Isn't myLot about being helpful?
By suchasucker
@suchasucker (206)
United States
January 19, 2007 8:38pm CST
I'm honestly failing to comprehend why members keep replying to topics, when it's quite clear they have nothing of substance to add to the discussion. When a member starts a topic, at least I assume, that they want to get specific help for the topic at hand. Not a whole line of responses that are so generalized, they are of no use what-so-ever.
I've seen members specifically state in their original discussion post the kind of responses they are looking for. Then going through the line of replies, you will still find numerous members who post the exact type of responses that the original poster did not want.
Why do members reply to topics they know nothing about? Why reply to a discussion before you've read (in its entirety) the original post?
I understand that this site pays its members for their participation in topics. However, I doubt someone is going to make very much with one-sentence replies or generalized statements.
I guess all I'm asking is that each member at least take the time to read each post, before making a reply. If it were you, I'm sure you wouldn't want your discussion drowned out with mindless banter.
9 people like this
42 responses
@not4me (1711)
• United States
20 Jan 07
It's all about the money - unfortunate but true. We wouldn't be here if we were rich and there are people who are too desperate to use the system the right way, so they spam users' questions or just copy others' answers, etc. It is unfortunate but luckily we can rate the losers lol. :)
7 people like this
@suchasucker (206)
• United States
20 Jan 07
Indeed we can, and I definitely do.
I'm so glad they enabled a rating system. Although, sometimes I wonder if they actually monitor members ratio (good/bad) all that much. I'd hope they'd catch onto these members after a while.
3 people like this
@vasanth_star37 (96)
• India
20 Jan 07
yaa .. i tooo agree .most of them browse through these only for money..but indeed good discussions are too going on which is very informative ....
1 person likes this
@misskatonic (3723)
• United States
20 Jan 07
They do it just to try and make a few more cents. People get too caught up in the money aspect and fail to remember that the money is a perk, an extra little reward. It's not the basis for the site. They reply to anything and everything and add nonsensical replies that add nothing, just to boost their post count. It really gets on my nerves.
So many people don't even read a topic, they just read the heading and reply to that. Which means half the time their replies make no sense and clearly shows they weren't paying any attention.
4 people like this
@suchasucker (206)
• United States
20 Jan 07
Exactly!
I don't know whether they think other members are too dumb to notice or what, but I definitely do.
Misskatonic, I believe I've seen a few of your replies in other topics, and you always seem really friendly and helpful. I just wanted to let you know, I notice and appreciate it. :)
2 people like this
@vasanth_star37 (96)
• India
20 Jan 07
yeah suchasucker i agree with you..even i have noticed misskatonic giving really valuable comments..
1 person likes this
@my3busyboys (207)
• United States
20 Jan 07
well said, but I doubt those very readers you write about will take the time to read your post. They are here to earn money for their posts and they believe quantity is more important than quality.
@dragonmojo (103)
• United States
20 Jan 07
I had a long comment to this, but evidently myLot times out and I lose all that I've written when I have to log back in. Too bad.
@RxONE1 (495)
• United States
20 Jan 07
what you are saying is right but many people forget or don't know the goal of this site , so they all want is taking money
at the end of the month if they were lucky they will get about 10 bucks which i don't thing it deserve all the resounds they did and some of the crappy discussion they made.
however many people like helping others and which is good thing to do and taking lil money for doing it , i think its good
but soon or latter many members will know thats mylot inst a way for earning money for their life and they will just behave and will get one of greatest site in the net (MyLot) :)
@bkalafut (49)
• United States
20 Jan 07
They also respond without taking care to capitalize and punctuate.
Pick up a copy of "Common Sense Economics", a fantastic new book (albeit with a few flaws) by Gwartney et al, and read the chapter entitled "incentives matter." Here on MyLot people have a financial incentive to post anything; the system doesn't do a good job of distinguishing quality posts from rubbish.
Stop incentivizing bad behavior and bad behavior will stop. It's that simple. MyLot needs some adjustments.
1 person likes this
@suchasucker (206)
• United States
23 Jan 07
That sounds like a good book. I'll definitely try to find it, and check it out.
