There seems to be a big gap between “experts” and the great unwashed (i.e. me). It seems the only thing I contribute is to say whether or not I trust an expert.. though there doesn’t seem to be much to help me know whether I should trust them or not, so I guess I should do this rating quite casually?
Yet there’s no apparent opportunity for me to contribute my expert opinion on something, or bring some of my own research into the site.
I’ve not spent long poking around so perhaps I just haven’t understood yet, but here’s my first impression anyway :)
Jake
posted: feb 2
Hey Jon.
Glad to see you stopping by!
And thanks for the thoughts!
Yes, true, we’re not asking for your expert opinion. And, yes, true, what we most want out of you are votes that tell us which experts and expert opinions you trust.
But.
We also want to know which Non Main Stream Products (and Alternatives to products) you use and why.
And, eventually, we would love to make you (and any other user that cares and contributes and earns the respect of other readers and contributors) into an expert.
We’re not there yet, of course, but we’ve long imagined (and planned for) a reputation economy through which people like you - if you contribute Non Main Stream Products and Comments and Feedback, and if other people like your contributions and vote them up (which I’m about to do to this piece of feedback) - will eventually earn enough trust from your peers that we’ll ask you to become an expert (and tell us which laundry detergent brands you love and hate and why).
Make sense?
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Jonathan Melhuish
posted: feb 2
Yup, makes sense. It’s a tricky line to walk really between getting a sight full of useless chat (e.g. YouTube comments) and locking it down too much so the community doesn’t really feel engaged. As you hint at, the solution is in having a “reputation system” so that community members can earn the respect of their peers and have their opinions heard.
One middle ground that you might consider is only showing the best content from the most respected contributors prominently, and “hiding” everything else away on a “further discussion” page. This way I can still contribute and feel involved in the project, with the possibility that I could earn enough “respect” to be “featured” one day :)
Annesley and I are putting all our efforts into our carroty project of our own, 9carrots, but we should do a Skype call to catch up with you guys - it’s been too long!
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