Traffic Bots Against the TOS of LL?

And first land was designed to help newbies, you've been here a lot longer than me, things have changed. Camping was designed to increase traffic. This platform is evolving, as the platform evolves new challenges come along. What was originally intended and what the situation are now are very different.



Everyone is entitled to an opinion. I just find the argument people have with Phil to be largely poppycock. If Phil was selling traffic, as mall owners do, then I'd see the argument, but Phil sells furniture.

I don't like traffic bots, I myself won't use them, that's my choice, but I'm not going to jump up and down and have a hissy fit because Phil uses them. He does what he does, I do what I do. I survive or fail by my decisions, not Phil's.

How is using his tools and his admission negative?

Is it because the techniques are negative or bad?

If there is nothing wrong with the tools he's using then why would it be negative advertising?

How can it be name and shame if there is nothing to be ashamed of in what he is doing?

Mort come on, any such advert would be designed to negatively impact Phil. It would also be extremely hypocritical to use the tactics you object to for such a negative campaign but heck fill your boots. I'd say it's an ar offence.

That part would be devolving. Not evolving. If the system worked better before and less good now ..


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I listed a whole lot of other people hurt by trafficbot runners too.

You dismissed his competitors, I still strongly disagree.

I also think if you were in the low prim furnature biz you might have a different opinion.

- but what about the rest?

So is using an exploit for personal gain, and he's admitted to that in the past. Though it does seem they fixed part of one exploit that was bothering me a bit. Still some holes that can be used, and fixing that exploit tool would also impact his search results in all search (as well as many others)

But that's what happens, systems are developed and then something happens that makes them not what they once were. Then the decision has to be made whether to change or persevere. Linden Lab scrapped first land, they've changed search.


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I am in the low prim furniture business

The only one on your list I agree with is his neighbours. If they start feeling the pinch due to abuse of system resources he'll have his arse kicked.

Two wrongs don't make a right. If you object to his tactics then the last thing you should be doing is employing them.

Then to be frankly honest- Unless you have a comparable traffic number, Phil has taken some of your potential sales

Not everyone will be cool with that. We shouldn't expect them to be.



Well it could be hurting his neighbors to an extent now ..

They may for example never hold parties on their land because they know its always half full with bots.

remember 20 bots is nearly half the avatar limit 24/7/365.

And Phil isnt the only Botter around.

Then it's up to me to come up with a tactic that increases my sales that I'm comfortable with. People who have been here longer than me have a headstart. People in showcase have a boost, I actually find that way more objectionable than Phil's tactics.

Yet you say the competitors should use the tools to manipulate search in retaliation for his manipulations in order to promote their place of business?

Yes it is, but your competitors don't have to share you more forgiving view on the subject.

Lost potential sales are still lost potential sales.

And their grievance is legitimate.

A lot of us "Anti-trafficbot" types have businesses as well. And I am pretty confident that in those businesses some of their competitors use trafficbots.


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Your objection to the Showcase is a similar problem. Its just more easily expressed since its a very concrete and obvious favoritism that costs you sales.

I will be happy when traffic is no longer a search criteria.... I cant remember who had the idea of making search random when using key words.... each time you enter the key word a new random list comes up. I loved that idea!

Competitors should use the tools they feel comfortable with. There's no God given right to be at a certain placement in the search order.

But there will always be lost potential sales. I like the random order search idea but that will result in lost potential sales when the random order puts my places lower down the list.



It's more objectionable because it's Linden Lab endorsing the products, that's a huge boost.

So if his competition finds a way to suddenly dominate the top place in search by manipulation of the metrics it's all fine and dandy? Never mind they are likely using even more questionable methods?

If you don't mind the fact you lose sales already due to manipulation of search why would you mind losing them through random listings?

And? So what if LL endorses a company, it's a big boost equivalent to the same way search is being manipulated by your competition.

Both cause you to lose potential sales due to unfairness, yet only one seems to bother you.

I like that idea too
gives everyone an equal chance so to speak
without the use of bots and picks and whatever else ppl use
(and won't cost anything, so even the little guys who can not afford 1000's of L's per week for ads get a chance)

seriously how can people afford to pay out that kind of lindens per week?
(they must have one hell of a profit margin)

I would not say he is hurting people who are looking to buy low prim furniture

I was looking for low prim and looked in other places before I found phil's and his was the one I chose, why... because he had what I was looking for

I never said I mind, I was pointing out that there will always be lost potential sales.



It's a much bigger boost than search being manipulated, it's also completely subjective to people at Linden Lab. They could remove traffic as a ranking factor tomorrow, showcase will still be there.

do you think people will buy just because traffic numbers are high?

I tend to give people more credit than that, and regardless of what tempted them there, they will only buy what they want and like

people may never even find your store because Traffic numbers are high.

What if there was a place with items you would have liked better, or just as much but were cheaper, but youll never know because you didnt spot it .. becasue it was 2 pages pack on the search.

Its only a matter of degree.

when the search is gamed and the majority of the early pages are one semi decent store and a bunch of business in a box resales, a handful of poor quality copybot stores... who do you think will get the sale?

They are not going to delve into the deeper pages when they see so much chaff due to search manipulation.

So because of a big boost to a locations sales you grumble, but not because a person can manipulate the search metrics to the point they get an even bigger boost against their competition...