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The streams of EpinionsAug 18 '02 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line New to Epinions ?? Publish slowly, read the comments, improve your reviews 'on-the-fly', and above all, have some fun with this community.
The kingdom of Epinions is peacefully divided into many friendly provinces. Friendly users—diligent and hard-working—have recently been selected to oversee these peaceful provinces. They bear the title of Lead. The Wizard behind the curtain (who selected the Leads) also selects at periodic times (now with the assistance of the Leads) friendly, efficient fellow users to serve as Advisors. Through each of these provinces, each distinct in culture and dialect, flows a stream into which are cast the offerings of the various users of each province. The streams all converge and flow through the homeland of Epinions in a mighty river renowned kingdom-wide as 'Just-In'. Each of the tributaries bear the name of the province from which it flows. 'Books Just-In', 'Music Just-In', 'Kids & Family Just-In', etc.. These streams, this river, carry the life-blood of Epinions. Each user is free to toss into the stream(s) of their choice a review of a product unique to that province. Indeed, their contributions to the stream(s) are encouraged so that the 'Consumer' is well served. Many claim to have seen the 'Consumer', others speak in hushed tones of the 'Consumer', still others tempt the Fates and speak pejoratively of the 'Consumer'. A rare user will claim to be the 'Consumer'. The Wizard ensures that many products are available to be reviewed and those reviews subsequently offered to the 'Consumer'. But the Wizard must ensure the product review is of sufficient quality to serve the 'Consumer'. He assigns this task to the Lead, to the Advisor, indeed to the lowest user in the Kingdom. Each is offered the chance to judge the value of a particular offering. In a manner unchanged from the earliest days of the kingdom, all have been encouraged to 'rate' these reviews. (The 'rates' of some carry more weight than others, but that is a topic for another tale.) All reviews pass through these streams on their way to the 'Consumer'. All users have the ability to sit on the banks of these streams and pick and choose which of these reviews they will choose to rate. Each is marked with the product name, the user-name of the member who offers the review to the 'Consumer' and a 'title' that serves to attract the attention of fellow users or the 'Consumer'. Of these, the user can only really control the 'title'; the product and their user-name being locked. If the review floating by attracts the attention of a user on the bank of the stream, the user may pluck it from the stream, open it, examine its contents, attach a 'rate', and toss it back into the stream. Other advice sections tell of choosing a title and packing good content in the review to assure a 'good rate'. That is not my goal here. What is my goal here ?? I am glad you asked...:-) Many users, particularly those new to the kingdom, are eager to begin tossing their reviews into the 'Just-In' stream of their choice. Perhaps it is the novelty of the writing. Perhaps the desire to have lots of reviews logged on their user-page. Perhaps the misguided dream of 'cash rewards' that come from tossing reviews into the stream. But this is most often a mistake, to toss many reviews into the stream all at once. Why you ask? Again, I am glad you asked...:-) - -- --- -- - -- --- -- - - The new user is not familiar with the expectations of those who pluck their review from the stream to rate. Perhaps their 'title' is weak, not attractive. Perhaps the content is less than desired, or not attractive to those who examine it. Perhaps it is simplistic, or worse, offensive. A user who tosses in just one review can watch that review closely. They can see the reaction of those on the bank as it flows by. They can even pluck their own review from the stream and examine it more closely. They can see the advisor rates. The ordinary user rates. Helpful advisors/users may even leave a comment attached to their review telling their impressions and suggestions. This feedback may be used to improve this review before it is placed back into the stream. Or it may be used to improve the next review to be tossed into the stream. - -- --- -- - -- --- -- - - There are thousands of users who line the banks of the various streams. Some are here now and some later. Some visit each day, some only once a week, some only sporadically. No one except the truly addicted sits by the stream 24/7. Tossing in a bunch of reviews all at once just narrows the number of users who might see any given review. If a user visits the stream today and your four reviews floated by in a bunch yesterday he/she may not see them. - -- --- -- - -- --- -- - - If your reviews float by all together today I may open the first package and examine it. If I find the contents lacking, I may not feel like looking at the second, third or fourth. If I leave a comment on this one, I may not be so eager to offer a second, third or fourth comment. Or even a second or further rate. If I read-n-rate one today, I may remember your name tomorrow or the next day and want to open your next one. I am much more likely to give each review the attention you believe it deserves. - -- --- -- - -- --- -- - - If you later choose to re-write or update your review(s) it is easier to do a few rather than many. People who have rated usually don't mind looking again at a review or two. But 'many' is simply too...'many'. And only one re-rate request per review...:-) - -- --- -- - -- --- -- - -- --- -- - -- --- -- - — My final suggestions ?? — Publish slowly. I would suggest the new user publish no more than one review per category per day. This gives your review time to move through the 'Just-In' stream before your next review is published. Read your comments. Often a problem for new users who do not realize they are even there. But read and act on any suggestions as you feel appropriate. Package your review carefully. With the best content you can put in the review. And the best title you can create. Again, there are separate Member Advice sections for those concerns. Update, re-write, delete as necessary. Yes, I said delete. If a review is 'garbage', delete it. If it is 'fix-able' than try that route. Have fun here at Epinions. If it is work, you are not doing it right. If it is causing you pain and suffering from rates and comments, you are attaching too much significance to the site and your time here. Big finish? This is it.  |
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