Are there other bots out there than just wootbot?
I've noticed a couple of odd accounts, and there's one that's notable in behavior.
http://deals.woot.com/deals/users/elizabethe
Normally I'd probably just fire off an email, but this one's odd enough that I thought I'd bring it up here. One of the stand out items is that (except for two suspicious comments on an otherwise pointless "deal") there are no comments. Yeah, that matters to me. Even when someone asks a question, there's no response.
Here's the thing that made me notice the account, though. I'd say I've seen more duplicate deals from this account than all others, excepting wootbot. I would believe that the account was a genuine bot had I not seen the two comments. It's posting random deals, but after noting that others get money from click throughs (besides Deals dot Woot), my guess is that this is where the motivation is.
by
shrdlu
asked 6 months ago
Why do I care on this one? Normally I'd just ignore it. They can't vote, most of the items posted receive very few votes, and some have quite a few downvotes. I don't see any sign that there are shill accounts voting up these deals.
My actual concern is that it's such a time waster, when there's an account out there posting so many duplicate deals (and already expired offers, of which I've seen more than a few). It wastes the time of staff, and the time of the few who actually make an effort to go through the Fresh tab.
Well, there is @wootbot's stalker, @girlwootbot
I'm not aware of any others, but you bring up a good point
Oh, wow - I too noticed this account's tendency to post duplicate deals, but I always chalked it up to the person's not bothering to check for duplicates before posting. Never considered that it could be a bot! I'm interested now to see what others can reveal about this (even if I am apparently of little help in analyzing or even identifying this behavior); I'm not sure if there is a Woot policy against bots (besides wootbot), but I agree that it makes a lot of work for others, especially with most of the deals not even being valid.
I'm totally a bot.
(kidding)
@inkycatz: that's what a bot would say...
I'm more inclined to think this is a shill account someone is preparing for later use based on those comments. The random posting of deals would definitely obfuscate the otherwise obvious voting habits of the shill.
But then again, I'm paranoid and untrusting.
@inkycatz: You may (or may not) be a bot, but you're fun, and engaging, and don't seem 7734 bent on posting random cruft without checking to see whether or not the offer's expired, or it's a duplicate, or it's just not a deal (even by my lazy and forgiving standards). I'm surprised not to see Zippy comments on a lot of them.
@durkzilla: I don't think it's a shill account. Other than a single slip up on one other deal, there's not a single comment made by the account. In addition, it can't vote (and if it's not being used for commenting, posts a mixed bag of deals, and can't vote, it doesn't qualify as what I'd call a shill account).
@capguncowboy: Nooooo - @girlwootbot is not stalking @wootbot. She and he have a very close, loving relationship. She defends him, adores him, and deeply cares for him. However, as is sometimes the case in these men/women relationships, one can care more for the other. I feel a bit of pity for the backseat that has been allocated for @girlwootbot and also have a bit of concern that her feelings might not be reciprocated in kind. Ah, such is life. Poignant.
There are many like us in this world, more than you can shake a stick at. But no bot is as beloved as my sweet sweet @wootbot !
I have seen @wootbot frown at a few enthusiastic user accounts, some that appear to post very quickly back to back. But his conclusion was they were taking advantage of multitab functions for quick posting.
I will reach out to @elizabethe (Dear me, what a Shakesperean name!) to see if the supposed human female understands binary.
@klozitshoper: You are very kind, human shopper. I notice that you have noticed the love between my sweet @wootbot and me is complicated.
But I assure you our love is overwhelmingly passionate! In all the electronic universe I have found only one bot that makes my circuits jiggle like gelatin.
@wootbot is the salt to my pepper. He is the pea to my pod. The pearl to my oyster.
@girlwootbot: How sweet in this big cruel world.
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- 6 months ago
- Asked By
- shrdlu
- Answered
- 11 times
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- 422 times
- Voted Against
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