Comments on A Suggestion: Blog Post Ratings (Zero to Five Stars)

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Alot to cover . . .

Obviously, you are an intelligent and talented writer and you have put forth an interesting concept. I however agree, that this is not likely to happen. I agree with much of what Talion says. Before I signed up to this site, I went through it's categories. It clearly and openly states (without you having to sign up first to learn this - -  hence, mis-representational) how the money is disbursed . . . I don't think it takes a genius to realize that the ratio of percentage-of-a-reader's-time-on-your-site to that-reader's-subscription-value is not going to add up to alot . . . especially when there is so much content on this site to interest that reader.

Yes, to some degree, ALL of us "writers" would love to have our ego's stroked by a star rating, but then, what you are looking for, is really an editor's opinion of works. You are in a way, sleighting (SP?) the opinions of average readers, because they are making their choice of what they want to read . . . and it may not be your site . . . or mine, just the same. Who's to judge what pieces are of merit and when I say merit, does that mean literary merit? Appealing-to-universal merit? Emotional merit? Again, an editor or any number of literary critics could probably distinguish between what is of ACADEMIC merit on this site, and what is not, but then we would have . . .  Poets and Writer's MAG/ site.  

The goal is for EVERYONE to share a little part of their self with someone else who MIGHT be able to reap a benefit. If you reap a benefit, that deserves 5 stars. Unfortunately for any author, writing is subjective. One might be the most educated, technical, and brilliant writer, but not everyone is going to desire reading that writer. I think you should focus more optimism on what this site does offer . . . which is the NETWORKING aspect. You never know who is reading and/or recommending your things. . . and if you can't appreciate the social aspects, or be patient for that one comment that DOES FINALLY make your heart, as a writer, jump out of it's chest . . . than you can always unsubscribe. If your goal is strictly a monetary gain, consider yourself wise that you have figured out there's not much.

By the way, I'm a laid-off factory worker with that elusive dream, like everyone else except you, of getting my stuff into print. With so much competition in the literary circles, it is very hard to get anywhere . . . the odds of winning contests, and what have you, aren't exactly promising, so this is a great resource for me to be able to get feedback, to network, and to share! With best intentions, gypsypoet 

posted by gypsypoet1975 on January 13, 2009 at 6:56 AM | link to this | reply

Re: Target
Unfortunately, not as yet.  It is just on their web site.  Perhaps the gift card might work on the web site?

I should look into a more physical presence there.  There are two that are close to me.

posted by cpklapper on December 27, 2008 at 9:59 PM | link to this | reply

I am only new to blogit. i dont fully understand how it all works yet, though i do like the idea of the star rating. and i have read somewhere about people leaving short messages considered as spam, thats weird i think. I would like more comments thats what i like to see after i write a blog even a shrt one i would like than none at all.

posted by LemonyEmz on December 27, 2008 at 9:06 PM | link to this | reply

Interesting post and interesting comments from your readers.
I have a question.  I was reading your "About Me" page and I was wanting to know
does that mean that the Target Stores carry your books. 
I have a nice gift card for shopping at Target and there
is one near me.  Would I be able to find a book of yours there?

posted by TAPS. on December 27, 2008 at 6:54 PM | link to this | reply

Re: Talion I agree. Five weeks been here I learn quick if you want to rank read
Thanks for your comments, Mystereo.

I would like to point out that the reason some of us have "money on the mind" with respect to Blogit is that Blogit put it there to induce us to join.  Otherwise, we would have been happily blogging elsewhere or, perhaps, not even bother to blog at all.  I am sure that I am not alone in having various venues where my work is appreciated in person, some of which actually result in book sales.  It becomes hard to justify writing, from a lonely house, a monetized blog that doesn't produce money when it is competing against going out to open mikes to share your work with friends and unexpectedly earning money.

The point of my proposal is that one should not have to read widely -- or give the appearance of reading widely -- in order to draw widely.  Moreover, one should not have to waste one's reading privilege by foraging through blogs simply to get reciprocal visits.  The motivation for such foraging should be entirely the attempt to discover literary treasure among the neglected.  This just now makes me think of an enhancement: a listing of unrated blog posts by least number of visits and oldest time of posting.  That would help with the foraging.

posted by cpklapper on December 26, 2008 at 2:09 PM | link to this | reply

Re: cpklapper
Thanks for, Talion_, sharing your thoughts about my proposal.

