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
8 years ago*

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

1 year ago
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Vertical Kingdom

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

1 year 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/

1 year ago
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replacing 0 with any other number doesnt work

It's not a number. ^^

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

1 year ago
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I meant you're not supposed to replace it with a number.

1 year ago
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1 year ago
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1 year ago
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Nice, thank you!

1 year ago
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Cool, so battery not music.

1 year ago
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I get the humor 😎

1 year ago
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Bump!

1 year ago
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AC/DC)

1 year 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

1 year ago
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bump and thank you!

1 year ago
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14 minutes bump! Thanks!

1 year ago
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Bump! (or something)

1 year ago
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Bump :)

1 year ago
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Deleted

This comment was deleted 4 months ago.

1 year ago
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Bump

1 year ago
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Bump

1 year ago
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b_#p!

1 year ago
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Your wish is my command. Bump!

1 year ago
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Bump

1 year ago
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Bump or something, idk...

1 year ago
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something i don't know!

1 year ago
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bump

1 year ago
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Bump!

1 year ago
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bump!

1 year ago
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Thank you! :)

1 year ago
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bumpo!

1 year ago
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Something!

1 year ago
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Thanks and bump!

1 year ago
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Bump

1 year ago
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huh so this is my second BL lol

1 year ago
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Bump!

1 year ago
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Bump!

1 year ago
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Thank you, bump! :)

1 year ago
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bump :)

1 year ago
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Bump

1 year ago
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Bump

1 year ago
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Bump, 10 hours left

1 year ago
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Something I don't know (:

1 year ago
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Bump!

1 year ago
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Bump :)🎉

1 year ago
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Something like "have a nice day" :")

1 year ago
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Deleted

This comment was deleted 1 year ago.

1 year ago
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bump

1 year ago
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bump and thank you for the blacklist...

1 year ago
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1 year ago
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bump

1 year ago
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Bump

1 year 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. ;)

1 year ago
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Thank you :)

1 year ago
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bump!

1 year ago
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Bump! :D

1 year ago
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bump

1 year ago
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bump

1 year ago
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Bump!

1 year 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.

1 year ago
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the same)) i didn't understand)

1 year ago
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Think about the bolded words more. I promise this is an easy puzzle.

1 year 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!

1 year ago
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no ingame knowledge is necessary.

1 year ago
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Think about the bolded words more. I promise this is an easy puzzle.

1 year ago
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I also have no clue. (What does OC stand for?)

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

1 year ago
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Original character

1 year 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.

1 year 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!

1 year ago
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I am there) I understood it)

1 year 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?

1 year ago
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I'd say ... try like 5 more variants.

1 year 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

1 year 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.

1 year 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!

1 year ago
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Thank you. That seemed to have resolved the issue. :-)

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

1 year 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.

1 year 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.

1 year ago
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The Sundew
LVL3 till 5. july Midnight CEST

View attached image.
1 year ago
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bump~

1 year ago
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bump

1 year ago
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bump!

1 year ago
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That was a fun ride, bump! :D

1 year ago
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Bump!

1 year ago
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Bump!

1 year ago
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Bump, much appreciated.

1 year ago
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Thank you for the train!

1 year ago
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Bump!

1 year ago
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Giveaways are for Level 3 and above...

1 year ago
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Thank you! :)

1 year ago
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bump

1 year ago
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Le bump & thanks 👍

1 year ago
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Everything's fine now, thanks.

1 year ago*
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1 year ago*
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I failed but here a little bump!

1 year ago
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try entering now

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

1 year ago
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Doesn't like bots or me.

1 year ago*
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try entering now

1 year ago
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success, thank you!

1 year 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...

1 year ago
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I failed, but have a thank you anyway :P

1 year ago
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I cannot enter, but give a bump because its a good one!

1 year ago
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Can't enter, but bump and thanks for the giveaway!

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

1 year ago
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I failed both, but thank you for keeping them open.

1 year ago
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I'm messing with custom rulesets. Can you try entering again?

1 year ago
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They let me in now. Thank you.

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

1 year ago
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Failed both. Bump anyway. 🦄

1 year ago
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I updated the second giveaway

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

1 year ago
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double-bump

1 year ago
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Bump!

1 year ago
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1 year ago
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Good game, thanks for making a giveaway for it!

1 year ago
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Bump!

1 year ago
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Thank you! :)

1 year ago
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Oaken bump!

1 year ago
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Bump!

1 year ago
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Thanks for the GA, have a bump!

1 year 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.

1 year ago
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bump!

1 year ago
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Thanks!

1 year ago
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b3mp

1 year ago
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bump~

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

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

1 year ago
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Why don't you use 𐌄 instead?

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

1 year ago
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1 year 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 )

1 year ago
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The VolksWagon is missing from the code to enter

lvl 2 required, ends Jul 15th 9am central

1 year ago*
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Bump!

1 year ago
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Wow. I 💖 Grand Theft Elder Scrolls VIII. Thank you!

1 year 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

1 year ago*
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Bump. Thanks!

1 year ago
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bump

1 year ago
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Bump!

1 year ago
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Thanks!

1 year ago
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b u m p !

1 year ago
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+1 upping this post

1 year ago
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Deleted

This comment was deleted 1 year ago.

1 year ago
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bump

1 year ago
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bump

1 year ago
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bump~

1 year ago
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Thanks!

1 year ago
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