What Are All These "Robot Members" Doing Here?

[ZeeOSix]

They reading up to make their AI master knowledgeable about oil, filters, auto maintenance, etc. Hope they don't blow-up with too many thick vs thin threads. See list of them in the link below .

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/online/?type=robot

 

[dishdude]

I think when you do a search in a search engine for "what's the best motor oil" and a bitog link comes up that's a robot.

 

[Astro14]

The site has had a high number of robot web crawlers for a long time. It’s interesting how Google rates Internet sites. Content matters, and language matters. What we allow (moderate) has a huge impact in our ratings. So, yep, robots are crawling the site, and yes, they are judging us on our content.

 

[joekingcorvette]

That's very interesting.

 

[Pablo]

I’m watching this thread

 

[JeffKeryk]

I hate computers.

 

[Astro14]

What is even more interesting is how many attacks, spammers, and what I’m going to call “malicious actors” come after the site on a daily basis.

Web crawlers, bots, like the ones you saw, are fine. It raises the site rankings in Google, which is good for us.

Our administrator, Wayne, has done a truly magnificent job at keeping the rest, the bad actors, off the site.

They try several hundred thousand times a day.

 

[dnewton3]

I will add to what Astro14 has said ...

BITOG survives thrives in a world where other websites are experiencing poor content and dying off. Conversely, BITOG is continually gaining in membership and also enjoys very healthy content contribution every day.

This success is due to two things:
- The Administration efforts of key tech people behind the scenes; they keep the motor humming (electronic equivalent of OCIs and other maintenance work)
- The Moderation staff working on the front lines; they clear the road and keep BITOG from driving into a ditch

I realize that some folks here think that the Mods are heavy-handed. But what most don't realize is that BITOG is graded (scored; ranked; etc.) on the content and behavior in public view. This site is constantly being observed by good Bots and making relevant assessments, which in turn are key inputs into how much "traffic" we get from the outside world. Having a "good grade" encourages more and more search engine results directed here. This is exactly why the Mods are very strict about the rules; these policies keep us in very good favor with what I like to call the "GoogleMonster".

EVERYTHING matters ... how we behave, what we link from outside sources, spelling and grammar, images, quality and quantity of content ...
Good policies = good ratings = more hits on searches = more traffic volume = ..... (you get the point).

Further, AI generated content is actually a distraction; it is very unfavorable in the grading scheme. AI bots visit here and want to "learn" from genuine, verifiable sources. So we do not, in any manner, allow/accept AI generated content to be posted here. You can discuss the future and implications of AI, but do not ever post AI generated content of any source on this site. If you see it here, please "report" the post to staff immediately.
Simply put ... Talking about AI is OK. Posting AI content (text, images, etc) is very, very bad.
Got it?

This is now a world where social media platform groups on FB and IG are very popular, and many other web-based groups are dying on the vine. Yet BITOG is a dinosaur which is unlikely to go extinct anytime soon, so as long as we continue to operate in a positive, self-policing and respectable manner.

If you like coming here, you have to accept that the way BITOG is managed is a proven model of success which most other sites haven't been able to duplicate. The ownership of BITOG sees this site as a passion, not a profit. There is very little money to be made, once all the expenses of platform updates, program contracts, and server entities are paid. So, we have to live on a few key sponsors and our positive web image. BITOG isn't a get-rich-quick entity by any stretch.

We cherish our long-time members, and welcome newcomers who want to learn and grow with us. But that growth has to come on our terms, because it's the only way we'll continue to be who we are; the "best" website ever!




Faithfully submitted,
dnewton3
Sgt at Arms

IYKYK

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

If you go on you tube and type in whats the best "X" you are almost guaranteed to have first 10 videos to be AI generated lists made for clicks and affiliate links. Almost the entire content generated and scripted by AI

 

[D60]

So if bad things were said about this thing that went down in '20, did Google demote the site?

I understand that type of conversation is not the subject of BITOG, I'm just wondering how deep the reach is of our benevolent overlords?

 

[Hall]

So if bad things were said about this thing that went down in '20, did Google demote the site?

