++ The Tunnel of Forgotten Faces: A Second Letter From SaLT ;;
Aug 02 '00 (Updated Aug 05 '00)
"My tea's gone cold; I'm wondering why I got out of bed at all. The morning rain clouds up my window, and I can't see at all. Even if I could it'd all be gray, but your picture on my wall… it reminds me that it's not so bad… it's not so bad…"
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A raven flaps its white-bone wing stubs towards the town of "Abactor," as showers of icy rain and wind pours down and over the folds of the earth. Blue electric flows through the atmosphere, followed by the call of rolling thunder, while drab clouds group together, cluttering up a dark land of which was once lit by the burning horizon of the sun. Lightning cuts through the air once again, with loud destructive thunder, as more murkiness sets in on the small town.
"Abactor… that name sounds Latin." A young traveler notes as he passes through the villa.
Normally, the clattering of his coal-black boots upon the drenched, chestnut mud would have given him away, but not due to the unresolved abandonment of once a popular town. Making his way closer and closer, he notices the little houses' front doors flapping back and forth with the frigid breeze. The small dwellings were all wrapping around the town in a circle, as the young traveler walks slowly towards the center.
"What the…" to his shock, he notes a classroom of tiny children reciting a hymn entitled "If I die before I wake."
With his clanking shoes slowly making his way over the damp ground, he starts his way towards a ruby-red velvet box, half-tipped over and opened in the chocolate mud. Dripping leaflets of saffron-colored paper reveal a long list of names, with a little girl's picture in the middle. Confused, he put the writings down and slowly makes his way towards the center of the village. Frozen gravity gives out a hollow ground, as he soon realizes himself to be located in a circular, dark shaft.
"Oh my G…"
Two voices echo through the eccentric tunnel, each with a wavering blissful voice, chanting happily to Christmas carols. From children crying to biting sounds, they were all kept inside this mysterious cavern.
"Welcome… TRAVELER…"
Feeling a moist inscription on the cave's wall, he felt the intricate grooves in each of the lukewarm letters. The inscription read:
"cubus ante funus"
When suddenly, a match lights with a flesh-colored fire, and he soon discovers every inch of the walls, ceiling, and ground were composed of breathing, sun-drained blue human faces, from the elderly to newborns. Beneath his laying hands, he senses the heated flesh and moist teeth of human nature.
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Much like the chiseled faces of anon-y-mouse and Laparka, are we willing to be branded as cattle to be used at the expense of "a respected company" to withstand that high standard?
Both of these members were terminated as a result of different reasons; one for "supposedly" suspicions of multiple accounts. Branded as "offensive," who's to judge what deems offensive and what lingers neutrality? Are our "freedom of speeches" pre-determined, or is there a "hidden standard?" The U.S. Constitution cannot be customized to suit personal needs.
Supposedly, the "people" select the "filtered" members of Epinions by use of their web of distrust, but do people honestly use this for use of only abusers, and how many also use it for personal resentment?
1. Content Filters
Where are these faces we have come to know and see? Are they buried beneath Epinions?
Determining the content filter's ineffectiveness upon many factors would be often shortsighted, considering it all traces back to the main flaw - bad design. Sweetcece, zhouse, and riznick are all direct examples of purely inadequate construction of the filters.
For example, zhouse composes excellent education editorials (particularly of the best assortment I've seen). Riznick writes reviews with titles some may find offensive, but the content is quite notable. As well as sweetcece, she emotes in her Kids & Family reviews, with results that are exceptionally admirable.
Censoring an entire author's work is not the solution, as censorship only covers what is already there. With many innocent authors being silenced, I believe in the censoring of particular reviews to non-members (Somewhat and Not Recommended), but silencing of particular reviewers is inexcusable.
Overall, I would rather be rid of the filters and implicate a manual device in which you can block out their reviews to you personally without distrusting their content. Implement a system worth merit.
2. Communism
Instead of all users getting reimbursed $.03/read…
Highly Recommended - $.07/read
Recommended - $.03/read
Somewhat Recommended - $.01/read
Not Recommended - Nothing
For the $.01/read (media, web services, etc.)…
Highly Recommended - $.02/read
Recommended - $.02/read
Somewhat Recommended - $.01/read
Not Recommended - Nothing
Not only would this plan cut down review padding and other forms of abuse, but it would also clean up the communist system of Epinions. Abusers' income would be "paralyzed" until they would receive a ticket from Epinions and also may be terminated. This would not only clean up abuse, but also leave more incentives for the serious writers.
3. Advertising
It's quite simple.
Epinions.com: stop advertising on television.
Not only does it overcrowd the site, but it takes away from potential affiliate referrals.
4. Conclusion
When I joined in February, bonus Eroyalties were implemented, which gave $.30/read and $.10/read to reviews which, today, would be considered the standard $.03 and $.01 reviews. It was once a warm place, where you could write freely without boundaries. Experts were at a minimum, and ways of life were simple.
Since advertising and release of the content filter, Epinions has become a cold, dark place.
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Epinions.com ID:
SaLT
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Reviews written: 35
Trusted by: 111 members
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