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Re: Membership access
Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 5:27 pm
by jafa
That is a very good question, Glock. I am sure that the Administration has an answer.
After encountering on another site a frustrating qualifier screen that negates bots, I wonder if its time has come for sites like femmfatalities
Re: Membership access
Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 10:22 pm
by Bluestone
I was hoping that G-Man would answer this one. I suspect that the bots registered when the site first opened and memberships were not being manually set up as they are now. I don't see a problem with the bots, since they drive qualifying traffic to FF through their search engines. If anyone else has an opinion or more knowledge of this subject, please feel free to enlighten us all 
Blue
Re: Membership access
Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 11:10 pm
by BrianTK
Phpbb message boards come with accounts pre-installed for all the major SE bots. These accounts allow the search engines to easily spider the board. They can be deactivated in the admin control panel.
Re: Membership access
Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 12:21 am
by Bluestone
Thanks, BrianTK.
So, are these bots an advantage or disadvantage for a message board such as FF?
Blue
Re: Membership access
Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 12:28 am
by JohnM
Bluestone wrote:Thanks, BrianTK.
So, are these bots an advantage or disadvantage for a message board such as FF?
Blue
Well, I have had code in my website and message-board for years that disables bots. It is called the "robots.txt". I just go under the assumption that I only want to attract members of this community. I try to fly under the radar and try to do nothing on purpose to attract outside onlookers.
Based on over all community size and the possible attraction of unwanted attention and, even worse, minors---that they should probably be disabled.
JohnM
Re: Membership access
Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 12:46 am
by Bluestone
BrianTK,
Why don't we take JohnM's advice on this and go ahead and disable these bots. I'm sure that those with the fetish will still be able to find us.
Blue
Re: Membership access
Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 12:59 am
by BrianTK
Bluestone wrote:BrianTK,
Why don't we take JohnM's advice on this and go ahead and disable these bots. I'm sure that those with the fetish will still be able to find us.
Blue
Disabling the bots will just keep them from visiting the board in the future. Adding a robots.txt file like JohnM mentioned should remove the site from the search engines completely. I can do either one.
Re: Membership access
Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 1:04 am
by Bluestone
Hi BrianTK,
Just disable the bots. We still want to make it possible for like-minded individuals to find us. We just don't want to feel that we're under some kind of Big Brother scrutiny.
Blue
(P.S. Yes, we could have done this by private email exchange, but I prefer to be open and transparent as to how this board is operated. A member's concern has been considered and addressed while keeping all other members in the loop.)
Re: Membership access
Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 1:12 am
by BrianTK
I just disabled all the bot accounts on the board. I went to the front page and noticed that currently Ask Jeeves and Google are both spidering the board. If this is still happening tomorrow I can add a robots.txt file that just blocks the board and not the rest of the site.
Re: Membership access
Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 1:26 am
by Bluestone
Hi BrianTK,
That sounds like a great idea! Since like-minded individuals can still find the FF front door and access the board through it, we might as well add the robots.txt file for this message board.
Thanks Brian for all of your help! Many members do not realize that you are always working behind the scenes, quietly and without any fanfare, to ensure that this board continues to run smoothly. Your contribution is very much appreciated, Brian 
Blue