My "naturalistic" experiment on passive income at MyLot
By The Horse
@TheHorse (218881)
Walnut Creek, California
June 20, 2016 11:37am CST
Being away for the weekend (without any devices--I was off the grid) allowed me to check the effects of not interacting on income at MyLot. Passive income would be cents we make when we're not interacting at all.
I left at about 8 PM on Friday, and so couldn't interact late that evening. My income for that day was at the low end of "normal" for me. The next day, I was "gone like a train" and didn't interact at all. My income for that day was 1/4 or 25% of what I usually make in a day. On Sunday, I played guitar with friends in the morning and then headed home. Upon my return at 6 PM, A 7 1/2-year-old visitor demanded I play Hot Wheels with him, so I didn't make to MyLot until about 10 PM. My income for that day was about 1/10 or 10% of what I usually make.
The lesson for newbies and old-timers alike: it's all about the interaction here. You can't post something brilliant, go away for a few days, and expect to be wealthy when you return. Don't you love "science"?
45 people like this
43 responses
@TheHorse (218881)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Jun 16
My tongue was pretty close to my cheek when I wrote that. But I think it's cool that the same thing that makes the site fun also earns "guitar string money" (or laundry soap money, or Gatorade money, or however you describe it).
4 people like this
@TheHorse (218881)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Jun 16
I think the interacting is more important than the posting, though I do tend to make a bit more after I've posted something. But that's also when I'm interacting in general. Maybe one day I'll do an experiment where I post early and then don't interact at all.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
20 Jun 16
I agree interaction is what its all about. =)
4 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
21 Jun 16
@TheHorse Yeah there is definitely no gaming the system here that's for sure. I don't even know how they did it there but I am not that smart...Lol.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218881)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Jun 16
I think the interaction component also makes it harder for people to "game" MyLot. Not to be grumpy, but there were a couple of Bubblers whom I suspect were in "reading circles" of sorts. Thy got ungodly numbers of hits on their (lame) posts, but never commented, even on questions to their own posts. They poked their heads in over here, but quickly disappeared.
3 people like this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
20 Jun 16
you've certainly done some good analysis.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (218881)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Jun 16
I was trained as a researcher and don't get to do any research right now (I teach and work with troubled kids). So I can't help but do little experiments all day, whether it's on MyLot, what floats and what doesn't, whether Miracle Gro Quick Start helps my tomato plants look greener, or whatever.
3 people like this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
20 Jun 16
@TheHorse I admire what you are doing now. I'll get back when I need help with research. There are research jobs out there on the net but I suppose you are too busy.
As of now this is the only thing I do apart from my regular teaching but my son told me the online job sites need analysts too
1 person likes this
@rosekiss (30414)
• Eugene, Oregon
21 Jun 16
I haven't made much lately either, as I haven't been here all that much, as I have been doing other things. I decided that since I wasn't in here all weekend, I would come in and see what is going on, and work on my notifications, which arent many either. I am not concerned about making the payout this month, as I know I will get it eventually. I am not here for the money anyway, as I am here to have fun, and I come in when I can and get caught up on what I needed to do.
2 people like this
@rosekiss (30414)
• Eugene, Oregon
21 Jun 16
@TheHorse besides yours, I am finding a few to do. I do need to get into the swing of things again, as I was gone all weekend, and being busy today, has put me behind again, but that is okay, as I will get the payout in time, as there is no hurry.
1 person likes this
@divalounger (6123)
• United States
20 Jun 16
It is about interacting here--now that summer is here, I have some free time and I thought I would check in more regularly--it is hard to do that during the school year
1 person likes this
@divalounger (6123)
• United States
20 Jun 16
@TheHorse I am a teacher in the San Francisco bay area
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218881)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Jun 16
@divalounger Oh, me too. Where do you teach?
@changjiangzhibin89 (16764)
• China
21 Jun 16
Mylot was designed for interacting.I know starting post earns more than just responding to others'posts and making comments on them,but I still don't want to task my mind to post.
2 people like this
@LindaCPearson (2240)
• United States
21 Jun 16
I've found that interaction is the most important part of myLot. Posting is great but without lots of mutual interaction, the earnings won't be there.
1 person likes this
@succeednow (1633)
• Singapore
21 Jun 16
@TheHorse What's a bobo head? Excuse my ignorance. When one doesn't know one should ask, right?
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218881)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Aug 16
@succeednow A "bobo head" is the funniest thing an angry six-year-old has ever called me. I have no idea where she got it from. Her mom had to suppress laughter as she scolded her daughter for calling me that.
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
20 Jun 16
Interaction is definitely key. Considering that some of my posts might get one comment, I pretty much have to interact.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218881)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Jun 16
@teamfreak16 Yeah, I've seen some posts about bands I've never heard of. Sometimes I check 'em out. Sometimes I don't. When I do posts with links to music, not that many people actually listen through.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
20 Jun 16
@TheHorse - Well, I do post a lot of music that nobody cares about,which is fine, as I pretty much do them for my own amusement. If someone digs it, even better.
1 person likes this
@kriskru (18)
•
20 Jun 16
This doesn't make any logical sense. Look at the depriciation of your earnings. 25%, then 10%, and i would venture to say that the next day would continue to exponentially decrease in percentage, meaning that actually you are losing your revenue stream when you 'go away', the only way to make substantial amounts on a site like this is to constantly be interacting with, and contributing to the forums.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218881)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Jun 16
@kriskru You happen to be wrong in this case, though I'm happy you understood the "math." Many people run and hide when they see the most elementary "formula." I wrote you "can't" expect to be rich when you return. Can't is the contraction of cannot. You cannot go away and expect to be rich. You must continue interacting. When I say rich, I'm using the term ironically, meaning with "tongue-in-cheek." Nobody gets rich here.
@snowy22315 (180765)
• United States
30 Jul 16
It's always fun to see your bank has grown even if you haven't been on.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
20 Jun 16
I found that going awol meant that it didn't take long for the passive income to all but disappear. Consistency means everything.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
20 Jun 16
@TheHorse Never was part of Epinions. I find most of my work anywhere disappears off the radar pretty quickly.
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
21 Jun 16
Yes, time is what we invest here that brings return ..
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
12 Aug 16
@TheHorse I'm not active in posting discussions but when I'm online, I get myself active in interacting with those who left comments on my posts ..
@Cherganski (219)
•
20 Jun 16
I never thought anyone was really here to make money or be wealthy. It's just a nice bonus for the nice interactions.
1 person likes this
@Cherganski (219)
•
21 Jun 16
@TheHorse Oh yes that's quite possible. l guess they should put some sort of disclaimer.
But then fewer people would sign up would't they :D
5 or 6 years back when l signed up for the old version of MyLot l was probably thinking the same thing.