Well, Stamp my Rubber and Call Me Trojan!
Aug 14 '01
The Bottom Line Conscience should play a big role for those who participate in rating reviews. Rubber-stamping, hit and run rating and ratings circles provide a great disservice.
Are you exhausted after a ponderous afternoon of reading, rating and commenting? Do you find too many “Not Helpful” opinions with “Helpful” or “Very Helpful” ratings? Too often, do highly trusted members of the Epinions community place those out of sync ratings? What is an honest, hard working member to do?
For a meager sum, I can resolve these issues and more! Crass commercialism is my game; pogomom is my name! Only I, former Expert/Advisor of little renown, have the secret to quashing these offenders and I am willing to share my heretofore undisclosed methods for less than the price of a carton of Basics®.
Sure, I could sell my approach to unsuccessful Epinionating for $350.00 and rake in the dough. But, I am not selling this unique collection of data for three hundred dollars. I am not offering the key to happiness and well being for two hundred dollars. (Am I insane?) I am not even asking one hundred dollars for the cure to Epinions’ ills! (Call me crazy!) For less than the price of a brief encounter with a sidewalk sweetie, every lesson learned by this long-time member is yours!
I feel your pain. I understand your frustration. I, too, backed out of more reviews than I care to mention. I sat among the masses – kowtowing to the obvious expertise of those whose experience predated my own. Then, I became a victim.
Those members noting that my profile page photo is out of date are correct. Presently I wear the badge of she who felt the metal and survived. Blackened eyes, bloodied nose and a left clavicle in dire need of repair serve as proof of my injured party status. Then, again, I am richer for the experience as each hit by someone vaguely within my Web of Trust garners one shiny penny for the cause.
Hit and Run – Oh What Fun!
New criteria and the proposed splitting of status from Advisor to Editor and Top Reviewer appears to have shaken up more than a few Epinionators. Watching from the sidelines, I found the frenzy, suppositions and rumors more than a little humorous. Knowledge that a human would soon take part in the final selection process threw some participants for a royal loop. Sniveling, losing sleep and getting those unsupported facts flying became a pastime for those members feeling they have something important to lose. So, some took matters into their own hands.
Disclaimer: I am not attempting to pass aspersions on Advisors, Most Trusted Members or other titleholders as a whole. The following misdemeanors noted are attributable to a minority residing in all areas of Epinion membership. The few perpetrators that are guilty of such common behavior know who they are and will probably continue in their tawdry ways.
The bad behavior of which I speak is simply the habit of “hit and run” carried on by a small segment of our Epinions population. To the uninitiated, “hit and run” refers to clicking on a review, scrolling down to the rating area and opting for a rating without reading the review. Yes, this does make our hit counts jump with surprising speed. It also defeats the purpose of this site.
What is that purpose? Why making money, dear foolish friend, what else? Who makes money on this site? Epinions makes money on this site, dear dolt, and we make a share for our trouble, time and effort. The intent of Epinions is to provide a wealth of knowledge on a wide variety of subjects, products and services based on experiences of the common consumer. Well-written reviews with all the necessary details should rise to the top of the pile. Poorly written offerings filled with nonsense, bull or profanity, in a perfect world, should disappear off the face of this site. (You may stop laughing now.)
Turning Tricks for Fun and Profit
Those members employing the method known both as “hit and run” and “rubber stamping” need a wake up call. The overburdening of Epinions’ paid staff by constant changes keeps them from policing the site and monitoring rating activity. Guess what that means, dudes and dudettes. Guess again!
Yes, dear fellow members, it is entirely up to us to point out these events and to do what we can to diminish this kind of behavior. When I write one of my overly wordy tomes, I actually expect you my compatriots, my partners in crime, to read every single boring paragraph. I also expect an honest rating. You have no idea how much time this anal individual puts into writing reviews and how painful it is to submit them to the server. It is akin to publicly exposing me; something I choose to rarely do since gravity took hold.
To discover that someone I respect waltzes through the Just In pages rubber-stamping reviews with high recommendations without reading the material really bursts my balloon. Sure, we all can bear witness to watching the ratings leap within minutes of submitting reviews. Some of those members read the review; others simply leave their mark and go on to another tree. The latter reference is my pet peeve. (Pet… tree… leave their mark – aw forget it!)
The prime example that prompted this rant involved a truly horrendous review of an air conditioner. The writer started innocently enough with the first sentence describing discontent and dismay with the product’s utility. Anyone reading past that point was subject to some graphic language insulting a certain sector of the human race. Reading on, the description of proper maintenance involved using human waste. Within three paragraphs, this member managed to put down the homeless, the obese, discuss his own problem controlling sweat and slur a product that might or might not be something useful.
In the past, I admit to occasionally backing away from reviews of this type if the number of “Not Helpful” ratings were in the majority. Call me chicken or prudent, I try to avoid conflict. In the case of the example above, I noticed a number of “Helpful” ratings. Rereading the review, I found nothing resembling helpful information. Those placing “Helpful” ratings bore names familiar to me. After reading the one comment, placed by a prudent Epinion member, that stated the reasons for her “Not Helpful” rating, I began to wonder where were the minds of those finding that garbage helpful.
Never being one to follow the crowd, I placed the following comment along with my rating of choice:
“My Two Scents…
Your odorous dilemma leaves me weak and anxious for a breath of fresh air. The reason for my Somewhat Helpful rating is simple, as am I. Through your great start, those doing a ‘hit and run’ felt confident in placing Helpful ratings. Without taking the time necessary to complete the few paragraphs you took time to construct, they placed their mark and moved on to another review. I found it somewhat helpful to have a tool to identify those folks. Thanks!“
That felt great! I said what I had to and then blocked the writer with a flourish of my mouse. I then visited the pages of those members whose rubber-stamp graced the review with “Helpful” ratings and blocked them as well. My final step was to report this abuse to Epinions via their form in the Member Center. Alas, the form failed to function. I sent off a bug report, and am now deep in prayer to the Epinions gods for a human response. It happens – really – would I lie to you?
Send No Money
So, my darling insomniacs, as I end this infomercial, I beg that you send no money. The Eroyalties garnered from this review will suffice. (What, no pay for playing in the midst of this category? Pshaw!) Nevertheless, all I ask of the few, the proud, the Marines of this mighty Epinion land is a little bit of your time, effort and conscience. If you come across a legitimate rubber-stamping vagrant, no matter what the status of the member, report it, block them and reduce their power. We have the tools to create a site that provides a valuable service. If we choose to ignore those means, everyone suffers.
For those who skimmed this commentary, the gist of it is:
Send $19.95 plus shipping and handling to:
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Or visit our website at:
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Epinions.com ID:
pogomom
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 in Home and Garden |
 - Top 200 |
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Reviews written: 193
Trusted by: 727 members
About Me:
Web/puter person who, disguised as mild-mannered Pogomom, offers unsolicited opinions to all she encounters.
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