Major Change to the Advisor System - Page 2

jo.com · #41 08-08-2001, 12:28 PM

I am an advisor in 3 categories and haven't received the letter. But then again, I received the letter the first time weeks after others and I don't think I ever received one this last time.

re: the IS bonus. I think no one has mentioned it because it could be so miniscule that the work involved won't be worth it. I guess instead of the $.20/hr I make now - that 20cents..I could be making 15....In fact, I would almost guarantee knowing me that I would end up with an hourly rate of less than I get now!

nfp · #42 08-08-2001, 02:31 PM

My brain is more scrambled than ever after wading through this thread. As as an on-again, off-again advisor in two categories during the late Spring hat splurge (I lasted one month before suddenly finding myself hatless for no discernible reason) I tend to agree with Andrea's assessment ("credit where credit is due, Epinions is taking a step toward supporting a part of the community it hasn't supported before"), as well as with George's comment that once it's in place we either like it or don't like it, either jump in or hang on the fringes, until the next change.

I can only get so excited about the minutiae. There's only so much time and energy.

To me, it's still about the writing, the reading and the rating. I think some of the proposed changes -- as I understand them -- seem to be a step in appreciating that.

We'll see. As to Rich -- how about being an advisor in Top Hats?

nick

suzer · #43 08-08-2001, 03:14 PM

I guess the bottom line is we should (for those available) attend the chat tomorrow (Thursday night). We can send questions in advance for clarification. I received their letter advising of the changes but wasn't quite sure I understood the ramifications.

It has bothered me when good people lost their hats and had no recognition of their efforts, and wonderful writers/people who never seemed to make advisor and I never knew why. So, I'm hopeful this will be a good thing.

I just hope that people who are in around 90 reading "circles" and therefore know lots of people from that source, and major clicking capabilities, won't make top reviewer. But they did say, good writing. . .

As several of you have mentioned, I'm also taking a wait and see mode (my usual policy) as there simply isn't enough information.
I'm hoping this will be a great thing, a motivator, will bring back some old writers who got discouraged, draw in more good new writers, bring money to epinions and ultimately to us all.

I just wonder if the site will be closed down or as I understood their letter, notifications would go out in dribbles (my word obviously), so the site will remain intact during the change??

Time will tell. Yes, just made that up.

http://www.epinions.com/user-suzer

quasar · #44 08-08-2001, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lernerj
i'm surprised no one's mentioned this yet--the email says that there is now a "ratings bonus"--in addition to IS, Editors will receive another monthly bonus based on the amount and quality of their rating activity

Remember they are only giving the bonus to Editors, not to everyone who spends time rating reviews. I like the idea of rating bonuses, but I'd rather see one given to everyone to varying extents. It isn't incentive unless you are an editor. Potential rating bonuses for everyone would in general improve the quality of ratings IMO.

Janice

cyndilouwhoo · #45 08-08-2001, 05:02 PM

I think what excites me most about the change is that it appears that real live people will provide most of the input in terms of selection.

Of course it opens up the process to all sorts of subjectivity...but I think even with all the quirks, people make better overall choices than algorithms.

Cyndi

Who is ready to be amazed

suzer · #46 08-08-2001, 05:41 PM

Richwhateverlettersnumbers, etc. (just teasing) should at least get a hat in "rich comments" in adding levity to any situation, grave or day to day routine. Basically, Rich needs more TLC and notice. Perhaps there is a title out there just waiting to be created, just for Rich. Then we have to deal with Sordie and HotCandy and the ilk. No Sordie, not elk. Just having fun anyway.

dlbrantley · #47 08-08-2001, 09:41 PM

Wow Tipu..you are a hard working smart ass

I always enjoy your posts!

Now for my blab on this...I skimmed so forgive me for repeating. I see two LARGE problems with this new scheme and I think an underlying reason why Epinions is doing this..and it ain't for the good of the people.

First of all, what better way to get more revenue than to offer a title for those who read and rate the most? Everytime someone opens up a review a new ad is loaded. Adding the title as a reward is only going to increase the amount of ads loaded. The higher the page clicks per month the higher the amount of $ advertisers are willing to pay for a spot on epinions.

I see them doing away with eroyalties soon because of this new title.

Problem #1 is the abuse and rubberstamping that is going to increase. This is going to lower the value of the overall rating. Go to a category, open up 20 or 30 windows and VH your way to the "top" of epinions. Don't want to look like a rubberstamper? Then give everyone an H..usually not questioned and when it is you ignore the e-mail (or don't even have an e-mail in your profile). And I'm sure those gurus can rig up a script that cuts the work in half.

