13 replies to this topic

[Selena]

The latest advertising machine produced by SkyNet, the A-1000 'jordan' was developed to act as the ultimate spambot. Made of mimetic poly-alloy, this bot has the ability to take on the appearance of a regular member and mimic their behavior. This is done by taking in old post information and replicating it, passing an old post off as their own. This would make the bot seem like an actual human poster when they are, in fact, a shapeshifting machine with a cleverly disguised advert for pocket sized machines in their signature.

The A-1000 'jordan' has now been.... terminated.

[JRPomazon]

The latest advertising machine produced by SkyNet, the A-1000 'jordan' was developed to act as the ultimate spambot. Made of mimetic poly-alloy, this bot has the ability to take on the appearance of a regular member and mimic their behavior. This is done by taking in old post information and replicating it, passing an old post off as their own. This would make the bot seem like an actual human poster when they are, in fact, a shapeshifting machine with a cleverly disguised advert for pocket sized machines in their signature.

The A-1000 'jordan' has now been.... terminated.

Wow, how . . . dramatic.

[TheAvengerLever]

Those damn Smithbots.


Yes, it's a Matrix reference.

[Showsni]

Maybe if it hadn't chosen such old threads it would have got away with it. Until we tried talking to it...

[Twinrova]

They're gettin' sneakier. :O

[spunky-monkey]

The latest advertising machine produced by SkyNet, the A-1000 'jordan' was developed to act as the ultimate spambot. Made of mimetic poly-alloy, this bot has the ability to take on the appearance of a regular member and mimic their behavior. This is done by taking in old post information and replicating it, passing an old post off as their own. This would make the bot seem like an actual human poster when they are, in fact, a shapeshifting machine with a cleverly disguised advert for pocket sized machines in their signature.

The A-1000 'jordan' has now been.... terminated.

What, no "I need a vacation" joke? Booo.

[Chiaki]

Wow, sounds like these things are getting pretty sophisticated. I almost wonder if it would just be cheaper for companies to use regular ads than to have someone program these. XD

[Keen]

You have to pay to keep banners and such up, but once the bot's been written, it can roam virtually cost-free.

Edited by Lord of Drek, 16 October 2007 - 12:40 PM.

[SOAP]

I have to ask, are adbots really all that harmful?

Also, when was the last time an actual human was banned or suspended... that wasn't requested by the banee/supendee.

[Xkeeper]

I have to ask, are adbots really all that harmful?

Also, when was the last time an actual human was banned or suspended... that wasn't requested by the banee/supendee.

It depends on what you mean by "harmful".

Do they cause harm? They can waste database space, which isn't always available on servers. They can waste bandwidth, which can be costly. Yes, they are.

They are also annoying. Most pepole do not like having threads interrupted with useless posts informing them that they need to buy viagra now at $9.71.

I administrate my own forum, as well, so I have some authority on the subject. (I even invented a nice way to kill most bots.) ... Your post, especially here:
Also, when was the last time an actual human was banned or suspended...
...tells me that you seem to think nobody being banned is a sign of either administrators doing a bad job*. It could just mean.. nobody needs banned.


* Although if, by chance, you are instead curious about when the last person actually got banned, e.g. to determine how bad the spambot problem is, I apologize.

Edited by Xkeeper, 27 October 2007 - 05:39 AM.

[Arturo]

Hero of Legend was the last suspended member. As for the last banned one, I'd have to look further.

[SOAP]

I have to ask, are adbots really all that harmful?

Also, when was the last time an actual human was banned or suspended... that wasn't requested by the banee/supendee.

It depends on what you mean by "harmful".

Do they cause harm? They can waste database space, which isn't always available on servers. They can waste bandwidth, which can be costly. Yes, they are.

They are also annoying. Most pepole do not like having threads interrupted with useless posts informing them that they need to buy viagra now at $9.71.

I administrate my own forum, as well, so I have some authority on the subject. (I even invented a nice way to kill most bots.) ... Your post, especially here:
Also, when was the last time an actual human was banned or suspended...
...tells me that you seem to think nobody being banned is a sign of either administrators doing a bad job*. It could just mean.. nobody needs banned.


* Although if, by chance, you are instead curious about when the last person actually got banned, e.g. to determine how bad the spambot problem is, I apologize.

I don't think the admins are doing a bad job. I'm just surprised no one has gotten out of line. This forum seems be more to announce dead spambots and members who requested bans so they can catch up on classwork or something. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. Just curious is all.

[Selena]

Spambots are just annoying. Not really harmful unless they run absolutely rampant. But there's only room for one bot in this town.


And no, we don't usually have to ban real people. Situations are usually diffused before we have to get to that stage.

[Steel Samurai]

Which actually means the Admins are doing a better job than if they just banned people left right and center.