I've read this thread with interest. One of the people who I provide stats for -
not in the least inclined towards astrology, but who has to market the product
he's working on - has requested features like "determining stickiness".
Maybe it's just me, but I cannot agree with the "ethical" stances taken
dismissively by most of the thread. I provide a service: I look after data and
allow people to question that data. I see no reason to limit the scope of their
enquiry, even though the queries are fuzzy, and the results fuzzier. The people
who ask these questions should not be limited by the constraints I place on them
- and if I do put constraints on them, I regard this as a failure on my part,
just as much as I would regard it as a failure if I asked a question but the
answer was "Oh no, you can't ask that - it's the wrong sort of question". I find
the attitude implicit in such an answer narrow and disappointing.
I have to satisfy the queries of my customers - if not, they will go elsewhere.
In this case, I have to get another package to satisfy their queries hence I get
to maintain another package (joy!), probably windows (joy!!), both sides get to
feel superior (joy!!!). All of which is a shame: I always thought answering the
fuzzy questions was part of what this programming vocation is all about.
You could read this as a defense of marketeers and maybe it is. Then again it's
also a defense of tolerance and pragmatism. It's also a vote for folding
"stickiness algorithms" into analog.
At 2000-08-24 16:33:19, "Marco Bernardini" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
# On Thu, 24 Aug 2000 11:15:14 -0400
# Ian Stong <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
#
# > Hmmm,
# >
# > I see quotes and stats published for different sites that
# > relate to time
# > spend on a site, stickiness, paths taken, unique
# > visitors, etc.
#
# Of course these programs cheat, just like horoscopes!!!
# But an astrologue always raise more money than a serious
# programmer :)
#
# If I'm connected thru an AOL modem and I hang on, and 2
# minutes after my disconnection another guy uses the same AOL
# modem (thus same IP) how can the log tell the visitor is
# another person?
#
# The only ways to "identify" a visitor are:
# - to use passwords (like porn sites)
# - to use cookies (but many users disable them)
#
# > Probably won't get the answer here as this list is for
# > analog
#
# See Jeremy's message...
#
# Bye
#
# Marco Bernardini
# --------------------------------------
# http://www.taggiasca.com
# il sito ufficiale dell'oliva taggiasca
# --------------------------------------
#
#
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Roger,
whose thoughts in this case are all his own, nobody elses.
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