Problem #2 is that the quality of writing is going to probably decrease. With the possibility of great amounts of people going to read what's going through Just In you're going to want to put out reviews in bulk..just good enough to earn a SH or H but not enough to waste time in writing an H quality review. Of course if everyone is flocking to rate then you're going to notice a decline in writing as well.

I think what epinions is doing is ingenious. Their revenue is going to skyrocket and they're getting this by handing out pennies here and there for "editor bonuses". In the mean time they look like saints who are trying to reach out to the community. And yes, there are ads that pay per click..and ads that pay per page load..no purchase necessary.

If they were so saintly they'd ADD PRODUCTS so we could get revenue from the early Christmas shoppers!

**amykhar** · #48 08-08-2001, 10:48 PM

Well you gotta admit that the did add something we've been begging for for ages - online stores.

And, we got them in time for Christmas.

Amy

erik_kosberg · #49 08-08-2001, 10:49 PM

Given the fine job they did for the Christmas 1999 and 2000 seasons, we can expect them to do equally well this year.

Quote:

If they were so saintly they'd ADD PRODUCTS so we could get revenue from the early Christmas shoppers!

ThePirateKing · #50 08-09-2001, 12:05 AM

Notice, too, that the #2 rated online store is HomeGrocer.com (aka WebVan), a company that's been out of business for several weeks now.

foxfroggy · #51 08-09-2001, 04:29 AM

I think I have achieved either Nirvana or burn out. My reaction to the whole thing is
WHO CARES!!!!!

I haven't written much for a couple of months and still got the "congrats, you have hat" mail. Ihaven't even checked my money in a week or two. ( and I could use that $0.37 or whatever...) This new "innovation" thrills me as muchas the new categories, EP2 and mucus.

Pat

adonna · #52 08-09-2001, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gracef
I can see a good side to this 'most helpful' rating.

And yes... I can see the click circles and trust sluts having a difficult time with this one. How can you promote one person over another without ticking someone off?
.....
I'll wait to see how it shakes out.

OOOO grace, what you said. I'm sorry, but I'm going to be chuckling over this one for the entire day.click circles and trust sluts Terrific!

Now, my take on the new advisor thing--

I wonder if this'll mean that those folks who are advisors and who haven't written anything since last year will be gone, or will they be deemed editors? If they actually are sitting around epinions doing good ratings of newcomers, maybe they should have a funny hat.

Now, a confession---

You know, it took me a long time to join any of these epinion forums off site, mostly because I didn't want to be in any kind of click circle. When I finally decided I was wrong, and came round, I found that it was a good way to share info and get a sense of the people. Yes, this doesn't have anything to do with editors or advisors.

The hat I want:

I want to be the one who suggests and chooses new products. I know, that isn't a hat, but if it were.....

benho · #53 08-09-2001, 12:51 PM

I like the idea of most helpful. They are trying to resolve the problem that VH's are free, which is why you have ratings inflation, which now makes it impossible to tell which among the VH's are actually good.

As an economist, one way to combat ratings inflation is to make rating more expensive. Most helpful is a step in this direction but only a small step. It will not stop click circles, since most people write in different categories anyway. People in a click circle can still rate all their friends most helpful, and so long as categories don't overlap, the problem only gets worse.

I offer two other solutions. Have a very very helpful rating. Then, make these cost something to give out. Either say, you can only give out one a day (though you can change your mind throughout the day on which one to give it to), or perhaps one for every 20 reviews you rate, or something similar.

Or, better yet, charge a penny for a VVH rating. Epinions is paying us pennies all the time. Why not give some back. I know there are many reviews which are so good, I would gladly pay a penny to rate it higher. This is the best solution. It completely foils the plans of click-circles who are doing this only for money. This way, the truly best reviews are given special distinction.

-- Ben

jo.com · #54 08-09-2001, 06:02 PM

Darn it! I hate when real life gets in the way...I have a meeting tonight and won't be able to attend the chat. I'll have to read it via the transcript tomorrow. Although from the previous chats, there is usually nothing earthshattering he has to say. I think the e-mail I didn't get was earthshattering (perhaps not in a bad way) enough. Mark's news is truly earthshattering and everything else pales in comparison.

rich2003dm · #55 08-09-2001, 09:21 PM

Hats shmats. I don't need no stinking hats!

What I do need is a place to post my writing, and this new change as well as the other recent category additions, give me some encouragement that maybe Epinions is healthier than we all thought.

This doesn't seem like something a dot.com in its death throes would do.

Rich

And Suzi, how about this title for me. Advisor In Nonexistent Topics, or AINT as in he ain't an Advisor.

I kind of like it.