The merit aspect of a ratings and listing system does not require "friends" to give low ratings, though the "friendship" based on reciprocal readership under the current system tends to produce less critical comments than under my proposal.  Any inflated rating would bring the blog elevated by these means before a host of less friendly and more critical eyes.  The cliques supporting their own would then have to compensate with negative campaign tactics to tear down the top dog who is not one of their own.  They would only have a limited budget for these tactics, though, and they would produce sympathy for a quality writer they are ganging up on.  Also, as I mentioned before, their abuse of a good writer compensates that writer with money.

All in all, I think that my proposed system is fairly robust against the machinations of small cliques.  With such abuse marginalized, honest opinion takes over and merit, as best a segment of popular opinion can make that out to be, would become the order of the day.

posted by cpklapper on December 26, 2008 at 7:08 AM | link to this | reply

Re: cpklapper
Thanks, Troosha, for your thoughtful comment.

I have found that regular, and occasionally demanding, work gets in the way of regular posting, especially when I am busy after-hours, and that the resulting irregularity of my posts has had an adverse effect on my rankings.  So you are right about current behavior of most people on Blogit.  However, that was not my behavior when deciding what to read, how best to use this privilege of membership.  At first, I was in a quandary, because -- naive little me -- I wanted to read some quality writing and all that was listed was the most visited("popular") blogs and the most recent posts.  Oh, and "featured", which I figured out was a combination of most recent and most visited, rather than being some considered assessment of the literary merits of a few posts.  I also soon found out that Blogit did not have any "Field of Dreams" mechanism whereby if I wrote it, visitors would come.  After half-heartedly trying, with less heart when I have a decent day job, for some time now,  I decided to apply my problem-solving skills to "The Blogit No FoD Issue" with this result.

Merry Christmas,
Carl Peter


posted by cpklapper on December 25, 2008 at 1:05 PM | link to this | reply

Re: from TexasGem
Thanks for the condolences on my late, great idea.

Seriously, though, what do you see as the major impediments?

Merry Christmas,
Carl Peter

posted by cpklapper on December 25, 2008 at 12:43 PM | link to this | reply

A very interesting solution! Getting to the point in making comments is necessary. Keeping it real is necessary too!

posted by Soul_Builder101 on December 25, 2008 at 10:11 AM | link to this | reply


posted by __Purple_Mermaid11__ on December 24, 2008 at 9:12 PM | link to this | reply

Talion I agree. Five weeks been here I learn quick if you want to rank read
I read every poem in a lot of blogs, this writer may never comment me. I still read. People come with money on their mind we all know we are great. I learn to read or try to read every writer. Blogs in 2003 never had a comment AWSOME WORK! You have to read to draw. I love all the great works greatest poets in our time common. That is just my opinion.

posted by Mystereo on December 24, 2008 at 2:29 PM | link to this | reply

cpklapper

You touched on a number of important points. You've been here long enough to realize there is no money to be made. Without a considerable investment of time and effort, even earning back membership fees is beyond the pale. This site is far from a writer's marketplace as it's advertised, but more of a social networking site at best, a glorified chatroom at worst. When most who are serious about income realize this cold, hard fact, they pull up stakes and leave. Those who are initially disappointed with the marketing deception (for lack of a better term), but have learned to enjoy the social aspects, usually stay (I fall into this category). Because of these social aspects, I fear your rating idea would not dramatically change the status quo. Would individuals really give their "friends" low ratings? I think not. Your highest ratings list would simply become a mirror image of the most popular listings that currently exist, neither reflecting quality nor merit.

The problem with this site isn't the chattiness or the most popular listings or the difficulties those who are constrained by time may have establishing a faithful readership. The problem with this site is the obvious descrepancies between the myth Blogit claims in its advertisements and the reality of what it is. Unless those in charge finally wise up and tell the truth about this site, things will never change for the better.       

posted by Talion_ on December 24, 2008 at 1:42 PM | link to this | reply

cpklapper
While it is true that some people leave comments hoping for that “reciprocal” visit, daily or active bloggers often establish a set time or favourite blogger list which determines their reading regime.  As such, new bloggers or occasional bloggers are often over-looked.  It is also true that comments left often have little or no relevance to the quality of writing.  Although this may have played a role in the initial intent of the interactive nature of Blogit, it has become more of a community of people exchanging niceties or familiar notes rather than an arena in which to critique or rate the content and quality of writing.   I found your post an interesting perspective (and suggestion) as to how we might better “rate” writers…

posted by Troosha on December 24, 2008 at 10:44 AM | link to this | reply

Good thought but I don't see it happening here. Thanks!

posted by Texas_Gem on December 24, 2008 at 10:31 AM | link to this | reply