People seem to know that active chat bots are prohibited in TNB, but I don't see that written anywhere. Is this indeed so?
And if so, are pure listening bots that never speak also prohibited? These could be useful for custom notification.
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1\$\begingroup\$ Listening bots don't bother anyone, and are definitely allowed. \$\endgroup\$– PavelCommented Feb 13, 2018 at 18:56
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1\$\begingroup\$ @Pavel That looks like an answer to me. \$\endgroup\$– Erik the OutgolferCommented Feb 13, 2018 at 18:58
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\$\begingroup\$ Also see codegolf.meta.stackexchange.com/a/1343/60042 \$\endgroup\$– PavelCommented Feb 13, 2018 at 18:58
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1 Answer
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Chat bots (that post messages) have no place in TNB. Since TNB is for discussion of code-golf and PPCG related topics, having bots in the room would be distracting and obnoxious, and would overtake more important conversations. The reason that this is not officially mentioned in the chatiquette is because this isn't a frequent or reoccurring issue. You could try posting an answer here if you think this warrants being added to the official TNB guidelines.
Now, bots can be super helpful and useful at times. So if you have a bot and you would like to run it in a chat room, that's perfectly fine as long as it goes in the appropriate room. Testing the bot should go in the sandbox, and once the bot works correctly, it should go in it's own new room or in an existing room with the permission of that room's owner.
Bots that don't post any messages are an exception. If they are only listening to the ongoing conversation, they can't derail the conversation or annoy users, so there is no harm from having them in TNB. Of course, while testing that the bot is functioning correctly, this should also go in the sandbox.
answered Feb 13, 2018 at 19:09
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\$\begingroup\$ Well, a problem I see with this is that who knows if a bot will actually post any message at all, despite its owner claiming it won't. Should the owner be responsible? I'd say yes, but this has to be addressed before suggesting a new chatiquette rule. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Feb 13, 2018 at 19:31
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6\$\begingroup\$ @EriktheOutgolfer If the bot owner claims it won't post any messages, that's enough for me. If the bot ends up posting messages and the owner won't stop it from posting in TNB, then the bot itself will just be suspended to get it to stop. But this seems like a very unlikely situation that has nothing to do with allowing bots to listen to TNB. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Feb 13, 2018 at 21:14
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6\$\begingroup\$ I would clarify that this rule is occasionally lifted for very specific, relevant circumstances (like in 2016, when an unofficial election results bot was allowed to post the outcome for our moderator election). \$\endgroup\$– user45941Commented Feb 13, 2018 at 23:17