Epinions.com -- (past), present, and future
May 23 '00 (Updated Apr 26 '03)
The Bottom Line Read the review.
(Updated only to correct links.)
I suppose it may not fair to catalog the bugs that seem to be infesting this site, but I'll start with that. Over (at least) the past month, there have been frequent problems with the inability to post, rate, and comment on Epinions; with names appearing and disappearing from the Web of Trust (WoT) and Web of Distrust (and one disturbing report of names moving from one to the other); and the present loss of ERoyalties and "hit" information. With the exception of the server crash around May 1, all of these have been promptly reported in the Member Advisor, and usually repaired within 72 hours. (I suspect some commenters will note that "promptly" is not up to professional standards, and that 72 hours of essentially inoperative time is unacceptable.)
However, there are some lesser-known bugs which may be of interest to members. It would be helpful if the algorithm describing how a review is rated overall (how its rating appears on the member profile pages, or in topic lists, as well as the presentation order in topic lists) is derived from the individual ratings and your WoT. There seem to be some bugs in it, but it still would be a nice thing to know.
Suggestions for improvement
The Web of Trust
I have suggested that the WoT be reorganized. It presently recognizes 3 distinct aspects of trust/respect:
1. I trust netKat to write reviews I want to read and/or I would rate HR
2. I trust netKat to rate reviews consistently, and in a manner similar to the way I would rate them.
3. I trust netKat to trust appropriately, and in a manner that would improve my viewing of the site.
(Replace netKat by your favorite person to be considered for the WoT.)
I think that separating these three aspects would improve the site.
Expert status
My understanding is that now expert status now primarily is used as a default Web of Trust for non-members, or in case your trusted reviewers have no opinions in the topic. (I assume that, if you Distrust an expert, his ratings and trust have no effect on the order of display and rating, but I could easily be wrong.) IMHO, there are some "experts" who should not be so considered, and some reviewers who should be considered "experts".
I also understand that Epinions.com is considering major modification of the expert system. I have some opinions, but they're not well-formed yet. However, as I posted on the Epinions.com Unofficial Message Board at http://epinions.astounded.com (now apparently dead), some system needs to be in place so that the Web of Trust doesn't become a Web of Sycophants.
Complaints from professional writers
See magun's comments here. The extent to which I agree with this review appears below.
International members
From what I understand of Epinions.com official policy, they don't want to pay non-US taxpayers (taxpayer=resident or citizen) because they're worried about the tax consequences. I can understand that, but I can see no reasonable objections if the non-US person specifies a US agent, who would then be responsible for the tax consequences of remitting the funds (after taking a percentage, I suppose). Official policy doesn't allow this.
Copyright considerations
I don't fully agree with magun on this issue. However, changes in the User Agreement cannot legally increase Epinions' rights or decrease the member's rights with respect to Epinions that have already been posted, without some agreement from the member. I further think that any attempt on the part of Epinions.com to do so is grounds for voiding the existing agreement with respect to such reviews if the member so chooses, and chooses to remove the review from Epinions. I don't agree with magun that he can necessarily delete reviews from this site and then post them elsewhere, except insofaras Epinions.com has made the contract voidable.
Internet syndication rights
It would be nice if Epinions.com paid a percentage on syndication revenue, but I don't consider it an essential part of the package.
Summary
Epinions has been good for me, but it could be better; and if magun is correct that professional writers will not frequent this site unless the policies are changed, that would be a turn for the worse.
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Epinions.com ID:
Arthur.Rubin
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 in Personal Finance |
 in Personal Finance |
 - Top 500 |
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Member: Arthur Rubin
Location: Brea, CA, USA
Reviews written: 97
Trusted by: 109 members
About Me:
Expert in mathematics, computers, income tax, with a wide variety of interests.
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