Bots might be OK for some limited uses as stated above, within certain parameters:
A collaborative effort for any bots created and used, maybe a Bot Project or something like that.
Always open code, posted on the project or bot page.
If we are going to use them, let's build in some safeguards. Like, more pairs of eyes in the first place, and step-wise approval process.
Limited Beta testing before any widespread use.
Maybe even an opt out option ... or at least restriction to Bot-appropriate profiles
Concensus on the appropriate uses
I almost hesitate to suggest this, because if done carelessly ... Yikes! but I personally would LOVE a GEDCCOM bomb clean-up bot, just to take all that Ancestry gibberish and put it in our source format, (instead of those awful 3-part <span> things)
But that is a huge task, which would need NASA-level programming and fool-proof safe guards, many minds working on it, open code, repeat beta testing, small batch implementation, and very directed use (actually applies to any bot)
What I would not want to see is any one-writer, one-owner bots turned loose on WikiTree in general ... the very thought is horrifying. This is the sort of thing that could go so very wrong. Maybe this Forotree is our wake-up call ... if we learn this lesson now, then we probably got off cheaply. it could have been much worse.
How many of you even knew this bot thing was happening? (I didn't)