2009-03-22, 06:50 PM
I am sorry that my remark caused so much controversy. English is not my strongest language, and sometimes I can be a little terse.
As a system administrator, the phrase host name does not refer to one's hosting provider, but to the name of the individual machine. This host name can show up as a subdomain name. When I saw the subdomain of test, I thought it was a testing ground. All of my testing grounds get restored to a known state on a regular basis (new registrations and posts are wiped clean). Turns out that part of my assumption was correct. Thor uses this server to test plugins and new features.
When someone develops a plugin, they want something in return. At the bare minimum credit for the plugin. Some developers ask that you register on their site and make x number of posts. Membership numbers and post counts can increase the value of that site - both when determining how much they should receive from advertisements and how much to ask when they sell the site.
With a subdomain of test I didn't see how increased membership numbers would benefit Thor.
As a system administrator, the phrase host name does not refer to one's hosting provider, but to the name of the individual machine. This host name can show up as a subdomain name. When I saw the subdomain of test, I thought it was a testing ground. All of my testing grounds get restored to a known state on a regular basis (new registrations and posts are wiped clean). Turns out that part of my assumption was correct. Thor uses this server to test plugins and new features.
When someone develops a plugin, they want something in return. At the bare minimum credit for the plugin. Some developers ask that you register on their site and make x number of posts. Membership numbers and post counts can increase the value of that site - both when determining how much they should receive from advertisements and how much to ask when they sell the site.
With a subdomain of test I didn't see how increased membership numbers would benefit Thor.