Ban Viewing Bots

Lately, people have started selling/using "viewing bots."
These bots get you thousands of views on threads, sites, whatever. People are starting to use these on their threads to make them look more popular. This ruins the concept of it..

Also here's an example of someone selling a guide and the example of how many views are on it. (16k Views, 16 replies)
EX: http://www.sythe.org/showthread.php?t=865964



Post your views..

 

I'm in the process of coding my own.

My opinions: These should have been sold privately, if people start to but them the point of views on a thread would be pointless, although the bots could be very very useful.

 

What is the point of views on a thread?

 

I don't see WHY or HOW it helps market their topic or service though.

It's rather useless.

I don't support banning it unless it effects someone in some way. I personally NEVER view how many people view that thread though.

 

I would say there is no point to having it, people will rely on the replies not the views.

And... To be against the rules? I dont think it would be.

 

Eh.. You can use a simple FireFox addon to accomplish the same task.

In general I'm not in favor of increasing the bannable items, but it is putting stress on the server... Hmm.

Also: Tmoe your avatar is awesome, haha.

 

You raise a good point. They should definitely be banned then.


No reason to add extra costs / lag on the server.

 

Thanks for the feedback.
Nick raises a whole new point.. Such programs are just refreshing the page(around 2 times a second.) I'm assuming this would lag the server a bit..

Off Topic: Tell Julia that.. She made it. IDK what he was doing tbh.

 

It's... um.... just plain stupid. Plus anybody could easily code one in under five minutes.

It's basically just like spam-refreshing the page. It's just stupid.

I don't really know. I don't think they should really be sold here, but attempting to sell one shouldn't earn you a ban.

 

What do views do anyway, just let it go.

 

Not a ban, simply banning the selling of the bots/using one. If someone is found selling/using an infraction.

 

It's stupid. I've had my skilling thread for almost a year with under 30K views of legit people viewing my thread, and then a bot comes out FOR SALE, and ruins the whole concept.

I support.

 

I would say make using them a temporary ban, but make selling them allowed because viewing bots can be used for alot more things than sythe, such as youtube, associated content, site hits and more.

I pmed several mods and admins about my thread, asking them if it was against the rules. Nick was the only one that replied saying he doesn't know.

So support making the use of them on sythe threads against the rules. But i don't support making the sales of them against the rules.

 

Or this.

But it can still be abused in small increments at a time.

 

I honestly support them for anything but sythe.

 

I might go get a spam bot and use it on OMM's and mod threads.
BAN xD

 

Who needs a bot when I can it by my self! I am not starting a service. $0.25 per view!

But in otherwords..I really don't think views matter, but if they are putting stress on the server they should not be allowed, but it would be rather hard to find someone that is using one.

 

Lol.. Simply look at the view to post ratio.. It's pretty obvious.

 

Maybe a temp ban... only for the reason that it strains the server. Esp if they go widespread

 

No, this is stupid.. people will just use it on people they dont like, and get them banned...