Counting Methods and Strategies

Over the time that Chatnotwt has spent counting, numerous tactics have emerged to optimize counting.

## Copy and paste

A very common method of counting is to copy all digits of the previous number except the last one or two digits, paste them into the text field, and type the remaining digits. The same copy can be used for multiple numbers, as most of the time, only the last few digits of a number change when counting by ones. This method makes counting much more efficient, as the counter does not need to spend time typing out the copied digits for each number. This also prevents "scuffed counts" by reducing the amount of possible errors a counter can make when typing out numbers.

## Shadowban

Copying and pasting digits greatly increases the counter's potential speed, but also comes at a risk, especially for those counting from a computer rather than the mobile Twitch app. Twitch utilizes an anti-spam shadowban (commonly referred to as "sb" or "sban") feature that blocks an account's messages from being sent in chat, though these messages will still appear in the client chat sending the messages. IP addresses and/or accounts are shadowbanned when they send messages at a rate faster than 20 messages per 30 seconds.

Although account shadowbans typically last an hour, some have been observed to increase in length based on the account's number of previous shadowbans. This type of ban only affects the account that was considered spamming. The longest known shadowban to date occured when a counter was shadowbanned for 24 hours.

IP shadowbans typically last for half an hour, or 30 minutes. An IP shadowban is put into effect on the IP address of the account considered spamming at the same time that the account-specific shadowban is put into effect, and ends before the account ban does.

Some users take advantage of being shadowbanned in unconventional ways. Given that other users can not see their messages, some will scream at the void, spam, or even just have a conversation with it. Please note that other shadowbanned users cannot see other shadowbanned users messages and there is no one in the void. Please do not converse with the void for extended periods of time – we value your sanity.

## Counting chains

Whether to count faster (while diminishing the risk of getting shadowbanned) or to have company while counting, some counters will count at the same time, taking turns. This usually takes the form of duo counting, in which one person counts odds and the other counts evens, though larger groups of people have formed counting chains before. Although trios are a nice idea, especially when three people in chat want to duo, they are always scuffed because multiples of three take a while to repeat. Chains longer than three are rare due to lack of available counters or the chat being too active to coordinate them, but more common than trios. On 2020 December 31, the first successful 5-person and 10-person chains were accomplished during the fourth count, with members counting from 431,501 to 443,600 and from 439,001 to 440,000, respectively.

Counting chains help avoid shadowbans due to the fact that each counter needs to wait for the other counter(s) to send the next number(s) before sending their own, while still going faster than if counting solo. Since the 20 message per 30 second limit is per person, two counters duoing is capped at 40 messages per 30 seconds, three counters at 60 messages, and so on. However, the delay isn't a guarantee that you will stay under the speed limit, as there have been multiple instances of counters duoing and still getting shadowbanned.

Generally, the most effective forms of counting chains are 2-person, 5-person, or 10-person.

### Duos

2-person chains are easy to coordinate and each counter only has to keep track of evens or odds. Self-duos, when the same counter alternates numbers from two different accounts, are also common. Self-duos are a good way for counters to increase their counting speed, keep themselves busy, and even play around with the aesthetic of their count. Self-duoers often color their alts with colors that go well together.

A recent invention, the 5x5 duo, is similar to a regular duo except each counter counts five numbers at a time before switching. As of writing, only one 5x5 duo has ever occurred, by users Dumpster and Cheeky. 5x5 duos are a much calmer, low-stress method of duoing.

### Longer chains

5- and 10-person chains (despite the difficulty of organizing them) allow each counter to only say numbers ending in two or one digits, respectively. 10-person chains are also often combined with a "rainbow count", also known as a "gay count," in which each counter will set their username color to a different color of the rainbow, and count in rainbow order. Rainbow counts can be accomplished with less counters, but are most effective with 10.

## Alternate accounts

Alternate accounts (multiple accounts accessed by the same person) can be used to get around account bans. This can be done by either waiting until the thirty minute IP shadowban has lifted or by using the alt from a different IP, such as through a VPN. Alts were used prominently in the Snipeza war, as a timeout on one account doesn't affect the IP address it was used on, so counters and bystanders who were timed out could use their alts to return to chat.

## Chatterino

Chatterino is a third-party app that acts as an extension for Twitch chat. Many individuals with several alts use it to manage their accounts, as it allows one to log into multiple accounts at a time and switch between them easily. Chatterino is also useful for avoiding shadowbans, as it will stop users from sending messages when they approach the limit. However, it doesn't always let the counter know when it declines to send a message. This can cause accidental skips or delay, which is why some counters prefer counting in browser, despite the risk of shadowbans.

There have been a few instances of counters being shadowbanned while counting in Chatterino. The reason for this is unknown, but as this is very rare, Chatterino is still considered an effective shadowban prevention.