We're allowed to say Covid. It was and is a real thing. Google isn't going to downgrade a site that discusses it but they no doubt will rank more appropriate sites higher. As has been mentioned (warned) here many times, this isn't a place for medical advice. If someone posts that "yeah, I had Covid last week and it really knocked me down hard this time", it's fine.

 

[Astro14]

So if bad things were said about this thing that went down in '20, did Google demote the site?

I understand that type of conversation is not the subject of BITOG, I'm just wondering how deep the reach is of our benevolent overlords?

There was no negative impact from our rule set on that subject. You wouldn't expect the AMA to discuss oil viscosity, right?

Google won't say precisely how they rate content, but they rate our content very high.

It's a good bet that they want accurate, detailed content, written by real people, not bots.

It's also true that they demote sites that allow profanity, allow interpersonal conflict, or where the content has limited value, or contains spelling and grammatical errors.

 

[michaelluscher]

It's a good bet that they want accurate, detailed content, written by real people, not bots.

I often embed a TikTok or YouTube short if it explains something better than I can
If a pictures worth a thousand words, what's a ~20 second hands on video convey?

dnewton3 is beyond correct, this is still one of the few (if only) forums I frequent, because so many others have just become desolate wastelands of ads, AI generated content, and plzbros

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

If you go on you tube and type in whats the best "X" you are almost guaranteed to have first 10 videos to be AI generated lists made for clicks and affiliate links. Almost the entire content generated and scripted by AI

Same with Google. The internet is being overtaken by AI garbage sites. Long winded and non specific information. So many sites are almost identical too

 

[dnewton3]

I often embed a TikTok or YouTube short if it explains something better than I can
If a pictures worth a thousand words, what's a ~20 second hands on video convey?

There exists a unlimited number of videos on the 'web. Some are inappropriate for display here; those which violate our rules. But those which do not contain prohibited content, language, images, etc are totally fine to show here. But there is a caveat ...

NOTE: the following is addressed to all; I'm not singling michaelluscher out, but want to inform all here of the distinction we make ...
This goes back to my previous post about having value-added content which is generated by humans and relevant to other humans.

When a video is posted here (presuming it's otherwise acceptable per the rules), then it's very important for the poster to say WHY the content belongs here on BITOG. Tell us why it's relevant to you, or to the other members. Do NOT just post a link, toss in a three-word quip, and disappear. That is what we Mods refer to as a "drive-by link". If you believe it's worthy of existing on BITOG, then you should be able to give a short paragraph of how the content helped you, interested you, or would be of benefit to others.



Example 1 ... A good use of BITOG space:
(video of removing a stubborn bolt on a steering shaft which is obstructed by an exhaust header)
"Hey guys, I was removing the column in my 1972 Duster, and found this video helpful. It shows how you can come up from the underside and support the .... (blah blah blah). This was the tip that got me past where I was stuck, because I didn't understand the obstruction until I saw it in the video."
Videos like this can be very interesting, and when you describe how it helped you, then you are adding credible, valuable content to our site.

Example 2 ... A "drive-by" post, not worthy of our time here:
(video of a motorcycle jumping a hill)
"This is cool."
Posts of this nature are just a surrogate cry for social media attention. Please, take this back to FB, IG or wherever else you found it and don't leave a residual trail of emotional tears when you get a warning for useless content from a Mod. This does not improve or otherwise enhance the BITOG experience.



Any one of us can find literally millions of videos out there, which may or may not be of interest to another. BITOG is not, despite the overlap of societal discussions here, a social media site. BITOG is for good discussions and sharing of ideas and knowledge. BITOG is not a place just to dump a video of a kitten licking a dog's ear and then post "Awwww; that's cute!' as if you're some pre-teen locked in her room. If you believe the material(s) you link are worthy of our time, then you should be able to well described your thoughts in several sentences. If you can't do that, then don't post the link; it's that simple.

 

[slo town]

Although not surprising, I find this behind the scenes insight eye opening.

Scott

 

[eljefino]

BITOG does float to near the top of some surprising google searches that are not directly car related. I'm glad it's due to content quality and not bribery.