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Re: Re: Re: Re: What happened? (Reply to this comment)
by texas-swede
It sounds like it was very exciting, too bad it had to end, and too bad they were not more honest. Yeah I compared the most popular authors from back then and in 2007 and 2008 and it is clear that there a lot less visitors now. The activity has gone down. That is too bad. Perhaps it will turn around.
Regarding Amazon, I am not into flamewars but I got dragged into them anyways, and I am sick of it. I am still there but much less active. epinions is a lot more fun. If it was even more fun I think I missed out.
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Jan 15 '09
8:14 pm PST
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Re: Re: Re: What happened? (Reply to this comment)
by queenofallevil
Yeah, there was actually a lot more to it than that back then, believe it or not, that's the "condensed version". LOL.
But yeah, the money was the least of it all really. I mean, most of us weren't idiots. Though we loved the money flow in the beginning of Epinions - deep down we knew it couldn't last. The dotcom bubble was bursting everywhere. As a matter of fact, most of us felt very loyal to the employees at Epinions - we knew that the company was just doing what it had to in order to survive. Many of those who wrote for cash had been long gone anyway by that point, and IMO the site was better off without most of them, because we had too many people just wring quick, useless and short reviews and then just getting together on "click circles" in order to get paid. For a lot of the greedy folks, it was review quantity over quality. Back in '01 the thing that was upsetting was that in all honesty, epinions didn't own up to what was going on. The site was down and things were changed all over the place, but they kept saying they were just making things better; yadda-yadda...if they had just taken a different approach and said "We're hitting financial troubles, guys..." the situation would have been different. But once the remove button was taken, (and then the edit button) a lot of people felt their rights were taken away from them and got VERY upset. I know now, just like I know then - that those functions were removed because Epinions was worried people were going to pack up and take their reviews with them (which a few did) but again I really think had they been up front and honest with the writers - we all would have held fast and left our reviews. Some of us got to know the employees on a very personal basis back then, so being lied to felt like a stab in the back. But hey...it happens I guess, right? I still kinda miss those boom days. Back then we had a "just in" link (which is the new reviews button these days) and lemme tell you...you could refresh after one second and there would be 25 new reviews to read. It was very exciting and interesting at the time! :)
But dude...I FEEL YA about Amazon. Never wrote there myself, but some of the comments on there reminds me of the old yahoo news boards - talk about drama! I agree, many reviews I have seen there are all out flamewars. Pity to see the lack of respect going around. Props to you for have been brave enough to step in there and still live to tell about it. I'm way too scared to even dip my big toe in that cesspool. :D
Best regards,
Val
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Jan 13 '09
11:24 pm PST
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Re: Re: What happened? (Reply to this comment)
by texas-swede
Wow! That was some story. I did not have a clue all this had happened in the past.
My guess is that the payment became unsustainable when so many review sites that did not pay their reviewers started to pop up. Also reducing payment to zero so suddenly without other kinds of perks was not nice. However, not allowing reviewers to delete their own reviews is just plain rude, especially after all that had just happened.
I joined epinions in September 2008 because I wanted to read reviews on hybrid cars and be able to vote some of them helpful. However, that earned me a SPAM warning. In October I started writing reviews just to see what epinion was about and because a friend of mine had just started doing that. In November came the 5-5 and I started writing reviews in computer hardware, software, and a few more topics good for the November 5-5. I did not care about payment I was just curious if it would work. I also wrote a few really bad reviews in home and garden because I was trying to cram them out. I am trying not to do that anymore. Then came December 5-5 and this time I wrote mostly for books (since that was one of the topics), and now in January you can write on anything so I am focusing on travel which is the most fun. The money does not matter, since it is so little, but it is still cool to see that it actually add up.
