File-Sharing - a Forgotten trait of the Gnutella network
 

File-Sharing gone astray

I have come to the realisation less than 1% of all files on the gnutella network are shared a week after people have downloaded them. Some people simply do not share any files, some people clear their shared folder at the end of a session, some people clear their shared folder several times during a session (this action is highly damaging to the network because it means a percentage of search results include files that have been removed before people can download them), some people are going to great lengths to prevent sharing and this includes what I just mentioned, removing files as people attempt to download them, some people have upload slots set to zero, some people set their upload bandwidth to minimum with intent to prevent or limit sharing.

What the heck has happened to the concept of file-sharing? How many files does the average person on the network share? Try using BearShare and you will see even many of the non-Bearshare ultrapeers you connect to either do not share or the only files in their shared folder are what they obviously downloaded that day (ie: LimeWire and FrostWire ultrapeers.)

I have people browse my files, then choose to download 6-15 videos at once. 'If' I can browse them back, I find they always have zero files or only their program installer or a small video they downloaded that day lol. Are these people for real? Do they realise how the network works?

Typical Browse host of someone downloading multiple videos from me: Oh yay ! And no, they did not share any of the files, even after downloading each at a time. I re-browsed them. They obviously had their share settings strongly set to no no no, nobody else can have copies of them, they're mine. (Subtly saying, I wanna kill the gnutella network. Take, take, take until the sharers give up !)
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I have had people remove files from their shares as I have been downloading them, leaving me with partially downloaded files and downloads unable to find the location lol .. *simultaneously*, they were continuing to download heaps of my files. In fact this was why I browsed them in the first place. lol :D Yes, just one of their freeloading tricks to use. I've seen people with lots of shares but zero upload slots. Obviously trying to dupe people on the network. I have learnt how to tell if their upload slots are closed.

I also notice partial-file-sharing is dying. I have had several people download the exact same video from me one after the other or at same time. In most cases, it is obvious none are partial file sharing .. so they expect me to upload each full video to them individually. sighs

If people allow partial-file-sharing, it means everyone gets the file much faster. It means less work for the uploader. Same applies if people actually share the files after they have downloaded them. It means such files are easier to find in search results and faster to download.

There seems to be too many 'ignorant' persons about how file-sharing works. There seems to be too many arrogant 'I, me, myself' selfish persons on the network who do not care about this.

I have had popular videos being downloaded from me 1-5 times a day over a period of 4-6 months. I have searched those videos at various times of day every single day over the entire period. I am lucky if I find one. That's like 300-400 copies of each video I have uploaded and zero people sharing them back to the network.

I have removed files from shares after I realised nobody was sharing them. Popular, but apparently not good enough to share? I have seen other long-term genuine file-sharers remove some of their videos from shares for same reason: Frustration.

It is almost becoming an "US" and "THEM" scenario. Those that share (a very small percent of the network) and 'Freeloaders'. It does not help when some sites around the internet on one hand are praising a particular gnutella client (which is highly commendable), but then recommend and explain how to 'Not share' at any cost. This is a total hypocrisy.

I have been a victim of anti-file-sharing organisations. One of their techniques is to keep your upload slots busy and try to do that for days on end. This has happened many times to me. I find it is generally Cabos hosts from Japan or BOTs from USA, but not always.

How different are these 'anti-file-sharing' companies and 'Freeloaders'? Both are highly damaging to the file-sharing network in their own ways, yet also similar ways.

As some of us know, if nobody were sharing files on the gnutella network, there would be no files to download (except perhaps spam lol.)

I know some people just want to grab a handful of music files now and again for parties or DJing, etc. But for videos and other file-types, there's really no excuse for freeloading.

I have been using the Gnutella network for 10 years now. It has certainly changed. Less sharers. Yes there were always freeloaders, same applies for all file-sharing networks. But the ratio is way out of hand to a ridiculous level.

When I first started using the gnutella network, for me it was about sharing my band's music and downloading the equivalent non-commercial music of others. It was also about downloading the rare live recordings of my favourite bands (already had all their studio albums) which I could not buy because Music labels have never been favorable to releasing live albums. And even on the rare occasions they do, they are artificial … they re-record guitar solos or vocals in the studio, or edit in guitar solos from other concerts, etc. Many bands have later admitted this happened to their live albums. Nowadays, some bands allow their fans to record their concerts unless the concert is going to be used for broadcast or release and the fans happily agree .. a great relationship between the band and the fans.
And then there's some bands who have realised the popularity of their older live recordings and are happy they are shared on p2p file-sharing networks. Or, they have begun releasing their own recordings of such concerts available as CD's by mail-order, or mp3's or Flac from their websites.