Wikipedia:Bots/Requests for approval/BirthdayBot

The following discussion is an archived debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section. The result of the discussion was Denied.

BirthdayBot

• (BRFA
• Approved BRFAs
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• contribs
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• SUL
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Operator: Extranet, programmed by ST47

Automatic or Manually Assisted: Automatic

Programming Language(s): Perl

Function Summary: Checks the calendar of birthdays for the current day, and sends either a birthday template, a first edit day template, or adminship anniversary template to that user's userpage.

Edit period(s) (e.g. Continuous, daily, one time run): Daily, for perhaps 5 minutes at the most.

Edit rate requested: 5 edits per day

Already has a bot flag (Y/N): N

Function Details: Checks the calendar of birthdays for the current day, and sends either a birthday template, a first edit day template, or adminship anniversary template to that user's userpage.

Discussion

Note that User:Extranet has requested a Toolselver account to run the bot. Also, he will be on a wikibreak for some time, and I will be on vacation next week. ST47Talk 21:14, 16 April 2007 (UTC)

It will be used as a greeting bot for the Wikipedia:Birthday Committee. Extranet ^{(Talk | Contribs)} 21:19, 16 April 2007 (UTC)

Does it handle user renames? I.e. user has been renamed and his link on Wikipedia:BDC leads to redirect. MaxSem 11:05, 17 April 2007 (UTC)

Yes, that can be done. ST47Talk 18:15, 17 April 2007 (UTC)

Will it congratulate indef-blocked users? MaxSem 11:05, 17 April 2007 (UTC)

Yes, no feasible way around that. ST47Talk 18:15, 17 April 2007 (UTC)

You have community support for this? Sounds like Esperanza-lite to me. --kingboyk 19:24, 18 April 2007 (UTC)

OK, I've looked further, and see that the project survived an MFD on the basis that folks like to receive a message on their birthday. Isn't that cheapened hugely by a bot sending the messsage? --kingboyk 20:48, 18 April 2007 (UTC)

I firmly believe that it's like the welcomebot. One thing is saying happy birthday, another is let a bot doing that. Snowolf ^(talk) _CON ^COI - 16:41, 19 April 2007 (UTC)

I think a bot would hugely cheapen the experience. Welcomebot is fine as there aren't enough resources to welcome everyone (even though I'd prefer if it were hand-done), but this is different. Wishing birthday wishes takes a few minutes at maximum, and aids in creating a nicer and more productive community. A bot will just make this another kick in the stomach of the community at large. Esperanza got too bureaucratic and automatic. You'll notice it isn't around any longer. +Hexagon1 ^(t) 04:04, 20 April 2007 (UTC)

I see this as something like a welcomebot, Hexagon1 resources isnt the issue I could get a bot up in about 10 minutes to welcome new user with over X edits, its that community doesnt support it I see the same issue here. Betacommand ^{(talk • contribs • Bot)} 04:55, 20 April 2007 (UTC)

You misunderstood, that's the opposite of what I was saying. There aren't enough people to welcome others (even though some of us still try), which is why the bot is semi-OK. +Hexagon1 ^(t) 10:17, 22 April 2007 (UTC)

There is nothing really wrong with running this bot. It only checks the calendar of birthdays for the current day, and sends either a birthday template, a first edit day template, or adminship anniversary template to that user's userpage. It is only run 5 times a day at a maximum. Any human user that wishes to contribute as well, they can also greet the user with another template (there is a variety) under the BirthdayBot's contribution. Extranet ^{(Talk | Contribs)} 06:42, 20 April 2007 (UTC)

The real problem with using a bot for this is that it kind of defeats the point in sending the messages (even more so than with a welcome bot). I could program a user script to say 'happy birthday' to me on my birthday if I wanted to, but there wouldn't be any point. Bots have to be useful and harmless; this would be harmless, but I suggest that the BAG decline the bot as not being useful. --ais523 17:47, 20 April 2007 (UTC)

Does the wider community want this bot? —— Eagle101 ^{Need help?} 20:25, 20 April 2007 (UTC)

As I said, if a human user wishes to greet the user with another template, that would be fine. Just make a new line under BirthdayBots contribution and paste your greeting. Throughout my time at Wikipedia:BDC, I have seen multiple instances where at least 6 greetings have been posted for one user on that special day. The only reason I suggested the bot in the first place is because during some days of the last couple of weeks, there has been no contributions to any birthday, first edit day or adminship anniversary. All the bot's job is to greet the user with a template - its not like anyone else can't post another greeting under it. Extranet ^{(Talk | Contribs)} 20:51, 20 April 2007 (UTC)

Just to back up what I said before, both yesterday and the day before, no Wikipedia:BDC member has posted any greetings. I had to catch up this morning with both today's and yesterday's, but there is a definate reason why we need BirthdayBot. Extranet ^{(Talk | Contribs)} 00:54, 21 April 2007 (UTC)

Mmm might want to propose this idea on the village pump. I don't know if folks who signed up for that will care about getting botspam. A bot (welcome/any other message) is not really held in the same light as a message from a real live human being. —— Eagle101 ^{Need help?} 04:35, 21 April 2007 (UTC)

Yes - this propsoal most certainly needs wider community support before we can approve the bot to run, and based on the consensus here, I doubt that such support will be forthcoming. Thanks, Martinp23 20:50, 21 April 2007 (UTC)

I'd rather no wish then one from a machine, as ais523 said, if I wanted to I could just program a script to do that. The bday wish is there to show that you're appreciated and part of the community. If a bot wished and no one else did I'd just feel more isolated. +Hexagon1 ^(t) 10:24, 22 April 2007 (UTC)

I agree with you, and suggest this be referred to the village pump for more discussion. It doesn't seem to be a very useful proposal for a bot and might even upset people. "Happy birthday from a bot, because no human cares enough to wish you the same"?! --kingboyk 02:05, 23 April 2007 (UTC)

((BAGAssistanceNeeded)) --kingboyk 15:12, 25 April 2007 (UTC)

Denied. for now - needs more discussion elsewhere. Martinp23 16:37, 25 April 2007 (UTC)

The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section.