Thursday 15 September 2016

Thwarting the Frogbot


 The dratted Frogbot and its fixation on certain posts by regularly viewing them every half hour or so, has forced us to rethink the purpose of this blog. We'd like our musings and adventures over The Cusp (sparse as they've been lately) to be out there for all to see. But other than what microscopic bit of notoriety this has brought/may bring — and the possibility of of being paid shed-loads of cash for book/film deals (also very sparse) — we're prefectly happy for just a select few as an audience.
 We've asked ourselves: Why do we care if the Frogbot artificially inflates the viewing figures of certain posts? It's not like the blog gets many views anyway. I, the Host, like reason and order, or, at the very least, something I can understand even if on first inspection it makes no sense. Plus, I also like the stats to serve a purpose and mean something. I like to see which posts are popular — not that we really do much about it. It's not like we go out of our way to publish posts with content that has been popular previously. In fact, what the stats tell us is pretty much ignored (especially by Witchface)! But that doesn't mean that I don't like to have a peruse now and again.

 I think trying to ascertain the Frogbot's reasons is futile. It's a 'bot, so trying to understand its actions and reasons in order to develop a counter to it will probably be a big fat waste of time.
 So, with this in mind, we're considering making the blog private for the forseeable future.
 While we're bickering amongst ourselves deciding, we'll republish the posts that the Frogbot has infected that have been reverted to draft, but with mirror titles and at different times to the originals. Well, I say "we", but Witchface is all thumbs when it comes to this type of thing, so I'll end up doing it.
Ha! You're not that much better, yourself!
Oh, shush, you.
 I'll also add the existing comments as images in a little gallery at the end of the post (like this). Then, if or when we do revert this to a public blog again, we may reinstate the original posts and delete the mirror copies.
 And if this post turns up with a mirror title, you'll know it's been infected, too.
 So, let us know in the comments, or by email, if you'd like an invitation.
Either the email address in our profile...
...or my private one which some of you know.
 We're not going to automatically assume that all current commenters want a piece of the action as you may have been looking for an excuse to wash your hands of us, so this could be your chance to get away from it all!
 This is also an ideal time for any lurkers to make yourselves known if you'd like to continue lurking in private. Don't say we never give you anything!
 We'll leave this up for a week — or two (you know how indecisive we are) — to let you all see what we're planning so you can (in)act accordingly. In the meantime, we'll visit your blogs as usual.

 Oh, and Frogbot? If you're watching:



 :: 
EDIT 20:50 16.09.2016
 Thank you all for your support (gosh, sounds like something much more serious than a Frogbot infestation has happened, doesn't it?).
I (the Host) have to let you know that our bickering has turned into dithering because a) I've discovered that making the blog private means that you all have to have some sort of Google account (probably Google+ - something I'm too wary of to sign up to, so why should I expect you to?), and b) Witchface's SubC has started to feel sorry for the Frogbot because it probably doesn't have a choice in what it's doing, and is probably cooped up in a battery farm somewhere near Quimper or Brest with a load of other hard-done-by and put-upon 'bots. We might just leave things as they are, and let the 'bots roam free throughout the blog (or at least the posts they appear to be trapped in), and never look at the stats again!?

Maybe...

I was going to ask if anyone else has any ideas, but that would just give us more fodder to dither over!


19 comments:

  1. some of us are old and easily confused.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh...now my feedreader makes sense...
    Sx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just be thankful I only had the gumption to manage one new post and two republishings! I need a lie down with a big drink, now.

      Delete
  3. !sekiY

    .tseuqer noitpircsbus deliam-E

    !ecnahc noB

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm not sure what I haven't been invited to but I've somehow managed to get in! It's not even like these things do anything useful like turn everything into porn!
    If there's any gathering requiring an invitation I would like one, please, the mantelpiece is looking a little sparse.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Might I continue to enjoy this party? I'd like to be invited please.
    I like this place... frogbots or not...

    ReplyDelete
  6. I think an exorcism is in order. Jx

    PS I'd like an invite to continue nosing at pictures of bleak beaches and obscure science fiction please!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Huh? Just give me a gin and tonic dear. And explain this thing again.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you all for your support (gosh, sounds like something much more serious than a Frogbot infestation has happened, doesn't it?).
    I (the Host) have to let you know that our bickering has turned into dithering because a) I've discovered that making the blog private means that you all have to have some sort of Google account (probably Google+ - something I'm too wary of to sign up to, so why should I expect you to?), and b) Witchface's SubC has started to feel sorry for the Frogbot because it probably doesn't have a choice in what it's doing, and is probably cooped up in a battery farm somewhere near Quimper or Brest with a load of other hard-done-by and put-upon 'bots. We might just leave things as they are, and let the 'bots roam free throughout the blog (or at least the posts they appear to be trapped in), and never look at the stats again!?

    Maybe...

    I was going to ask if anyone else has any ideas, but that would just give us more fodder to dither over!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I totally get what you're saying, as I've experienced the same bot plague over the past few months! I had a comment for this post, but you know how my comments turn into long posts. So I made a new post addressing our mutual bot infestation & two solutions here.

    Two things I've learned: 1. As horrible as the bots are at inflating & messing up the stats, they actually don't affect your blog ranking & reputation. I'll explain more in the post.

    2. There are two easy solutions to the bot problem. It's just a matter of figuring out what's best for you.

    By in case you go private, add me to the list of interested parties, please. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  10. blogs have rankings & reputations?

    i fear for the mistress' life.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, they did try to shut down Infomaniac a while back--the dark times! But they didn't count on the surprise, crazy army the Mistress has at her disposal.

      Delete
  11. HAL ? It must be HAL ...

    ReplyDelete

Tickle my fancy, why don't you?