months ago
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Thank you :)

4 months ago
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bump!

4 months ago
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Bump! :D

4 months ago
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bump

4 months ago
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bump

4 months ago
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Bump!

4 months ago
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Tried everything I could think of and still don't get it :(
Do I need to know smth about 2b? Haven't played the game.

4 months ago
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the same)) i didn't understand)

4 months ago
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Think about the bolded words more. I promise this is an easy puzzle.

4 months ago
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For me it was some Chrome bug, it worked after I cleared the cookies/cash and relogged in, try it!

4 months ago
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no ingame knowledge is necessary.

4 months ago
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Think about the bolded words more. I promise this is an easy puzzle.

4 months ago
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I also have no clue. (What does OC stand for?)

4 months ago
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Typically on the internet it means "Original Content", but that doesn't seem to fit here.

4 months ago
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Original character

4 months ago
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OC = Original Character

That part is just a joke relating to 2b as a character. The hint is just the bolded words in my original post.

4 months ago
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For me it was some Chrome bug, it worked after I cleared the cookies/cash and relogged in, try it!

4 months ago
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I am there) I understood it)

4 months ago
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It did seem easy, 2b twice, but after trying like 10 variations I was stumped.
To clarify, 2 question marks should be replaced with 2 characters, a digit and a letter, right?

4 months ago
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I'd say ... try like 5 more variants.

4 months ago
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I just tried 520 lol...
I gave up and wrote a small Python script which opened all variants of letter+digit at the same time - bad idea, the site blocked my acount for an hour :D I'll try doing it slower next time haha.
Also stumbled upon a different private giveaway lol: https://www.steamgifts.com/giveaway/f10yt/unite-cell

4 months ago*
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I feel your pain, man, but I'm too lazy to whip out a script like you so I've just left. Give me a pipeline optimization problem and I'll happily bang 4 hours on it, but puzzles are just... I'm just bad at them, I feel like there's no "proper" hint or lead, just "you have to think of everything that's vaguely similar to this word, or sounds the same, or use a 'common' structure that's actually not common if you're not similar to the author in some way, or have to know some concepts from Wikipedia'. That's how puzzles are for me.

4 months ago
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It finally worked for me from mobile and the answer was really simple.
Turns out, the right link just didn't work for me in Chrome for some reason, it just redirected me to the home page, it was bugged.
Was testing it out right now and it only worked after I deleted all the site cookies/cash and relogged in.
So if you are pretty sure of the answer and it doesn't work - clear the cookies/cash and try again!

4 months ago
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Thank you. That seemed to have resolved the issue. :-)

Also thank you @ObsidianSpire for this puzzle and the GA.

4 months ago
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Nah, that's not it for me. My main browser is Firefox, and I have tried on Edge too, so it's just a matter of me not getting it. Thanks for the tip though, seems it has helped somebody else.

4 months ago
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Yes, only two characters and in the same order as 2b where a digit comes before the letter. Do some elementary school level math based on the bolded words is the last hint I'll give. If you still don't get it, put a comment on one of my old giveaways.

4 months ago
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The Sundew
LVL3 till 5. july Midnight CEST

View attached image.
4 months ago
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bump~

4 months ago
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bump

4 months ago
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bump!

4 months ago
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That was a fun ride, bump! :D

4 months ago
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Bump!

4 months ago
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Bump!

4 months ago
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Bump, much appreciated.

4 months ago
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Thank you for the train!

4 months ago
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Bump!

4 months ago
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Giveaways are for Level 3 and above...

4 months ago
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Thank you! :)

4 months ago
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bump

4 months ago
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Le bump & thanks 👍

4 months ago
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Everything's fine now, thanks.

4 months ago*
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4 months ago*
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I failed but here a little bump!

4 months ago
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try entering now

4 months ago
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Yep it's good now i can access.
Not interested i already have but nice game ;)

4 months ago
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Doesn't like bots or me.

4 months ago*
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try entering now

4 months ago
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success, thank you!

4 months ago
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Yep, looks like everyone including me will always failed also. Thanks for the GA tho.. appreciate to keep the community alive...

4 months ago
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I failed, but have a thank you anyway :P

4 months ago
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I cannot enter, but give a bump because its a good one!

4 months ago
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Can't enter, but bump and thanks for the giveaway!

4 months ago
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Damn, can't enter either, makes me wonder what the secret rule is :/

4 months ago
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I failed both, but thank you for keeping them open.

4 months ago
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I'm messing with custom rulesets. Can you try entering again?

4 months ago
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They let me in now. Thank you.

4 months ago
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That's pity...but I m not with you at the train. But have a nice trip guys.

4 months ago
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Failed both. Bump anyway. 🦄

4 months ago
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I updated the second giveaway

4 months ago
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BUMP. Failed both, I don't recall that ever happening to me before.

4 months ago
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double-bump

4 months ago
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Bump!

4 months ago
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4 months ago
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Good game, thanks for making a giveaway for it!

4 months ago
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Bump!

4 months ago
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Thank you! :)

4 months ago
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Oaken bump!

4 months ago
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Bump!

4 months ago
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Thanks for the GA, have a bump!

4 months ago
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https://www.sgtools.info/giveaways/bf684fbd-b2ad-4b0e-b189-d125b2e0c178

I hate e's. All e should be 3 instead . Same as the level for entering.

4 months ago
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bump!

4 months ago
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Thanks!

4 months ago
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b3mp

4 months ago
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bump~

4 months ago
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Wait! I thought e is mc². Are you messing with relativity? 🤔

4 months ago*
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I'd say it's the other way around, the relativity tend to mess with me !

4 months ago
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Why don't you use 𐌄 instead?

4 months ago
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Ohh Etruscan alphabet! Thanks for the tip, it's actually a very good idea!

4 months ago
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4 months ago
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You basically found my love interests. E, and EA.

(in truth I have no real issues with E. EA......that's another story :p )

4 months ago
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The VolksWagon is missing from the code to enter

lvl 2 required, ends Jul 15th 9am central

4 months ago*
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Bump!

4 months ago
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Wow. I 💖 Grand Theft Elder Scrolls VIII. Thank you!

4 months ago
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ENDED!

Ittle Dew, Gedonia, Autonauts, Ittle Dew 2+
Level 3+
Ends in 2 days!

n M a H
9 x f A
s O s a
E k 4 n
h P 1 b

4 months ago*
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Bump. Thanks!

4 months ago
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bump

4 months ago
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Bump!

4 months ago
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Thanks!

4 months ago
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b u m p !

4 months ago
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+1 upping this post

4 months ago
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Deleted

This comment was deleted 4 months ago.

4 months ago
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bump

4 months ago
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bump

4 months ago
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bump~

4 months ago
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Thanks!

4 months ago
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