Anonymous Users?

[threebikesmcginty]

I don't suppose there's an answer to 'who are they?' but what is an anonymous user?

 

[Norm]

Generally a spider or searchbot.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Generally a spider or searchbot.

Thanks Norm.

What's a spider (assuming it's not an 8 legged beastie) and a searchbot then?

 

[Norm]

In brief, automated programs.

In a bit more detail, spiders (and other web crawlers) are stuff that Google, Yahoo etc use to index forums so that we appear on their search results. Searchbots are stuff that people build to identify specific terms and search the internet to find pieces which may be of interest.

In full detail, there are huge industries and markets built on such things, there's probably degree courses on them.

 

[Lisa21]

There's spiders in here???




Im off.......................................

 

[TheDoctor]

Spiders in the sense that they crawl round the web...

 

[Shaun]

Spiders in the sense that they crawl round the web...

and up your trouser leg if you're not looking ...

 

[Norm]

That's Lisa gone for good, then.

 

[Shaun]

 

[Lisa21]

 

[dellzeqq]

sorry to be so ignorant, but what do they actually do?

 

[Norm]

They go through the web and "read" each thread and add it to their databases along with URL's and dates etc.

Then, when someone searches for that term, they look through their own databases, find the word / phrase and list the links to the URLs on their results pages.

 

[Lisa21]

They go through the web and "read" each thread and add it to their databases along with URL's and dates etc.

Then, when someone searches for that term, they look through their own databases, find the word / phrase and list the links to the URLs on their results pages.

They also hide behind my telly and sneak out to scare me in the evening



And, apparently, big ones share a bed with NormanD.............................

 

[Cubist]

They also hide behind my telly and sneak out to scare me in the evening



And, apparently, big ones share a bed with NormanD.............................

Are they the big ones that run out from behind the telly only to stop, make sure you've seen them, then disappear so that you can't really be sure where they went, or where they'll turn up next?

 

[Davidc]

They get eviction orders from my wife - and it's my job to enforce those orders without killing or injuring the spiders in the process.

Mosquitoes, ants, wasps and most other insects don't do so well, they get execution warrants, and apart from cockroaches she enforces those herself. (Guess who gets to deal with the cockroaches).