I have heard the term "bot" a lot in the forums and blogs, but I can't find a definition of it. I have determined that a lot of people don't like it, and that bots automate some function of the game. What are they, how do you identify one, what do people use them for, and why do people dislike them so much? Also, how do they work? Do players change the game code? Thanks for any explanations. I just want to be "in the know."

Bots are accounts (usually Free Trial Accounts) that are run by a third party software program on a person's computer. The program plays the person's account for him/her and preforms tasks from as simple as mining, to as complicated as running missions and PvP, with the goal of generating lots of ISK and to give the user an unfair advantage in the game without putting in the time or effort.

You can point out a bot by noticing if they have been in the game doing a single task for very long periods of time (sometimes days), and does not communicate normally when spoken to privately (if at all).

Bots are bad because they inflate the EVE economy and drive up prices for goods, as well as preform actions faster and/or better than any human player possibly can. The people who run bots typically enjoy drowning kittens and stealing money from their grandmothers, as well as being permanently banned from EVE Online when their primary account is identified.