Biography
Ben Eisenkop, born August 9, 1986, is an American ecologist who became one of Reddit's most popular users under the username Unidan. Known affectionately as 'the excited biologist,' he built a large following by answering questions and explaining concepts in biology and ecology in an enthusiastic, accessible style. Over time he amassed more than two million comment karma, making him one of the most recognizable and well-liked contributors on the platform during the early 2010s.
In July 2014, Eisenkop's standing collapsed when his Unidan account was banned for vote manipulation. According to Reddit administrators and contemporaneous reporting, he had used at least five alternate, or 'sock puppet,' accounts to upvote his own submissions and comments while downvoting posts and users he was competing or arguing with. The practice violated Reddit's rules against using multiple accounts to game its voting system.
The ban surfaced publicly during an otherwise minor dispute over the classification of birds in the crow family, an exchange involving jackdaws that drew attention to the suspicious voting patterns on his account. On July 30, 2014, it was announced to the Reddit community that the manipulation had been confirmed, an unusually public disclosure for an individual user given his prominence.
After the ban, Eisenkop returned under a new handle, UnidanX, to address the community. As reported by the Daily Dot and others, he apologized for his conduct, describing it as 'a really stupid move' and saying he felt bad about it, particularly because the manipulation had been unnecessary given his genuine popularity. His fall has since been cited as a notable example of how a beloved online figure can quickly lose community trust, and of Reddit's enforcement against coordinated voting abuse. Coverage from the Daily Dot, Vice, and reference sites documents both his rise and the circumstances of his ban.