The Content Filter...Is it all BAD?
Jul 14 '00
I have read many reviews as of late about the now famous content filter and the results. Many members of the Epinions community are up in arms about how it is affecting many of the members who spend time here. I personally am still in my childhood here at Epinions. I have been here since March 31. It seems this time has been filled with change in the Epinions site. I admit I am still learning about this site, but I cannot understand why all the complaints.
What People are Complaining About
There are three aspects I have heard complained about most. The first is the way this will filter out new people as they are just getting a start. Most worry this will cause them to become discouraged and stop writing for epinions. The second problem is that people who tend to rate highly recommend often are being shown as anonymous. The third complaint is that widely distrusted members are being filtered.
Let's Analyze
1. When I was interested in joining Epinions, I came to the site and looked at a great deal of reviews. However, I never even glanced at anything that was below recommended. Why? I wanted to see what everyone people liked and rated well. I wanted to know how to write in order to achieve those ratings. I feel this could be looked at as a positive step in the right direction. There are plenty of people that write reviews that barely make it to the 100 word limit. Those same people post several a day. If the non members continue to see that kind of material they will eventually discontinue their use of the site. In addition, the implementation of the filter allows epinions to recruit members who are willing to give it their all. Since the filter only makes those reviews invisible to non members, the new members who write reviews that are only somewhat recommended will still have the advise and help of seasoned members. I remember when I joined I was very thankful for the help I received from experts and other members. Those were the people who taught me. I also do not remember getting very many non member hits for a while. So I do not see how this has changed things all that much.
2. The second complaint really baffles me. I am aware of the fact that if you rate highly recommended often, you will become an anonymous rater. Well, after hearing this, I decided to give it a try. I went and rated a review highly recommend. I then logged out to see if it would show up. Well, as a non member I could not see the majority of the highly recommended raters. I then logged back in to my account. Once again, I could see everyone of the raters ID's. I decided to throw a new twist in. I signed in under my husband's ID. Still, I could see everything. I then went to several of my own reviews to see the ratings. Under both of the ID's nothing changed. However, if I logged out, I could no longer see the vast majority of the raters. Now, I wonder why this is a problem for people. If someone rates your review you will see them. If you rate someone else's review they will see you. The only person who will not see you is the non member. Why do they care who rated the review? So I just cannot understand why this is a problem.
3. The third is a little more complicated. I can honestly see why this one would be a problem. I have been privy to many of those emails stating that I should not read someone because they abuse the epinions system. However, I have also see many people falsely accused of things. I know that many of the raters circles and certain powerful members could misuse this power. I am a little cautious now about adding people to my web of distrust. I sincerely want to be sure this person I abusing the system before I distrust them. I still feel that this was the best Epinions could do.
Should Epinions Discontinue the Filter?
I do not believe that would be the solution. I think something like this should have been in place since the beginning. There were hundreds of people complaining about the content they were reading, about raters, about abusers. This was the best possible solution. I think that for the most part it will not be of huge concern. I am sure there will be those innocent members who will be hurt by this new system. However, if we all acted like the adults we are in the first place, things like this would not be needed. However, this is not an ideal world, just like this is not an ideal system. We live in the world the best we can. I guess we will have to live with this filter the best we can, too.
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Epinions.com ID:
fatima98g
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Member: christy johnson
Location: Monterey,Ca
Reviews written: 78
Trusted by: 48 members
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