network ranking

greg27 · Lurker Joined: 07 Oct 2006 Posts: 160 Location: Australia

so i was bored today and had a look at some of the networks just above mine in the sirc network ranking list, and noticed that a ridiculous number of networks fudge their usercount just to get a better ranking.

it's usually pretty obvious: a linear usercount graph instead of a sine model, or something even less subtle like:
-BotServ- 176 bots available.

so i started wondering why people bother doing this. to get more users? maybe, but a user who chooses a network based on the usercount will likely leave any network that fakes a high usercount. so they can say to others, "hey, check out our awesome network rank!" again, maybe, but they really can't boast too much given that the rank is not a true representation of the network.

anyway, i used to keep an eye on my network rank to see how my net was improving in relation to others, but given that a hell of a lot of networks have a fudged ranking, i don't really see the point anymore.

PingBad · Guru Joined: 05 Feb 2005 Posts: 2075 Location: New Zealand

while I intend no offense upon jason and his ranking code, I do find network rankings to be overrated - I don't choose networks based on their rank (I couldn't care less if your rank was 1 or 100), but on the quality of the network (if your network announcement can't answer the most frequently asked questions of an announcing admin, or your network page shows jack ---- in the way of "necessary" information, then I'm simply not interested in your network, and am unlikely to visit unless there's a reason for me to be there such as investigating/getting clarity with regards to a complaint raised on the support tickets)

I personally find that if you choose a network based solely on it's ranking, you'd have more luck picking a winning horse based on it's name. But that is, as usual, just my opinion

Mary · SearchIRC Admin Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 692

Its about the same as joining the largest channel on a network. It may not be what you expected at all.

Ranking started back when there were only a hundred or so networks. A user 'voted' for their favorite network by connecting to it - so the larger nets were often the more popular networks. Now that there are so many more IRC networks, and things like botserv and xdcc bots pumping up the user count without representing living breathing people, ranking is more easily manipulated and far less impressive.

Jason · Posted: Aug 21, 2008 4:51pm Post subject:

The fake bots on my imaginary network are far more friendly than the other networks with fudged numbers. Visit now!

darkwarrior · Lurker Joined: 02 Aug 2008 Posts: 172

No, my imaginary dream network with 100 "mirc cops" and 500 BotServ bots are better Jason! Yes, I meant mirc cops :p

katsklaw · Guru Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 1122

NO NO!! My perl script that can generate up to 10k fake users (providing I have enough file descripters available) that acts like real users, join and hold channels and otherwise load the network with near real traffic loads pwnz all! ;P~

visit me now!! irc://127.0.0.1:31337/0-daywarez !!

if I'm not there .. wait a bit! ;P

greg27 · Lurker Joined: 07 Oct 2006 Posts: 160 Location: Australia

darkwarrior · Lurker Joined: 02 Aug 2008 Posts: 172

or my dog chewed up the telephone wire to my 56k dialup connection

Cue · none Joined: 25 Jul 2008 Posts: 18

maddog906 · Lurker Joined: 08 Mar 2005 Posts: 131 Location: uk

mage · Newbie Joined: 04 Oct 2006 Posts: 75

I think it relies on what the network owners aim to.

In my own personal case. I do not look at my network's rank but focus on offering reliable services and quality chat.

Of course that some of us are stats whores, in the best of the senses. And we like to see our nets rank high.

But it shouldn't be a relevant concern in my opinion.