Uniform Stealing Board

I'm in contact with a fellow who's been trying to register for membership here.
He's a bit confused about the "Confirmation Of Registration". The question of "2 + 2 - 3 x 4 =".
He isn't clear what this means.
I actually had a problem with this too.

4?

the answer can be 4, but it also can be -8

it depends on how you write the equation

(2+2) - ( 3x 4) = in this case it's -8

but I don't know the answer wanted by the machine ( after all it's a machine)

Darth, I suggest your friend tries both the answers

but this strange feature in the registration form has a story.
Years ago, after hearing protests from would-be members, I and Redrunned decided to remove the math question from the registration form

worst decision ever

the board was flooded by new members ( as matter of fact, all of them robots, or what else )

one or two HUNDRED per day

sad memories

eventually we reinstated the math question. It's a wall against the robots out there