However, what I like the most about current epinions (2008-2009) is the respect for reviewers. You don't have gangs mass no-voting you because you protested them bullying a friend of yours (what happened to me on Amazon), and jokes don't get hundreds of yes votes while good reviews are forgotten (also an Amazon phenomena). I was not very active on Amazon but I wrote 70 reviews and during that time I spent $8,000 on products from Amazon that I might have bought from somewhere else. So I gave Amazon more then $100 for every review I wrote. Despite that fact they did not give a damn about the crap that happened to my friends as well as to me. What I got from Amazon were loony enemies who get a new account every day so they can punish me for things I said in the past, things I do not regret. In Amazons latest change on October 23 they solved some of these problems but far from all of it, at the same as they also really hurt some innocent reviewers. Amazons formula which allows zero-responsibility anonymous voting, having everything automated, and allowing insulterers and hecklers to roam the site; is very bad for some reviewers. This is why I think current epinion is heaven in comparison with or without payment.
One thing I think epinions can do better is the search engine. I was looking for an LCD TV the other day and I got a list of hundreds of TV's with no reviews and the TV's with reviews showed up at the bottom. I don't want to see TV's with no reviews. They should be able to list the TV's with reviews first. There are other things that make the search engine hard to use as well. This stuff probably scares readers away.
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Jan 13 '09
11:41 am PST
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Re: What happened? (Reply to this comment)
by queenofallevil
Yeah, looking back I assume this article probably seems out of place to those who weren't there in 2001. It really is a good story though....
Anyhow, I joined epinions right before it hit the height of internet popularity. Back then, epinions was a GREAT way to make money - all by simply writing reviews. I among many others made hundreds in my first weeks alone.
In 2000, we were paid SIX CENTS every time a non-member looked at one of our reviews. If a epinions member looked at it, we were paid about THIRTY FIVE CENTS - yeah, for just one read.
Then came 2001, they dropped the amount we were paid to 3.5 cents per non-member hit, and 21 cents per member hit.
And the numbers got lower and lower....
Needless to say, the herd really thinned out. But even still, there were many of us die-hards still here, and we kept posting. Most that were in it for the cash were gone by then, in 2001 we were barely making a cent here and a cent there, yet we kept publishing reviews because frankly, we liked it - and we liked being on the site (and reading things and making new friends).
Then epinions dropped a bomb on all the writers - which by this point all that was left were loyal people who stuck it out - and said we weren't getting paid any more. While that upset a few people and they packed up and left, a lot of us didn't mind so much - we weren't recieving much anymore anyhow....we went from hundreds in days to a buck a week maybe. So the money wasn't the real issue.
What did happen, was at the same time they announced the money was being cut off, the real bomb hit; they announced that we could no longer be allowed to DELETE our reviews. We were still allowed to edit, but we had no right to remove them from the site. This herein caused the real stir - those of us that were left here didn't mind writing for free, but we were upset that despite the old contract and TOS claiming our reviews were our own intellectual property, epinions pulled the plug on that and suddenly said it was theirs and we had no rights to it.
And so, a very well-known menber (and a really great guy, kinda miss him still) by the handle Sordid-1 came up with a plan. Suddenly, as all of us are perusing over the newest reviews list: it hits us smack in the face...he wrote an article and titled it (in all caps no less!) "EPINIONS BLOWS DOG!" We couldn't believe his gall to stand up to the man like that. Sure, we had seen some really PROFANE reviews before, (usually by just kids playing around) but never from any of the established and trusted members - we always played nice on our little playground here.
And then the movement began. Everyone decided if Epinions demanded all the things we wrote could suddenly become their property even though the contract said it was ours, we gave them their articles. Members couldn't delete since epinions removed that option, but thanks to the edit button menber after member, even leads - changed their articles...removing the real article and writing "epinions blows dog!" over and over again, and then making sure all "EBD" reviews were rated highest, so the site would not function as it was intended, and visitors would instead be greeted with an article about how awful epinions was to their writers instead of info about the product they were after.
Eventually, they had no choice but to give the writers their rights back. But for many of us, the damage had been done, we no longer trusted the site not to stab us in the back. And as you see, it took me a good 8 years to poke my head back in again. :) Many never returned.