@abhiquest (579)
• India
20 Jan 07
I appreciate your concerns over the matter.
Actually the quality of responses you get, to a certain extent also depends upon the quality of question being raised. You would find that a lot of the questions being put on are a total waste. So they deserve garbage in response too!
And as you said many of the new questions that are put on are so long, so personal and so complex that many of the reponders hesitate to even go in for full reading of the text and many just over look and go to the discussions where they could talk about their experiences a lot freely without being concerned about hurting someone or making a fool out of themselves!
@suchasucker (206)
• United States
20 Jan 07
Yeah, I understand that. I've seen the post you're talking about too. However, I've seen genuine threads get bombarded with trash as well. I think members deserve better than that.
If a person can't be bothered enough to read the original post, I don't see why they'd want to reply either. Obviously, it's not a topic that interest them if they can't take a few extra seconds to read over the discussion.
@mirage108 (3402)
• United States
20 Jan 07
it is unfortunate they post for the money even if the response is off topic. now if everyone rated the response with the little + , -, or ! depending on the discussion and the response then it might stop at least I would hope.
+ means to me right on topic
- meand off topic
! means abuse and they get reported.
That is just me.
I had someone respond to one of my discussions with an LOL and I rated them with a - as that is not what I was looking for in a response. so there is a way to curb it, but it will take time. some just do it so they can see their rank in ( ) go up and for possibly more money.
1 person likes this
@suchasucker (206)
• United States
23 Jan 07
That's the exact attitude and approach I have for the problem. I do my best to make sure I rate most of the replies. Especially those that are really useful, or those that are completely pointless.
I hope you're right that in time we can wipe out most the people who are "abusing the system". I doubt it will ever be gone entirely, but hopefully we can reduce the problem.
@magdollars23 (1685)
• United States
20 Jan 07
I think for some people it is about being helpful and for others its just a matter of responding to the topic for the sake of getting paid. If I respond to someones discussion I try to offer something that may help them or at least give them an alternative.
1 person likes this
@suchasucker (206)
• United States
23 Jan 07
I never thought of it that way. I suppose myLot is different things for different people.
@babykay (2131)
• Ireland
20 Jan 07
It shouldn't be about the money but the reality is that it is. I suppose in some countries the amount being paid is worth more than in America or most parts of Europe. I think you have hit the nail on the head, it should be about being helpful, expressing an opinion and sharing knowledge. The rating system is a good idea but I fear that some people are using it to rate only replies that agree with their point of view rather than the quality of the response.
One thing that bugs me about the system is that when you do respond to a discussion, it takes forever to find it again to see what others think of what you said. So it is hard to stay engaged with a discussion over time.
@la_plus_bonne (167)
• United States
20 Jan 07
I know what you mean, those kind of responses really bother me as well. I've seen topics where people will just say something completely irrelevant and stupid just to get in the response for the money. I've gotten responses like "good idea, go ahead" or "good topic" or just "yes" or "no" answers, in situations where responses like this don't make any sense! If you don't have anything to contribute, then don't. Another one of my favorites are when people have topics like "Do you know..." or "Can you help..." and people respond "no". That's just silly! Why waste your time and the original posters time with something that useless and irrelevant?
@suchasucker (206)
• United States
23 Jan 07
"If you don't have anything to contribute, then don't."
EXACTLY! You just summed up my entire post with that one sentence.
@ILANEDRI (1921)
• Israel
20 Jan 07
People are hungry for the money, I guess.
They think that if they have a lot of points they will get a lot more money - Which is wrong.
myLot pays to memebers by the quality of their responses.
But not all of the members here are like that. I've seen a lot of members that reply such a great responses and helped other members in their problems.
MyLot is a great community for my opinion.
@Tiffanyvstony (144)
• China
20 Jan 07
Hello!I am new here and I don't know how to operate mylot well ,can u help me?Thank you in advance
@nw1911guy (1131)
• United States
20 Jan 07
Oh some of us notice. Though I admit, I don't read every post in a discussion if there are 9 pages of posts. lol The half sentence replies drive me nuts. there is also the money aspect that was pointed out above.
