Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Statcounter and My Mystery Visitor

You know what? When I look at my recent stats, somebody from London Ontario was visiting the hell out of my site over the past few days in an almost "automated" fashion. In addition, they are using some platform that statcounter (a popular online tool I use to keep web stats) can't figure out. Here's a sample:

Date: Dec 28 20:35:02
Browser: Default Browser 0
OS: unknown
Resolution: unknown
Location: London, Ontario, Canada
ISP: Rogers Cable

Most often they were linking from a google search page but sometimes with no referring link. Rogers Cable is a very popular residential ISP here in London. I left out the IP address of my mystery visitor, because, well, I don't know why but I didn't want to post that kind of info.

Around the same time they were showing up a lot, votes for RTP's Charlie Brown Tree went through the roof. If voting is controlled by a cookie rather than IP address, it could be that the platform they are using can vote as much as it wants... I'm not especially savvy in such things. For the record, I don't think for a second that RTP has anything at all to do with this and I'm not even certain that my mystery visitor is indeed responsible for his tree's outstanding performance anyway.

Hey, mystery visitor, if you read this, tell me if you have been voting many many times for RTP's Charlie Brown tree somehow. I have nothing at all against RTP winning this, but I am becoming curious...



Yer Pal,
R A N T W I C K

9 comments:

Rat Trap Press said...

Awesome, I win!!!!!!!

RANTWICK said...

You may indeed, unless something bizarre occurs between now and Jan 4... and bizarre things never happen.

Big Oak said...

Hey mystery visitor, throw some votes my way and I'll share the syrup!

Steve A said...

Lesson observed and learned. Never have a contest in which voting plays a role!

Anonymous said...

I feel violated and I don't even have a tree. I know the prestige involved in winning one of your contests and it is liable to drive people to do anything. Rollz

Rat Trap Press said...

No money exchanged hands to insure my victory. I actually voted for Paddyanne.

RANTWICK said...

The plot thickens... I had a visit from my mystery visitor at 7:05 PM last night. They appear to have read the comments page too.

Later in the evening that same IP showed up, using Windows 7 with Chrome and Firefox and Linux with Firefox as well!

I have a suspicion, but don't dare voice it in case I'm wrong.

Steve A - Yes, this is the second time somebody has possibly fiddled with my contest results...

Mystery visitor, I beseech you, reveal yourself! I promise I won't be mad...

Anonymous said...

Hey, I'd like to see the chads on this thing!! Sounds like a Florida vote!!

Anonymous said...

I did and i feel bad. i just liked the little tree.sorry i wont do it anymore if you want to start over.

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