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Jan 12 '09
10:18 pm PST
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What happened? (Reply to this comment)
by texas-swede
I joined September 2008 and wrote my first review October 2008, so I don't know anything about epinions old history, however, I am kind of curious. I am not able to figure out from the review or the comments what happened back then.
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Jan 12 '09
1:58 pm PST
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Pretty please with a cherry on top!!! (Reply to this comment)
by watchdr_2000
Come on Val. Your writing enlivens this place. Please reconsider and start writing again.
I'm sure that you have many other fans beside me that would love to see you start writing again.
Thanks for reading and rating my reviews :) Gary.
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Jan 28 '03
9:39 pm PST
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GREAT!! (Reply to this comment)
by chantilly20
Yes, I agree. I haven't written anything in awhile. Epinions IS falling apart. Back when I started with them in 1999 it WAS a great place.
you not only get to read other very good opinions BUT you got to know the author through their writing. MOST of them are gone... Sorry to say. I miss them. Thanks for sharing.~~Donna~
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Feb 16 '02
7:10 am PST
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Just going through (Reply to this comment)
by Lark729_89
my web-of-trust. It needs pruning, mainly a matter of taking off the people who haven't written in a while but ya know what? THIS CLEVER PIECE has kept you forever on my WOT list.
I am sorry to see you leave. I hope your writing career takes you onto great adventures.
Carol
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Feb 06 '02
8:34 pm PST
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sad to see you go... (Reply to this comment)
by sweets7568
I'm sad to see you go...thanks for everything - it was fun -
~Alicia
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Jan 07 '02
2:18 pm PST
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AWESOME! (Reply to this comment)
by Thorbjore
This was so awesome! I'm glad you didn't delete it. I've chosen to keep mine posted, too, not that it could touch this--this so well written piece!--as a grim reminder of what could have happened. ;)
You made great points and this was SO well written and clever! My favorite part was how it wasn't about the money, that it was about the respect. Fantastic!
Becki
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Oct 30 '01
11:54 am PST
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Adorable!!! (Reply to this comment)
by AinsleyJo
This is a really sweet, adorable, and utterly-clever interpretation-in-rhyme of what's been going on around here!!!
It's actually too cute to delete--but I hope you get the chance to, anyway! :o)
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Oct 28 '01
4:45 am PST
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Excellent Article (Reply to this comment)
by OpalMan
I had not really read you much before I stumbled across this, but it was excellently written and I will red anything you write in the future. I only wish you were still getting paid for it.
James
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Oct 27 '01
11:55 am PDT
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BRAVO!!!! (Reply to this comment)
by mjfrombuffalo
Awesome job. Ya kicked butt with this one - too bad your talented writing needs to be wasted on making valid complaints about idiotic policy changes because of Epinions....
mj
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Oct 26 '01
10:36 am PDT
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Writing fit.... (Reply to this comment)
by acdc711
Just when I thought I'd come back for a bit
The bosses are throwing us all into a fit
I started to write and re-acquaint with new friends
But I guess my writings will be emails to send.
Great job.
Denise
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Oct 26 '01
10:31 am PDT
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Re: Re: Re: I'd point out a couple of small typos ... (Reply to this comment)
by vonboob
HEAR! HEAR!
Besides, am I allowed to change my mind? Let's be very careful and give 2 1/2 stars to everything we see... How will they like that!?
THX, Best regards,
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Oct 26 '01
9:59 am PDT
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Thanks! (Reply to this comment)
by gerper
In the wake of all the craziness on this site, your poem really hit the spot!
gerper
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Oct 26 '01
6:13 am PDT
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This review gets... (Reply to this comment)
by Sordid-1
...a Sordid seal of approval.
