BOTS

"bots" -- short for "robots" - are programs that run pre-programmed instructions. People use them mostly in IRC (Internet Relay Chat) and in MUDs (Multiple User Dungeons), though sometimes they are used other places as well.

bots are sometimes programmed to act like people. More often, they are programmed to do things like greet people or answer questions.

bots can be programmed to do all kinds of useful things, but they can also do nasty things. Because of this, you are allowed to run bot at a time. (See our Acceptable Usage Policy.)

HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM RUNNING A BOT?

A few people have written to ask that. Since a bot requires a certain amount of deliberate programming, the answer is, if you do not know that you are, you aren't.