NB: if you come across a profile whose submissions or comments are all "dead", they've likely been banned or shadowbanned. You can use the "replies" endpoint

NB: if you come across a profile whose submissions or comments are all "dead", they've likely been banned or shadowbanned. You can use the "replies" endpoint to see if dang (or one of the other/earlier mods: sctb or pg) have replied directly to the user with a ban message, e.g.: https://news.ycombinator.com/replies?id=genezeta&by=dang Or as a link: <https://news.ycombinator.com/replies?id=genezeta&by=dang https://news.ycombinator.com/replies?id=genezeta&by=dang> (This will show any replies by dang to you, genezeta, not necessarily ban notices.) I've just tried that on the first non-green HN userID for a "[dead]" submission the New queue, with nothing showing, so it's a bit hit-or-miss. Alternatively you can look at the member's submissions under their profile page. Patterns such as constantly submitting the same set of domains, especially if self-promotional, will stand out. That userID I'd checked above ... seems to have a limited range of sites they're interested in submitting: <https://news.ycombinator.com/submitted?id=adib_zouiten1 https://news.ycombinator.com/submitted?id=adib_zouiten1> Some sites are banned due to impenetrable paywalls. 404 Media is one such (with several submission in the queue presently): <https://news.ycombinator.com/from?site=404media.co https://news.ycombinator.com/from?site=404media.co>