S-1
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Oct 25 '01
9:58 pm PDT
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Horton Stepped in Poo (Reply to this comment)
by nifer
Hey darlin', thanks for the perspective and the cool review. Nice to meet you in EA chat tonight. There are some "ideas" floating around to fight this, hope you'll stick around long enough to participate.
xoxo ~ (jen)nifer
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Oct 25 '01
8:19 pm PDT
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You have actually summed (Reply to this comment)
by jo.com
up my feelings exactly in what is my favorite Seuss book style. I love it. I am also looking forward to the relief of not compulsively r/r and enjoying life - reading and taking that Yoga class I never can get to cuz I'm here. I have put so much time into this site..you know I almost think Nirav should thank me! jo
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Oct 25 '01
5:07 pm PDT
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Loved it!! (Reply to this comment)
by BlackCat2
This was fabulous!! ha ha I was in tears by the end of this. Have you ever thought of writing or do you already, as in fiction?
If so drop by fictionaddiction.net. I am there as Heidi Gagne-Klaus and join us. My friend Apryl runs the site. :0)
and yes you can delete there. LOL.
~,,,^..^,,,~ BlackCat2
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Oct 25 '01
5:01 pm PDT
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Great Review!!! (Reply to this comment)
by MumMumMum
I laughed, I cried....you know what I mean.
This probably means nothing in the grand epinions scheme of things anymore, but I've added you to my WoT after reading this review. It may not mean anything to epinions, but it means something to me!
respect, that's all we wanted.........
Bev
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Oct 25 '01
4:25 pm PDT
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Well... (Reply to this comment)
by yarrick
...looks like Epinions is finally folding it's been a fun run but too short for me. I just joined in May, I only had a few months to enjoy this great community. When I just started to feel good about the site and become a better reviewer Epinions pull's this.
Well I guess I will hang around till January when I will turn 18 and be able to cash in. Goodbye to all you leaving I hope Epinions can survive until I am able to redeem.
Matt
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Oct 25 '01
2:56 pm PDT
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Thanks for the poem... (Reply to this comment)
by purplewiz
This is the first time I've been able to laugh at this whole sorry situation since I first heard about it! You're truly talented - you have the Seuss pacing down perfectly!
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Oct 25 '01
2:37 pm PDT
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Re: Re: I'd point out a couple of small typos ... (Reply to this comment)
by theeye
Trust me, those typos are not mocking you.
They're mocking Epinions. And rightly so.
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Oct 25 '01
2:34 pm PDT
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To Kitty, michiman, and opinionsharer... (Reply to this comment)
by queenofallevil
You guys have made my day...thanks.
To quote my epinion pal flamepillar: "Comments are like Christmas presents..."
Thanks to all of you.
Val
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Oct 25 '01
2:29 pm PDT
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Re: Amen! (Reply to this comment)
by queenofallevil
Thanks Victoria...coming from you, I'm honored!
Val
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Oct 25 '01
2:26 pm PDT
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Re: I'd point out a couple of small typos ... (Reply to this comment)
by queenofallevil
Oh man...I know...I know....
I've already seen a few while reading it after I submitted it...I HATE mistakes.
So, I'm trying to bite my lip and not read what i wrote, I'm getting all to annoyed....my typos are jumping out and mocking me at this very moment! ;o)
Val
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Oct 25 '01
2:25 pm PDT
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This was great! (Reply to this comment)
by Kittyokc
I truly enjoyed this and as of this point at Epinions, it rings true. I don't plan on packing it up yet, I'll give them a chance, but I can see a lot of people leaving.
Kathy
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Oct 25 '01
2:22 pm PDT
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I'd point out a couple of small typos ... (Reply to this comment)
by theeye
that I'm sure you'd like to fix, but that would be just too cruel now, wouldn't it? :-(
Great job on one of the very, very few Epinions I currently feel like rating.
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Oct 25 '01
2:20 pm PDT
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I thought Dr Seuss was no longer with us.... (Reply to this comment)
by michiman1
It was hard to tell from reading this Epinion. I'm still not sure what I'm going to do with all the extra time I'll have on my hands. You said it all - Thanks
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Oct 25 '01
2:17 pm PDT
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