1 person likes this
@suchasucker (206)
• United States
23 Jan 07
I don't read all the replies either. I do however, take the time to read the entire original post, so at least I know what kind of reply the person is looking for.
@gypsylady28 (945)
• United States
20 Jan 07
I'm new here and have noticed this also. If it is a topic I know nothing about, or have no advise to give, I don't even reply. I enjoy the discussions and topics, and the money is just a little bonus. I'm not going to quit my day job for what I'm going to make on here. lol
1 person likes this
@suchasucker (206)
• United States
23 Jan 07
Exactly!
I'm glad a few people on here have figured out what this place is all about.
@marief2rnurse (2704)
• United States
20 Jan 07
You are right it should be about being helpful. But I guess there are lots of bored people out there so they reply anyways. There are also those who like to get alot of attention so they don't go with the flow. I used to be on yahoo answers but I'm liking it here because it pays a little. Come on people, behave now.
1 person likes this
@vasanth_star37 (96)
• India
20 Jan 07
good comment marie..really many come only for money and not for a good discussion...
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
20 Jan 07
Mylot is about being helpful, but there are stupid people on here that ask stupid questions at times, and a lot of people get sick of reading those topics or seeing those topics on here. I personally do not care, but I do love intelligent questions and answers.
1 person likes this
@white_snake (643)
• India
20 Jan 07
well every one here wants to earn as much as possible but you are right that there are lot of people who do not reply correctly without reading the details of a topic. People just read the heading of the topic and start replying it, but you know, its fun to visit mylot and read the topics and reply to that specially the topics that really need some good responses. I enjoy and love response those posts. Well talking about the copying of the topic people some times copy the topics and just change wordings of those topics but some time it happens that a person posting a new topic but when the list of the topics comes under simliar topics then a person may feel guilty to making for such similar post because it happend with me that I post a topic about the cell fone and when I start new discussion then the list appeared of a similar topic and I was feeling so guilty, even one member of mylot wrote me that you have copied someone's topic but I dont had any prove to say her that I thought it my self.. Have fun :)
@suchasucker (206)
• United States
23 Jan 07
It's a little different to start a new discussion, without seeing a similar discussion that's already started. The people I'm refering to (seem to) purposely make useless replies.
I just saw a reply in one of my other topics that said "No, I don't have the spare time." If they didn't have the spare time to make a valid helpful response, I don't how they'd have time to post at all. It doesn't really take me any longer to make a real reply, then it would to just type up something pointless.
@Tarrish (562)
• United States
20 Jan 07
The people that don't read the body of the topics are probably just looking to make a quick buck.
No offense to you, but I've seen this topic time and time again. I thought people weren't suppose to do the same topics if it's already been done.
Just like you, unless I'm mistaken, some people might not know they're doing anything wrong. It happens.
If people are just giving one sentence answers they're not going to be making much money anyway so it really defeats the purpose.
1 person likes this
@suchasucker (206)
• United States
20 Jan 07
I've seen a few similar posts, but the ones I found didn't seem to have any real (in depth) replies about how other members felt.
Sorry for making a duplicate, if that's the case. I don't want to add to the same problem I'm complaining about. haha :)
1 person likes this
@neshia_002001 (37)
• United States
20 Jan 07
I really understand what you are saying that's why it is important to rate the responses. I think people just reply to anything just to make some money. I myself don't reply to anything that doesn't makes sense to me or anything that I know nothing about so you go girl for this post, and I hope a lot of mylotters read it, even if they don't respond to it just read it.
1 person likes this
@cooljoker59 (52)
• United States
23 Jan 07
What money? I got into this for advice on some problems I am haveing and I also like to read all the posts I can and comment on a few. I haven't really got any answers that are real but I have gotten a few that were honestly trying to help or at least I think they are, anyway I enjoy the comments and even the reteric I receive here.
JOKER
@MONKEYNUTS (234)
•
20 Jan 07
hi suchasucker.
i totally agree with you.
some people just reply with things like ' yes,i think the same' or ' you are right ' which gives nothing to the debate or discussion you have created!
i'm sure some people only read the fist couple of lines of a discussion and then replyquickly to get more posts in.
the most important part of the topic may be in the last few lines so their reply is pointless really.
see ya later
