Despite the fact that it’s snowing like crazy here, N.Z. Bear, the mastermind of the TTLB Ecosystem, is certainly not hibernating.

He has noticed the trend of “open trackback parties” designed for the sole purpose of increasing a blog’s TTLB ranking and has determined that it is an abuse of the ranking system. To adjust for this phenomenon, he has implemented code to exclude “inline trackbacks” from his counting of links.

If a blogger wants to continue to have trackback parties or link fests, they are, of course, free to do so. It just will prevent these type of parties from falsely inflating the rankings of blogs that just link back and forth to each other rather than providing content.

This, in my opinion, makes complete sense. I’m certain that I have benefited from this, because I frequently link to Ian’s site, and also Wizbang, both of whom do their trackbacks inline. However, I will continue to link to these sites for their content as appropriate, whether or not the Bear counts their trackbacks as links.

More opinions from around the ’sphere at LaShawn’s site, and linking from N.Z.’s site. Aaron says he’ll devolve for a while as a result, but isn’t too worried, and he has some interesting analysis.

UPDATE: The Real Ugly American shares thoughts:

The reason we participate in Open Trackbacks is to drive readers to our sites. Yes we do this because we love it but we also want folks to read our fantastic, insightful, and unique opinions. At least we like to think they are. We are not doing it to game the system. Are you?

And, just because I can (without falsely inflating my rankings), I’m joining open trackback parties at: Don Surber, Basil’s blog, Oblogatory Anecdotes, Bloggin’ Outloud, Is It Just Me?, Right Nation.