Death of a forum

Woe is me!

[volatilegx]

Okay, so I admit it, I'm a junkie. Ever since the Search Engine Spider Identification forum was deprecated, I spend my days in depression and anxiety! I am always coming across new spiders and have nowhere to post about them (well actually I've been posting to a non-WebmasterWorld forum, but who reads it?). I am running into spiders where a Google search turns up past posts here, but I can't update them with new information.

Oh great god of WebmasterWorld, please de-deprecate my favorite forum :)

[bcolflesh]

I'd like that as well.

[pendanticist]

There are too many new ones out there now and without that source, we are all diminished. Well, except the folks who unleash them. They get free reign....

[bull]

Hey volatilegx,

not seen you for quite a time :)
I think you all know my opinion on forum11.

[guillermo5000]

Hello,

I have a spider ID question, but the spider ID forum is depreciated and posting is turned off.

Where does someone post these kind of questions?

Thanks.

[dnimrodx]

You can post it in HTML and Browsers or Webmaster General. There is always someone there able to clarify you.

[volatilegx]

I've seen some posts in Tracking and Logging here: [webmasterworld.com...]

I've been thinking about opening my own forum devoted specifically to the discussion of search engine spiders. I already have one as an adjunct to one of my commercial websites, but I want to make one that is not commercialized at all.

However, if the discussion is not carried on here, there likely won't be the kind of activity that's needed to keep it alive.

[pendanticist]

Here is a perfect example of why such a forum has merit.

66.228.91.*** - - [12/Feb/2004:10:49:56 -0800] "GET /robots.txt HTTP/1.1" 200 1524 "-" "NLese"
66.228.91.*** - - [12/Feb/2004:10:49:57 -0800] "GET / HTTP/1.1" 200 20402 "-" "NLese"

Sure, it asks for robots.txt, but from what I see this "NLese" is available for download.

http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:vlhserG4Bh0J:special.northernlight.com/downloads/ESE20030712.pdf+&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

[pendanticist]

Message five and six are out of sequence by date.

Anyway, don't stop posting to this thread on my account.

[Brett_Tabke]

> 66.228.91.***

and watch us get sued for posting that ip address in about 3 months after they find it via google.

[pendanticist]

If shaving off the last octet isn't enough all you gotta do is say the word.

[atadams]

How could you get sued for posting an IP address?

[DaveAtIFG]

[webmasterworld.com...]

[dnimrodx]

I had no idea this was such a serious issue. I do not blame Bret for being cautious -- I would do the same as him. Lets not forget however, that he has +25 years of experience in this line of business.

[pendanticist]

That is so true. However, should not the demands of the industry be cause for pause and re-evalution?

If not here, where?

We need the IP Number in order to determine the legitimacy of the bot. While those who operate these critters have every right to protect the name of thier unit, that should also be balanced with an opposing view as to the bot behaving in a manner consistent with our wishes.

I just don't see the future of the Internet being one ruled by spiders and bots, be they malicious or not, nor do I see the webmasters of the World enduring these assaults simply as another 'part of doing business'.